Chapter 132: Drowning Sorrows in Wine

Hearing Xiao Tao’s sobbing confession, Su Yunyan’s heart instantly turned cold. It seemed her plan was doomed to fail. Clearly, Xiao Tao’s cousin was unwilling to leave with her. Sigh! She didn’t even know what Liu Ling’er had given her to make her so utterly devoted.

On the other side, Liu Ling’er blinked in surprise. As long as one wasn’t foolish, faced with such a choice, nine out of ten would undoubtedly agree to follow Su Yunyan without hesitation.

After all, Su Yunyan’s status was undeniable—the illustrious crown prince of the Western Wei Kingdom, almost certainly the next emperor. Following him meant a life of luxury and unending honor.

Liu Ling’er pulled up the kneeling Xiao Tao and took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears. “Why won’t you go with your cousin? Don’t you even know who he really is?”

Xiao Tao choked back her sobs. “Xiao Tao knows. Cousin came to see me after the Empress Dowager’s birthday and told me who he was. But miss, please don’t rush me! Xiao Tao isn’t ready to marry yet!”

So you know! Su Yunyan thought. I had assumed she was still kept in the dark. Then she recalled Xiao Tao was only fourteen, younger than herself despite being her personal maid. From her perspective, marriage was indeed too soon for her.

Patting Xiao Tao’s arm, she said, “Look at you, crying so ugly! Making your lady seem like an unforgivable villain—aren’t you ashamed? If you really don’t want to go with Su Yunyan, then fine. Don’t worry, as long as your lady isn’t dead, and as long as you don’t want to leave, no one can take you away.”

Hearing this promise, Xiao Tao immediately brightened, no longer so mournful. She smiled happily, “I knew my lady was the best!”

Beside them, Su Yunyan weakly spoke up, “Then what about me? Xiao Tao, just come with me!” She looked at Xiao Tao with hopeful eyes, waiting for her to change her mind.

“Yunyan’s cousin, you’re a good person, but I can’t go with you right now. Miss treats me well—I don’t want to leave her!” Xiao Tao’s words cut off Su Yunyan’s response. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

A “good person” card had been handed out. Liu Ling’er glanced proudly at Su Yunyan. “Prince Su, it’s not that I’m stingy, and for anything else between us, I’d do my utmost without hesitation. But in this matter of Xiao Tao, I must plead inability. Forcing someone is wrong—forced fruit never tastes sweet, does it?”

Su Yunyan pouted, clearly a bit annoyed, but her expression was oddly endearing. Suddenly, she stepped forward, enveloping Xiao Tao in her arms. Under Xiao Tao’s astonished gaze, she pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

The suddenness caught Xiao Tao off guard, and before she could react, Su Yunyan had kissed her forcibly. Liu Ling’er sat there dumbfounded, mouth agape. When Xiao Tao came back to her senses and tried to struggle, she realized she had no strength to break free from Su Yunyan’s embrace.

Having been publicly embarrassed by Su Yunyan, Xiao Tao’s face flushed a deep crimson, as red as a ripe tomato dripping with juice. Tears fell like broken pearls, pattering down her cheeks.

Seeing this, Su Yunyan panicked, hurriedly letting go of her and clumsily wiping away her tears. “Xiao Tao, you are destined to be mine. I respect your wishes and won’t take you now, but let me mark you first—forevermore, you belong to Su Yunyan.”

Liu Ling’er put a hand to her forehead. “Can you even comfort someone? You just embarrassed her and now you’re claiming ownership? Aren’t you afraid she’ll never speak to you again?”

Sure enough, Xiao Tao felt deeply wronged. She pushed Su Yunyan away and ran off without a backward glance. Su Yunyan stood there, bewildered, rubbing her head. “Sigh! What’s wrong with Xiao Tao? We were talking so well—why did she run off?”

“You blockhead!” Liu Ling’er scolded him, tossing a large handkerchief at Su Yunyan. “If Xiao Tao doesn’t forgive you, I’ll hit you next time I see you.”

Feeling scorned, Su Yunyan’s already sour mood darkened further. It felt like losing both the woman and the fight.

Distracted, he wandered toward the mansion’s gate, still unable to comprehend why Xiao Tao had rejected him. This shouldn’t have happened.

Lost in thought, he accidentally bumped into someone at the entrance. Looking up, it was none other than Prince Baili Xian. Su Yunyan quickly gathered himself. “Prince Xian! How have you been recently?”

Baili Xian was momentarily stunned that the person who bumped into him had the audacity to greet him. Then he recognized Su Yunyan, dressed in feminine attire, and twitched the corner of his mouth. “So it’s Prince Su. May I ask what brought you to this esteemed residence?”

Before he finished, Su Yunyan sighed deeply. “Don’t mention it—it’s all heartbreak. My eyes are full of tears. Prince Xian, if you have time, would you accompany me for a few drinks?”

Baili Xian had been very busy lately and wanted to refuse, but seeing Su Yunyan’s gloomy mood, he couldn’t decline so plainly. “It’s not mealtime yet. Drinking now isn’t proper.”

“Come on! Real men don’t fuss over mealtimes. You act like a woman with all your hesitation.” Su Yunyan lectured him. Were it not for Su Yunyan’s status, Baili Xian might have kicked him away.

Without another word, Su Yunyan grabbed Baili Xian and headed toward the nearest tavern. Baili Xian reluctantly stopped him. “Prince Su, I know of a place with the finest wine in Eastern Chu. Let me take you there.”

Su Yunyan didn’t care; he just wanted to drown his sorrows.

They arrived at a mountain villa. Su Yunyan looked up at the large sign above the gate, which read “Zhujitang.” He asked Baili Xian, “Prince Xian, we came out to drink—why are we here at Zhujitang?”

Baili Xian smiled mysteriously. “You don’t know? The Untroubled Young Master of Eastern Chu cherishes the finest wines and keeps a great collection. Today, you’re in for a treat.”

Inside one of Zhujitang’s studies, the Untroubled Young Master suddenly stood up and said to his servant, “What did you say? Prince Xian has arrived?”

He muttered to himself, wondering if the matter involving Ah Sheng had been exposed and if Prince Xian had come to arrest him. No way. Could it be that Ah Sheng was caught? He looked at the servant. “How many people did Prince Xian bring?”

The servant bowed. “My lord, Prince Xian only brought one woman—no others.”

How strange. Maybe I was mistaken. “Lead the way, I’ll see for myself.”

The Untroubled Young Master had been restless lately. Although Chu Sheng’s whereabouts were unknown, he trusted Chu Sheng’s skills to keep him safe. But just yesterday, when he sought Chu Xiaosheng, he was driven away, and today, Chu Xiaosheng had vanished. It was truly vexing.

His only brother was still a child under his care, and he had failed to protect him. He was shamefaced before his own kin. Worse, the search party had found no clues, stoking his frustration.

At the door, he saw Prince Xian fanning himself, accompanied by a woman of delicate features and striking beauty, possessing a charm unlike any other. Yet her face seemed familiar, as if he had seen her before, but he couldn’t recall where.

He bowed to Baili Xian. “Prince Xian, your visit is an honor, though I fear my reception is lacking. Please forgive me. And who is this lady? Her face seems so familiar.”

“Ha ha, Untroubled, you don’t recognize her? That’s odd—you two have met before!” Baili Xian teased, withholding the truth. Taking advantage of the moment, Su Yunyan stepped forward and said to the Untroubled Young Master, “Young Master Untroubled, nobles often forget things—it’s only natural you don’t recall.”