It had never occurred to Huo Wujiu that Jiang Suizhou would be troublesome after drinking too much.
With just half a jar of wine down, Jiang Suizhou was drunk, and began to chatter more.
He seemed to be quite proud of today’s events and rambled on, telling Huo Wujiu all about the arrangements he made these past few days. As he became more and more intoxicated, his memory also deteriorated. He began to repeat the words he uttered over and over in a circle.
Although he kept rambling on, his voice remained gentle and slow. It clearly echoed with drunkenness, but it was like a warm wind blowing across his face with an unflinching tenderness.
Huo Wujiu responded patiently from the side, seeing him gradually begin to stagger and talk incoherently.
Knowing that he had to return in a while, Huo Wujiu regretted not changing the glass for him just now. When pouring wine, he had a sense of propriety.
However, it was soon discovered by Jiang Suizhou.
His eyes were hazy and a tad teary when he pointed to the two wine bowls on the table.
“It’s unfair, don’t you think?” he asked.
The bowl in front of Huo Wujiu was full, while the bowl in front of Jiang Suizhou was only perfunctorily filled.
Huo Wujiu fooled him, “This is left over from what you drank just now.”
He watched as Jiang Suizhou stared at the bowl for a long time. He seemed to have thought of something and smiled intoxicatedly.
“I forgot,” he drawled, “Excuse me, I’m being rude.”
Then before Huo Wujiu could stop him, he picked up the wine on the table and drank it all in one go.
Huo Wujiu’s eyebrows jumped involuntarily.
He was so easily fooled and so honest. If he were to drink with others outside, wouldn’t he be easily taken advantage of?
Seeing that his wine bowl was empty, Huo Wujiu poured a little for him again, still only a little, enough to only fill the bottom of the bowl.
Jiang Suizhou uttered a couple more lines, then heaved a puzzled sigh at the sight of his bowl.
“Didn’t I finish my drink just now?” he wondered.
With that, he reached out to take the bowl.
Huo Wujiu hurriedly reached out and pressed his wrist, taking the jade bowl out of his hand and placing it farther away.
“Tell me, how did Zhao Dunting weep in front of Jiang Shunheng?” He changed the subject.
“Ah.” Jiang Suizhou immediately threw the wine bowl to the back of his mind with a tinge of smile on his face.
“A court minister said he kneeled before His Majesty, just kneeled down and began to cry. His tears rained down the moment he spoke, startling the Emperor into thinking that someone in his family died.”
Saying that, he beamed with joy and continued.
“He just considers himself a good actor, and thinks he did everything under wraps. He thought nobody could catch his handle, did he? He doesn’t know, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind…”
This was the third or fourth time Huo Wujiu had heard this line tonight.
He had never been a patient person. When his subordinates reported to him, they had to deliberate well in advance, for fear of not being concise enough and annoying him.
But to his surprise, he enjoyed listening to Jiang Suizhou’s rhetoric.
Jingwang was so drunk that he forgot all his disguises and revealed the gentle and light lining beneath his fox’s skin. Or maybe he had a pleasant voice. Unlike others, he was always like a lecturing teacher. With the unique leisurely manner of those scholars, Jiang Suizhou made Huo Wujiu feel pleasantly comfortable.
Or perhaps it was…
Jiang Suizhou was genuinely happy, that was why his eyes were glowing, making him especially enjoyable to watch.
Huo Wujiu unknowingly drank all the remaining wine.
They didn’t stop even when the moon was hanging on the branches and the lanterns outside were all out. Even though Huo Wujiu repeatedly controlled everything, Jiang Suizhou still felt completely drunk. His arm was on the table and his head was buried in his elbow, only revealing a pair of watery eyes, hazily looking at Huo Wujiu.
He did not speak, only stared at him quietly.
Huo Wujiu’s throat rolled inaudibly, so he picked up the wine bowl on the table and tilted his head back. The contents were gulped down in one go.
Then he heard Jiang Suizhou’s languid voice, with a touch of sincere smile.
“How nice, Huo Wujiu,” he muttered.
Huo Wu Jiu looked at him.
He saw Jiang Suizhou close his eyes and bury his face in the crook of his arm, like a little animal looking for a place to sleep in its nest.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone to talk to.” His voice was almost a murmur. “I’ve been lonely as hell, and I’m glad I have you.”
Pang Shao’s residence was brightly lit, until the third watch.
Pang Shao stood under the porch with his hands behind his back. The green calyx plum blossoms in the courtyard were blooming like clouds and mists on the top of the mountain. With the red lanterns’ illumination, they somewhat shone warmly.
“Nobody’s back yet?” Pang Shao looked down at the man kneeling in front of him and asked unhurriedly.
The subordinate knelt in front of him, not even daring to raise his head.
“This subordinate is incompetent!” The man said. “I have already sent someone to look for them again, and I will definitely be able to get the brothers back in line tonight!”
Pang Shao stared at him, and after a moment, he sneered.
“You are indeed incompetent.” He said, “But I think those people are even more incompetent.”
That subordinate’s body shook.
Then he heard Pang Shao slowly let out a breath and said.
“There is no need to search for them.” He continued, “By this hour, those who can come back would have returned long ago.”
That subordinate buried his head even lower.
“Go and collect your own punishment,” Pang Shao instructed, turned around and went into the room.
Only the subordinate was left kowtowing at the bottom of the stairs: “Thank you for the great reward, thank you for the great reward!”
The door of the room opened. The bright light shone on him for a moment, and then with the closed doorway, left him in the darkness.
And in the room, several of Pang party officials stood in front of their seats, looking at Pang Shao.
They watched as Pang Shao sat in the main seat.
“How capable.” He commented, “I’ve never seen such a capable person before. Today, it broadened my horizons.”
An official next to him hurriedly stepped forward and asked, “Chief Minister, wasn’t there a single survivor from the assassins under you?”
Pang Shao did not speak.
