Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Ji-Ji!”
On one of the main roads of the royal capital, a few carriages were slowly advancing. The evening breeze of the late autumn was blowing across, making people feel refreshingly cold.
“Stop!”
There was a voice that suddenly came from the carriage in the front. The carriage stopped while Zhan Wushuang, who was seated at the back, opened the curtain with suspicion. Soon enough, a guard that was riding a warhorse came to the side and spoke with a lowered voice, “Young Master Wushuang, Young Master Yi wants to have a drink. My clan’s Young Clan Head asked if you would like to go over.”
“Yes!”
Zhan Wushuang nodded. He informed Zhan Lin’er and jumped out the carriage, soon hopping onto Qian Wanguan’s carriage.
The carriages set course again but soon parted ways. The carriage at the back continued towards the Hidden Dragon Pavilion while the first carriage steered towards the other side.
Zhan Wushuang boarded the carriage to see Jiang Yi seated in silence. Qian Wanguan, who was seated by the side, didn’t say anything either. Zhan Wushuang looked at Jiang Yi and sat down without saying anything.
One hour later, the carriage stopped in front of a luxurious inn. Jiang Yi was the first to get up and enter the inn. It was already late into the night, but there were still plenty of people in the inn. Jiang Yi glanced across and immediately went towards the stairs. He climbed up to the second floor!
There were plenty of people on the second floor, too. There was a table that had many young masters and ladies dressed splendidly; they were in the midst of the drinking party.
Jiang Yi, who was already feeling moody, felt even worse when he saw that table of guests who would occasionally burst out in laughter. Those young ladies would also let out exaggerating giggles from time to time, sending coquettish glances across the table. Jiang Yi said coldly, “I am booking this entire second floor. I will pay for everyone’s wine money. Everyone, please make space.”
“En?”
The entire second floor immediately went quiet; the young master at that table swipe a glance over with eyes filled with rage. The people slammed on the table and stood up to curse. Young masters—who could afford to drink wine at the most expensive inn of the royal capital, Proud Moon Inn—were obviously not lacking in wealth. They were young masters who were both wealthy and had reputable status; hence, they were naturally unhappy with Jiang Yi’s overbearing attitude.
“Get lost!”
A cold yell came from below the stairs and interrupted everyone’s cursing and swearing. Qian Wanguan’s fleshy figure came up out of the stairs as he swept across with cold eyes before speaking with a sinister tone, “Are you going to give some face or not?”
“Huh…”
Those insulting young masters immediately went mute. Their faces grew distressed especially when they saw Zhan Wushuang following behind. The few young masters that were cursing most ferociously quickly gave apologetic smiles. They couldn’t afford to provoke the other members of the Qian Clan and the Zhan Clan—let alone the Young Clan Heads.
“Why are you so pesky? Get lost. All your wine money will be paid by me!”
Seeing that these were going to say something again, Qian Wanguan impatiently waved his hand. He turned around to talk to the innkeeper who followed him upstairs: “Bring me a table of good food and wine. Be quick!”
The group of young masters and ladies slipped away while the rest of the people on the second floor scattered, too. The waiter came over to clean up and quickly served an entire table of great wine and food.
Jiang Yi picked up the wine jug and raised his head to gulp it down without saying a single word. Qian Wanguan and Zhan Wushuang looked at each other, letting out a bitter laugh. They had no choice but to accompany Jiang Yi and drink the wine with him.
The two of them knew that Jiang Yi felt bitter in his heart; hence, Qian Wanguan didn’t mention anything about him arranging his men to send Su Ruoxue back.
Zhan Wushuang wasn’t very clear on the matters between Jiang Yi and Su Ruoxue, but Qian Wanguan knew it very well. This first love of Jiang Yi’s had ended before it could even begin.
If it was anyone else, it might have been easier to deal with; but Jiang Yi was someone that regarded relationships with importance. His priorities were all weighed on his sentiments, and could one imagine how deeply hurt he was today?
One jug, two jugs… ten jugs!
When Qian Wanguan and Zhan Wushuang saw how rapidly Jiang Yi was gulping down the wine. They wanted to say some comforting but realized that they didn’t know what to say.
The marriage between Su Ruoxue and the Crown Prince was set by the lords of the two kingdoms, and it was something that no one could change—not even if Jiang Bieli was to step in. After the previous war, the Great Xia Kingdom had suffered great losses to their military strength. If Su Ruoxue didn’t wish for the eradication of the Great Xia Kingdom, she couldn’t just simply back out from this marriage. Otherwise, she might incur the Crown Prince’s wrath: if the Divine Martial Kingdom’s Lord sent down his orders, their army was probably going to crush the Great Xia Kingdom again.
This was a death knot that no one could untie!
With Qian Wanguan’s judgment, Su Ruoxue had obvious feelings for Jiang Yi; and it was rather deep. If not, she wouldn’t risk death to enter the Tomb of the Heaven Monarch. Zhan Wushuang could see it, too. The period when Jiang Yi went missing, Su Ruoxue had been extremely anxious and would come over every other day to inquire about his situation.
Su Ruoxue was very ruthless tonight, but Qian Wanguan and Zhan Wushuang had to admit that she did the right thing.
Since it was certain that the two of them would never have any happy ending, it was better to act decisively in this complex situation. If this continued to persist, it would cause more harm to Jiang Yi and might completely infuriate Xia Wuhui—giving Jiang Yi no way to establish himself in the Divine Martial Kingdom!
“Bang!”
Jiang Yi was finally drunk as he swayed and fell onto the floor. He struggled as he tried to climb back up and pushed away Qian Wanguan who came over to help him. He knelt on one knee and retched. His body shook unceasingly, but he wasn’t able to vomit.
“Boss. If you really feel so bad, then just cry it out!”
Qian Wanguan looked at Jiang Yi’s ashen face and pursed his mouth. “We are all brothers here; there is nothing to be ashamed of. Cry it out and have a good sleep. Everything will be over. There is an entire world of beauties. With your qualifications, it wouldn’t be a difficult matter to marry a princess. A man must be able to endure whatever that comes…”
“That’s right!”
Zhan Wushuang also spoke and convinced him, “Jiang Yi, don’t let me look down on you. A man should have an indomitable spirit. We should be aiming to rush into the battlefield and stand proud on the pinnacle of the martial dao. A man should aim to slay enemies and accumulate merits; we should not immerse ourselves in relationships. The Kingdom War is about to begin; do you want to go and seek death in there?”
Jiang Yi didn’t reply; it was as though he didn’t hear anything that the both of them said. He knelt on the floor as before and gestured with a wave of the hand. It was only after a moment before he said anything, “You guys go back first. Let me have some peace by myself!”
“Boss…”
Qian Wanguan wanted to say something else, but Jiang Yi suddenly turned around to glare at them. He roared, “Go back!”
“Sigh!”
Zhan Wushuang let out a slight sigh and walked down the stairs. Qian Wanguan looked at Jiang Yi’s fierce expression and muttered like a mistress with a hidden grudge, “I will go if you want to. There is no need to be this fierce…”
After the two of them left, they arranged for a few men to guard the entrance of the stairs. With Jiang Bieli giving out his word, no one would dare to assassinate Jiang Yi before the Kingdom War; hence, they were not concerned about Jiang Yi’s safety.
“Clang!”
After the two of them left, Jiang Yi retched again and struggled to stand up. His legs staggered and fell back onto the ground.
Every time he tried to climb up, he wouldn’t be able to stand up. Finally, he laid down on the corner of the wall. His expression was pale from the inability of alcohol, and his eyes were bloodshot—but his expression looked calm. Jiang Yi’s eyes stared blankly, unknown of what he was thinking about.
Jiang Yi just laid on the floor for the entire four hours before standing up while swaying about. He lifted a wine jug and walked down, pushing away the guard arranged by Qian Wanguan. He staggered and walked into the main street while walking on the outside like he was at a loss.
It was late into the night, and there was a light drizzle. There wasn’t a single soul in the surroundings.
Jiang Yi stood in the middle of the main street with his blank expression. He was facing the sky, allowing the rain to land on his face and drenching his clothes. He looked into the dark sky with his narrow eyes, looking at how the wind blew at the tiny raindrops. It was the first time he felt especially cold during an autumn rainy night.
“Bang!”
After staring for a moment, he closed his eyes and finally couldn’t endure the rush of the alcohol. His body suddenly fell, and he began to sleep soundly on the streets just like that.
“Shh-shh-shh!”
From the distant corner of the street, there was this light sound of footsteps. An absolute beauty dressed in white walked out with an umbrella. She looked at Jiang Yi, who was lying on the ground from afar, and pursed her lips while two streams of tears trickled down silently. It was only after some time before she let out a soft sigh. “Jiang Yi, if there is another life, Ruoxue will answer to your feelings!”
