Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“This bottle is exquisite—is it made of glass? What is written on it?” Tong Zhenye’s face was red, and he gasped in admiration at the bottle.
When he hiccupped, his breath was laden with alcohol.
“The blood of courage? In that case, I must try it!”
He took a gulp. The concentrated alcohol hit his mouth and cut his throat all the way to his stomach like a knife. Then, he felt the fire inside.
“Pah…”
“What kind of a thing is this?”
Tong Zhenye was startled. This couldn’t be considered as wine—it was like swallowing knives! This Zhao Prince Consort was really ruthless!
The crowd didn’t know what was happening, so each person took a mouthful of wine.
“Pah…”
“Pah…”
The sound of wine being spit from their mouths was endless!
Although they were Cardinal Heaven experts and had strong bodies, this didn’t mean that they didn’t feel anything! Their internal organs were soft, and this mouthful of liquor felt like they were setting off a fire in their stomachs.
The wine they normally drank was about 10 ABV. Occasionally, they drank the 38 to 40 ABV provided by the empress, which was considered fiery and akin to drinking red hot burning knives.
At 96 ABV, this was the most concentrated alcohol possible.
“Hahahaha! This is really the blood of courage! How could sissies like you drink it?” Qin Chuan laughed provocatively after seeing Tong Zhenye’s expression.
“Old b*stard, do you want to challenge me?” The blue veins on his forehead bulged! If not for Qin Chuan, Tong Zhenye would have dragged down Zhao Prince Consort this afternoon and got punished together! Furthermore, Qin Chuan and Tong Zhenye’s previous enmities couldn’t be washed away by all the water in the rivers, lakes, and seas.
“Oh? Is this sissy so courageous?” Qin Chuan was shocked by Tong Zhenye.
“Come on!”
“Whoever spits it out first is the loser!”
The onlookers quickly pushed the wine case toward them, applauded, and got ready to enjoy the drinking competition.
After the two each gulped down a bottle, their faces immediately became distorted and changed colors!
“Since today is the big day for the empress, I will let you off if you admit defeat!” Tong Zhenye’s face turned red, white, blue, and purple. Then, the same happened to his back and steam almost came out of his forehead. He glared fiercely at Qin Chuan.
“Do you think I fear you?” Qin Chuan returned the stare.
“How about drinking another bottle?”
“Do you still refuse to admit defeat?”
“You are talking nonsense!”
These two had been archenemies for decades and would rather die than give way the other.
After downing one case, both men were staggering around.
After drinking two cases, Tong Zhenye staggered a few steps and burped a mouthful of alcohol vapor at a lamp in a corner of the palace hall.
“Poof!”
There was a big fireball.
Several elders were stunned by this fireball… What was happening?
Someone tried to spray a mouthful of wine at the lamp and caused a huge fireball to erupt.
Oh my gosh, this liquid was flammable! What was this crazy stuff?
Someone sprayed another mouthful and a fireball appeared again.
Another fireball appeared!
And another!
“It’s on fire…” With blurry eyes, Minister Tu Wan rubbed her forehead.
“It’s on fire!” Minister Zhuo Yan didn’t take it seriously, knocking on his head from time to time while feeling dizzy.
Xuan Hua laughed, “Hahahaha!”
In a corner of the palace, the curtains burst into flames.
Officer Lian Liang was momentarily stunned. Then, he shook his head, stepped forward, and declared, “Gentlemen, I will handle this!”
He moved several meters with one step and swung his palm across. A loud noise ensued with the flames seemingly subdued.
“Poof!”
When the dust settled, the flaming curtains and half of the wall had disappeared.
“I’m old and can’t compare with you youngsters. I will go back and rest!” Shi Qing put his hands behind his back and ambled away.
“I’m also tired…” Tu Wan rubbed her head and walked out of the hall.
A few people from the Ministry of Rites tied their loincloths and carried their other clothes as they departed.
After a moment, only Tong Zhenye and Qin Chuan were left lying on the ground and foaming at the mouth. Lian Liang was also there and continued to be in a daze…
…
The empress’s bedroom and the big red curtains surrounded the area solidly except for one part that was open. Ren Baqian and the empress were sitting there dubiously.
Qing Yuan, Hong Luan, and the female court officials had been told to leave by the empress.
Although there were still some procedures that weren’t done, the empress was tired of the tedious and useless rituals from the Ministry of Rites.
Ren Baqian hugged the empress, putting his palms on her waist, his chin on her shoulder, and his nose on her cheek. He could smell a delicate fragrance from her.
“Your Majesty, your heart is pounding…” Ren Baqian sensed that there was a little elephant jumping happily in the chest of the empress.
Ren Baqian felt that it was time to go to bed and take the next step. The empress was flustered, which was normal, but why was he also jittery?
Although they had been together for such a long time, there seemed to be some obstacles that prevented them from taking the next step, and he needed to break through the barriers.
“Your Majesty, I have been learning a new type of martial arts in Qingxin Palace Hall. I haven’t told you before!” Ren Baqian whispered to the empress tenderly.
The empress was nervous and asked subconsciously, “What?”
After that, she felt a big hand in front of her chest and heard these words, “The dragon hand grabbing the bosom!”
The empress immediately tensed up.
Ren Baqian hadn’t taken the next step, yet the empress was all tensed up like a cat with raised hackles.
If his movements were too hasty, his face would be scratched.
While whispering in her ears, his palm touched the softness, but didn’t move further. He only felt the softness and the strong heartbeats in her chest.
After a while, he felt the empress relaxing her body, and held her as she laid on his thighs with her head facing him sideways.
With one hand stroking the other cheek, he pulled her head toward him as he kissed her.
While immersed in kissing, Ren Baqian occasionally parted her teeth to let his tongue penetrate further in.
“What is that sound?” The empress raised her head to look out at the hall. The sound was coming from Zichen Palace Hall.
“Don’t worry about them… What can 10 plus Cardinal Heaven experts do?” Ren Baqian smiled.
He wasn’t going to let any outsiders affect his wedding night!
Ren Baqian untied her red dress. As his fingers were dancing on her white underwear, she blocked him and asked shyly, “What are you doing?”
The steam shot up to his forehead!
“It isn’t what I want to do, it’s what Your Majesty wants to do! As the saying goes, drink the strongest wine and ride the wildest horse. Right now, I’m the wildest horse!” Ren Baqian breathed in her ears.
The empress subconsciously pulled back her neck and then looked at him.
“The wildest horse?” she asked.
“That’s correct! I’m the wildest horse!” Ren Baqian laughed heartily and forced her back to the couch.
