Chapter Ninety-Two: Public Opinion (5)

Some people were gathered around the bonfire, laughing and playing, dancing and singing, roasting wild game, composing poems and exchanging witty remarks… each indulging in their own amusements.

It seemed that these sons and daughters of officials never needed to strive for a living. As long as they performed adequately at court, played a few clever tricks, and offered a little flattery, they and their descendants could enjoy wealth and privilege for generations, free from want, spending their days in pleasure and leisure—almost as if they were living in a fairyland.

In an ordinary household, the common folk, after toiling in the fields all day, would likely collapse into bed from exhaustion. But these scions of officialdom spent their days hunting with the emperor and their nights gathered together, drinking and talking without care…

Ah, truly a life of worry-free luxury.

Though Yun Zui was, at this moment, a woman in the prime of her youth, her mind was that of a mature woman in her twenties. She could not blend in with their carefree revelry.

As she gazed absentmindedly into the fire, Yun Zui suddenly sensed a pair of eyes fixed upon her.

She followed the feeling and saw Chi Nie, lounging lazily against a rock by the bonfire.

Their eyes met for a brief moment before Yun Zui quickly averted her gaze.

She had already resolved to keep her distance from Chi Nie.

Moreover, he was surrounded by a throng of elegant young ladies, each vying to display her most charming self before him. Yun Zui had no reason to join their ranks.

She was about to leave when, unexpectedly, that troublesome fellow called out to her!

“Your Highness, come join us!”

That voice was all too familiar to Yun Zui.

It was Chi Yuan. Wasn’t he supposed to be absent? How could she be hearing his voice?

Puzzled, Yun Zui turned her head and saw Chi Yuan standing opposite her, holding two large jars of wine in his arms. His smile was warm and sunny, revealing two pronounced canine teeth that gave him an almost guileless appearance.

At Chi Yuan’s call, the young ladies’ attention instantly shifted.

They, too, had spotted Yun Zui.

If she were to leave now, those ladies might say she was putting on airs or perhaps too shy to join their merrymaking.

But what did Yun Zui have to fear? At first, she hadn’t been in the mood to mingle with them, but now that Chi Yuan had called her, she had no reason to walk away.

With this thought, Yun Zui braced herself against the varied gazes and walked over.

There were no chairs there, only rocks and a long table set with wine. As Yun Zui approached, Chi Nie immediately shifted over, clearly making room for her to sit by his side. But Yun Zui, unwilling to oblige, instead seated herself next to Chi Yuan.

Seeing this, Chi Yuan immediately asked, “Your Highness, can you hold your liquor?”

Glancing at the two jars of wine in Chi Yuan’s arms, Yun Zui arched an eyebrow. “Are you challenging me to a drinking contest?”

Chi Yuan chuckled sheepishly, his eyes almost disappearing with his grin—showing teeth but no eyes.

“My tolerance is terrible. Why don’t you drink with my third brother instead?” He had only been tasked with bringing the wine, never intending to drink any himself.

His capacity for wine was abysmal—how could he dare compete?

When Chi Yuan dragged Yun Zui and Chi Nie into the same conversation, and the young ladies realized there was something unusual between the two, their expressions instantly soured. “If there’s wine, we should all drink together,” one said.

“Yes, we can join in too!” cried another.

One after another, the young ladies clamored for a chance—they would not miss any opportunity to forge a connection with Chi Nie.

Yun Zui glanced at them, deeply skeptical.

Then her gaze settled on Chi Nie, and she said, “As the princess dowager, how could I possibly compete in a drinking contest with you all? Why don’t you test your mettle against Prince Nie instead?”

She had no interest in matching drinks with this group of lovesick girls.

Though displeased at first, the young ladies quickly changed their tune at the thought of drinking with Chi Nie, trading their dissatisfaction for eager willingness.