Heartache

Fragrant Fullness Tower

When Yan Wanning arrived at Fragrant Fullness Tower, a waiter led her to the private room where An Yingying was waiting.

"Yingying, what happened to you?"

She had not seen An Yingying in over a month, and when she saw her again, Yan Wanning could not help but be startled. An Yingying looked haggard, and although face powder concealed much of it, her pallor was still hard to hide. She did not look to be in very good spirits either.

It was... it was as if she had suffered a serious illness.

"I'm fine." An Yingying smiled at her, and seeing the concern on her face, said, "Don't worry. What could possibly be wrong with me?"

"Really? But you don't look fine to me, Yingying." Yan Wanning sighed softly. "Although we haven't known each other long, I truly regard you as a friend. If you're in any trouble, you can tell me about it."

"I might not be able to help much, but you'll feel better for having said it."

"Wanning, I know." She smiled and took Yan Wanning's hand. "I just didn't sleep well last night. That's all that's making me look a little haggard."

"All right, then. Yingying, was there something you wanted to see me about?"

"Nothing in particular. Did I disturb you?"

"Not at all. If you hadn't asked me to come, I would have gone to see you tomorrow anyway."

"Mm, take a look and see what you'd like to eat." An Yingying took two jugs of wine from beneath the table. Yan Wanning was startled. "Yingying, are you going to drink?"

"Mm. Would you like some, Wanning?" An Yingying drank a cup and looked at her as she spoke.

Yan Wanning shook her head. She was on her period and should not drink. Besides, if she did drink, her husband would probably give her a good scolding, and it would be hard for her to leave the residence afterward.

"I'm on my period, so I can't join you today, Yingying." She raised a hand to stop her from refilling her cup and said gently, "Drinking is bad for your health. A few cups are fine, but you mustn't have more than that."

Her genuine concern moved An Yingying. "If you can't drink, Wanning, then eat more. I can hold my liquor, so a few extra cups won't do me any harm. Besides, even if I do get drunk, won't I still have you here?"

"That won't do. If we're together and you get drunk while I stay sober, how am I supposed to explain it to Young General Gu?"

Yan Wanning had only been joking, but when she saw the smile fade from An Yingying's face at the mention of Young General Gu, she grew suspicious.

When she had first seen An Yingying and Gu Qingshi together, she had felt that the atmosphere between them was a little strange. But it was a matter between another married couple, so she could hardly ask too many questions. When she entered the private room, she had felt that An Yingying was forcing a smile, with a faint sadness in her eyes.

Now, at the mention of Gu Qingshi, An Yingying's mood had changed. Could there have been some conflict between them?

That had to be it. Otherwise, from what she knew of An Yingying, she was not someone who liked to drink. Yet today she had asked her to come out and wanted to drink, presumably to drown her sorrows.

But as the saying went, drowning sorrow in wine only made sorrow grow.

"Yingying, there's actually something I've been meaning to ask you, but I haven't had the chance."

"Hmm? What do you want to ask, Wanning?"

"It's about Miss Bai Lian, whom I saw at Fragrant Fullness Tower." Seeing that her expression had not changed, Yan Wanning continued, "Although she calls Young General Gu 'brother,' her behavior seemed a little strange, and the way she looked at him seemed... off too?"

"You noticed it too..." An Yingying smiled mockingly. "The people at the Gu residence told me that Bai Lian is the daughter of General Gu's deputy. Her father sacrificed himself on the battlefield to save General Gu. General Gu felt guilty, so he brought Bai Lian, his only daughter, into the residence to raise her.

"Bai Lian has been raised in Old Madam Gu's courtyard since she was little. Because she was well-behaved and obedient, delicate and endearing, and inspired people's pity, Old Madam Gu was very fond of her. Gu Qingshi grew up with her, and they were together morning and night."

An Yingying sounded casual, but she could not hide her disappointment. Yan Wanning silently took her hand, not knowing what to say.

In that case, did that not make Gu Qingshi and Bai Lian... childhood sweethearts?

"Yingying, are you sad because of Young General Gu?"

"Wanning, you're wrong. How could I possibly be sad because of him?" An Yingying drank five or six cups of wine in a row. Yan Wanning snatched the cup from her hand, but she simply raised the jug and drank from it in great gulps.

"Xiao He, Xue'er, quickly, take the jug away from her."

Xiao He and An Yingying's maid Xue'er obeyed and took the jug from her hands. Yan Wanning hurriedly told them to remove all the wine. An Yingying was already quite drunk. Clutching Yan Wanning's sleeve with both hands, she murmured, "Wanning, give me the wine. I'm not drunk yet. I want more."

"All right, all right, you're not drunk. How about a sip of warm water?"

As if coaxing a child, Yan Wanning gently and patiently coaxed her into drinking two cups of warm water. An Yingying wrapped her arms around her slender waist, and soft sobs could be heard.

"Boo-hoo, Wanning, there isn't a single good man among them." An Yingying held her and spoke loudly.

"Huh? Yingying, what's wrong?"

An Yingying did not answer her. She simply wept in sorrow and said, "Gu Qingshi actually wants to take that woman Bai Lian as a concubine. He's deliberately trying to make me die of anger."

"Then again, those two, that scumbag and that bitch, have made eyes at each other often enough. They thought I couldn't see it. They're truly revolting."

As An Yingying poured out the grievances in her heart, her tears fell like beads from a broken string, impossible to stop. A small patch of Yan Wanning's skirt was soaked.

"Wanning, Gu Qingshi hit me for that woman's sake, boo-hoo..."