"Stop drinking!" Qiqi said softly.
The wine cup in front of Hu Xiaotian had already been replaced with a large bowl. Two pots of wine were long since down his throat, his eyes had grown hazy, and his tongue was noticeably thick. "A thousand cups are too few when drinking with a kindred spirit. I'm happy today... have another drink with me..."
Qiqi said, "Do you really consider me a kindred spirit?"
Hu Xiaotian nodded. "A lady confidante..."
"You seem to have more than one lady confidante, don't you?" Qiqi probed.
Hu Xiaotian said, "Men... what man doesn't have three or five lady confidantes... hic!" The fellow let out a drunken belch.
"Tell me. Who are they?" Qiqi's curiosity was itching. Seeing that his bowl was empty, she picked up the pot and filled it for him. Wine loosened the tongue; she could seize this chance to coax a few truths out of him.
Hu Xiaotian chuckled. "Not telling. You might get jealous."
Qiqi said, "I'm not that petty. Besides, it's all in the past. Go on, tell me."
Hu Xiaotian laughed. "You're the one asking me to say it. As for lady confidantes... I've never lacked them, even as a child..."
"Weren't you an idiot as a child?" Qiqi knew at once that he wasn't telling the truth. She leaned forward slightly. "Would my imperial aunt count as one of your lady confidantes?"
Hu Xiaotian nodded, and a trace of sadness actually surfaced on his face.
Qiqi saw it, and displeasure began stirring in her heart.
Hu Xiaotian sighed. "She's gone now. Better not bring her up." He lifted the bowl and gulped down the wine.
Qiqi said, "Who else, besides her?"
Hu Xiaotian said, "Xue Lingjun would count as one..."
Qiqi gritted her teeth and sneered. "The Eldest