Xie Junheng lifted the wine jug and filled Yun Tianluo's cup.
The wine flowed into the cup with barely a sound. He lowered his eyes and once again heaved a helpless sigh inwardly.
What even was all this?
The night deepened, moonlight spilling over the palace courtyards.
The singing at the feast gradually faded. The Ceremonial Officer announced the closing rites, and the banquet ended.
The officials rose one after another to take their leave, and the newly successful scholars left their seats in turn.
Pei Junyao and Liu Niang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Yet Xie Junheng merely remained seated respectfully at Yun Tianluo's side, making no move to rise. He knew this Lord Yun probably would not let him leave so easily.
Sure enough, just as Xie Junheng hinted at taking his leave, a languid sigh came from beside him.
Yun Tianluo propped his chin on one hand, gazing at the remaining wine on the table with a faint, ambiguous smile.
"With all the drinking tonight, I seem to have had a little too much."
Xie Junheng: "..."
Guessed right. Not laughing now.
Yun Tianluo looked every inch the refined gentleman who could not hold his liquor. He looked at Xie Junheng and said, "Top scholar, would you help me back to my residence to rest?"
His words were gentle, but they were an explicit order from a superior, leaving no room for refusal.
Not far below them, Pei Junyao and Liu Niang heard this and turned in unison, casting worried looks at Xie Junheng.
Protocol prevented the two from approaching to ask questions. They could only signal with their eyes before leaving with the others, planning to secretly find someone to rescue him as soon as possible.
Xie Junheng sighed faintly inwardly, his expression as respectful