Midnight had passed, and the Marquis's Residence gradually grew quiet.
The brightly lit Banquet Hall was littered with scraps of cloth and empty wine bottles. Missing Moon Manor and Purple Emblem Mountain had paired off to do battle, first tearing at each other's clothes, then forcing wine down each other's throats. By the end, everyone was tipsy, and both sides sounded the retreat and returned to their rooms.
Empress Dowager Guo had yet to finish laying her "Heart-Severing formation" for Old Devil Meconggao. After drinking, she ran off to Purple Emblem Mountain again.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ling and Ye Yunchi had been playing games. Both were dividing their attention between two things and failed to watch how much they drank, so they drank the most and collapsed right there at the feast.
Duoduo helped Her Highness back to her room, while Xie Jinhuan scooped Senior Sister Milk Melons into his arms and carried her to the guest room where she was staying.
Ye Yunchi actually had a considerable capacity for alcohol, but under the dual stimulation of wine and fingers, how could she withstand it? Now she leaned dazedly against his shoulder, her thoroughly scholarly face flushed with a rich, soft allure. She murmured almost inaudibly, "Xie Jinhuan..."
"Hmm?"
"Am... am I being unreasonable?"
Xie Jinhuan entered the room and laid Senior Sister Milk Melons on the bed. "What nonsense are you talking about? How are you being unreasonable?"
Ye Yunchi leaned against the pillow with her eyes closed, clutching Xie Jinhuan's sleeve. "I was born too early and met you too late, but you really do suit my wishes in every respect. I still want to marry, support my husband, and raise children... but you already have a fiancée. By rights, I shouldn't draw my blade and steal someone else's