“Not drink?” Shangguan Ye raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit petulant over the matter of the dancer. Hearing this, his attitude became somewhat insistent. “Is it that you don’t want to drink, or you can’t?”
Murong Qiufeng’s face turned a bit strange as he recalled something, pursing his lips. “I get drunk easily and have very poor behavior when I do.”
His face grew even stranger as he remembered his senior brother’s admonitions.
Poor behavior?
Shangguan Ye was surprised, scrutinizing him. Such an elegant person—how bad could his behavior be when drunk? His curiosity was piqued, and he found himself eager to see this side of Murong Qiufeng.
“Heh, at banquets like this, drinking is essential. You might find it hard to avoid tonight.”
As if to confirm his words, the Emperor initiated another round of toasts just then.
Refusing a toast from the Emperor was out of the question. Shangguan Ye watched Murong Qiufeng with a half-smile.
Murong Qiufeng’s face grew even more troubled. Holding the wine cup felt like holding a poisonous snake or beast.
But Shangguan Ye’s curiosity outweighed his compassion, and he didn’t intervene.
Murong Qiufeng, resigned to his fate, closed his eyes and drank the wine as if facing execution.
Others didn’t notice, but Shangguan Ye watched Murong Qiufeng closely after he drank, waiting to see him drunk.
To his disappointment, Murong Qiufeng’s expression didn’t change. He continued watching the dancer with the same aloofness, only appearing a bit colder.
Had he not drunk enough? Or was he just making excuses earlier? Shangguan Ye felt a bit displeased and drank another cup of wine. More people came to toast, and feeling vexed, he drank continuously, soon going through three jugs.
Meanwhile, Murong Qiufeng sat beside him, maintaining a cold demeanor and avoiding interaction. Given Shangguan Ye’s earlier warning, no one dared approach him, focusing their attention on the main guest instead.
After three jugs, most of the toasting was done, and several dance performances had come and gone. Shangguan Ye felt a bit weary but not drunk. He turned to see Murong Qiufeng still sitting motionless, staring at the dancers who had changed several times.
Shangguan Ye frowned, sensing something odd. He gently patted Murong Qiufeng’s shoulder. “Qiufeng, what are you looking at?”
“Hmm?” Murong Qiufeng slowly turned, his face expressionless.
That one glance almost knocked the breath out of Shangguan Ye. Those dazed, watery eyes and the soft, questioning hum made his heart itch. A surge of heat shot up from his lower body, and his breathing quickened.
Murong Qiufeng’s innocent and detached demeanor was more seductive than any deliberate flirtation. Those clear, moist eyes and soft, adorable hum were unbearably enticing.
Shangguan Ye felt his heartbeat quicken, almost suffocating. Fueled by alcohol, his body grew hotter. He couldn’t let others see Murong Qiufeng like this.
He stood abruptly, supporting Murong Qiufeng’s shoulder and forcing him up as well. “Your Majesty, I’m feeling a bit drunk. I’ll take my leave. Qiufeng, help me out.” Without waiting for a response, he bowed his head and led Murong Qiufeng away.
To others, it appeared as though Murong Qiufeng was helping Shangguan Ye, but in reality, it was Shangguan Ye supporting Murong Qiufeng.
As the two quickly exited the hall, the Emperor’s gaze grew darker, though he had to maintain a facade of politeness.
Once outside, the cold wind cleared their heads a bit. Murong Qiufeng, not entirely drunk, had been circulating his internal energy to suppress the alcohol. Though unsure how long he could maintain it, his tense nerves kept him rational.
He didn’t know what kind of trouble his drunken state might cause. He usually forgot everything when drunk, and his senior brother had forbidden him from drinking around others, saying his behavior was too troublesome.
He had only ever drunk with his senior brother, who was the only one aware of his drunken behavior, and who collected fine wines that even he, who wasn’t fond of alcohol, couldn’t resist.
Seizing the opportunity, Shangguan Ye kept his hold on Murong Qiufeng, looking at his head resting on his shoulder. The cold wind seemed to make Murong Qiufeng relax, allowing the alcohol to take effect. His fair face flushed, eyes moist and dreamy, lips slightly parted, exhaling warm breath—all of which tested Shangguan Ye’s self-control.
“Are you alright? Should I take you home?” Shangguan Ye asked, reluctantly turning his head away from the tempting sight, trying to calm himself.
Murong Qiufeng felt his head getting heavier, and the cold wind felt comfortable. Leaning against Shangguan Ye was comfortable too, and he didn’t want to move. But recalling his senior brother’s warnings, he slowly responded, “Yes.” His head then rested on Shangguan Ye’s chest as if to sleep.
Shangguan Ye felt a burning sensation in his chest, his heart racing like a teenager in love. Taking a deep breath, he held Murong Qiufeng closer, lifted him, and used his lightness skill to fly away from the palace.
The rushing wind cooled his face, easing the heat in his body. He carefully protected Murong Qiufeng from the cold wind, feeling the steady breaths of the person in his arms, who seemed to have fallen asleep.
Looking down at Murong Qiufeng, Shangguan Ye’s lips curled into a warm, soft smile filled with affection. Glancing at the nearby Prime Minister’s residence and his own mansion, he changed direction, deciding to take him to his mansion instead.
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