Xu Xingchen considered keeping the secret already the limit of his benevolence, having reached his absolute threshold. He hadn’t expected Shen Liuxiang’s wild imagination to extend to asking for his active help, which angered him immensely.
“Absolutely impossible!”
Shen Liuxiang was silent for a moment, then his sleeve fluttered as he caught Xu Xingchen’s trembling hand. “I have no one else to discuss this with, only you.”
Xu Xingchen was taken aback, staring wide-eyed at his gripped hand. “Speak properly! Our brotherhood hasn’t reached the level of holding hands! Let go! Don’t cling to me! Don’t you dare cling to me!”
Shen Liuxiang was only holding his hand fearing he might run away in a flash. Hearing this, his lips twitched slightly. After pondering for a moment, he suppressed his emotions, lowered his long eyelashes, and exuded an aura of melancholy.
Xu Xingchen’s hand, which had been struggling forcefully, was affected by his sudden downcast mood and unconsciously stopped.
“You’re the only one who can help me.”
Hearing Shen Liuxiang say this, Xu Xingchen felt a lump in his throat.
To be called the only one who could help—was he really that important? Well, it made sense. Xinglian was unsuitable, Imperial Father was out of the question, so only he remained.
If he refused, Shen Liuxiang would have nowhere to turn.
After much internal conflict, Xu Xingchen’s rationality finally gave way. “Fine, I’ll help you uncover his true feelings.”
Hearing this, Shen Liuxiang’s lips curled up. He turned around, secretly snapping his fingers, the gloominess on his face completely vanishing.
After Shen Liuxiang was led away, Zhou Xuanlan drained the medicine bowl in one gulp. After resting briefly, he went out to look for him, but after just a few steps outside the door, he was stopped by a group of maidservants saying the Young Lord had summoned him.
Zhou Xuanlan instinctively thought it was Shen Liuxiang, but upon arrival, he discovered it was Xu Xingchen standing in the courtyard.
He showed confusion, especially upon seeing dozens of jars of wine arranged in the pavilion.
Xu Xingchen invited him to sit, casually picking up a jar of wine. “These are all excellent wines brewed with premium spiritual herbs. Hearing you were injured, I specially had them brought out to treat you.”
Zhou Xuanlan’s eyebrow twitched slightly, his gaze imperceptibly glancing toward a distant rockery, sitting in the pavilion with great puzzlement.
Why was Master hiding his presence?
His gaze carried a hint of investigation as he watched Xu Xingchen place the wine jars from the ground onto the table in quick succession. The rich aroma of wine immediately spread. Xu Xingchen said: “The spiritual effects of this medicinal wine cannot be eliminated with spiritual energy, or the medicinal efficacy will be greatly reduced.”
Zhou Xuanlan pondered thoughtfully, his sleeve lightly sweeping as two wine cups appeared on the table.
He picked up a jar of wine, about to fill the cups, when Xu Xingchen said: “I won’t drink. All this wine is for you.”
Zhou Xuanlan’s eyes shifted slightly as he withdrew his hand, chuckling lightly: “I almost forgot, this wine’s intoxicating effects can’t be cleared with spiritual energy. Some people with poor alcohol tolerance shouldn’t touch it. You’re right not to drink.”
Xu Xingchen immediately frowned: “My alcohol tolerance isn’t poor at all.”
Zhou Xuanlan’s expression was half-smiling as he smoothly removed the wine cup in front of Xu Xingchen. “Young Lord Xu should still avoid drinking, or at least drink less. This is the Imperial Palace; it wouldn’t be good to get drunk and lose composure. I’ll drink alone.”
Xu Xingchen laughed in anger. This demon king was clearly provoking him and looking down on him. “Nonsense. I’m known as the Wine King of Mount Shengqi!”
Xu Xingchen glanced at the table, directly picking up a jar of wine and tapping it against the wine cup in front of Zhou Xuanlan, as if mocking him for drinking from a cup. “I’ll drink from this!”
In the distant rockery, Shen Liuxiang, peering through a small hole toward the pavilion, slowly drew a question mark with his fingertip.
Why was Xu Xingchen the one drinking in great gulps? Wasn’t he supposed to avoid drinking and just get Zhou Xuanlan drunk?
Shen Liuxiang’s expression was puzzled.
Compared to Xu Xingchen’s bold drinking posture, Zhou Xuanlan appeared casual and unhurried, leisurely drinking from his small wine cup. Without any snacks, they sat opposite each other, merely drinking jar after jar in silence—an extremely dull scene.
Shen Liuxiang watched for a while, unable to stifle a yawn, almost falling asleep in his drowsiness until his wind-sensing technique caught a “gulp” sound from the pavilion.
Rubbing his eyes, Shen Liuxiang looked and saw Xu Xingchen’s hand loosening on the wine jar, which rolled on the table before being stopped by Zhou Xuanlan.
Xu Xingchen’s head swayed back and forth, his cheeks flushed red, looking as if he might collapse onto the table at any moment. At his feet were neatly arranged more than ten empty wine jars, while Zhou Xuanlan had only two empty jars by his feet.
Shen Liuxiang: “…”
Zhou Xuanlan put down his cup with a calm expression and spoke: “You’re drunk.”
Xu Xingchen smacked his lips, unwilling to admit it, saying dizzily: “I’m not drunk. I still need to get you drunk.”
Zhou Xuanlan narrowed his eyes slightly: “Why do you want to get me drunk?”
Xu Xingchen’s head was foggy. After processing for a while, he uttered the core phrase Shen Liuxiang had told him: “Truth comes out after drinking.”
Zhou Xuanlan pondered briefly: “Is that Master’s intention?”
Xu Xingchen nodded honestly, slurring: “Yes, he has something to ask you but can’t ask directly. It’s best to ask when you’re drunk.”
Zhou Xuanlan asked puzzledly: “What does he want to ask?”
From a distance, Shen Liuxiang’s heart skipped a beat. No way, was he about to be betrayed just like that?!
Fortunately, Xu Xingchen waved his hand, principled even in his drunkenness: “Can’t say. He told me to keep it secret.”
Shen Liuxiang breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the intoxicated Xu Xingchen and holding his forehead in distress. Seeing the plan was failing, he was about to leave when unexpectedly, Zhou Xuanlan put down his wine cup and picked up a jar to drink directly.
Shen Liuxiang was stunned.
Knowing it was deliberate, Zhou Xuanlan still wanted to drink?
Hiding in the rockery, Shen Liuxiang watched Zhou Xuanlan efficiently empty jar after jar, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Vaguely understanding his intention, he couldn’t help but walk out.
Why be so obedient!
He rushed to the pavilion, smelling the thick aroma of wine in the air, and took the wine jar from Zhou Xuanlan’s hand. Wine sloshed and spilled on the ground.
Zhou Xuanlan raised his black eyes to look at him, his expression normal, though he paused briefly before saying slowly: “Master.”
Shen Liuxiang waved his hand in front of him: “Are you alright?”
Zhou Xuanlan shook his head slightly, seemingly still sober, pointing to the person sleeping on the table across from him. “He’s drunk.”
Seeing Zhou Xuanlan’s condition was still good, though his gaze was somewhat unfocused, Shen Liuxiang walked to Xu Xingchen’s side and placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking it gently. “Xu Xingchen! Xu Xingchen!”
Xu Xingchen frowned, raising his head and squinting, his crown askew. After staring for a while, he tugged at Shen Liuxiang’s sleeve, muttering: “Why are there two Shen Liuxiangs? You can use the body-splitting technique too?”
As he spoke, he revealed an unhappy expression: “One is annoying enough, why is there another one?!”
Shen Liuxiang: “…I’ll take you back.”
He put Xu Xingchen’s arm around his neck, intending to help him back, but Xu Xingchen was uncooperative, complaining: “Stop swaying! Stop swaying! You’re making my vision blurry!”
To a drunk person, everything in sight appears to be floating.
Shen Liuxiang said: “Alright, alright, I won’t sway. Let me take you back to your room.”
He had earlier asked Xinglian to prepare a bowl of sobering soup, originally intended for Zhou Xuanlan, but now it seemed it would be consumed by Xu Xingchen, to help him sleep soundly after drinking it.
Reeking of alcohol, Xu Xingchen pointed at Zhou Xuanlan: “I helped you get him drunk. Aren’t I amazing?”
Shen Liuxiang’s face was indescribable, but he placated: “Amazing, amazing! You’re the most amazing!”
Xu Xingchen hummed with satisfaction. Now more cooperative, he stood up unsteadily. Seeing Shen Liuxiang reach out to support him, he was quite accommodating. But at that moment, a shadow fell beside Shen Liuxiang.
It was Zhou Xuanlan, who had been watching from across the table. With a grim face, he reached out and forcefully turned Shen Liuxiang’s face toward him, making them face-to-face. Then, lowering his head slightly, he examined the phoenix eyes beneath the dark eyelashes before nodding with satisfaction.
“Master shouldn’t pay attention to others. Just look at me like this.”
Zhou Xuanlan’s thin lips curled slightly, but before he could enjoy the moment, a force pushed him away. “You get away!”
Zhou Xuanlan frowned: “You get away!”
“Say that again!”
“You get away!”
Watching them argue like children, seemingly about to come to blows, Shen Liuxiang’s head was pounding. He quickly separated them.
He looked at Zhou Xuanlan, who was slightly more reasonable and sober: “You follow behind me.” Then he supported Xu Xingchen, escorting him back to his room.
Coincidentally, Xu Xinglian was approaching with sobering soup. Seeing Xu Xingchen’s drunken appearance, she was surprised, then smiled slightly: “How did brother get drunk too? Luckily, I made extra.”
Xu Xingchen looked at the offered bowl, shaking his head dizzily. “Won’t drink.”
Xu Xinglian said helplessly: “Brother, just take a sip.”
Xu Xingchen: “Not fragrant, won’t drink.”
Shen Liuxiang, who was supporting him, raised an eyebrow: “What a big bowl of soup! I bet the Young Lord of the Imperial Palace absolutely cannot finish it in one gulp!”
Xu Xingchen widened his eyes: “You’re underestimating me! What’s the bet?”
Shen Liuxiang shrugged, pointing to the bed in the room: “If you win, the bed in the room is yours. If you lose, the bed is mine.”
Xu Xingchen immediately snatched the sobering soup, tilting his head back as his Adam’s apple bobbed, gulping it all down. Xu Xinglian stood by, unable to suppress a light laugh. “Brother still has his methods.”
Xu Xingchen drained it in one go, turning the bowl upside down and shaking it—not a drop remained. “See, who said I couldn’t finish it?”
Shen Liuxiang escorted him to the bedside, putting on a reluctant expression: “What a pity! I really wanted to lie on this big bed!”
Hearing this, Xu Xingchen snorted coldly, turned around to quickly remove his boots and got into bed, claiming his territory. After fidgeting for a while, his eyelids gradually closed.
Shen Liuxiang breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at the very unhappy Zhou Xuanlan, and said to Xu Xinglian: “Please look after Xingchen. I’ll take him back.”
Xu Xinglian nodded: “Rest assured, brother.”
Shen Liuxiang pulled Zhou Xuanlan back to the room. All the way, Zhou Xuanlan didn’t resist, allowing himself to be tugged along.
Until they entered the door, at the moment of closing it, Zhou Xuanlan suddenly pushed him against the door.
Shen Liuxiang’s back hit the door with a “bang.” The person in front of him used great force, his body emanating the smell of alcohol, his gaze deep and profound. One hand gripped Shen Liuxiang’s slender, fair wrist, while the other propped against the door beside his ear, leaning closer.
Shen Liuxiang looked at the magnified handsome face, his breath catching, his heart skipping a beat.
This gesture, could it be—!!
Unexpectedly, just as his thoughts jumped several levels, his disciple’s head tilted to the side, his chin resting on Shen Liuxiang’s shoulder.
Zhou Xuanlan breathed out a hint of alcohol, both his hands gradually moving in unison to embrace Shen Liuxiang’s waist, his voice indistinct: “Master, can Master let me hold you for a while?”
Shen Liuxiang: “…”
—Just this.
This is adorable! Thanks for the update!
You did great, little guy!
Thank You for the new chapter （。ˇ ⊖ˇ）♡