CHAPTER 220: CHAPTER 218: 2 DRUNKARDS

There wasn’t much rice wine in the red bean soup, you could hardly smell any alcohol. Normal people could consume a whole pot without feeling anything, but Xie Liangchen wasn’t confident in Song Xian’s drinking capacity.

Come to think of it, was there that much leftover red bean soup?

Xie Liangchen looked towards Chen Zigeng.

Chen Zigeng smiled and said, "I made the red bean soup. I saw there were more cooked red beans in the kitchen, so I tried making some. Brother said it was delicious."

Chen Zigeng had watched as Mrs. Gao cooked the soup on a small stove, adding cooked red beans, then this and that, mixing it together, tasting it, and thinking, hmm, sweet.

Chen Zigeng couldn’t help but lick the corner of his mouth.

With the Song Family’s Household Generals guarding outside this courtyard, everyone felt at ease staying here. Mrs. Gao had a drink with Chen Yongyi and others, and had gone to bed early.

This gave Chen Zigeng the chance to cause some mischief.

Xie Liangchen became increasingly restless, walked over to pull Chen Zigeng, and realized his brother’s palm was very hot.

Xie Liangchen said, "Did you taste it while cooking the red bean soup?"

Chen Zigeng nodded, "I had to test if everything was right. If it wasn’t, Brother wouldn’t be able to eat it."

He must have tasted the rice wine while cooking; the rice wine had sugar, and it tasted very sweet. So, brother drank a lot, and during dinner he had a bowl too...

Brother might already be drunk now.

Xie Liangchen couldn’t imagine that this clever brother of hers had managed to get himself drunk, and he might leave her with a mess to clean up.

Song Xian noticed something unusual and looked up at Xie Liangchen, "What’s wrong?"

Xie Liangchen pursed her lips, "General Song, my brother put rice wine in the red bean soup, and he drank some while cooking it."

Xie Liangchen thought she was clear enough. Song Xian knew his own drinking capacity, so he should leave before getting drunk, right?

Song Xian looked at Chen Zigeng, whose face was getting redder, "Zigeng’s drunk?"

Xie Liangchen nodded.

Song Xian put down the bowl in his hand and stepped forward.

Chen Zigeng didn’t seem off except for his flushed face but was clearly more obedient than usual.

"Sister," Chen Zigeng yawned, "I’m so sleepy."

Thank goodness, this little drunkard just wants to sleep.

Xie Liangchen secretly took a deep breath.

Chen Zigeng tried to walk forward, but his steps were a bit shaky. Xie Liangchen was about to reach out to pick him up, but someone beat her to it, scooping up the small Chen Zigeng.

Song Xian said, "Where does Zigeng sleep?"

Xie Liangchen pointed to the rear courtyard, "In the east wing room at the back."

Song Xian acknowledged and strode forward, with Xie Liangchen following behind with small steps.

Under the night sky, the three of them walked in the courtyard. Xie Liangchen looked at Song Xian’s back; General Song stood tall and walked steadily, not like someone who was drunk.

Hopefully, tonight’s trouble would end here—her brother would fall asleep, General Song would eat his fill and leave, and she would wash up and sleep until dawn.

Perhaps Heaven heard Xie Liangchen’s wish; they smoothly arrived at the east wing room.

Chen Zigeng was laid comfortably on the kang bed.

The small figure on the kang bed shifted a bit, his lips moved twice, then he mustered the strength to open his eyes, glanced at Xie Liangchen, and then at Song Xian.

Chen Zigeng mumbled incoherently, "I know everything, Brother... Sister."

Xie Liangchen didn’t know what Chen Zigeng was talking about. She stepped forward to tuck him in, intending to leave when Chen Zigeng held onto her hand.

"Sister," Chen Zigeng said, "there’s still red bean soup, for Brother..."

Still thinking about the soup? Let him drink to a ghost.

Having dealt with one drunk, she didn’t want to create another mess for herself.

Xie Liangchen appeased, "Got it."

Chen Zigeng stopped talking, turned over, and fell completely asleep.

Xie Liangchen and Song Xian walked out of the east wing room, both walking forward in silence. Past this courtyard, turning right led to the room with the spinning wheel, and a left turn led to the front courtyard.

Once she saw Song Xian out of the front courtyard, her mission would be accomplished.

Song Xian slowed his pace, causing Xie Liangchen to hurry ahead to lead the way. As she was about to turn left, an arm blocked her way.

Luckily, Xie Liangchen stopped in time, or she would have bumped into it.

"Sir," Xie Liangchen was startled and looked puzzled at Song Xian, "What’s this about?"

"We took the wrong path," Song Xian said calmly, "We should go right."

Was he not going back? If Song Xian hadn’t drunk the red bean soup, she might not refuse.

But now, it was different. The image of Song Xian drunk was vivid in her mind. She wasn’t willing to take the risk, so while Song Xian was still sober, Xie Liangchen didn’t hesitate to ask him to leave, "Sir, it’s getting late, and I’m a bit tired. How about we discuss anything tomorrow?"

With Song Xian’s proud disposition, hearing her say this, not turning hostile immediately was giving her face. How could he possibly want to stay?

To Xie Liangchen’s surprise, Song Xian still showed no intention of moving forward, his profound eyes staring straight at her.

Xie Liangchen didn’t know what to say when Song Xian asked, "Is there a moon tonight?"

This question came out of nowhere...

But Xie Liangchen instinctively looked up at the sky, "No."

How silly of her, she knew it was a cloudy day, yet she still looked.

Song Xian said, "Then we won’t have Bright Moon Tea."

Hearing this, Xie Liangchen felt a wave of tension; could it be that Song Xian was really drunk? She reluctantly glanced left. There was only a short distance left to see this divine being out the door. Once out of the courtyard, Song Family’s house generals would take over; they surely couldn’t leave their master lying in the street.

Xie Liangchen pondered and probed, "Sir, have it tomorrow then!"

Song Xian didn’t respond immediately; after some deliberation, he nodded, "I suppose that’s the only option."

Xie Liangchen breathed a sigh of relief, "Then let’s head that way!"

Yet Song Xian still didn’t move, his eyebrows slightly furrowed together, "Zigeng said you promised to serve me red bean soup."

Xie Liangchen regretted not having a lantern in hand, or she could have taken a good look at Song Xian to carefully discern his current state—was he drunk or not? If he was drunk, how did he remember Bright Moon Tea and still want red bean soup?

Song Xian didn’t give her time to ponder, "I fulfilled my promise; you should do the same."

Xie Liangchen looked around, at the rooftop, and behind, searching for the figures of Chang An and Chang Yue brothers, but found no sign of them—where on earth had they gone?

Xie Liangchen took a deep breath, "Alright."

Xie Renya said, "I’ll take you to the red bean soup, sir; follow me." She was seventy to eighty percent sure that Song Xian was drunk. Based on her past experience of hitting Song Xian, she felt that when drunk, Song Xian was innately gullible and obedient.

After speaking, Xie Renya headed towards the front courtyard, with Song Xian’s footsteps following behind.

Xie Renya smiled, knowing it was working.

But just as her mouth curved upward, she felt her skirt being tugged, as if caught on something. Turning her head, she saw her dress snagged by a branch.

The branch swayed, trying to tug her back; at the other end of the branch was Song Xian’s hand.

Song Xian was squatting on the ground at the moment, gently shaking the branch in his hand, "We took the wrong way; it’s not over there."