SEHE Chapter 86.2

Drunkenness (part 2)

By that time, changing the admission qualifications would no longer anger the aristocratic clans.

Because in their eyes, the Imperial Academy would have become mediocre, foul-smelling, unworthy of their status.

Sui Lu’s thoughts suddenly became clear.

Yes, talented aristocratic heirs would go study at other famous mountain academies. The Imperial Academy couldn’t even recruit good prospects—its decline would be inevitable.

A measure with no risk to him could eliminate a political enemy he’d fought for so many years.

He looked at the two of them—one with an iron-blue face, silent; one determined to succeed, seemingly immersed in his own naive dream.

Qi Xiang, oh Qi Xiang, your Imperial Academy’s fate has reached its end.

****

After three rounds of wine, the three had eaten their fill. Pei Yanci and Fang Qingdu went downstairs to see their guest off. After the carriage had gone far, Fang Qingdu asked, “You pressed down my hand earlier, signaling me to stay calm—was it just to watch you sell out the Imperial Academy? To collect money through special slots, and even open admission qualifications to all people of Great Yu—where do you get the authority to do this?”

“I’ve already requested instructions from Qi Daren about this.” Pei Yanci said, taking out a document from his robes with Qi Xiang’s signature on it. “He agreed.”

Fang Qingdu could hardly believe it. His rigid face finally showed emotion. “You two—you’re going to destroy the Imperial Academy’s centuries-old reputation in one fell swoop!”

Before this, he had thought Qi Xiang was on his side. No matter how silver-tongued Pei Yanci was tonight, without Qi Xiang’s approval, no document could reach the Bureau of Ceremonies.

“A gentleman harmonizes without conforming; a petty person conforms without harmonizing. I truly cannot work with you. With such petty behavior, sooner or later you’ll lose your mind and join those degenerate jackals—you’ll come to no good end!”

Pei Yanci watched him quietly, then gently curved his lips at these words. “But you persist in your ‘difference’ and don’t ‘harmonize’ with them—what has that gained you? Have they praised even one word of your measures?”

He patted Fang Qingdu’s shoulder unconcernedly. “It’ll be fine. I’ll handle the rest.”

Fang Qingdu said nothing, only looked at him with confusion.

At the restaurant entrance, the street was full of voices, and red and white lantern light interweaved on Pei Yanci’s face.

At this moment, he realized he couldn’t see through this person.

“What do you mean?”

“Just persist in your own ideas—you don’t need to change anything. If they’re corrupt, let them be corrupt.” Pei Yanci smiled.

“I stopped caring about those people long ago, but you’re still young and mustn’t take the wrong path…”

“I know what I’m doing.”

“You know shit!”

Fang Qingdu was furious to the extreme and said no more, boarding his carriage.

This person was simply obstinate and beyond saving.

Pei Yanci rubbed his nose. To drive a scholar to profanity—that must be quite a skill of his.

Moving his sore neck, he felt the wine in his belly churning. His consciousness was still clear, but the road before him seemed a bit unsteady.

He waited for a good quarter hour, but Wuli still hadn’t come.

The wind blowing from the street corner was hot, mixing with the heat from the wine on his body, making him feel sticky and uncomfortable. The wind blew his head even more dizzy.

Tomorrow he needed to go to the Ministry of Rites, this matter needed to be confirmed as soon as possible…

The follow-up needed to keep pace…

Fang Qingdu, this person, just couldn’t be reasoned with. Why couldn’t he understand? Like a stinking stone in a latrine, impossible to explain things clearly to…

Still misunderstanding people. Indeed, he most hated this kind of blindly loyal person whose brain wouldn’t turn even once…

After returning, he’d still have to wash and bathe himself—so troublesome. Perhaps he should buy a few servants and maids to attend him…

He remembered this restaurant had rooms for rest.

He swayed upstairs, following his memory to the third floor. Pushing open the door, by the bright lamplight inside, he squinted against the glare before making out the person inside.

“Who are you, why are you in this lord’s chambers?”

Tang Xizhui and Huo Cun looked at each other in dismay.

Huo Cun hurriedly put away the account books on the table. “This son will take his leave first.”

For a moment, only Tang Xizhui remained in the room, along with Pei Yanci at the doorway staring at him suspiciously.

Yesterday, Pei Yanci had sent him a message asking his restaurant to reserve a private room. Tang Xizhui naturally had no reason to object, and thinking that since he was entertaining others, there would inevitably be drinking, and if he got drunk and passed out, someone would need to send him home.

He had just entered the restaurant, barely halfway through checking the accounts, when the person barged right in.

Tang Xizhui’s hand covered his bleeding lips in a perfunctory gesture, smiling charmingly. “Xiao Pei’er, don’t you recognize who I am?”

“Why should this lord recognize you? What are you calling me randomly? Is ‘Xiao Pei’er’ something you can call me?… Don’t touch this lord!” Pei Yanci huffily avoided the other’s hand trying to support him, but couldn’t stand steady. He stumbled and fell directly into his embrace. (TL: PY uses 孤 to refer to himself, not 朕 Zhen)

Tang Xizhui kicked back with his heel, closing the door, then carried the person into the room and sat him in his lap.

If he’d known earlier, last time he wouldn’t have needed that palace secret wine. Just a few cups of Thousand Gold Smile would have gotten him drunk and confused, ready to spill any information.

Pei Yanci’s expression looked no different from usual, even his tone of speech was similar. It was just those eyes—moist and misty, his nose tip and cheeks redder and hotter than usual, the sharp cunning intelligence of the past withdrawn, soft beyond measure.

“Hot. Go away.” Pei Yanci pushed his hand away with disdain. “This lord wants to bathe… What are you doing taking off this lord’s clothes?”

Tang Xizhui struggled with him for the sash, caught between laughter and tears. “How can I bathe you without taking off your clothes?”

Pei Yanci tilted his head, frowning as he pondered for a long time before finally understanding the meaning, and nodded. “True. Quickly take off this lord’s clothes… Clumsy hands and feet, can’t even do this well. Are you new here?”

Tang Xizhui suppressed his amusement. “Yes, this servant just arrived. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me.”

“Don’t be nervous.” He slowly patted that solid chest, consoling him. “This lord only kills traitorous ministers and rebels. Someone like you…”

He lifted his head, crescent eyes gazing confusedly for a long while before slowly revealing a smile. “Good-looking. This lord likes it.”

Tang Xizhui lowered his head to kiss the corner of his eye, hands quickly and deftly untying his sash and stripping off his outer garment, his voice low as he coaxed, “Your Majesty, in which country did you kill people?”

“You don’t even know what this lord’s country is called?” Pei Yanci’s eyes immediately filled with suspicion as he pointed at him. “A spy, an assassin. No, a fool.”

He gently rubbed Tang Xizhui’s head. “Why are you so foolish?”

“Yes, this servant is foolish, so can Your Majesty tell me?”

Pei Yanci stared at his face, his gaze sticking and forgetting to move away, couldn’t help but stare in fascination again. “Someone like you, this lord will take ten into the harem and make the Grand General jealous. Mmm… Why can’t this lord’s face move? Something is holding this lord…”

Pei Yanci reached up to pry away the hand restraining his cheeks and chin, his eyes confused, as a thin grinding sound came from beside his ear.

“Your Majesty, carefully tell me—which Grand General is it?”

“Face won’t move.” Pei Yanci mumbled, and his cheeks were immediately released.

“This lord’s face is back?”

He patted his own face with both hands, smiling with satisfaction.

Tang Xizhui held the person, lowering his head to nibble delicately at his soft, hot face. “Your Majesty, is the Grand General formidable?”

“Formidable.”

“Is he good-looking?”

“Good-looking… You’re holding this lord too tightly, it hurts. Let go. This lord wants the Grand General to hold me.”

The fire in Tang Xizhui’s heart leapt from his chest all the way to his eyes. “How does he hold you?”

Pei Yanci’s gaze became vacant, slowly turning somewhat sad. “This lord held him, but he wouldn’t let me hold him. He even pushed me to the ground… He kept begging for mercy… kept begging for mercy… kept begging for mercy…”

The words in his mouth began to repeat endlessly, his eyes drooping, his eye sockets slowly moistening.

“This was the first time this lord liked someone…”

Tang Xizhui pulled at the corner of his mouth. “Do you still like him?”

“Don’t like him anymore. This lord will never like anyone again.”

“Why?”

“He became ugly.” Pei Yanci’s emotions came and went quickly. Having no idea what he was saying, he said with a thick nasal tone, “Too ugly. He even made this lord fall ill. The imperial physicians forced medicine down this lord’s throat for two months. It was all his fault.”

“You have an illness?” Tang Xizhui frowned. How did he not know? “Since you’re ill, why drink so much wine?”

“Can’t drink wine. This lord is constitutionally weak, and soaked in a cold pool all night. Drinking wine will kill me… This lord has gotten used to drinking it—it’s all bitter, but this lord doesn’t want to drink medicine anymore, and doesn’t want to die again.” Pei Yanci earnestly warned him, “This lord absolutely must not drink wine.”

Tang Xizhui hurriedly asked, “Do you feel any discomfort?” But hadn’t he been perfectly fine after drinking a cup last time?

Pei Yanci shook his head. “You’re a palace servant, why do you care so much about this lord…Palace servant…Tang Xizhui!”

He finally remembered who the person before him was. Opening his arms wide, with a cheerful “Hurray!” in his mouth, he happily embraced Tang Xizhui.

“You’re finally here!”