A pot of plum wine and two white porcelain cups were brought in. I drank mine in one gulp, while he stared at the clear brew in his cup, looking hesitant.
I understood his reluctance; the Emperor of Xi Liang, Yan Huo, could not drink alcohol and would get drunk immediately. I had once given him the nickname: “One-Cup Drunk.” This was no exaggeration; even a small sip would make him drunk, which was why he rarely drank.
Of course, after ascending the throne, the emperor had to drink at times. To maintain his dignity, the imperial physicians likely developed a medicine to prevent him from getting drunk, which he would take before drinking. However, this time he hadn’t anticipated drinking with me and probably hadn’t taken any anti-intoxication medicine.
I was cautious with the word “drunk.” Yan Huo was clever; if I encouraged him to drink, he might become suspicious. It was better to let him drink willingly.
I said, “Oh, I almost forgot you can’t drink. No matter, just watch me.” I poured myself another cup and drank it, murmuring, “Why do you—” I sighed, “Clearly, being sober is not as good as being drunk. Everyone is drunk, so why should I stay awake?”
Yan Huo, don’t blame me for calculating against you. Have you ever been truly sincere with me? Thinking too clearly can feel unsettling.
He saw me hesitating to speak and grabbed my hand, saying passionately, “Thirteen, why did you marry An Jin? Why didn’t you wait for me to come back?”
This question left me somewhat at a loss.
“Maybe it’s—” I frowned, thinking carefully. “Probably—because of age?”
“You know, for a girl to reach almost twenty without getting married creates a lot of pressure.”
He was stunned.
“Of course, An Jin is also a good choice,” I added. “Although he’s a bit fickle, at least we grew up together and know each other well. Isn’t that better than marrying someone you only know superficially?”
Yan Or was speechless, frowning and turning his head, grabbing the white porcelain cup on the table and drinking it down in one gulp, likely treating the wine as tea.
