Ning Fengzhi stared at Lu Yuan, his elegant composure cracking.
"…Rongrong gave you that wine?" His voice was flat with disbelief.
Lu Yuan nodded seriously, recounting the details as if reporting on a battle. "Yes. The altar itself—glass-like finish, delicate seals, strong scent when you crack it. The packaging alone told me it was something extraordinary."
The more he described, the colder Ning Fengzhi felt inside. His heart was bleeding.
That was one of my two treasured altars. Two! And this boy already drained one.
"Gone," Ning Fengzhi whispered to himself. "Completely gone."
He hadn't touched those jars for years, each drop priceless. Yet his precious daughter had cheerfully handed one to Lu Yuan, who gulped it down like common swill.
"How? Impossible! Rongrong said there was another one left!"
Lu Yuan blinked, then smirked. "Oh? So you do have another! I thought as much. No one treasures just one jar of good wine."
Ning Fengzhi: "…."
Nothing left to love. His sect, his daughter, even his wine—betrayal at every turn.
Lu Yuan licked his lips, leaning closer. "Uncle Ning, don't worry. I'll come back to the sect and get the other altar myself."
Ning Fengzhi forced himself not to cry.
But he dragged his tone back to business. "Enough about wine. I didn't bring you here for drinking today. I want you to meet someone."
"Don't want to," Lu Yuan answered instantly, tilting his head lazily. "Meeting people is boring. Drinking makes sense."
Ning Fengzhi squinted, then delivered the only threat guaranteed to work. "If you don't come, I'll drink the last jar myself."
Lu Yuan stiffened. "You wouldn't dare."
"You know I would."
"Fine!" Lu Yuan sighed in defeat. "But make it quick. And when we get back, the wine's mine."
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace
Tons… Tons… Tons…
Ning Fengzhi's temples throbbed as he watched Lu Yuan down another jar on the carriage ride. By the time they reached the palace gates, Lu Yuan's cheeks were already warm and his steps swaying.
Perfect. By the time he meets the heir I wanted to introduce him to, he'll be half-dead drunk. What an impression to make.
Before Ning Fengzhi could reconsider, a crisp voice rang out.
"Teacher!"
Lu Yuan jerked his head up. His hazy eyes lit at the familiar figure wearing flowing robes.
"Xuexue! My Xiao Xuexue!"
He lunged forward and wrapped Xue Qinghe (the disguised Qian Renxue) into a bear hug, his large palms patting her chest and waist with zero restraint.
Smack. Smack.
Qinghe's smile froze. Her jaw tightened. "Brother Lu Yuan… didn't we agree? No hugging. No… slapping my butt in front of people."
Her voice trembled with suppressed fury and embarrassment. Last time he'd done that, several palace attendants saw. Since then the entire court whispered she had strange preferences. Rumors chased her daily—that the Crown Prince liked men.
"You two… know each other?" Ning Fengzhi blinked in astonishment.
"Yes, teacher," Xue Qinghe forced out with practiced calm. "We've… known each other for a while."
Ning Fengzhi relaxed instantly. Excellent! He'd been worried an elegant, composed person like Qinghe wouldn't tolerate Lu Yuan's reckless nature. But judging from this scene—they were already close.
Suspiciously close.
Lu Yuan slung an arm over Qinghe's shoulder. "Xiao Xuexue, let's go drink."
"Teacher, we'll go first," Qinghe added politely, but her hand twitched with annoyance as Lu Yuan dragged her away again.
Ning Fengzhi stood frozen, mouth half open. This kid really… has a set. Women, nobles, princes—does no one escape his orbit? Perhaps I should stop worrying about his future entirely.
A Royal Meeting
Inside the palace estate, Lu Yuan stumbled past carved screens and plush carpets, pushing open a door with confidence.
"Eh? Xiao Xuexue, why is there a girl in your house?"
A young princess sat primly on a stool, dressed in soft silks. Her short hair framed a gentle, noble face. She turned in surprise as Lu Yuan entered, his arm still clamped on Qinghe's shoulder.
"This is my younger sister, Xue Ke," Qinghe introduced quickly.
"Little Sister, this is the person I've mentioned before."
"B-brother!" Xue Ke hissed, flushing scarlet. Why say it like that?
Lu Yuan blinked, baffled. "Mentioned me? Ha… must be because you wanted to drink with me!"
He reached out to slap her shoulder jovially, but Xue Ke's eyes widened in horror. She squeaked and hopped backward like a startled rabbit.
"I-I don't drink," she stammered, face pale. She had grown up with the rules of noble etiquette drilled into her since childhood. To see this disheveled young man, smelling of wine, touching royalty so casually—unbelievable!
Lu Yuan snorted. "Don't drink? Then what's even the point? Come on, Xiao Xuexue, let's drink instead."
Xue Ke froze. That nickname—Xiao Xuexue? And their shoulders pressed together, their casual closeness—it made her head buzz.
When did her dignified brother become like this with… with a man?
Lu Yuan waved impatiently. "Little beauty, it doesn't matter if you drink or not. Just pour us wine."
Xue Ke's brain screamed No! but… somehow, unable to refuse, she nodded. "O-okay."
The princess of Heaven Dou, reduced to pouring wine for a drunkard. How had it come to this? Yet curiosity gripped her at the same time. Handsome, infamous, reckless—this was the Lu Yuan the entire empire whispered about.
Three rounds later, Lu Yuan's voice grew thick. Finally, with a hic… he collapsed with his jar still in hand.
Snore.
"Lu Yuan… asleep?" Qinghe leaned closer, brushing her fingers near his cheek. "So reckless. So infuriating." Her heart twisted with a strange pang of fondness despite herself.
Xue Ke could hardly breathe. Her eyes lingered on him, cheeks hot. Slowly, as if drawn by a force she barely understood, she bent down—
And pressed her lips to his cheek.
Her eyes flew wide the instant she pulled back. What have I done?!
Heart hammering, she staggered away. Fortunately no one saw. If word spread… the Nine Clans punishment awaits! What insanity possessed me?
Yuexuan
Later, within the refined halls of Yuexuan, known for teaching etiquette to nobles.
"Yuehua Aunt," Princess Xue Ke whispered, seated before a beauty robed in silver. Tang Yuehua's posture was flawless, every gesture laden with grace.
"How can I… attract the attention of a boy?"
Tang Yuehua's brows arched slightly. Few things shocked her, fewer still made her nearly spill tea. But this shy little princess asking for advice on love—unexpected.
"You have someone in mind already," Yuehua said gently.
"…Maybe. He's unlike anyone I've known. Entirely different. Interesting." Xue Ke's face burned.
"And what is his attitude toward you?"
Xue Ke bit her lip, hesitated, then whispered, "I think… he likes men…"
Tang Yuehua nearly choked on her tea. "Pfft—cough! Ahem!"
She forced her composure back. Rarely had she been so rattled.
"Why do you think so?"
"Because!" Xue Ke faltered. "He completely ignores me! His eyes never leave wine… or my brother. He clings to Brother Qinghe, shoulder to shoulder, calling him Xiao Xuexue, dragging him everywhere. It's unscientific! Even I, Princess of Heaven Dou, he spared no attention. Then… he must like men!"
"…."
Tang Yuehua pressed her forehead delicately. She could hardly explain that Lu Yuan was just hopelessly drunk, rude, and everyone's headache. "Perhaps… impress him with your own charm. True charm."
Xue Ke's expression firmed. "Charm? Yes… I can do that!"
Tang Yuehua smiled faintly, sipping tea to steady herself. "At least, may I ask. The name of this hopeless person?"
Xue Ke beamed softly. "His name is Lu Yuan."
Tang Yuehua's eyes sharpened. "Lu Yuan? The one the entire Douluo Continent whispers about these days?"
Xue Ke nodded eagerly, joy sneaking into her lips at the mention of the name.
"Bring him to Yuexuan," Tang Yuehua said finally. "I would like to see for myself what kind of man inspires such chaos."
--
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