Chapter 132 Drink: “Hope you’ll be more self-aware.”

Chapter 132: Drinking: "I hope you can be more self-aware."

Tian Qin spent the night carousing, and it was only near dawn that she stumbled drunkenly back to her room, supported by two maids. She swayed unsteadily, her head throbbing with pain, her feet soft and numb. Her long lashes fluttered like fans, dotted with a few drops of wine.

Tian Qin pushed open the door, still mumbling drunkenly. Carelessly, she tripped over her hem, and her face pitched toward the ground, about to face-plant. Fortunately, a steady, strong hand caught her in the darkness.

At the same time, two candles flickered to life.

"You drank that much?"

Xie Tanwei's voice was cold and stern like a winter star. He steadied her, his tone laced with unmistakable reproach.

Tian Qin's vision was blurry. Looking up at the elegant gentleman with dark brows and clear, noble features, she mistook him for a guest. She shook off his hand and flashed a practiced smile, distant and measured: "Sorry, sir, the party's over. If you want me to drink with you, come back tomorrow."

Xie Tanwei frowned. A sliver of cold light flickered and vanished. Abruptly, he seized her by the waist.

"You're truly drunk, I guess."

He roughly dragged her to the basin, intending to scoop up a ladle of water to splash her awake. After a moment's thought, he opted for a gentler approach instead. He dipped a towel in cold water, wrung it out, and wiped her wine-soaked face, his strokes somewhat rough.

"Listen to me: no more drinking from now on."

Without warning, Tian Qin grasped his hand—his knuckles distinct, long and elegant, fair and pristine. Her bright eyes shimmered with innocent naivety, and she immediately brought it to her mouth. Her teeth sank in, leaving shallow bite marks and saliva from her mouth. She acted as if she had no idea what this object was, like a child.

Xie Tanwei froze. His heart skipped a beat, and for some reason, a shiver of fear ran through him.

Instinctively, he didn't move, letting her bite him. The harsh words he was about to speak died in his throat.

She bit him, then licked him.

After nibbling for a while, Tian Qin lazily pressed her heavy head against the back of his hand, which was cool, as if she had found a comfortable jade pillow. She rubbed against it, her eyelids growing heavier. Her limbs stretched out comfortably, and as she spoke, she drifted into sleep.

"Don't sleep." Xie Tanwei hadn't finished speaking.

He parted her lips, revealing her small, porcelain-white, sharp teeth, gleaming with a cold white light. She lay sprawled across him, like a spring blossom plucked from its branch.

Xie Tanwei let out a sigh, helpless.

Liu Ruyan had assured him solemnly that Tian Qin only drank with guests and engaged in no other physical contact.

Even so, a faint displeasure simmered in his heart. Her conversations with male patrons had often crossed the line.

Tian Qin was already asleep. Xie Tanwei helped remove her jewelry and clothes, wiping her body clean to eliminate the smell of alcohol. She was like a lazy, compliant cat, entirely supple as if boneless, exuding pure seduction. Xie Tanwei suspected she was feigning sleep.

From her increasingly reckless behavior recently, he had keenly sensed the defiant sparks.

She resented him for throwing her into this brothel, and since she couldn't escape, she had decided to hit rock bottom, drinking with everyone day after day. If he hadn't absolutely forbidden her from receiving guests, her bedchamber would have been filled with countless men, all kneeling at her feet, desperate to be under her skirt.

He seemed to have overestimated his own tolerance. Hearing her laugh loudly with other men made him burn with jealousy. He was tempted to lock her away again, shutting her in the dark, not allowing her even to leave this door, making her eat, drink, and sleep under his constant surveillance, where she could see only him.

But for now, he didn't want to touch her.

He wanted to see what she would do, how big a scene she could cause. He had his limits, and he hoped she would be wise enough to stay within them, not stupidly step over the line.

Xie Tanwei rubbed Tian Qin's jade-like cheek with a cool, indifferent air.

The next morning, pale yellow sunlight fell on her face. Tian Qin's lashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. She was wrapped in a soft blanket, her hangover headache was gone.

Tian Qin forced her sore, lethargic body upright and noticed that Xie Tanwei was there.

Xie Tanwei had his back to her. Dressed in robes as white as washed ice and snow, he seemed extremely cold in the pale morning light. He was hunched over a desk, writing official documents, his brush flying. As soon as she awoke, he didn't turn around, as if he had eyes in the back of his head. "Awake," he said, his voice warm but cool.

Tian Qin rubbed her groggy head and just hummed softly.

Their relationship seemed awkward again.

She knew perfectly well what she had done last night—she had crossed a line.

"Conducting state affairs in a brothel?" Right off the bat, she said something incredibly rude.

Xie Tanwei's voice was like cold gold and jade as he let out a light laugh. "For you."

"Me?" Tian Qin gave a dry, sarcastic smile, playing along: "No need. If you don't like it, just take the alcohol away. I won't drink anymore."

Xie Tanwei put down his brush, meaningfully: "If I take the alcohol away from the brothel, can your heart really stop drinking?"

Tian Qin was still groggy from sleep, her hair a mess. She didn't understand at first. She touched her steadily beating heart—a heart doesn't drink, only the mouth does.

She yawned, leaning against the bed in a daze, her face blank, not taking his words to heart.

Suddenly, Xie Tanwei stood up, his light robe and sash rustling softly. He planted his arms on either side of her, trapping her in the narrow space of the bed.

He took her chin and asked abruptly, "Am I old?"

Tian Qin's eyebrows raised, confused.

"What?"

The man before her was impeccably handsome, above the mundane world, like pines and moonlight. Sometimes he was warm spring sun that soaked into your bones, other times he was a chilly autumn glow—ever-changing. But in any demeanor, he was far from old.

The orchid scent from Xie Tanwei's robe carried a hint of bitterness. "You have needs, yet you find someone else instead of me."

Tian Qin's drunken drowsiness vanished. She knew he must have learned about her drinking with the mason.

"I told you, if you don't like it, I won't do it..."

"I hope you can show some self-restraint." Xie Tanwei interrupted, placing a finger on her lips. It was just a mild suggestion, not a mandatory demand. Because if she crossed the line, he had ways to put her back in her place.

Tian Qin paused, then pushed him away. Without a word, she dressed herself and did her makeup.

Xie Tanwei had come to spend the night with her, more like a deliberate warning. He finished his official business and left without even saying goodbye. Tian Qin knew that he was likely harboring anger and dissatisfaction, but it hadn't reached the point of explosion. He left behind this gentle yet cold demeanor, like a sharp sword hanging overhead, unfathomable.

Tian Qin sat alone for a while, her mind a mess of knots. Perhaps the alcohol's effect was still lingering, numbing her so she couldn't feel joy or sorrow.

Was she trying to provoke him? No, she didn't dare.

The reason she did this was simply to make herself feel better. Every time she got drunk, the haze of alcohol felt like a thick wall, isolating her from reality. She crawled into a shell, protecting herself.

His possessiveness wouldn't let her receive guests. She hadn't, after all. What more did he want?

If he was still dissatisfied, he could just kill her. Then he wouldn't have to see her and be annoyed. It would be done and dusted.

Chaotic thoughts flowed through Tian Qin's mind. She groped her way to the table, dazed, and started pouring herself more to drink. There was only half a cup left, hardly enough to quench her thirst. But it didn't matter—she would drink every single drop.

The fiery liquid scorched her throat, turning into heart-piercing tears. Turning her head, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair was disheveled, carrying a wild beauty. The mellow wine made her eyes look glassy.

Young Master Li of the Dali Temple, the generous Wang Yuanwai, the deeply devoted wealthy merchant Jia, and the sturdy mason from Jia's household... What could she do? She liked them all so much.

She lay on the table, drinking and daydreaming about inviting them tonight. Before she knew it, she'd drained the cup.

Tian Qin drifted off again without realizing it. When she woke up, Liu Ruyan was gently patting her, said worriedly, "Miss Yingge, wake up, it's mealtime. You've drunk too much wine."

Tian Qin was dazed, not realizing she had fallen asleep again.

"Oh..." She was just dozing off.

"You've been so sleepy lately. You should drink less wine; it's bad for your health." Liu Ruyan scolded as she ordered the servants to set the table.

The best chef in the whole building cooked separately for Tian Qin—a uniquely special treatment.

Liu Ruyan, a shrewd businesswoman well-connected, had witnessed the matriarch kneeling to Miss Yingge, and aside from shock, she felt even more terrified. She abandoned any previous intent to tame Yingge and bowed down obediently and served as Yingge's maid.

Tian Qin picked up her chopsticks but had no appetite for the delicacies. Having grown accustomed to wine, she only craved its fiery kick; everything else tasted bland.

After a couple of bites, she regained some strength and sat before the dressing mirror to apply makeup. It was dusk; the sun slanted westward, and people in the streets who had toiled all day were packing up and heading home in twos and threes, while her colorful night was just beginning.

Lately, Tian Qin often did her own makeup, frequently complaining that the maids didn't make it bold enough or bright enough. With red candles, spring breeze, wine down her throat, and the sounds of instruments, drums, and laughter, she had fallen in love with many men, spending whole nights throwing dice with them. Her makeup needed to be bold and provocative.

Watching from the side, Liu Ruyan was terrified. Yingge dared to earn this money, but Liu Ruyan herself didn't dare.

"Miss, please stop, don't do this... There are no guests tonight."

"Why?" Tian Qin's eyebrow pencil nearly slipped, and she fluttered her eyelashes in surprise. "He won't allow it, right?"

Liu Ruyan hesitated to speak, exchanging a knowing look.

Tian Qin gave a self-deprecating smile and still painted her lips red.

It didn't matter; if there were no men, she would drink with women. At worst, she could drink alone and still live a life of drunken revelry. Unless he imprisoned her in a dark room and denied her wine. If that happened, she might as well hang herself.

Liu Ruyan found it very tricky. If the master had given clear orders, it would be manageable, but the key was that the master had left without a word. She couldn't restrict Yingge, nor could she not restrict her, caught between a rock and a hard place.

In recent days, she had vaguely guessed that the relationship between Yingge and the master was a complex tangle of love and hate, as deep as an abyss—not an ordinary master-concubine dynamic. Liu Ruyan dared not offend either side, so she could only offer ambiguous advice, hoping the innocent wouldn't get caught when the gods quarrel.

Tian Qin came out of her room and realized she had been fooled by Liu Ruyan. Outside, countless guests were waiting for her.

Wonderful, truly wonderful. The thunderous clamor and the decadent, hedonistic atmosphere dispelled the day's languor, making her feel alive again.

She couldn't help but laugh heartily. With a casual glance, she saw that several guests who had drunk with her before were all there, pursuing her with even greater fervor. She couldn't tell if she was sad or happy, and actually felt a bit moved. Her eyes inexplicably welled up. Amid the overwhelming welcome, she plunged into the intoxicating sea with the people she loved, vowing not to return until they were all drunk.

Words of praise filled her ears, blurring the line between heaven and earth.

Liu Ruyan couldn't dissuade her, scared out of her wits. Just as she was about to assign more hands to watch over Yingge, Xie Tanwei's ghostly figure suddenly appeared.

He exuded a chilling, icy aura, the most distinctive among all of Yingge's guests.

And tonight, he was not prepared to just dabble; he decided to get serious.

Xie Tanwei quietly beckoned, instructing Liu Ruyan to come over.