Drunk on Madness - Chapter 1

Li Xiang woke up to find herself transmigrated. Of course, that wasn’t the main issue. The main issue was that she had transmigrated into a beggar though even that wasn’t the biggest problem. The real problem was that her hands were bleeding, and not just a little, blood was gushing from both.

Ignoring the stench clinging to her body and the filth on her hands, she immediately pressed them together, hoping to slow the blood loss.

Gritting her teeth against the sharp pain, she kicked the bloodied knife aside and struggled to her feet, heading toward the busier streets in hopes that some kind soul might save her.

Blood dripped from her wrists as she staggered forward. Dizzy and desperate, Li Xiang grabbed the sleeve of a passerby and rasped, “Help me.”

“Where did this beggar come from?” The man took one look at her tattered clothes and shoved her to the ground without hesitation, his face twisted in disgust as though she were something foul. Covering his nose, he strode away.

Li Xiang, clad in grimy, hole-ridden rags and weakened by days without food, could barely make her hoarse voice audible. No one understood what she was saying.

Collapsed on the ground, she crawled forward, leaving a long trail of blood behind her. But she didn’t get far before her strength gave out.

A moment later, she sensed someone in a dark robe with subtle patterns passing overhead. Instinctively, Li Xiang grabbed the hem of the robe and held on tight. Her lips moved faintly, but no words came out.

“Hey, are you alright?” The voice belonged to a young man, clear and melodious, like a mountain spring.

Knowing her voice was too hoarse to be understood, Li Xiang mustered her loudest whisper: “Help me.” Then, as if her life force had drained away, she passed out.

When she opened her eyes again, she was lying on a cot in a clinic. A familiar dark robe with intricate patterns was draped over her. Glancing at her wrists, she saw they had been bandaged.

From behind a folding screen, a young man of about eighteen or nineteen emerged. He was strikingly handsome, well-proportioned, tall like a jade tree, with sharp, deep-set features that exuded a roguish charm. A faint smile played on his refined face. He was the one who had saved her.

Seeing Li Xiang awake, the young man said, “You’re finally up. I was about to leave if you didn’t wake soon.”

He handed her a flatbread. “The physician said aside from the wounds on your wrists, you collapsed from starvation. Here, eat this first.”

Li Xiang didn’t stand on ceremony. Taking the flatbread, she murmured a thanks and began eating slowly, studying him between bites.

“Why are you staring at me, little beggar?” Su Mo asked.

Li Xiang forced out a hoarse reply, “N-nothing.” Then she corrected him, “I’m not a beggar.”

Su Mo had been out on business that morning and hadn’t even had breakfast yet. When he saw the small beggar crawling on the street, leaving a trail of blood, he couldn’t bear to leave her and brought her to the clinic. But now, looking at her, her eyes clear and bright, her manner oddly refined despite her rags, he found her unexpectedly amusing.

Raising an eyebrow, he teased, “Then give me back my flatbread.”

Hearing this, Li Xiang promptly licked the entire surface of the bread, leaving it glistening with saliva.

“That’s disgusting!” Su Mo instantly lost his appetite for the rest of the day.

Li Xiang swallowed the last bite slowly and rasped, “When I earn money, I’ll pay you back, tenfold.”

Li Xiang had eaten most of the flatbread when she suddenly flashed an ingratiating smile and said, “Little brother, could you help me find some work? I’ll pay you back as soon as I earn some money.” The mention of earning money reminded Li Xiang that she needed to find a job quickly to support herself, preferably one that provided food and lodging before planning her next steps.

“No need, the bread was meant for you anyway!” This beggar was clearly trying to take advantage of him.

“Please, help me out. Look at me…” Seeing that he was about to leave, Li Xiang quickly grabbed Su Mo, who had turned to go.

“Look, I have nowhere to go. I might starve or freeze to death on the streets tonight. You’ve already been so kind, why not see it through? Even if I don’t die tonight, if I get hungry enough, I’ll steal or rob, and sooner or later, I’ll be beaten to death or crippled.” The more Li Xiang spoke, the more she felt she couldn’t let this kind-hearted person slip away.

She clung to Su Mo’s hand and pleaded, “Please, I can sweep, cook, do laundry, and I even know a few characters.”

In the struggle, Li Xiang didn’t notice that her sleeve had slipped down, revealing a relatively clean, pale arm and a freshly bandaged wound.

Su Mo’s irritation twisted into frustration. “Let go of my hand first!” He felt today had been unlucky from the start and that he had overestimated this female beggar, who turned out to be a swindler. Even if she did look pitiful.

Seeing his impatience, Li Xiang quickly released his hand. Su Mo took a deep breath to calm himself and shook his arm in disgust.

Frowning slightly, he pointed at a sign outside the window and asked, “You said you know some characters? Then tell me, what’s the name of the shop across the street?”

Li Xiang glanced at the sign not far away and answered casually, “Guanyan Book Inn!”

Su Mo choked, momentarily speechless. This swindler actually could read.

Su Mo took Li Xiang to buy a set of ready-made clothes before daring to bring her back to the Yan Prince’s residence.

Along the way, Su Mo asked Li Xiang about her background. She simply said she had lost her memory, only remembering waking up in a ruined temple, starving, until she met him, her kind-hearted savior.

The gatekeeper looked puzzled but let them into the Yan Prince’s residence.

Inside, the estate boasted grand landscapes with lotus ponds and elegant, crimson corridors steeped in classical charm.

Li Xiang’s eyes darted around, taking in the luxurious and uniquely decorated mansion. But coming from the 21st century, she had seen all kinds of interior designs before. To her, it felt more like strolling through a garden.

Walking down the corridor, the two moved in single file.

Su Mo glanced sideways at Li Xiang and said leisurely, “My name is Su Mo. I’m a guard for the Yan Prince’s heir. Everyone in the residence calls me ‘Lord Mo.’ I have business to attend to later, so I’ll leave you with my mother for now. Remember, don’t wander or gawk. I’ll verify your identity, and when I return, I’ll make arrangements for you.”

“Understood, Lord Mo!” Li Xiang thought to herself, So young, yet already demanding to be called ‘Lord.’

His gaze turned cold as he added, “Don’t thank me. If I find out you’ve lied to me, I’ll throw you out without hesitation.”

“Got it.” Li Xiang truly didn’t know anything about her original body’s past, she really had forgotten. Of course, aside from the fact that she was from the modern era. That was something she could never reveal, no matter what.

Before long, the two arrived at a large courtyard called Qingfeng Residence. Though it wasn’t as grand as the other courtyards, the place was vibrant with small, thriving plants, and rows of laundry fluttered in the breeze along the edges. Bathed in sunlight, the whole scene brimmed with vitality.

“Mother!” Su Mo called out as he pushed open the door to one of the rooms.

A woman in her forties walked into the room. She was of average height with a kind and gentle expression, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Momo, didn’t you just go out to run errands? How come you’re back so soon?” she asked.

“I ran into a beggar looking for work. She seemed pitiful, so I brought her back. Didn’t you say the other day that the household was short on maids? What do you think of her?” As she spoke, she pointed at Li Xiang.

“Greetings, Auntie Su!” Li Xiang, unsure of how to properly greet her, could only bow deeply and offer a sheepish smile.

Auntie Su frowned. Her child’s overflowing compassion had led her to bring a beggar home. Was the gate of the prince’s residence so easy to enter? What if this person turned out to be a spy? How would they explain that to their master?

Su Mo noticed the reproach in her mother’s eyes and quickly leaned in to whisper a few words into Auntie Su’s ear.

“So that’s how it is.” Auntie Su’s initially furrowed brows gradually relaxed into understanding.

Su Mo thumped her chest confidently. “In any case, let’s see if she can pass the selection. Whether she stays or goes depends on her abilities.”

“Amitabha. I suppose that’s all we can do for now,” Auntie Su replied, a trace of pity in her voice.

“Oh, and she knows some characters!” Su Mo added.

“What?” Auntie Su looked at Su Mo in surprise.

Li Xiang offered a weak smile and said in a hoarse voice, “Auntie Su, please don’t blame Young Master Mo. I don’t remember anything from my past. I have no parents, no siblings, not a penny to my name, and I don’t even know how many days I have left to live. It was I who begged Young Master Mo to bring me back.”

With a pitiable expression, she continued, “If you can find any use for me, I’ll do anything. Even if I don’t know how, I can learn.”

Auntie Su looked at the pitiful Li Xiang and said, “…Well… I can’t guarantee you’ll definitely stay. We’ll have to ask the estate’s steward first.”

Su Mo suddenly interjected, “Mother, could you please handle the steward? I still have tasks assigned by the young master today, and if I delay any longer, I really won’t make it in time. I’ll leave her in your hands. I’m off now!”

Without waiting for Auntie Su’s response, she dashed out of the room, leaving an awkward silence between Auntie Su and Li Xiang.

Standing there, Auntie Su sighed helplessly and muttered, “That child!”