Drunk on Madness - Chapter 34

Outside the window, pink blossoms quietly unfurled on the peach branches.

The jade pendant at Zhou Mingxuan’s waist swayed unintentionally, its cool touch brushing against bare skin, sending a shiver through Li Xiang.

Suddenly, he turned his head and said to Su Mo, who stood frozen nearby, “Standing there like that, are you planning to join us?” His tone was light, almost casual, but the words made Li Xiang’s breath hitch in fear.

“You’re insane.” Su Mo finally snapped out of his shock, his face darkening as he slammed the door shut. After leaping down from the tree, he collapsed onto the ground, sitting in a daze.

Su Mo knew he had failed Li Xiang. But no matter how much he despised his own subservience or how deep their years of friendship ran, he couldn’t bring himself to raise a hand against Zhou Mingxuan. He knew he had lost Li Xiang for good, there was no face left to show her.

Not far away, Gu Ci stood with flushed cheeks. He had guessed what was happening inside the treehouse, never imagining that bringing Zhou Mingxuan here would lead to such a scene. Seeing Su Mo stumble out, utterly broken, only confirmed his suspicions.

Hesitating over whether to take Su Mo away, he finally mustered the courage to approach. But as he drew nearer, the sounds from inside the treehouse grew clearer. Not daring to speak, he helped Su Mo up, and the two rode away silently on a single horse.

Outside, the wind and rain whispered. Li Xiang opened her eyes, her dark pupils glazed with lingering moisture, the corners tinged faintly red. Zhou Mingxuan, who had been gazing out the window, slowly turned his attention back to her.

After Su Mo left, it didn’t take long for Zhou Mingxuan to realize something was wrong, only then did he understand he had misjudged her. Relief washed over him, mingled with exhilaration. She was completely his now.

Li Xiang tried to turn away from his gaze, but the slightest movement sent waves of pain through her body. Tears spilled from her eyes.

Zhou Mingxuan stepped forward and took her hand. “Are you uncomfortable?” he asked, as if about to lift the blanket to check. Li Xiang pressed it down firmly. Seeing her reluctance, he didn’t insist. Instead, he glanced at the rain outside and said, “We’ll head back to the estate once it lets up.”

A flicker of pain crossed Li Xiang’s eyes. Suppressing her anger, she negotiated coldly, “How do you plan to settle me?”

A trace of surprise flashed in Zhou Mingxuan’s gaze. He hadn’t expected her first concern upon waking to be this. “I’ve already discussed it with my mother. For now, you’ll be welcomed into the household as the secondary consort to the heir.”

Afraid she might misunderstand, he quickly added, “But don’t worry, there will be no primary consort before you. Once you bear my first son, I’ll petition my parents to elevate you to the rightful position.”

Li Xiang met his eyes, her expression icy. “And if your father refuses? What if I never bear a son? Can you swear you’ll never touch another woman?”

Zhou Mingxuan faltered, momentarily at a loss. Li Xiang sneered. “What’s the matter? Can’t answer? Did the heir only think of his own pleasure and nothing beyond that?”

His expression stiffened. After a long silence, he said, “I hadn’t considered these things. Give me time to think them through. In the meantime, make any requests you wish, I’ll do my best to fulfill them. Just promise me one thing: from now on, forget Su Mo. Stay by my side.”

She laughed inwardly but kept her face composed. “I hope you remember every word you’ve said today.”

As the rain ceased, the sky gradually revealed its tender blue. On the streets, rainwater gathered into murmuring streams, trickling along the cobblestones with a soothing, melodic sound.

At that moment, an ornately decorated carriage slowly rolled out, its wheels leaving faint tracks on the damp ground as they gently pressed into the moist earth.

Zhou Mingxuan carried Li Xiang down from the carriage and took her straight to the Agarwood Courtyard. He carried her directly into his own room and personally bathed her. After drying her off, he applied medicine to the wounds all over her body.

Li Xiang watched him numbly as he bustled about, allowing herself to be manipulated like a lifeless puppet.

Once everything was settled, Zhou Mingxuan held her, now returned to him, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

…

Gu Ci brought Su Mo back to the military camp, into the command tent.

Gu Ci had initially wanted to ask him what had happened, why he had suddenly gone to find Li Xiang. But seeing the look of utter despair on his face, he ultimately kept his mouth shut.

From a chest, he retrieved a jar of clear wine and handed it to Su Mo. Su Mo took the jar, bit off the stopper with his teeth, and tilted his head back to drink deeply.

The night was deep, and moonlight filtered through the sparse clouds, casting its glow on Su Mo’s disheveled figure. He clutched an empty wine jar tightly in his hand, his eyes unfocused and cheeks flushed, clearly already heavily intoxicated.

At first, he merely muttered incoherent words, his voice laced with bitter laughter and resignation.

Then, suddenly, he slammed his hand down on the table, and the wine jar shattered on impact, fragments scattering everywhere. His eyes widened as if burning with fury, glaring at the empty room as though confronting an invisible enemy.

“Why?! Why must you do this to me?!” Su Mo roared, his voice filled with resentment and rage. His fists clenched, his body trembling slightly.

He began staggering around the room, knocking over chairs and tables, the crashes piercing the silence. He muttered to himself, alternating between curses and sobs.

Gu Ci, startled awake from his sleep, pulled the drunken Su Mo aside and tried to calm him. Normally, Su Mo wouldn’t get this bad when drunk, it seemed today’s events had truly shaken him deeply.

At some point, Su Mo had developed a reliance on alcohol, needing to drink a whole jar every night just to fall asleep.

Gu Ci understood the root of it all lay with Li Xiang. Had she never appeared, the relationship between the three of them wouldn’t have deteriorated to this point.

He resented Li Xiang, and he resented Zhou Mingxuan even more. Su Mo had once given up his life for Zhou Mingxuan, had given up Li Xiang for him. And yet today, Zhou Mingxuan had disregarded Su Mo’s feelings entirely, taking Li Xiang right in front of him. No one could endure such a sight.