Drunk on Madness - Chapter 35

In the western chamber of the Agarwood Courtyard within the Yan Prince’s residence, the dimming sky faintly illuminated the swaying flowers and plants in the garden. Though the garden could not be called elegant or spacious, it was quaint and charming, full of refined appeal.

Li Xiang sat inside the room. The mirror reflected her delicate makeup and noble attire, yet her eyes were vacant, lost in thought.

Zhou Mingxuan wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind, kissing her forehead and the corner of her lips. Since that day, Zhou Mingxuan had cast aside all restraint. Such intimacy had become commonplace.

Li Xiang pushed him away and said, “I want to go out for a walk tomorrow.”

Zhou Mingxuan frowned slightly. “Wait until my day off the day after tomorrow, and I’ll go with you.” Before he could finish speaking, his hand slipped inside her clothes.

Li Xiang’s eyes flashed with impatience as she firmly pressed down on his hand to stop him. “Is this all you think about when you see me now? We’re not even married yet.”

A few days earlier, the Yan Prince had learned of their desire to marry as soon as possible. Far from opposing it, he had given his full support.

The wedding was scheduled for the beginning of next month, a rather hasty arrangement. But for Zhou Mingxuan, who had only just tasted intimacy, the wait was unbearable.

Seeing Zhou Mingxuan finally stop his advances, Li Xiang let out a sigh of relief. For a moment, neither spoke, and the room fell into silence.

At this point, Li Xiang wasn’t sure what to do next. She had only made him promise that if he took other women in the future, he would let her go. Shortly after their conversation, Zhou Mingxuan had even handwritten and signed a contract to demonstrate his resolve.

To Li Xiang, this contract was meaningless, the final say still lay with Zhou Mingxuan himself. It was merely a token of reassurance.

Li Xiang had always been someone who went with the flow, without grand ambitions or goals. Many things in her life had simply pushed her forward.

She understood Su Mo’s hesitation back then. After all, Zhou Mingxuan was his sworn confidant and master, someone he would defend with his life. That day, Su Mo had come to sever ties with her, how could he possibly bring himself to openly defy Zhou Mingxuan?

In the end, Li Xiang’s heart softened. Once she came to this realization, she no longer harbored resentment toward Su Mo. Summoning her courage, she spoke calmly, “That day, I was the one who seduced Su Mo. I wanted to use his status to escape from you.”

A flicker of understanding passed through Zhou Mingxuan’s eyes. “I know.”

Suddenly, Li Xiang said with a hint of envy, “The bond between you two is truly strong.” Zhou Mingxuan looked at her, puzzled.

Li Xiang explained, “Actually, not long after we met that day, he confessed to me that he was giving up on me, he didn’t want to fight you for me.” A tear slipped from the corner of her eye for no apparent reason, which she quickly wiped away.

Zhou Mingxuan masked the complexity in his gaze. “I do owe him.” He wanted to say he would make it up to him, but he didn’t know what could ever compensate for Li Xiang’s place in Su Mo’s heart.

…

In the military camp, soldiers rested after their meal. Inside Su Mo’s tent, he and Gu Ci were eating when Zhou Mingxuan lifted the flap and walked in.

It was the first time the two had formally met since the incident at the treehouse. Before this, even in the camp, they had acted like strangers, deliberately avoiding each other.

Zhou Mingxuan’s arrival made the atmosphere awkward. Yet he acted as if nothing had happened, sitting down between the two of them. “Why didn’t you call me for dinner?”

A faint trace of surprise flashed in Su Mo’s eyes. Without waiting for a response, Zhou Mingxuan picked up a pair of chopsticks from the table and began eating as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Since returning to the borderlands, Zhou Mingxuan had been too burdened by guilt towards Su Mo to dare share a meal with them. But after hearing Li Xiang’s words yesterday, he suddenly felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Su Mo had been his childhood playmate and confidant, someone who would never betray him. He didn’t want to lose this friend.

Zhou Mingxuan poured himself a cup of wine and said, “Su Mo, about Li Xiang… I wronged you. I know the two of you were deeply in love, and I ruined that. If it weren’t for me, if you hadn’t drawn the pursuers away for my sake, you wouldn’t have been separated for two years.” As he spoke, he raised the cup and drank it down in one gulp.

He poured himself another cup, his slender fingers tracing the rim of the white jade vessel. “That day, I ran into Uncle Li outside and learned from him that my parents were safe. I was so relieved that I forgot to ask about you and Gu Ci. Later, when I returned, Li Xiang asked me about you. At the time, I didn’t know you were still alive. I hesitated, and she thought you had died. On the way to the borderlands, I told Uncle Li not to tell her the truth. I thought… if I spent these two years with her, I could make her fall for me instead.”

Su Mo remained silent, his eyes filled with self-reproach. Li Xiang had never explained this to him, perhaps afraid it would drive a wedge between them.

He had thought their long separation had changed her heart. He had believed himself to be nothing but an obstacle between them. He couldn’t understand why the reunion he had longed for had turned into nothing but an unattainable memory.

The cup in his hand shattered under his grip. Gu Ci quickly wrapped a cloth around his bleeding hand.

Zhou Mingxuan ignored this and continued, “I know how despicable I’ve been. Back on Mount Song, seeing the two of you together, I was jealous. Envious. At the time, I didn’t know whether I envied you more for having her or resented you for realizing your feelings before I did. I wanted to step aside, but I couldn’t stop myself from watching her.”

“I’ve loved her just as long as you have. And the torment in my heart has been no less than yours.”

Finally speaking his mind, Zhou Mingxuan felt a lightness in his chest. “At this point, I know words alone can’t make up for what I’ve done. If you have any demands, name them. Anything… except Li Xiang, I’ll grant it.”

From his sleeve, he produced two wedding invitations and placed them on the table. “On the fifteenth of next month, I’ll be marrying her. I hope both of you will attend.”

Su Mo stiffened. Slowly, he turned his head, his eyes bloodshot and terrifying. “Say that again,” he bit out, each word deliberately.

Zhou Mingxuan repeated, “On the fifteenth, I will marry her-”

Before he could finish, Su Mo snatched up a wine cup and hurled it at him. The cup grazed Zhou Mingxuan’s forehead, a trail of blood dripping down between his brows.

Zhou Mingxuan wiped it away with his hand. “Gu Ci, step outside for a moment.”

Gu Ci shook his head firmly.

Zhou Mingxuan reassured him, “I came today to apologize. If he wants to hit me or curse me, I’ll take it.”

Gu Ci hesitated. Letting Su Mo vent his anger might be for the best. But if Zhou Mingxuan were seriously injured, he feared the prince and his wife would hold him accountable.

Understanding his concern, Zhou Mingxuan said, “Don’t worry. I’ll just say we were sparring. As long as he doesn’t try to kill me, it’s fine.”

Hearing this, Gu Ci didn’t insist any longer. As soon as he stepped out, Su Mo immediately threw a punch at Zhou Mingxuan. Wiping the blood from his lips, Zhou Mingxuan thought to himself: This kid really doesn’t hold back.

Outside, Gu Ci listened to the sounds of the scuffle inside with some unease. Qing Ying and Bei Gu, who were by the young master’s side, wanted to intervene, but he stopped them: “Let them fight it out. It’s better than staying stuck like this.”

Qing Ying and Bei Gu exchanged a glance and decided not to interfere further.