Drunk on Madness - Chapter 58

Ever since learning that Li Xiang was dining at the Hall of Preserving Harmony, Qingyi had been feeling downcast. The two of them usually spent a lot of time together, and Li Xiang’s absence for most of the day left a void.

Growing up with few friends, Qingyi had come to rely heavily on Li Xiang. Eventually, she mustered the courage to suggest joining her at the Hall of Preserving Harmony. And so, the group delivering meals gained one more member.

Qingyi was the youngest among them and, as a princess, carried an air of delicate beauty. Though she lacked Chen Minying’s poise and grace, there was something about her that made others want to protect her.

The four young noblemen treated her with careful consideration, and it didn’t take long for her to shed her initial reserve. As they played games, her childlike nature gradually revealed itself.

On the open grounds of the Imperial Garden, two exquisite bronze pots were placed three meters away. A circle of young nobles sat around, each holding a carefully selected arrow.

Today’s prize was particularly enticing: the winner would decide how everyone would spend their day off tomorrow. The novelty of this reward had everyone eager to begin.

Each person first wrote down their desired activity for the next day. Zhou Mingxuan wrote “a day of hunting in the Western Hills,” while Li Xiang wrote “a day outside the palace, strolling, eating, and drinking.” Zhou Mingxuan glanced at her note, lost in thought.

Just as the palace attendants collected all the written suggestions, Chen Minying suddenly spoke up, “Brother Mingxuan, this isn’t fair. You men practice martial arts and archery, so this comes naturally to you. We women simply don’t have the same arm strength.”

Zhou Mingxuan, taking her words to heart, agreed that it would be too easy for the men to win. He ordered the men’s bronze pots to be moved several meters farther away, more than twice the distance of the women’s.

Zhou Mingxuan glanced at the distant pots and addressed the three young women, “My ladies, is this satisfactory? Should we move them even farther?”

Chen Minying, a faint smile playing on her lips as she toyed with her arrow, replied, “This is enough.”

Zhou Mingxuan looked at Li Xiang, seeking her approval of the distance.

Qingyi tugged at Li Xiang’s sleeve, and the two covered their mouths, exchanging a glance before bursting into laughter. At that distance, it seemed unlikely anyone would score.

Gu Ci, unable to hold back, spoke up, “Your Highness, why not just let the three of them compete? We’ll sit this one out.”

Hearing this, the three women laughed even harder.

Zhou Mingxuan had intended to give the unmarried young men a chance to show off. If the distances were the same, the women would surely lose. “That won’t do,” he said. “I must be fair. Don’t be so pessimistic, perhaps one of you will manage to score. Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean your teammates are incapable.” With that, he glanced at Su Mo.

A clear, crisp ring of a bronze bell signaled the start of the arrow-throwing competition.

After the first round, the six men, each with three attempts, saw only Su Mo and Zhao Jingrui manage to hit the bronze pots. Zhao Jingrui scored once, while Su Mo, with his practiced skill, sent his arrows flying like swallows through a forest, hitting the target repeatedly. The onlookers regarded him with newfound respect, applauding enthusiastically.

On the women’s side, Li Xiang, having never played before, failed to score even once. Chen Minying managed two hits, but to everyone’s surprise, Qingyi scored with every one of her attempts. Li Xiang was astonished and asked, “Yiyi, I had no idea you were so good!”

Qingyi replied modestly, “It’s just something I do for fun when I’m bored at home.” Li Xiang, touched by her words, gave her shoulder a comforting pat.

Qingyi was beaming with happiness when she noticed Zhao Jingrui in the crowd not far away. He waved at her and gave a thumbs-up, signaling, “You were amazing!”

Qingyi’s cheeks flushed slightly as she returned the same gesture to him. Seeing their interaction, Li Xiang felt a sense of relief. Qingyi was fifteen, old enough in this era to marry and bear children. Rather than being forced into an arranged marriage, it was better for her to take the initiative.

The competition continued, and in the end, Qingyi made all her shots, while Su Mo missed by a single arrow, narrowly losing. Zhou Mingxuan had someone bring over the activity Qingyi had written down: boating on the lake.

After Zhou Mingxuan arranged the next day’s itinerary, everyone dispersed and returned to their residences.

The next day, early morning.

Amid the warmth of spring and blooming flowers, Zhou Mingxuan, Li Xiang, and Qingyi set off from the palace in a carriage, heading grandly toward the shimmering lake on the outskirts of the capital.

They arrived at Taiqing Lake, the largest lake near the capital. Gu Ci and Su Mo had already been waiting by the shore for some time. A large boat several meters long was moored on the lake, surrounded by four smaller boats.

One by one, the group boarded the imperial boat. Inside, singing girls were waiting to greet them and immediately knelt upon seeing the esteemed guests.

Before long, the melodious sound of a zither filled the boat. Li Xiang watched the dancing girls up close, studying them with curiosity.

Li Xiang usually woke late, so it was rare for her to rise so early. In their haste, she hadn’t had time to eat breakfast. Worried she might be hungry, Zhou Mingxuan picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the table and brought it to her lips. But Li Xiang, captivated by the dancers’ movements, didn’t even notice.

Zhou Mingxuan, annoyed by her obliviousness, pinched the flesh of her cheek with his other hand, turning her face toward him. Frowning, Li Xiang glanced at his impatient expression and took a bite of the osmanthus cake from his hand.

She accepted the pastry from him and continued watching the dance with Yiyi.

The boat slowly moved forward. Occasionally, a few waterbirds skimmed the lake’s surface, leaving ripples in their wake. Curious, Yiyi wanted to go see the lake up close.

Reluctant to leave the performance, Li Xiang glanced at Zhao Jingrui sitting across from them and whispered into Zhou Mingxuan’s ear, “Ask those four young gentlemen to accompany Yiyi to the bow of the boat.”

After hearing this, Zhou Mingxuan wiped the crumbs from the corner of her mouth, then leaned close to her left ear and replied, “Alright.” As he spoke, a warm breath brushed her ear, making her shoulder twitch to the left. Seizing the opportunity, Zhou Mingxuan pulled her into his embrace.

A faint smile played on his lips as he said, “My wife is feeling a bit seasick. Would you all accompany the princess outside for some fresh air?” With that, he dismissed everyone.

Li Xiang was baffled. Watching the departing singing girls, she extricated herself from Zhou Mingxuan’s arms and asked, “What are you doing? I asked you to have someone accompany Yiyi, not to send everyone away.”

Zhou Mingxuan tapped the table lightly with his fingers and said leisurely, “I can’t favor one over the other like you do. If we’re going to accompany her, it’s better if everyone goes.”

Li Xiang protested, “What about the singing girls? The palace maids and guards?”

A slight smile curled at the corner of Zhou Mingxuan’s lips as he replied indifferently, “What’s so interesting about them? It’s better for us to be alone.”

Li Xiang pouted.

Suddenly, Zhou Mingxuan picked her up and said, “Since we’ve managed to get out, let’s do something different.”

Thinking he intended to be intimate, Li Xiang immediately glanced toward the door and said, “In broad daylight? How can you indulge in such behavior during the day?” She didn’t want to waste this rare outing.

Zhou Mingxuan lowered his eyelids, concealing a fleeting smile. “Fine,” he said. “We’ll indulge tonight.”

Li Xiang’s cheeks flushed, that wasn’t what she had meant. Zhou Mingxuan carried her to the stern of the boat, where a small vessel slowly approached. With a leap, he brought her onto the smaller boat.

Li Xiang clung tightly to Zhou Mingxuan’s neck, only loosening her grip once they were steady. Watching the grand boat gradually drift away, she finally released her hold and asked, “Where are we going?”

Zhou Mingxuan settled her inside the cabin, kissed the corner of her lips, and replied, “Of course, I’m taking you shopping.”

Su Mo stared at the tightly closed doors and windows of the cabin, his mind involuntarily conjuring images of the two inside, intimate and affectionate. A wave of jealousy surged within him. He did this on purpose, deliberately making me stand guard outside.

Reason forced him to turn his gaze toward the distance. Spotting two of the four trailing small boats gradually heading toward the bustling heart of the capital, he suddenly understood something.

Feigning discomfort, he informed Gu Ci beside him that he needed to rest in the cabin. Once inside, he swiftly changed into inconspicuous clothing, slipped away unnoticed, and dove into the lake. He swam underwater for over ten minutes before daring to surface for a breath.