Chapter 23
Jiang Huaisheng lay sprawled across the table, his eyes already hazy with drunkenness, yet he continued pouring cup after cup of wine down his throat.
The strong liquor burned painfully as it went down, but how could that pain compare to the hatred of having his beloved stolen from him?
That night, Qie Ge had walked straight past the two of them. No matter how long they knelt or how desperately they pleaded, she had refused to acknowledge them.
His heart overflowed with resentment, yet he had nowhere to vent it.
He knew Mu Xu was avoiding him and refusing to see him because that wanton woman must have threatened her.
He hated himself—hated how useless he was, unable even to protect the woman he loved.
He also resented the injustice of it all.
He had studied diligently for more than ten years and harbored lofty ambitions. Had he learned everything he knew merely so that he could someday serve people like them?
How were they members of the imperial family?
They were nothing but bandits!
Jiang Huaisheng shook the empty wine jug, then shouted toward the back of the tavern, “Waiter! Where is the wine? Bring me more!”
Hearing him, the waiter hurried out.
Jiang Huaisheng had come here to drown his sorrows repeatedly over the past few days, so the waiter had begun to recognize him.
He might appear frail, but he could certainly drink. He never left until he was thoroughly intoxicated, and once drunk, he would repeatedly call out a young woman’s name.
She was probably the woman he loved.
“Sir, it is already very late. Our little establishment will be closing soon, so perhaps…”
Jiang Huaisheng was already impatient.
“Are you afraid I cannot afford to pay?”
“Sir, that is not what this humble one meant…”
“Take it!”
Jiang Huaisheng pulled several copper coins from his waist and threw them onto the table.
The waiter counted them.
“Sir, our establishment truly is about to close. Besides, you have already drunk five jugs, and this… this is not enough…”
Jiang Huaisheng glared at him, fury burning in his eyes.
This wretch was looking down on him merely because he was poor!
He searched around his waist for more money, but after fumbling for a long while, he found only two additional copper coins.
He flung them onto the table as well.
“Take them!”
The waiter weighed the coins in his palm, a trace of contempt entering his eyes.
This man struggled to produce payment every time he came, yet now he was putting on airs.
No wonder the woman he loved had left him.
“Sir… this… it is still not enough.”
“Put the remainder on my account. I will return tomorrow and settle it!”
Once people became drunk, even the gentlest temperament could give way to disorderly behavior.
Jiang Huaisheng was no exception.
He slapped his palm against the table.
It was bad enough that he had to endure humiliation elsewhere. Now even a mere waiter dared look down on him!
“I have drunk here so many times. Are you truly afraid I will deceive you?!”
Before the waiter could respond, a deep and magnetic male voice reached them.
“I will settle his account.”
Both men turned toward the entrance.
A man walked inside, dressed in dark teal robes. He was tall and slender, with pale skin and an exceptionally handsome face.
The man placed a silver ingot on the table.
“Is this enough?”
His bearing was extraordinary, and he spent money generously. He was most likely the young master of a wealthy family.
The waiter immediately put on an ingratiating smile and nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, sir. It is more than enough.”
“There is no need for change. Keep the remainder as your reward.”
The waiter thanked him again and again, grinning from ear to ear.
He had truly encountered good fortune today.
The man took out another silver ingot.
“Can you prepare a private room? Bring this gentleman a bowl of sobering soup as well. I have important matters to discuss with him.”
“Yes, yes, of course! This humble one will prepare everything for the two gentlemen immediately.”
The waiter’s shameless eagerness at the sight of money filled Jiang Huaisheng with contempt.
He tried to rise, but before he could fully stand, dizziness overwhelmed him.
Supporting himself against the table, he barely managed to steady his body.
“Who are you?”
“Who I am is unimportant,” the man replied.
“Then I thank you for helping me today. On another day, I will repay every coin in full.”
After speaking, Jiang Huaisheng staggered toward the entrance.
Before he could step outside, the man’s voice sounded again behind him.
“Do you truly intend to leave?”
Jiang Huaisheng ignored him.
The man continued, “Think about Miss Mu.”
Jiang Huaisheng stopped in his tracks.
Half his drunkenness vanished immediately.
He turned around.
“Who exactly are you?!”
The man clasped his hands behind his back and began ascending the stairs.
“As I said, who I am is unimportant. If you wish to escape your present predicament and reunite with Miss Mu as soon as possible, follow me. If not, you are welcome to walk out that door.”
His words struck directly at Jiang Huaisheng’s deepest desire.
Even in his dreams, Jiang Huaisheng wished to escape his current predicament and reunite with Mu Xu.
His brows drew together.
Who was this man?
Did those words mean he intended to help him?
But why would he offer help?
What was his true purpose?
Moreover, who possessed the power to resist the imperial family?
Even so, hope still stirred within Jiang Huaisheng.
Suspicious yet tempted, he followed the man upstairs.
After drinking the sobering soup, Jiang Huaisheng asked, “Please enlighten me. How can I escape my present predicament?”
Seeing how impatient he was, the man did not bother pretending to be mysterious or keeping him in suspense.
He answered directly.
“There is nothing else you can do. Opposing the imperial family leads only to death. The two of you have no choice but to flee.”
“Flee?”
All land beneath the heavens belonged to the sovereign.
Even if they escaped, where could they possibly go?
Besides, in their present circumstances, they could not even flee Chang’an.
“So long as the two of you reach the territory of the Kingdom of Yuan, would His Majesty and Her Highness truly cross into Yuan to seize you?” the man asked.
Yuan was equal to Canglan in national strength.
Mu Xu was merely an ordinary woman. Neither the emperor nor the Eldest Princess was foolish enough to provoke a major conflict with Yuan over her.
The man’s reasoning made sense.
But if Jiang Huaisheng fled to Yuan, he would be turning his back on his ancestors and betraying Canglan.
He and Mu Xu would have to conceal their names and identities for the rest of their lives.
Achieving scholarly honors and bringing glory to his ancestors would become impossible.
The man saw through Jiang Huaisheng’s thoughts immediately.
Hah.
Even after matters had reached this point, he still could not bear to relinquish fame and wealth?
Whether he could even pass the examination remained uncertain, yet he already imagined himself the top-ranked scholar.
“You cannot bear to abandon this imperial examination?”
Jiang Huaisheng did not answer.
He hesitated.
If he remained in Canglan, there was still a chance he could earn an official title and bring honor to his family, but Mu Xu would no longer have any destiny with him.
If they fled to Yuan, they would have to live under false names for the rest of their lives.
As former citizens of Canglan, neither of them would be permitted to sit Yuan’s imperial examination. Jiang Huaisheng would not even be able to teach in a private school.
He would have to earn a living by selling calligraphy and paintings, while Mu Xu supported them with her embroidery.
But they would be able to spend their entire lives together.
If he did not flee, he could not accept Mu Xu marrying someone else.
If he fled, he could not accept abandoning his future and official ambitions.
What should he choose?
“Including today, there are only three days remaining before the wedding. You had better decide soon.”
After speaking, the man added coolly, “Brother Jiang is certainly generous. To think you are willing to watch the woman you love marry another woman.”
No!
Jiang Huaisheng clenched his fists.
The mere thought of Mu Xu marrying Qie Ge caused him a pain so violent it seemed to tear his heart apart.
Mu Xu was his betrothed wife.
She absolutely could not marry anyone else—especially not a woman as wanton and promiscuous as Qie Ge!
“Brother, what must I do to stop Mu Xu from marrying that wanton woman?”
Jiang Huaisheng was so agitated that he no longer guarded his words.
The moment he finished speaking, the man’s sinister gaze settled upon him, and a trace of killing intent arose in his heart.
Jiang Huaisheng cared only about learning how to take Mu Xu away and failed to notice the change in the man’s expression.
The man no longer had the patience to explain matters carefully.
“I have already arranged everything. You need not worry. There is a bamboo forest outside the western outskirts of the city. You need only take Miss Mu there. Someone will naturally come to receive the two of you.”
Seeing Jiang Huaisheng fall into thought, the man added, “Had I wished to kill you, you would never have survived until now.”
Jiang Huaisheng concealed the suspicion rising within him.
“You misunderstand. I am not doubting you. There is simply one matter I do not understand.”
“Speak.”
“Why are you helping us?”
If he and Mu Xu were caught, was this man not afraid they would expose him?
“The two of you escaping will naturally benefit me. Otherwise, who would undertake such a thankless task?”
The man glanced at Jiang Huaisheng.
“Rather than wasting time guessing my identity, you should carefully consider how to persuade Miss Mu to leave with you.”
His tone was completely different from before.
Even Jiang Huaisheng could tell that the man had become angry.
What he could not understand was how he had offended him.
Jiang Huaisheng rose and cupped his hands.
“If I misspoke just now, I hope you will forgive me.”
The man withdrew several banknotes from inside his robes.
“Take these. You will undoubtedly need them during the journey.”
Jiang Huaisheng looked at the banknotes on the table.
Since his and Mu Xu’s escape would benefit this man, there was no need for him to refuse.
“I am endlessly grateful for your great kindness. In the future, I will certainly repay you properly for saving us.”
“There is no need.”
With that, the man swept his sleeve aside and departed.
It would be best if he never saw the two of them again.
Otherwise…
Jiang Huaisheng watched the man’s retreating figure.
What a strange person.
Then he gathered the banknotes from the table and placed them inside his robes.
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