Chapter 82

Chapter 82

The atmosphere in the hall was at its height.

It was as if an invisible line divided the front from the back.

At the front of the hall, beneath the dragon throne, everyone wore a pleasant smile while harboring their own schemes, their minds deep with calculations.

Farther back, in the middle and rear of the hall, away from the seat of honor, the guests drank to their hearts’ content, laughter ringing bright and clear.

Sheng Zhaoning drank cup after cup. At first, she had only been relying on her remarkable tolerance, drinking without much restraint. Later, as the intoxication gradually crept in, the dull weight that had long been pressed down inside her seemed to empty out little by little.

Before she knew it, she had begun drowning her sorrows in wine.

Wei Heng sat beside the emperor, high above the rest. Every so often, his gaze would fall on Sheng Zhaoning, his brows faintly drawn together, never once relaxing.

She had already drunk a great deal.

Even knowing that Sheng Zhaoning’s tolerance was astonishingly good, Wei Heng still could not help but worry.

Especially when he saw the haze slowly rising in her eyes. He knew then that she was beginning to get drunk.

Wei Heng grew restless. At first, he had only glanced over from time to time, but now his eyes were fixed on her and would not move away.

After another long while, seeing that Sheng Zhaoning still refused to put down her cup, he finally lost patience. No longer caring about the gazes around him, he rose from his seat and strode toward her.

“Everyone, Lord Sheng is already drunk. Let her off for today.”

When Wei Heng spoke, he was always gentle and warm, without the slightest hint of anger.

At this moment, his tone was as soft as ever, yet for no clear reason, it carried a trace of firmness.

Seeing that the Crown Prince had actually come down in person to speak on Sheng Zhaoning’s behalf, how could the others keep pressing her? They immediately put away their wine cups and scattered with a laugh.

By now, Sheng Zhaoning’s mind was already muddled. Her body swayed unsteadily, as though she might collapse at any moment.

She lifted her head and looked at Wei Heng. Her vision was somewhat blurred. A bewitching flush spread across her porcelain-pale face, and her eyes were soft and languid. The usual cold distance she carried was completely gone. She looked at him and smiled foolishly.

“Your Highness.”

Her voice was soft and yielding.

Wei Heng felt as if something had struck his heart hard. His body went rigid, and he stared blankly at the hand Sheng Zhaoning had wrapped around his sleeve. A scorching heat suddenly climbed to the tips of his ears.

“You…” The words he had not yet spoken caught in his throat.

Then Wei Heng felt a weight against him. Lowering his head, he saw that Sheng Zhaoning had completely passed out drunk and was now leaning limply against his waist.

Curious gazes from all around turned their way.

Wei Heng’s throat went dry, and his hands clenched unconsciously.

He wanted to help her up, but he did not dare reach out and touch her too presumptuously. For a moment, he simply froze there, unable to move.

From the dragon throne, the Emperor of Wei looked down toward the back of the hall. At the sight, he laughed and said, “I have long heard that this Zhuangyuan has an extraordinary capacity for wine. At the Enrong Banquet, she drank an entire crowd under the table. I did not expect there would be a time when she lost her composure like this.”

Wei Chengjun’s gaze narrowed slightly. His sharp eyes landed on Sheng Zhaoning, and he keenly sensed a faintly unusual air about her.

Wei Yi, however, was already furious. The silver cup in his hand had been crushed out of shape.

He looked at Sheng Zhaoning, nestled in another man’s arms, and the gloom in his eyes twisted into something vicious. He rose, about to rush toward her, but the moment he moved, he was pressed back down.

Wei Chengjun tightened his grip, pinning Wei Yi so that he could not move.

“Sit down,” Wei Chengjun warned in a low voice.

Wei Yi’s eyes were bloodshot at the corners. The look he fixed on Sheng Zhaoning seemed ready to spit fire.

But at this moment, he did not even have the right to intervene. He could only watch helplessly as Wei Heng helped her up, one hand supporting her arm, the other wrapped around her waist, gathering her entirely into his arms and leading her out step by step.

The assembled officials were all stunned by the sight.

Such blatant favoritism was practically announcing to the entire world that Sheng Zhaoning was someone the Crown Prince valued, without the slightest concern for what the court officials might think.

The emperor, however, took it in stride. He had long known that Wei Heng regarded Sheng Zhaoning with special favor. Not only did the two share the same political views, they also held the same ideals and ambitions. They were, by nature, people of the same path.

Besides, he himself thought highly of Sheng Zhaoning as well. In the future, she would surely become a powerful support at the Crown Prince’s side.

Wei Heng had never taken the initiative to befriend or win over court officials, and that had always given the emperor no small headache. Now that he was willing to make an exception for Sheng Zhaoning, and to protect and favor her so openly, it must mean he was truly willing to associate with her.

The Emperor of Wei could not have been more pleased.

Wei Chengjun: “……”

—

Wei Heng personally escorted Sheng Zhaoning back to the Sheng Mansion in his own imperial carriage.

As the Crown Prince’s carriage, it passed in and out of the palace without obstruction.

Along the way, Sheng Zhaoning obediently leaned against Wei Heng.

The two sat side by side, her head tilted onto his shoulder, while Wei Heng held himself rigid, not daring to move.

A faint scent of wine lingered in the carriage. He lowered his head and glanced at Sheng Zhaoning, then hastily averted his eyes, his ears flushing red.

Wei Heng felt there was something strange about him. They were clearly both men, so why did leaning together send such an odd flutter through his heart?

Especially when that hurried glance had caught her crimson lips, set against the drunken flush on her cheeks. His breath had caught at once. Blushing, he lifted his head and no longer dared to look closely.

Sheng Zhaoning slumped half-sideways against Wei Heng, dizzy and dazed. Her mind was so muddled she could no longer remember what year it was, or even her own name.

She had never been drunk before.

In the Shadow Guard Camp, anyone who survived their way out had undergone trials meant to make them immune to a hundred poisons.

Countless poisons were poured into their stomachs. Those who endured lived to walk out. Those who could not died in the dungeon.

Ordinary poisons could not harm her. Likewise, because of her profound internal strength, even large amounts of wine could hardly make her drunk.

Sheng Zhaoning had never been drunk, so naturally she did not know what she would be like after drinking too much.

At that moment, her mind was a blank haze. She only felt that leaning against the person beside her gave her a steady, reassuring sense of peace.

Without realizing it, she moved closer and closer. Sheng Zhaoning rested her head against Wei Heng’s chest, wrapped both arms around his waist, and pressed all her weight onto him.

The carriage rocked gently forward. Sheng Zhaoning curled fully into his embrace, the pleasant scent of pine lingering at the tip of her nose, light and faint. She slept unusually soundly and sweetly.

Wei Heng’s heart pounded wildly. His hand rose into the air, then lowered again.

Facing the person in his arms, he could neither hold her nor push her away. He could only remain frozen there, allowing himself to be tightly embraced by her.

All he could hear was the frantic thudding of his own heart.

After an unknown length of time, the carriage finally came to a slow stop.

“Your Highness, we have arrived.”

Outside the carriage, an accompanying guard spoke in a low voice.

Only when Wei Heng heard the voice from outside did his stiff body finally move.

Because he had maintained the same posture the entire way, his arm was already sore, swollen, and numb. Even so, he did not dare pull it free rashly, for fear of waking the person in his arms.

Wei Heng held her with both hands and carefully lifted her up, then stepped down from the carriage.

He looked up at the plaque above the gate, then turned and instructed the person beside him, “Go inform the people of the Sheng Mansion. Have them prepare a bowl of sobering soup in the kitchen. Also prepare two doses of medicine to prevent a headache, and bring them over together once they are ready.”

“Yes.”