When the secret passage door closed, Duan Changchuan turned around and saw Yun Xie holding his arms, observing him curiously.

Duan Changchuan, “…”

“What’s with that expression?”

Yun Xie approached excitedly, “Of course, the expression when our little brother is finally married off. Ei, did you have your wedding night? How was it? Tell your big brother.”

Duan Changchuan snatched the fan Yun Xie was waving around and knocked it on his head, “What wedding night? I never agreed on the child thing, and she’s not really interested anyway.”

Yun Xie took his fan back and sat beside him happily, “Sounds like you’re a bit disappointed. What if she really is interested?”

Duan Changchuan gave him a disdainful look, “There’s no ‘what if.’ She won’t be interested. What’s the use of making such assumptions?”

After saying that, he poured himself a cup of wine and sipped it.

Yun Xie continued muttering to himself, “Well… that’s true, the Empress already has someone in her heart and even attempted suicide last month, she probably won’t move on so quickly. I’ve looked into it. That person, Lin Qing took the imperial examination four years ago, didn’t pass the palace examination, and wasn’t outstanding. It’s just that he met the Empress earlier. Otherwise, the one who saved the Empress from danger would be our Emperor… It’s a pity, what a pity…”

Duan Changchuan was momentarily stunned, and he tilted his head back, finishing the cup of wine in one go.

Regardless of what… one step late meant he had already lost, right?

In the next moment, he was stunned by this thought.

What… was this…?

It was just a forced marriage. Not to mention affection, he and Bai Su didn’t even know each other before the grand wedding. How could he be compared to Lin Qing?

–

Duan Changchuan and Yun Xie, one grumbling and the other drinking in silence, Duan Changchuan had unknowingly finished his sixth cup.

Yun Xie noticed something was wrong and hurriedly stopped him, “How much have you drunk? I didn’t count it earlier. You haven’t exceeded the limit, have you?”

After saying that, he went to check the wine jug.

There wasn’t much left…

Duan Changchuan: “Not sure de~.”

Yun Xie, “…”

Although his tone and voice were no different from usual, Yun Xie knew, he was drunk.

Normally, this person never added a “de” at the end of his sentences.

“Not sure? I think you’re very sure of it.”

Yun Xie gritted his teeth.

Duan Changchuan was not a heavy drinker. On the contrary, he had almost never been drunk. One reason was that Chang Le and Yun Xie kept a close eye on him and didn’t let him drink much. Another reason was that he was self-disciplined.

Because after getting drunk, Duan Changchuan’s alcohol tolerance was excellent. Except for a slight redness on his neck, he looked no different.

But he had a fatal flaw, he became obedient. He would listen to anyone and do whatever they told him to do. He was even more obedient than a five or six-year-old child.

This was not a big deal in an ordinary household, he might even be cute.

But he was an emperor, and that was a big problem. So, Duan Changchuan had never gotten drunk again.

Now, with a pair of round, innocent eyes, he looked at Yun Xie, “I didn’t notice, maybe three… four or five cups? I can start counting now.”

Yun Xie, “…”

Expressionless, Yun Xie told Chang Le to take the wine jug away, “No more drinking.”

The young man placed his long sleeves on his knees, sitting upright, “Oh, alright de~.”

Both Yun Xie and Chang Le were like, “…”

“Daren, um… should we let His Majesty sleep here in this courtyard and return after he sobers up?” Chang Le asked respectfully.

Yun Xie, “…”

“If he sleeps here, isn’t it to let everyone know he is not happy about the situation with Rong Wu and came to drown his sorrows in alcohol? He could have just had a drink or two and pretended. But he ended up completely drunk.”

This person would look more realistic when pretending than if he was drunk for real.

Ridiculous.

While supporting him, Yun Xie grumbled, “Forget it, I’ll take him back… He can’t pretend, I’ll do it!”

“Oh, my ancestors…”

The culprit, however, was very obedient, in a confused state, he mumbled, “Hmm…?”

Yun Xie, “Nothing, it’s what I owed you.”

Duan Changchuan, “Oo…”

After a while, he added, “When did you owe me? When will you repay me? I want to reward General Rong with silver coins.”

“…Alright, whatever you say!”

–

The “two drunkards” stumbled back from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to the Ming Sheng Hall. As soon as they entered the room, Chang Le drove away all the attendants.

Yun Xie’s hazy eyes immediately cleared up. He efficiently directed Yi Man, “Go to the small kitchen and get some sobering soup. Your master probably arranged for it in advance. Just go and get it.”

The young eunuch promptly went out.

While Yun Xie was giving instructions, Duan Changchuan sat on the bed, playing with his clothes.

Very well-behaved.

Not noisy or mischievous at all.

Yun Xie sat across from him, poured a cup of tea, and said, “If you don’t feel uncomfortable, wait for Yi Man to come back, and drink the sobering soup before going to sleep.”

The young man reacted after a while, gently saying, “Hmm.”

Then… covering his mouth, and said, “But I feel like throwing up.”

Yun Xie:!!!

He quickly called Chang Le in, “Hurry, His Majesty wants to vomit, help him to the side to throw up!”

So, there was another round of commotion…

But when the person was brought back, he was even more limped than before, Duan Changchuan touched his stomach, emitting a strong sense of grievance through his body.

“Done vomiting?” Yun Xie brought over hot water, handing it to the young emperor.

Chang Le shook his head, “No vomit, His Majesty just sat for a while, saying his stomach felt uncomfortable. This servant has ordered someone to invite Imperial Physician Fang from Imperial Hospital, he should be here soon.”

After saying that, he leaned over and asked Duan Changchuan, “Your Majesty, how are you feeling? Or, do you still feel uncomfortable in the stomach?”

The young man nodded, biting his lip, and sighed deeply. Then he gestured with this thumb and forefinger, saying, “A little bit.”

Chang Le supported him and rubbed his belly, “It’s okay, Imperial Physician Fang will be here soon. Let him check on you.”

“Oo… Okay.”

As expected, Physician Fang arrived.

Fang Moyan accompanied by Yi Man entered together, he carried his usual medicine box and said, “This official greets Your Majesty for a safe and sound reign.”

The young emperor nodded reservedly, frowning and touching his stomach, “Today, I drank a few cups of wine, and my abdomen hurts a bit. Imperial Physician Fang, please take a look for me.”

Physician Fang immediately took out the pulse pillow and led him to the table.

While diagnosing, he asked, “Did Your Majesty drink on an empty stomach?”

“No, drinking on an empty stomach harms the body, that’s what my late Father Emperor said.”

“Um… yes, what the late emperor said is correct… So, Your Majesty, how many cups did you drink?”

The young man extended three fingers, “A bit more than three cups.”

Yun Xie raised an eyebrow, causing trouble, “A small jug.”

This time, Duan Changchuan didn’t say anything.

–

Originally just a usual inquiry, but as the questions continued, Fang Moyan fell silent. Not only that, but his brows also furrowed deeper.

Duan Changchuan didn’t understand and stared straight at him, looking confused.

Seeing something unusual, Yun Xie immediately became serious and asked, “Imperial Physician Fang, is something wrong with the pulse?”

But who expected…

The gaze showed in Fang Mo Yan was more bewildered than everyone present.

Both Chang Le and Yun Xie: ???

“Uh… His Majesty did drink a bit too much, he should be better with a good night’s sleep, but… uh, but…”

He hesitated after saying ‘but,’ clearly having more to say but not daring to express it.

Yun Xie, Chang Le, and Yi Man exchanged glances, and the two young eunuchs immediately understood and withdrew.

When only three people were left in the room, Fang Moyan hesitated and said, “I apologize… Yun Daren, I did find the pulse somewhat strange… I probably, uh, not skilled enough, and can not diagnose it more. I request His Majesty’s permission to send a letter to my master, and conduct another examination again.”

Yun Xie frowned, “What kind of strange pulse requires you to send a letter to your master? Can you not call other physicians from the Imperial Hospital for a joint consultation?”

In theory, that would be the correct procedure for medical consultation.

However, when Physician Fang heard about involving other physicians, his face turned pale, and he knelt hastily, “Inappropriate! Yun Daren, it’s really inappropriate… or, or, let’s wait for my master to come, and we can discuss it then!”

Yun Xie was completely baffled: ???