Chapter 7: The Slightly Drunk Young Master

After the madam sent off the two esteemed guests, she urged Leng Shuang to rest quickly. Yan Ziqi’s visit was due to Leng Shuang, and she needed to be cherished.

Leng Shuang should get a good rest to ensure Yan Ziqi would return. The madam also made sure that Ling’er and Shuang’er could not entertain any new guests.

The madam initially thought Yan Ziqi might avoid coming because of Princess Ning’an’s matchmaking, but it seemed Yan Ziqi was not intimidated by such matters.

Naturally, she had to keep Yan Ziqi’s favor in mind.

Leng Shuang was indeed as her name suggested—silent and reserved except when playing the zither. She needed the company of Ling’er and Shuang’er to balance things out.

Meanwhile, Princess Ning’an, accompanied by Hongxiu, used a carriage and had guards in tow. However, she didn’t want to make a spectacle, and many people knew Hongxiu because of her.

In the end, Princess Ning’an decided to have Hongxiu impersonate her. She rented a theater and arranged for several plays.

Dressed as a maid, Princess Ning’an went out, and Hongxiu, reassured by the presence of hidden protection, could relax and enjoy the show.

If the princess inquired later or if someone questioned, Hongxiu would have a ready answer.

Princess Ning’an speculated that the painting given to Master Wen by Fu Minglang must be exceptional and famous, so she began inquiries at several bookstores.

She used indirect questioning and evasive methods.

After checking several places and feeling exhausted, she still found nothing.

Princess Ning’an felt a bit disappointed.

Continuing like this was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.

Perhaps it would be better to beat up Fu Minglang to force him to reveal the information.

But he valued Master Wen greatly.

Even if beaten, he probably wouldn’t reveal anything.

While Princess Ning’an worried about obtaining the painting given to Master Wen, Yan Ziqi was already drinking with Guo Zhou.

The table had six or seven young men, with Yan Ziqi at the head and Guo Zhou to his left.

Guo Zhou had told his friends that he would get Yan Ziqi drunk, using the opportunity to humiliate him and toss him out, making Yan Ziqi the subject of ridicule.

However, after drinking for an hour, Yan Ziqi’s eyes were still bright.

Guo Zhou and his friends, on the other hand, were feeling dizzy.

“This drink isn’t enjoyable today. We’ll come again next time,” Yan Ziqi said, looking at Guo Zhou’s state. If Guo Zhou were to drive, he might end up leading him into trouble.

“Tomorrow, when Brother Guo is sober, call me again.”

Yan Ziqi patted Guo Zhou’s shoulder. Guo Zhou was already slumped over the table, his face flushed. He held his cup, trying to call out to Yan Ziqi, but he was too inebriated, even seeing two Yan Ziqis.

No, now there were three.

Guo Zhou shook his head, feeling the room spin.

He slurred, “Young Master Yan, don’t go. Drink more!”

Yan Ziqi shook his head helplessly. Although he wasn’t drunk, he had been drinking and had the staff from Hongfu Residence drive Guo Zhou’s carriage home.

Upon arriving, the butler looked at him with a worried expression.

Yan Ziqi smiled, “Uncle, I’m fine. I haven’t drunk too much.”

The butler hesitated, not out of concern for Yan Ziqi’s drinking capacity—his tolerance had long been tested by his father.

The butler leaned in and whispered, “Princess Ning’an is here.”

Most importantly, she didn’t look pleased.

The butler had followed Yan Ziqi’s instructions and hadn’t prepared the outer residence. However, Princess Ning’an had personally selected it.

Princess Ning’an, who had been unable to find the painting, returned to the theater.

Just then, Xinge arrived, fuming, and said, “The contract was given, but they refuse to reconcile accounts with me. Mrs. Fu said her family isn’t a merchant family and cannot handle such affairs. They barely manage to sustain themselves and are in deficit. Although they have lost some money, they won’t bother the princess about it.”

The contracts were all gifts from the Empress.

The shops were in prime locations, and the fields could be used for farming.

Even the two estates, if leased out, could earn quite a bit.

Losses?

Xinge spat in disdain.

They dared not settle accounts, fearing she might demand more money.

Princess Ning’an initially just wanted to retrieve the contract.

As for the silver taken by the Fu family, Princess Ning’an couldn’t be bothered to count it.

The so-called accounting was merely for clarity upon return.

Unexpectedly, the Fu family was making a fuss over this matter.

Princess Ning’an rubbed her forehead in frustration, thinking it wasn’t worth her own discomfort. She decided to find trouble with Yan Ziqi instead, as he still hadn’t handed over the outer residence.

She instructed Xinge:

“Send someone to investigate and review last year’s accounts.”

Since they were already making things difficult for her, she might as well sort it out thoroughly.

Xinge nodded and went off to handle the contract matters.

Princess Ning’an, with Hongxiu and her guards, arrived at the Xiangguo Gongfu.

The butler came out to greet her. Upon learning that Yan Ziqi wasn’t there, she decided to have lunch at the residence. Seeing that Yan Ziqi seemed indifferent towards her, she pondered and then settled in the accounting room to choose an outer residence for herself.

Generally, such places were not open to outsiders.

But who would dare to stop Princess Ning’an?

Even if the guards at the Xiangguo Gongfu could fight, they wouldn’t dare to act.

If Princess Ning’an were injured, even the emperor would give face to the young master.

It was simply impossible.

After all, Princess Ning’an was the emperor’s cherished one.

So, when Yan Ziqi arrived at the accounting room, he saw the young maiden, with great interest, flipping through his estate contracts.

“This one is a bit far from him.”

Princess Ning’an, quite dissatisfied, put down one contract and Hongxiu handed her another.

“This one won’t do. It’s too small.”

Princess Ning’an picked out another contract.

“This estate is good, but it’s too large. It’s a waste to use it for just myself.”

“This house is in a noisy area. Too noisy.”

Sitting on a chair and searching diligently, Princess Ning’an muttered to herself. Yan Ziqi realized that his family’s properties were quite substantial.

Yan Ziqi decided to sit on a stool beside Princess Ning’an.

Hongxiu discreetly stepped aside.

Yan Ziqi suggested casually, “Why don’t you just stay at the Xiangguo Gongfu?”

He mentioned it offhandedly, seeing that Princess Ning’an was dissatisfied with everything.

To his surprise, Princess Ning’an actually considered it.

She said, “How could a concubine stay openly in the residence?”

Princess Ning’an pinched her chin, feeling uneasy.

“Since you, Princess Ning’an, are willing to be a concubine, why are you concerned about these so-called rules?”

Yan Ziqi propped his elbows on the table, resting his head on his hands. Up close, he looked like a refined gentleman. His eyes were slightly hazy, and he seemed a bit dizzy.

It appeared the effects of the wine were kicking in.

Yan Ziqi hadn’t expected Guo Zhou to have such good wine.

Usually, Yan Ziqi would never get drunk.

Princess Ning’an was about to retort when she saw Yan Ziqi’s cheeks flush red and his gaze become dazed. The smell of alcohol reached her nose, and she frowned, “Butler, get some sobering soup.”

The butler was momentarily stunned before he suddenly realized.

“Oh.”

He cheerfully instructed someone to prepare it.

In previous years, when the master was home, he never allowed anyone to prepare sobering soup for the young master.

He’d say there were no conditions to prepare it at the border.

One had to get used to being drunk and make an effort to sober up.

Even after bringing the master and mistress’s coffins back, the young master had never had sobering soup.

The residence had stopped preparing it.

Yet, the body still felt uncomfortable.

The butler was relieved that someone was looking out for the young master and remembered to make sobering soup for him.

Yan Ziqi suddenly stood up, insisting he wouldn’t drink it.

“I’m not drunk. How could those guys get me drunk?”

Princess Ning’an didn’t expect Yan Ziqi to act like this when drunk, like a petulant child, and was causing a scene to stop the butler. She grabbed his ear and made him sit back down.

“If you won’t drink it, then how about we have a drink together?”

With his ear pinched, Yan Ziqi, feeling as though his fate was in Princess Ning’an’s hands, obediently sat back down.