Chapter 72
Drunkenness

Shangjing has many taverns, but Jiang Yan and Xiao Jiyue are fond of taking a small boat and drifting on the river.

“Try this.” Xiao Jiyue casually tossed a jug of wine and said, “It’s good stuff. You probably haven’t tasted it before.”

Jiang Yan sneered and opened the bamboo stopper.

The wine inside was clear and had a honey-like color, with a rich, fragrant aroma that intoxicated even before drinking. Jiang Yan smiled and poured a cup.

“Tsk.” Xiao Jiyue raised an eyebrow and said mockingly, “You’re in a good mood. Have you heard the rumors in the capital?”

“I heard your Marquis brother is neglecting his wife, and they haven’t consummated their marriage yet…”

Thinking of that fleeting glimpse, Xiao Jiyue shook his head and laughed freely, “What a waste.”

Jiang Yan’s face turned cold, “She is not someone you can casually mock.”

“You treat her like a treasure, but others discard her. The world is truly interesting.”

Xiao Jiyue picked up the wine jug and drank it all in one go. The honey-colored wine slid down his throat, and he wiped his mouth with a carefree gesture. Jiang Yan watched and suddenly envied Xiao Jiyue’s carefree attitude, never caring about worldly matters.

“But…” Unable to hold back, Xiao Jiyue leaned forward with a rebellious expression, “What do you think?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Xiao Jiyue sneered, “Why pretend to be a gentleman in front of me? I’m not your sister-in-law, who likes to see such things.”

Jiang Yan’s grip on the wine cup tightened, his eyes gradually turning from clear and gentle to dark and brooding.

“That’s more like it.”

Jiang Yan wanted to lash out but held back.

When he first heard about his brother’s marital issues, he had thoughts. But he feared seeing hatred and disgust in her eyes more than anything.

Jiang Yan lowered his eyes, feeling powerless, and his grip loosened.

She would never accept his feelings.

The fragrant wine slid down his throat, but its sweet and mellow taste mixed with his shameful thoughts and sorrow, becoming bitter and piercing.

Seeing his dejected look, Xiao Jiyue became curious about what kind of charm that woman had to make Jiang Yan so infatuated.

Leaning back slightly, Xiao Jiyue grinned, his eyes full of mockery. He would never be as foolish as Jiang Yan, letting others control his emotions.

“Last time, you used my name to buy shops in the capital. Do you know how much money I lost?”

Jiang Yan said indifferently, “When the goods from Sanfoqi arrive, I’ll give you a share.”

“How generous.”

Seeing the wine was finished, Xiao Jiyue brought another jar, and they drank heartily. Xiao Jiyue asked, “Who is the woman causing such chaos in the Marquis Mansion? How can she make the Marquis neglect his beautiful wife?”

Jiang Yan frowned, “Just a common woman.”

He didn’t even remember her face.

“Besides your sister-in-law, which woman isn’t common in your eyes?”

Xiao Jiyue laughed wickedly, and Jiang Yan gave him a warning look.

“With your skills, dealing with that fool should be easy. Why use my name?”

“……” Jiang Yan sneered, “What do you know?”

A man who licks blood from the blade knows nothing about women, let alone relationships.

Taking a sip of strong wine, Jiang Yan smiled bitterly, “Even if I have a thousand ways, what can I do? Should I get rid of her and watch them become lovey-dovey?”

“Then you’ll let that concubine oppress your sister-in-law?”

Xiao Jiyue was puzzled. If it were his woman, he would never let anyone bully or insult her, but Jiang Yan’s roundabout thinking was truly hard to understand.

“She’s just a low-born concubine. As long as she can’t give birth to a son for the Marquis Mansion, she’s nothing.”

Draining his bowl of wine, Jiang Yan’s expression softened. “She is as pure as crystal, unwilling to use any dirty tricks. What she refuses to do, I’ll do for her. What she desires, I’ll achieve for her.”

“She wants to buy shops early to profit from that foolish woman, so I’ll drive up the prices of all the shops in the capital for her. She wants me to marry the Sun family’s daughter, so I’ll marry her. She doesn’t want to support the Marquis Mansion anymore, so I’ll force the Sun family to break off the engagement.”

“Song Fu is struggling in the Ministry of Personnel, and she feels sorry for him, so I’ll spend all my private wealth to help Song Fu rise.”

“I have countless means, but I refuse to break up Jiang Xingjian and that foolish woman.”

Jiang Yan lowered his eyes. “I wish them a lifetime of harmony and happiness. I hope they will be in perfect harmony every day, like two birds flying together.”

“But I don’t want to see her lonely for the rest of her life. I…”

“You’re drunk.” Xiao Jiyue interrupted Jiang Yan, his tone indifferent.

Joking was one thing, but going too deep was not good.

Jiang Yan’s mouth tasted bitter, but he smiled and drank another bowl of strong wine.

Putting aside personal matters, they talked about future business. By the time the boat drifted downstream, it was already past the hour of Xu. A servant from the Marquis Mansion was anxiously waiting on the shore. As soon as Jiang Yan disembarked, the servant said, “Second Young Master, you’re finally back. There’s been an incident at the mansion.”

“What happened?”

The servant replied, “It’s the third young lady. She has passed away.”

Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow. “How did she suddenly die?”

The servant explained the day’s events in detail. Jiang Yan only frowned slightly, showing no sign of regret, until the servant mentioned that the young madam was so shocked that she had summoned the mansion doctor. Then he looked slightly worried.

Just as he was about to bid farewell to Xiao Jiyue, he saw him speaking solemnly to someone nearby.

Jiang Yan only caught a vague phrase about a cripple not making it, then saw them walk away.

“Return to the mansion.”

Taking a carriage back, Jiang Yan had just entered the rear courtyard when he saw Song Wan standing unusually near the hanging flower gate.

He paused, his ears turning red.

Jiang Yan stood at the gate, not daring to approach, afraid that his smell of alcohol would offend Song Wan.

“Greetings, Second Master.” Heng Zhi’s voice reminded Song Wan to turn around.

“Second Master has been drinking?”

Jiang Yan’s ears burned even more, and he felt deeply regretful. After a moment of hesitation, he bowed and said, “I did have a few drinks with a friend.”

Song Wan smiled faintly and casually mentioned that drinking was harmful to health, then stepped aside to let him pass.

Jiang Yan pressed his lips together, feeling reluctant. Noticing her unusual behavior, as she should have returned to Lan Ting Courtyard by now, he asked, “Sister-in-law, what are you doing here…”

“Waiting for Heng Wu. I sent her to Jixiang Courtyard to burn some paper money for the third young lady.”

“……” Jiang Yan then remembered why he had been summoned back to the mansion.

Seeing his slightly dazed expression, Song Wan asked gently, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I made a mistake by drinking. Don’t worry, Sister-in-law, I won’t touch a drop of alcohol in the future.”

With that, Jiang Yan bowed and left, returning to Yuling Studio to wash up and prepare for the funeral.

After he left, Song Wan said, “By observing his actions, one can know his character. Second Master is a true gentleman, honest and upright, which is rare.”

Thinking of this, Song Wan suddenly realized that if Jiang Xingjian had not returned and Jiang Yan had inherited the title, the Marquis Mansion would not have fallen into such chaos, resembling the end of days.