Amidst the cheers and the clamor of firecrackers and drums, Wang Fugui stepped into the Qi manor.
“Congratulations, Young Master Wang, congratulations!”
“Young Master Wang’s happy union is truly a beautiful tale.”
“Young Master Wang, a talented scholar matched with a beautiful lady, today will surely be etched in history.”
Amidst the chorus of well-wishes, Wang Fugui walked straight ahead.
He first went to the main hall to pay his respects to the Qi parents.
The Qi parents, looking at Wang Fugui’s handsome and imposing demeanor, were very pleased.
“My worthy son-in-law, this old man has waited for this day for many years, and it has finally arrived. Hurry along, my daughter has been waiting impatiently.”
*Hmph, waiting for this day? It should be waiting for this day to be shamed. Your daughter has probably already eloped with her lover.*
He sneered inwardly, but Wang Fugui remained outwardly calm. After offering some flattering words, he headed towards the boudoir of the eldest daughter of the Qi family.
Along the way, people kept teasing him. Wang Fugui responded with a smile, appearing as a courteous gentleman. Anyone who saw him would feel as if bathed in a spring breeze, believing this young master was humble and polite, and that the Qi family’s daughter had found a good husband.
“Groom, our young lady heard that in the capital, you are a hero of the drinking world, even called the Wine Immortal. Is this true or not?”
At the entrance of the boudoir, a young maidservant tilted her pretty face, looking at Wang Fugui provocatively.
Hearing this, Wang Fugui chuckled.
If it were any other test, he might have to consider, but when it came to drinking, in the entire capital, he would dare to say he was second to none.
Often, an entire table of people would be drunk under the table, yet he would be perfectly fine, capable of drinking another two jars at home.
“We have Daughter Red wine buried since our young lady was born. According to custom, it should be drunk on your wedding night.
But our young lady does not wish it so. She said for the groom to drink it at the entrance. Only after finishing can the door be opened.”
“Hahaha, bring the wine!”
Wang Fugui waved his hand generously, a surge of heroism filling him.
At the entrance, over ten jars of fine wine were displayed. Wang Fugui’s eyes twitched slightly upon seeing them, but he still chose to face it with a smile.
*Can’t back down.*
The first jar of wine, Wang Fugui drank without hesitation, directly picking up the jar and downing it.
The people around cheered.
The second jar, the same.
The third, the fourth…
After drinking five jars in one go, Wang Fugui felt as if his stomach would explode. He waved his hands repeatedly, saying he needed a moment to rest before drinking more.
The people around continued to urge him to drink. The alcohol began to take effect, and Wang Fugui’s stubborn pride flared up. He picked up another jar and started drinking with others.
The alcohol hit him quickly. Wang Fugui felt dizzy, his face flushed red.
He had already drunk eight jars. If he drank slowly, he could handle ten, but he had drunk too fast this time.
He was getting drunk.
This Daughter Red wine wasn’t as good as the little Taoist nun’s.
*Wait!*
*Little Taoist nun!*
*She’s still waiting for me to pick her up.*
*Damn it, for someone who isn’t even in the house, I’ve drunk so much. If it were any other time, I could drink as much as I wanted, but not today.*
*Greed for wine leads to trouble, greed for wine leads to trouble.*
Wang Fugui stumbled, pushing people aside, trying to enter the room.
“Hey, Groom, you haven’t finished yet.”
“Get lost! If you keep drinking, will you bow in my stead at the wedding ceremony?”
“Hahaha…”
Wang Fugui pushed open the main door and swayed into the boudoir, completely oblivious to the fact that the door was being closed behind him.
The room was filled with red, candlelight casting flickering shadows, a beautiful lady awaiting.
On the bed sat a woman covered by a red veil, with two maids of honor standing on either side.
Seeing the person sitting on the bed, Wang Fugui’s drunkenness lessened considerably.
*This isn’t right. Didn’t she leave already?*
Wang Fugui quickly walked over, intending to lift the red veil.
“Groom, you can only lift it after the ceremony.”
“Get lost!”
The two maids held onto Wang Fugui tightly.
“Let him go.”
The woman in red lifted her veil herself.
It was Qi Huixin.
“Why… why…”
Wang Fugui frowned deeply, his gaze fierce.
“Do you really think I am as shameless as you, meeting others in secret while having a marriage engagement?”
Qi Huixin stood up, picked up the teacup, and took a gentle sip.
“You… you lied to me, why did you lie to me? You promised.”
“Ridiculous, you would actually believe the words of a stranger.”
Qi Huixin’s gaze held a hint of mockery and a touch of pity.
“You were completely infatuated by that sorceress, willing to abandon me to elope with her. If I had forced you to stay, it would have been counterproductive.
There was no other way, I could only resort to this plan, to keep you steady first, to lure you to my home today, so that the marriage could be completed smoothly.
You, so grown up, are really not making things easy for anyone.”
“Bastard, you dare to lie to me, I will never marry you, not even in death!”
Wang Fugui struggled frantically, wishing he could strangle Qi Huixin, but the two maids possessed incredible strength, holding him down tightly, rendering him immobile.
“The most laughable thing about you is that you think too highly of yourself. Do you think you are that important?
Once the ceremony is done today, do you think you will have any use at all?
I just want to marry into your family. Whether you are there or not is irrelevant.
What I want is only your father’s status as Minister of Revenue. Only then can my family’s businesses spread throughout the country. I want to build a commercial empire of my own, where even the emperor has to consider my stance.
As for you, hehe, a good-for-nothing, what use are you? If you behave obediently, I might even spare your life.
If you are disobedient, at worst, in a few days, the capital will spread the news of your death from excessive drinking.”
“Let me go, let me leave, I want to go find her, let me go, you scoundrel…”
Wang Fugui’s mind was no longer clear. He cared about nothing now. His only thought was to leave this place, go to the mountains, find the little Taoist nun, and take her away.
Alas…
*Bang!*
After knocking Wang Fugui unconscious, Qi Huixin picked up a pot of wine and poured it onto him.
“Tell those outside that the groom was overcome by alcohol and passed out.”
…
Wang Fugui awoke, looking at the familiar yet strange red decorations around him. Gritting his teeth and enduring the headache, he got up.
“Young Master, the Young Madam has gone to serve tea to the Master and Mistress.”
Ignoring the maidservant’s attempts to stop him, Wang Fugui dashed out, went to the stables, grabbed a horse, and headed straight for the southern part of the city.
Arriving at the foot of the mountain, Wang Fugui, like a madman, rushed to the summit and came before the Taoist temple.
Inside the temple, there was no one.
“Where are you? Come out quickly!!!”
Wang Fugui shouted hoarsely, stumbling along the small path in front of the temple.
He searched everywhere, growing so tired he almost collapsed.
But this time, no matter how much he called out, he no longer heard the crisp sound of footsteps on the bluestone slabs.
Finally, in front of the small bamboo house, beside a patch of snow that had not yet completely melted, he found a sword plunged into the ground.
*If that time comes, it would be better to bury the past in the wind, with a long sword as a tombstone and frost and snow as the grave.*
He sat dejectedly at the entrance, gazing at the sky. Tears streamed from the corners of his eyes, dripping onto his chest, onto the ground, yet they could not melt that patch of snow.
“Come back… Where did you go… Why couldn’t you even wait for me one more day…”