The Male Lead's Road to Success Chapter 74: Intention in Wine

  His heart felt warm and cozy, as if he were basking in the warm sunshine amidst a hundred flowers. Yuan Longqi only felt his chest expand with a sense of openness. "It's alright," he said softly, taking her hand in his and pulling her along. "There's a pavilion up ahead, let's go there to take shelter from the wind."

  In the summer, she instinctively wanted to pull her hand out, but at this moment, she was extremely cold and wished she had a warm place. Seeing that he had no malicious intentions, she also followed his footsteps and let him lead her away. The two of them, one with joy in her heart and the other absent-minded, neither noticed the slender figure half-hidden behind the tree.

  "Aren't you supposed to be in the bridal chamber? What are you doing here?" Xia Tian asked as he walked.

  Yuan Longqi fell silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "This place is very close to the new house."

  "Oh." Xia Tian nodded, completely unaware of the speaker's downtrodden emotions. Suddenly thinking of something, she asked again: "How many wives do you have?"

  Yuan Longqi turned his head back in surprise and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

  "Hmm... cough, I actually asked you how many of those... concubines!"

  A hint of a smile slowly crept into his eyes, and Yuan Longqi hooked the corner of his mouth, pushing open the door to let Xia Tian enter first before he followed. "None."

  "What?!?" Xiatian's eyes widened in shock and indignation, his voice ringing out loudly.

  "Except for Miss Situ and your elder sister being bestowed in marriage by Emperor Father, Long Qi has no other concubines."

  Summer is even more depressing, looking at others and then at her own little three, it's really worlds apart.

  "Actually..." Yuan Longqi bit his lip, struggling with whether to say it out loud, "Actually on that day... when Father Emperor arranged the marriage, if I had also been in the palace, perhaps..." He looked at Xia Tian hesitantly, somewhat tense, "Perhaps today's marriage would have been someone else."

  Xia Tian was lost in her own thoughts, and it wasn't until half a day later that she realized Yuan Longkai was talking to her. She suddenly looked up and asked, "What did you just say?"

  It's so unfair! On a summer day with a terrible mood, she sat in the warm pavilion, her hands clasped together on the table, and her head buried between her arms. The things she used to not care about suddenly became important now. Those concubines of Xia San seemed to be four or five, and she, a modern person, was unfortunately reduced to one of his many wives, why?!

  She slammed her hand on the table and got up to go find Yuan Xiaosan to have a talk. Wait, when did two people appear behind her?!

  Purple palace attire, jade hairpin, the person in front of her was indeed Princess Zhen. Xia Tian was a bit dazed, thought for a moment, and bowed to salute. "Participating in Princess Zhen's presence." After a long time, there was still no movement from the other side. Her legs were numb, and she couldn't help but feel some anger in her heart. She raised her head to find Princess Zhen looking at her with great interest, as if she were a giant panda in a zoo.

  "Get up." Zhen Fei smiled and raised her hand slightly. "We parted ways in the palace that day, now I see you again, you are already Ling Wangfei."

  In the summer, he silently stared at her overly enthusiastic smile without making a sound.

  Zhen Fei glanced around, her autumn water-like eyes narrowed slightly, and took a jade cup from the palace maid behind her. "This palace just heard that the fifth prince is here, specially brought good wine to congratulate him, didn't expect not to meet him but met you instead. Never mind, since the fifth prince doesn't have this blessing, this cup of wine will be given to you by this palace, as a congratulation for becoming Ling Wangfei."

  "His Highness just left, and Princess Zhen should be able to find him in the front hall."

  "Are you not even going to give face to the wine bestowed by the palace?" Zhenfei smiled and took a step forward, holding out the jade cup in front of Xia Tian.

  Xiatian didn't like her, although she was always smiling and looked approachable. He glanced down at the cup in her hand, the green container reflecting the wine into a bright, tender color. This wine would have to be drunk today, whether he liked it or not.

  Gritting her teeth, Xia Tian furrowed her brow and snatched the wine over, drinking it down in one gulp as if it were poison.

  "Cough... Cough!" So spicy! It feels like a fire was lit in my throat, burning all the way down to my stomach.

  "It seems that our Ling Wangfei really can't hold her liquor at all. Forget it, I'll go find the Fifth Prince instead. Let's go." Zhen Fei gave a subtle signal to the palace maid behind her, smiled at Xia Tian, and turned to leave the warm pavilion. The palace maid put away the jade cup, glanced at Xia Tian without leaving any trace, and followed her out.

  Outside the warm pavilion, Zhen Fei quietly gazed at the faintly visible figure inside, her face devoid of even a hint of smile, replaced by an icy coldness that surpassed the chill of the wind.

  "Is this all right, Your Highness?" asked the palace maid, holding a jade ewer and basin, in a low voice.

  "Hmph!" With a cold smile, Zhen Fei didn't respond, but instead ordered: "Pour away all these wines, don't let anyone find out."

  "Yes, I'll go right away."

  "And also, have someone bring the Fourth Prince here."

  The palace maid was taken aback for a moment, then hastily responded with a "yes".

  In the summer, she only felt a wave of dizziness and palpitations, hastily holding onto the table to sit down. The wine was strong and warm, and she even broke out in a faint sweat. After sitting for a while, her dizziness didn't alleviate one bit, instead, her body felt even hotter, and the air inside the warming pavilion became stifling. She pulled at her collar, and in a daze, got up to walk outside. It was hot, really hot. Summer stumbled out of the warming pavilion, thinking that taking in some fresh air would make her feel better, but unexpectedly, her heart palpitations grew more severe, and the sweat on her body increased.

  "Third Sister, why are you running here all alone when you weren't in front just now?"

  In the summer, she lifted her head, squinting her eyes to try and see the person speaking clearly, but it was as if a layer of fog had been placed in front of her eyes, and all she could make out was the dazzling peony on his cloak. With a faint smile, she stumbled towards the shadowy figure, her hand touching his body, her face pressed against his chest, and finally felt the heat dissipate from her body, letting out a comfortable sigh.

  "Third sister, what are you doing!" Yuan Longlin was so frightened that he pushed Xia Tian away with one hand, his eyes wide open and his doll-like face flushed bright red. When he found her missing at the banquet, he became a little worried and came out to look for her, but unexpectedly only saw her in the inner courtyard.

  In the summer, her legs were weak and powerless. With a push from Yuan Longlin, she immediately fell to the ground. In her heart, she couldn't help but scold Yuan Xiaosan for being crazy. She raised her chin with half-closed eyes and stretched out her hand to him, "Xiaosan——" Her coquettish voice was enough to melt bones and souls.

  Her waist was half leaning against the hem of her skirt, which fell to the ground. Her arm was lightly raised, and her head was tilted back like a crescent moon. Her originally clear and bright eyes had become two sparkling springs, shrouded in thick mist. The peony hairpin on her chignon was lazily drooping, with several petals falling onto her collar, exuding an unusual charm.

  His heart skipped a beat, Yuan Longlin furrowed his brow and averted his gaze, feeling three parts annoyed, three parts embarrassed, and four parts puzzled. This wasn't right! Even if she was bold and reckless, she wouldn't be like this.

  In the summer, it's unbearable to keep tugging at one's collar and clothes, as if a million ants are crawling inside, causing an intense itch.

  Steadying himself, Yuan Longxuan walked forward and helped her up. Feeling the heat emanating from her body, his doubts grew heavier. It seemed she was really not feeling well! "What's wrong with you? Where are you uncomfortable?"

  "It's so hot~~, really hot~" murmuring to herself in the summer, her body involuntarily leaned in again.