Chapter 232: Chapter 232: He Was Probably... Overthinking Things.

"You don’t think so?" Chen Minrou was surprised for a moment, then waved her hand dismissively. "Who cares? I’m quite a sucker for it, actually."

When she took the initiative to kiss him, the man, with his tear-filled, red-rimmed eyes, seemed even more precious to her than he was in his youth.

Especially the way he cried, his vision blurred with tears as he stared at her without blinking, his entire being radiating a kind of stubborn, aggrieved air.

It was as if he were silently protesting her coldness over the past few years.

It made Chen Minrou reflect deeply. ’Have I really been too harsh?’

She felt a genuine, heartfelt desire to make it up to him.

And as luck would have it, his arm was injured, so he didn’t have to do any of the strenuous work...

These past few days, the passion between them was as intense as the clinging infatuation of their newlywed days.

If not for her dear friend’s enthusiastic invitation, Chen Minrou would not have wanted to leave the house at all.

The memory of pinning him down in their intimate moments made her mouth go dry. She quickly drained her wine cup to suppress the feeling stirring within her.

"I had the Imperial Physician take my pulse the other day. He said my vital energies were a bit too... abundant,"

Chen Minrou muttered under her breath, "No wonder. Ever since I broke my fast half a month ago, all I can think about is... that."

Cui Lingyao knew exactly what "that" was.

The corner of her lip twitched. "Is it really that bad?"

"Mhm!" Chen Minrou nodded emphatically. "You know I’ve always been such a shy girl. How could I suddenly become so... libidinous?"

Cui Lingyao: "..."

A complicated look crossed her face. "Shy?"

’But when we were girls, we were all so wild and unrestrained, proud... and capricious.’

’Where does "shy" even come into it?’

"Honestly, why do you always have to ruin it?" Chen Minrou gave her a light shove. "If I say I was shy, you just agree, got it?"

Cui Lingyao tsked. She was about to say something else when a segment of tangerine was suddenly stuffed into her mouth.

It was a honey tangerine from Jiangnan.

Growing up, of all the fruits available in the cold winter, these were Cui Lingyao’s absolute favorite.

She would often eat them until she made herself sick, only then would she reluctantly hold back.

But now, as the sweet juice burst in her mouth, her brow furrowed slightly.

"What’s wrong? I thought you loved these."

As she spoke, Chen Minrou popped a segment into her own mouth.

It tasted divine.

Even better quality than the ones from her Duke Mansion.

Their skins were a perfect golden-yellow, and they were plump with juice.

Cui Lingyao managed to swallow it. "I just feel this batch is too sweet," she said. "I think they’d taste better with a bit of tartness to balance it out."

Too sweet...?

Chen Minrou froze. "But you love the super-sweet ones, don’t you? You won’t even touch them if they have the slightest hint of tartness."

"Is that right?" Cui Lingyao said nonchalantly. "Maybe I’ve just gotten tired of them. I feel like a change of pace."

...

「Meanwhile.」

The banquet hall in the front courtyard was just as lively.

But unlike the women, who were eating fruit and watching a play, the men’s gathering was decidedly more unrestrained.

Musicians plucked at their instruments, and the light, pleasant melody of strings and bamboo flutes flowed from their skilled fingers.

Several skimpily clad Dancing Girls, barefoot and dressed in sheer gauze, danced gracefully in the center of the hall.

Each was a beauty in her own right, with a slender figure. Their delicate waists, faintly visible beneath the sheer fabric, swayed gracefully to the music.

Silver bells on their ankles jingled with every movement. TINKLE, TINKLE.

It was a truly bewitching sight.

These were all household courtesans kept by the Prince Mansion. They had their own separate courtyard and were rarely allowed in the main halls unless entertaining at a banquet.

Such entertainers were a standard feature in any noble household. The stewards would have arranged for them without needing any order from Xie Jinbai.

After all, a men’s banquet required beautiful women in attendance.

Power, without the adornment of beauty, would lose much of its allure. The taste of success would not be nearly as sweet.

Inside the hall, cups were raised and toasts were made. The guests were all smiles as the wine flowed freely and the banquet reached its peak.

These were all Xie Jinbai’s Household Ministers and advisors, the nobles who had already pledged their allegiance to him, and a few of his Uncles from the Imperial Family with whom he was on good terms.

Amid the pleasant chatter and laughter, if a guest took a fancy to a particular Dancing Girl, he would call her over to pour his wine.

With the Crown Prince present, most men were still careful to protect their reputations. Not wanting to leave Xie Jinbai with the impression that they were lecherous or debauched, they remained somewhat restrained.

However, there were some known for their debauchery who, as long as they performed their duties well, cared little for their personal reputations. They would simply pull a beautiful woman into their lap and begin to get intimate.

With one or two men taking the lead, the others naturally began to relax as well.

Xie Jinbai turned a blind eye to all of it.

He himself could lead by example, abstaining from female company. He was also extremely strict with his subordinates on a daily basis, and would never tolerate them making a mistake because their judgment was clouded by lust while on official business.

But an occasion like today was meant for relaxation and enjoyment. He couldn’t very well demand his guests remain prim and proper, showing no interest in the beautiful women before them.

That would be going against human nature.

Power, beauty, and money—these were the fundamental reasons men strived for anything.

’A man has to be driven by at least one of them.’

’If a man is completely unmoved by accomplishment, fame, fortune, status, and beauty, he must be a saint.’

’And how is a ruler supposed to make use of such a saint, a man with no weaknesses?’

’How could he be controlled?’

’At the very least, Xie Jinbai would have no use for such a man.’

At that moment, he sat in the host’s seat of honor, one leg casually propped up, with no beautiful companion beside him.

Despite being in the midst of such a lively banquet, his thoughts had drifted far away.

’I’ve been so busy these past few days, leaving early and coming home late. I wonder if it’s just my imagination, but I get the feeling that she... finds me distasteful.’

’When I pull her into my arms in her sleep, she always frowns and seems so reluctant.’

’I’m probably... just overthinking it.’

Just then, one of the guests rose, bowed toward the seat of honor, and raised his cup for a toast.

It was the current Emperor’s sixth younger brother, Xie Jinbai’s Sixth Imperial Uncle, Prince Duan.

Although he held the title of a prince, he had no real power. He was little more than a wealthy, idle noble kept in comfort and honor by the court.

The Heir of Prince Duan, however, was a different story. He was Xie Jinbai’s cousin and had followed him around since childhood. The two of them were on excellent terms.

Over the years, Xie Jinbai had found him to be a very capable and reliable subordinate.

His own uncle was proposing a toast. Even if only for the sake of his son, who worked so tirelessly for him, Xie Jinbai had to show him respect.

Xie Jinbai reined in his thoughts, raised his wine cup, and drained it in one go.

As the cool liquid went down, he let out a quiet sigh.

’That girl hates the smell of wine,’ he thought. ’But as the host tonight, I have no reason to abstain.’

One cup down.

The maidservant waiting behind him moved to refill his cup, but Xie Jinbai stopped her with a raised hand.

He took the pitcher and poured for himself.

Immediately after, another guest rose to offer a toast.

"This humble servant respectfully offers a toast to Your Highness."

Oh.

’It’s my father-in-law.’

Xie Jinbai certainly couldn’t be discourteous to him. He raised his arm and downed another cup of strong wine.

To show his respect, he even made a few pleasantries.

The Changping Marquis replied with deference.

As the two men—father- and son-in-law—were conversing, another guest spoke up. "Your Highness achieved fame at a young age, earning merits on the battlefield. To this day, you have achieved everything one could wish for, with but one exception. This old servant only hopes to see that last piece fall into place soon."

The once boisterous hall fell silent in an instant, as if a spell had been cast.

Everyone knew what he was implying.

Xie Jinbai glanced over, his lips parting to speak, but just as he was about to say something, several figures suddenly appeared in the doorway.

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