146 Giving Thanks After a Ceasefire? (2/2)

Since it was spoken by Her Highness, everyone had no choice but to answer. Much less the students of the Academy who could guess the thought that went behind her question. No matter whether they were shocked or curious, they could do nothing but to retract their gazes from the corner.

Sangsang did not comprehend what this meant. She only knew that no one was looking at her anymore and relaxed. However, the moment she did so, the faint aroma that floated from within the wine bottle became all the more enticing.

She looked at the bowl filled with wine before her. Noting that no one was paying any attention to her, she quickly grabbed the bowl with two hands and gulped it down before wiping her lips with her sleeves. Her hands quickly landed on her knees as if nothing had happened.

Prince Long Qing who had witnessed this scene from afar smiled. His gaze landed on the ground not far from himself as he lifted his bowl and drank.

...

...

It was a strange feast.

It was a farewell feast for the crown prince of Yan, but the gently smiling crown prince who did not speak a word had been forgotten. The princess and the students of the Academy were having a lively discussion about life in the Academy and various large-scale events in the future. However, no one really paid attention to the contents of this conversation. Every one was either thinking of or stealing glances at two spots.

The handsome Prince Long Qing drank the strong liquor silently, looking as if he was thinking deeply. The tanned handmaid, silent as a bunny, kept her head down even as she gulped the wine down.

Prince Long Qing looked as if he was upset, as his expression became graver as he continued drinking. Sangsang's eyes got brighter as she drank. The pieces of conversations and stolen glances that scattered through the air felt as if they were slightly drunk too as they landed silently at these two spots. It seemed that no one was looking, but in fact, everyone was.

Due to orders, the boss of Victory House had to move all 30 casks of liquor from Gushan Commandery to the backyard before leaving them at the two uppermost corners.

Sangsang had stayed in the pile of bodies for too long as a child that rainy day, resulting in a cold constitution. When she got ill, she could keep alive only through the use of alcohol to raise her internal temperature. This was why Ning Que was used to carrying a wineskin with him at all times.

Sangsang had fallen in love with drinking as she had grown up depending on it for survival. She also found that it got progressively harder for her to get drunk. It was just that the two were really poor when they were little kids. They could not drink to their heart's content even if they bought the cheapest burnt wine from Min Mountain or horse milk liquor of the lowest quality on the grassland. She had always enjoyed strong alcohol. However, the stronger the alcohol, the more expensive it was. Even after the two had become suddenly rich in Chang'an, they did not drink like how they were drinking tonight.

The Nine-river double-distilled wine from Gushan Commandery was the strongest liquor in the world and they did not have to pay a single cent to drink it. To Sangsang, who had led a hard life, this was the greatest pleasure in the realm.

The bottles by the table emptied one by one. She had forgotten why her Young Master had brought her here today. It was to see some prince or another. She had also forgotten what kind of occasion or how many people had looked at her. She just felt happier and her eyes got brighter with each drink.

Prince Long Qing did not drink any slower than Sangsang. The dark grave look on his handsome face gave way to an indescribable interest and excitement that he had finally met his match.

Over 30 casks of liquor had been drained.

Those present looked at the empty bottles and could not believe that the amount of wine that could kill a few horses had actually gone into the bellies of two people.

Prince Long Qing did not use his cultivation skills to dispel his drunkenness. The ten over bottles of liquor he had consumed had loosened up his usual aloof expression. There was also some slight confusion in his eyes.

Sangsang, who was sitting in the corner, was flushed and her belly was distended with liquor. Her eyes were way brighter than usual. However, other than that, she was as quiet as usual and showed no trace of being drunk.

Ning Que looked at Prince Long Qing and at Sangsang before bursting into laughter. He tapped his chopsticks heavily on the wine bottle, emitting a sharp clear sound. It was the sound of victory after a ceasefire.

All was silent.

...

...

The trace of haziness from the alcohol cleared from Prince Long Qing's eyes. He looked at the corner impassively and asked, ”Lad, are you Ning Que?”

Ning Que stood up and answered, ”Indeed.”

”That's your handmaid?”

”Yes.”

”Reward her.”

Ning Que and Sangsang looked at each other, noting the lack of hesitation in each other's eyes. They smiled and replied politely, ”Thank you, Your Highness.”

Prince Long Qing spoke to his attendants.

The Taoist child attendant from West-Hill walked before them and looked at Ning Que gently. He spoke with the air of one reading the royal decree, ”The prince had come to Chang'an to pursue his studies and would like to hire people for his palace. Haotian has granted you this glory. You now have the opportunity to present your handmaid as a servant for the prince. Quick, thank him for his mercy.”