Chapter 323 : It’s Not Easy Being the Head of Household 7 (2/2)

“Shh! Quieten down! He’s Priest Tianxu’s disciple; don’t gossip.”

“Eh, I heard that even the Crown Princess and the Ning Princess are trying to cosy up to him.”

“Priest Ling Yue…”

“Ling Yue…”

Clunk! Someone had set down a winecup very heavily, causing the sounds of discussion to die down as everyone looked at the source of the noise.

“I do believe you people are too idle. How about I submit a proposal to the Empress to cut your salaries?”

The officials, “…” ‘How did we offend this one? All we did was say a few words…’

Their gazes drifted over to Ling Yue before turning back to look at Shi Sheng’s icy expression and choosing to remain silent.

‘It seems like not only has the Crown Princess and the Ning Princess taken a liking to Priest Ling Yue, even the Prime Minister has as well.’

The Empress didn’t appear at the banquet, apparently due to feeling unwell. Hence, the Crown Princess became the host.

Shi Sheng watched as the Crown Princess nearly plastered herself onto Ling Yue as she spoke to him.

Perhaps having noticed Ling Yue’s discomfort, Jiang Zhi went forth to pull the Crown Princess away, causing a fight to break out between the two.

Shi Sheng’s thoughts were unreadable as she downed one cup after another, an oppressive aura surrounding her.

Whilst the Crown Princess and Jiang Zhi were battling it out, others came forth to offer up toasts to Ling Yue.

He didn’t touch the wine, instead using tea as a substitute.

“I’ve never heard of priests having to abstain from alcohol! Priest Tianxu drank wine, didn’t he? You simply must drink a cup!”

“I don’t drink.” Dislike appeared on Ling Yue’s expression, though his tone was no different from normal.

“Are you looking down on me?”

This voice caused the noisy crowd to quieten down as all eyes turned to focus on the woman who was proposing a toast to Ling Yue.

“Lady Lin, what are you doing?” Jiang Zhi immediately stepped forth. “The master must have a reason for not drinking wine. How about I drink in his stead?”

Jiang Zhi poured a cup and raised it in Lady Lin’s direction before downing it in one gulp.

“Ning Princess, this isn’t right of you! The banquet today was held in the master’s honour, how can you help him drink? This won’t do at all! Come on, master, you should at least drink one cup as a show of goodwill.”

“That’s right. Just drink a cup as a show of goodwill. We won’t ask you to drink much.”

As more and more people began urging him to drink up and their words turned more discomfiting, some probing gazes turned even more lewd. Ling Yue’s expression slowly turned unsightly. He lowered his gaze to hide the killing intent swirling in the depths of his eyes.

After a while, he picked up a cup that was filled with wine and downed it with furrowed brows.

As the cold liquid slid down his throat, it seemed to burn.

“Good!”

“As expected of Priest Tianxu’s honoured disciple! Here’s a toast to you!”

Right now, a lot of women were drunk on the alcohol, so having such a good-looking man here was the same as tossing a little lamb into a pack of wolves.

Ling Yue was completely surrounded by women who urged him to drink or otherwise teased him subtly with their words. He grasped at his sleeve, the killing intent in his eyes about to spill out.

‘Master always said my face stood out too much, that it would bring me disaster.’

He hadn’t believed it before. But today, he experienced it for himself.

“Ah!” A wail suddenly echoed out in the great hall. The woman who had been the loudest had been kicked by someone and was currently sprawled all over the table beside Ling Yue.

Shi Sheng shoved the person blocking her way aside and stalked over to the woman. She roughly grasped the woman and turned her over. “Want to drink, eh? Bring the wine!”

The first sentence was spoken to the woman in her grasp while the second was to the onlookers.

“Prime Minister…”

Shi Sheng’s frosty glare shot over. “Bring. The. Wine.”

[1] This is a respectful form of address for a Daoist priest.