Becoming the Villain's Discarded Wife
Chapter 301 Wine-Induced Longing_1

Chapter 301: Chapter 301 Wine-Induced Longing_1

"Aze, go and get some hangover soup," Nanzhi nodded her head.

Aze nodded and then followed Liao Da back to the Main Hall.

Women chatting and laughing together soon found common ground, and it was indeed quite comfortable.

Kyoto

Shen Wenchen looked at the person next to him and couldn’t help but curl his lips.

The man’s capacity for Wine hadn’t improved at all in two years.

Song Lian couldn’t help but laugh inwardly upon seeing Shen Wenchen’s gesture, though his face remained as serious as ever.

"Wenchen, are you really going back?"

Shen Wenchen replied in a low voice, "Yes."

The leading official sighed slightly upon observing Shen Wenchen and his group. Did these kids really think he was so old that he couldn’t see through their little tricks?

"Shen Wenchen."

"Your servant is here."

"You have made a contribution to this matter. Do you truly not wish to stay in Kyoto, toward going back to Yan City?"

Shen Wenchen stood up to kneel and bow, but the official stopped him with a raised hand.

"That’s enough, there are no outsiders here. Speak freely, what exactly is the reason you don’t wish to stay in Kyoto?"

"Your servant joined the military in my early years. My wife endured hardship to take care of my parents and our son. Later, both my parents passed away, leaving her and the child to struggle through life. On the road to escape the famine, she died protecting our child. In the past two years, I’ve been busy with official duties and haven’t paid enough attention to my son. I fear he might grow distant from me."

Shen Wenchen said this with his head lowered, giving off a sense of somberness.

The official already had little hope for family affection himself and sighed upon hearing Shen Wenchen’s words.

"Fine, fine, if you wish, then return to Yan City."

Shen Wenchen was about to leave when he heard the official speak again.

"I hear you’re going to remarry?"

Shen Wenchen was startled and looked subconsciously toward Song Lian.

The latter, a bit embarrassed, turned his head away.

"Yes."

"The woman you’re marrying, is she perhaps a young lady from Yan City?"

"She is my father-in-law’s foster daughter."

Not only the official but even Song Lian and the others were taken aback.

The official paused, then spoke with a bit of amusement, "What, were they insisting that you marry her?"

The official’s words were light, but they tightened the hearts of those present. If this was said to be under duress, it could spell trouble for the Lin Family. But if it wasn’t, then Shen Wenchen would be caught in a lie.

"It wasn’t coercion from my father-in-law’s family. The woman resembles my deceased wife—"

"Is that so." The official nodded, indicating he understood, and then he didn’t ask anything more.

He had done plenty such things himself and was in no position to meddle in others’ affairs.

It wasn’t until they left the palace gate that Shen Wenchen, who had been dealing with the drunkenly befuddled Twelfth, handed him over to the Eleventh and strode over to Song Lian.

"Wenchen, what are you doing?" Song Lian sensed something was off and quickly stepped to the side to avoid him.

"Brother Song!"

Song Lian, not hearing himself called General, quickly raised his hand in surrender, "This time, it’s my fault. But your fiancée, does she really resemble your wife?"

Eleventh, carrying Twelfth as well, came over to join the fun, "Exactly, Brother Shen, you don’t tell us anything. Are we still good brothers?"

The corners of Shen Wenchen’s mouth twitched, and thinking of Nanzhi, the anger in his heart somewhat subsided.

’Resemble’ was an understatement; she was the same person!

"If you all are so curious, why not accompany me back to Yan City? Then you’ll know everything."

Having said that, Shen Wenchen took the reins from the guard, mounted the horse, and galloped away.

It was now the sixth of May, and he needed to return early, but he didn’t know if Adai had gone to Yan City.

Song Lian glanced at the inebriated Twelve and patted Eleven on the shoulder.

Eleven felt a twitch in his eyelid, and, sure enough, the next second Song Lian rode away, leaving him to support Twelve.

Indeed, brotherhood was all an illusion!

The hour of Xu had just arrived, and while the dishes were nearly finished, the feast had not yet broken up when Mrs. Xu from Dianxinzhai grew curious.

This invitation was oddly written.

Which shop’s opening wasn’t celebrated with a banquet at noon? But the invitation from Sanwei Residence specified the hour of Shen, a lively time for eating and drinking, yet somewhat late in the evening.

Nanzhi smiled and clapped her hands. Everyone followed the direction of her fingers and could see the vast night scene outside the window.

The bright moon hung high amidst the glittering stars, and a few colored glass lanterns hung at the corners of the building, tinkling pleasantly in the faint breeze.

With such picturesque scenes, even those of the Miaodong Family who had seen the most were deeply captivated by the sight.

After admiring the view, Liao Da brought up the Mei Zilu.

Roast meat and the like might have strong flavors, but drinking Mei Zilu could not only help with the intoxication but also remove the taste from one’s mouth.

When the banquet dispersed, Nanzhi arranged for carriages or sedan chairs for the female guests and insisted on ensuring they were delivered home before considering it done.

There were still guests dining in the Main Hall and the second floor’s Private Rooms, while Nanzhi, rubbing her sore shoulders, went to the backyard.

Miaomiao was a bit drunk; Nanzhi had taken her to rest in a room, unsure if she had awakened yet.

Just reaching the backyard, Nanzhi was intercepted by Aze, leaving her somewhat surprised. She just looked up at him, waiting for his next move.

"Miss, this is Mei Zilu, you should feed some to Master Shen Dong; Master Lu said it would make him feel better," Aze said, somewhat embarrassed, holding the bowl of Mei Zilu in a daze.

"I understand, go on with your work," said Nanzhi, even though she did not take the bowl from his hand and instead asked Wang Sheng to bring a separate bowl.

Aze looked melancholic as he complied and returned the Mei Zilu he was carrying back to the kitchen, then busied himself in the Main Hall.

In the room, Shen Miaomiao was not sleeping peacefully, muttering two sentences every now and then.

As Nanzhi approached, she could finally make out what Miaomiao was murmuring.

Twelve.

Nanzhi felt a pang of heartache for the young girl as she wiped her face before feeding her some Mei Zilu.

This fruit wine did not intoxicate, and she wondered just how much the girl had drunk.

"Sister Nanzhi?" The girl opened her eyes drowsily, smiling, "I just saw Twelve. He said he would come and marry me."

Saying so, she seemed to recall something, and the smile on her face faded. She muttered dejectedly, "He said his father didn’t agree and told me to be his concubine."

"Miaomiao..."

"Sister Nanzhi, I miss him, but, but he can’t marry me..."

As the young girl spoke, she began to sob, causing Nanzhi also to feel a sourness in her heart.

Wenchen did indeed go to Kyoto, but as it was now May, she didn’t know whether he had returned. It would have been better if he could bring Twelve back with him.

"Be good, Miaomiao. Drink some Mei Zilu, and in a bit, I’ll take you home," Nanzhi consoled.

Although the girl was drunk, she was obedient and sat up a little with Nanzhi’s help.

After drinking Mei Zilu, Shen Miaomiao’s face was still flushed. Thinking that only Aunt Guihua and Uncle Shen remained at the Shen Family, Nanzhi decisively spent five wen coins to send someone to the Shen Family with a message. Then she stopped a carriage and took Shen Miaomiao to her own home.

Kyoto

Shen Wenchen simply took the drunken Twelve from Eleven’s hands and casually threw him onto his bed.

Looking at his flushed face, Shen Wenchen felt disdainful; a grown man who couldn’t hold his liquor was a disgrace.

Thrown onto the bed, Twelve did not awaken but merely grunted and adjusted himself into a comfortable position, continuing to sleep and mumbling something in his mouth.

Shen Wenchen initially thought he might overhear some of his secrets. However, getting closer, he heard nothing but constant murmurs of "Miaomiao, Miaomiao."