Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 175 I... Will Slap the Face

Chapter 175: Chapter 175 I... Will Slap the Face

After the successful suppression of bandits, the officials rigorously interrogated them; those without strong wills soon confessed the involvement of the Magistrate.

The Magistrate, realizing that his role had been exposed, chose suicide. By the time Xie Xun found him, his body was already stiff.

"A mere Magistrate wouldn’t have such audacity."

Xie Xun nodded: "This is what I was thinking too. The person backing him must be quite influential."

But all leads had been severed.

"I searched his room as well; there were traces of burnt paper on the floor. Likely the ledgers of ill-gotten gains or maybe correspondence with that person."

Destroyed completely.

He didn’t forget to do these things even before his death.

During the early court session, he reported the matter. As expected, Emperor He lost interest in berating Duke Wei.

The Emperor flew into a rage.

He was determined to root out that person.

As a result, the matter involving the Fifth Princess was also pushed aside.

Cui Yun’s voice was as crisp and clear as pearls on a plate.

"You might avoid trouble on the first, but I fear you won’t escape the fifteenth."

Xie Xun disagreed indifferently, somewhat helplessly: "One step at a time; let’s talk about it after the fifteenth."

"In these days, the officials probably won’t be able to take care of me either."

When the carriage stopped in front of Banxian Inn, Xie Xun got out: "You are always so tense, a string too tightly wound is bound to snap eventually; you should relax a bit."

"The wine here at Banxian Inn is good, but the Seventh Prince has brought over a lot of fine wines. We should try them together. You and I are likely to cross paths often in the future."

It was indeed relaxing to talk with Xie Xun, both being intelligent people.

If he refused again, it would be meaningless.

He followed and got out of the carriage.

The two headed for the luxury private room.

Ji Huo looked up, his tone mocking: "Oh, what a rare guest."

They had come on horseback, naturally arriving first.

The table was filled with jars of wine and a few appetizers.

Ji Ge followed with the same mocking tone.

If it came down to it, although Ji Huo was closer to Xie Xun, he was in fact more partial to Cui Yun.

"I called you but you didn’t come; does Xie Xun’s face carry more weight than mine?"

Xie Xun simply smiled warmly: "Is it wrong for Marquis Cui and I to hit it off instantly?"

Cui Yun took his seat with a placid expression.

"My father mentioned it to me that the Emperor intends to betroth the Fifth Princess to you," Ji Huo asked gleefully.

Xie Xun smiled helplessly: "Let’s not talk about that."

"Why not mention it? I especially thought of a strategy for you. This time you suffered an injury to your abdomen, not too severe, but I heard you lost quite a bit of blood," Ji Huo hinted suggestively.

"Why not, while your wounds are not yet healed, go straight to the Emperor and say that part was also injured, rendering you incapable of performing marital duties, thus unable to delay the Fifth Princess’s future. Bribe the Imperial Physician in the palace, and what big things cannot be accomplished?"

No matter how unsatisfactory, Emperor He wouldn’t delay his own daughter’s prospects.

Xie Xun: "..."

Ji Ge laughed: "After this, no one will dare to promise their daughter to him."

"Why not; when Xie Xun takes an interest in a girl, he can just say he’s healed. It’s a blessing; surely the Emperor won’t impose punishment, will he?"

This remark made Ji Ge have a sudden realization.

He then egged on: "I think it will work!"

"Mr. Wei was cured, wasn’t he? If he can be healed, naturally so can you."

Ji Huo placed his hand on Xie Xun’s shoulder: "Brother, at this critical juncture, why care about your face anymore!"

Xie Xun flicked the hand off.

The smile on his face faded.

"Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to."

"What, just because Marquis Cui has his eye on a girl, you want me to ruin my own reputation so that the girls of Shengjing only have eyes for you?"

With his intentions unveiled, Ji Huo coughed lightly.

While they talked, Cui Yun stayed silent, leaning back in his chair.

Xie Xun asked: "Why aren’t you drinking?"

Cui Yun: "I can’t hold my liquor very well."

Ji Huo understood. He picked up a jar of wine and placed it emphatically in front of Cui Yun.

"This is yours."

I’ll drink you to death!

He was looking forward to Cui Yun getting drunk and going crazy!!

He wanted the entire Shengjing to witness Cui Yun’s disgraceful behavior when drunk!

Ji Ge: Idiot.

Having seen Cui Yun’s daredevil attitude when drinking, if Cui Yun wanted to drink, he would definitely drink Ji Huo under the table!

Cui Yun chuckled lightly, aloof yet solemn.

"No need."

The more he declined, the more excited Ji Huo became. With a magnanimous wave of his hand: "I’ll drink two pots, you drink one pot, how about that? I am already letting you off easy, come on! Don’t be a wimp, be a man and accept the challenge!"

Xie Xun: ...

He did not believe that Cui Yun would come off worse in Ji Huo’s hands. And he did not stop them.

Seeing this, Ji Ge turned his head towards him: "Heir Xie, how about we make a bet."

"What are we betting on? Who will lose?"

Xie Xun spoke gently: "I bet on Ji Huo."

"What a coincidence, I also bet on Ji Huo."

Ji Huo: ...

What’s going on!!!

Who are they looking down on!

He was angered.

"Open your eyes wide and watch!" He stood up, grabbed the wine jar, and tilted his head back to drink.

Cui Yun leaned against the chair, silently watching.

After drinking one pot, Ji Huo turned to grab the second one. As a playboy who frequented the pleasure quarters, he naturally had developed a good tolerance for alcohol.

After the second pot, he looked provocatively at Cui Yun.

Cui Yun: "Why must the Princely Heir make things difficult for me?"

Ji Huo: "Drink if you are a man!"

Cui Yun was not provoked in the slightest.

"I have things to do later, I cannot drink."

"Fine! I got it."

"I’ll drink three pots to your one! Will you or won’t you?"

Cui Yun frowned, as if tempted, but quickly refused again.

Ji Huo got it this time.

"Fine fine fine! I’ll drink four to your one! Don’t be too unreasonable!"

Cui Yun nodded in feigned helplessness.

Seeing this, Ji Huo didn’t hesitate to grab two more pots of wine and started guzzling them down.

Then, he burped.

"No more, I’m too bloated. Let me go to the toilet first, wait for me to come back and continue drinking, otherwise I am afraid those two will cover for you."

Leaving these words behind, he left the private room.

Cui Yun finally made a move.

He opened the wine stopper, held the pot with one hand to tilt it, and poured a full bowl of the strong wine. He also poured a bowl of tea for Xie Xun.

"Heir Xie still has unhealed injuries, it’s better to drink less. Eight years ago, although my father and brothers defended Chi City, the front line of Shan City broke. I, Cui Yun, toast to you for recapturing the city."

The wine flowed along the tip of his tongue, Cui Yun drank it elegantly yet casually.

Then, he stood up.

"I have other matters to attend to, I must take my leave."

Ji Ge was amazed. So, this is how you played Ji Huo?

Four pots of wine!!!

Xie Xun: "Take care, Marquis Cui."

Cui Yun returned straight to the mansion, and just as he got off the carriage, he saw servants busily moving items back and forth.

He had a guess.

Lady Cui Xuan was returning to the Yongchang Marquis Mansion. She and Qiao Si were busy checking the items to be sent over. This was not a simple task; these items needed to satisfy the respective recipients and match everyone’s preferences in the Earl Yong Chang Mansion. With so many people in the Yongchang Marquis Mansion, and even more in the extended family, managing household affairs was truly an art.

Cui Yun’s gaze turned and fell on Shen Hua who was standing to the side, lowering her head and kicking pebbles while waiting to depart.

He walked over in a few strides.

Her shadow was enveloped by his as Shen Hua looked up. She heard the man’s soft voice asking: "Do you know how to manage a household?"

Shen Hua, slightly drowsy, answered in a somewhat muffled voice.

She candidly reported the truth.

"I... can manage my face."