freenovelworld Chapter 772 A little alcohol and one's behavior goes awry
Chapter 772 A little alcohol and one's behavior goes awry
After a few bowls of wine, Shen Yu became more talkative, and his tongue began to slur.
He stood up unsteadily, saying he was going to change his clothes. Just as he opened the door to the private room, he bumped into a woman walking by.
The woman was dressed in a simple, elegant dress and was carrying a bowl of medicine. When he bumped into her, most of the medicine spilled, splashing all over the two of them.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," the woman apologized quickly, her voice gentle.
Emboldened by the alcohol, Shen Yu squinted at the pretty woman in front of him, chuckled, and reached out to help her up: "It's alright, young lady, let me see if you hurt yourself?"
The woman was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she retreated repeatedly.
Just as Lin Jiayou was about to get up and smooth things over, a figure moved even faster than him.
Gu Qingchen had somehow appeared behind Shen Yu and, without a word, kicked him hard in the back of the knee.
"Ouch!" Shen Yu screamed and fell to his knees with a thud, sobering up considerably.
"You think you've forgotten your place after drinking a couple of cups of horse piss?" Gu Qingchen looked down at him, his voice as cold as ice. "If there's a next time, I'll tell your father right away, and he'll drag you back to the Ministry of War and break your legs with his own hands!"
Shen Yu hugged his leg, wincing in pain, but dared not utter a single word of protest. He just kept begging for mercy: "Boss, I was wrong, I was wrong, I will never do it again!"
The woman watched this scene in shock, and when she saw Gu Qingchen's face clearly, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.
She straightened her clothes, gave Gu Qingchen a proper curtsy, said nothing, and turned to leave quickly.
The atmosphere in the private room became somewhat tense for a moment.
Below the restaurant, in the shadows of the street corner.
Qian Zhenyun's servant, watching his young master's unwavering back, finally couldn't help but whisper, "Young master, didn't we say we were going back to the manor?"
Qian Zhenyun's gaze never left the open window on the second floor of Wenxiangju. He had seen everything that had just happened at the entrance of the private room.
A faint sigh escaped his lips, his voice carrying a helplessness and understanding that even he himself was unaware of.
"With Shen Yu's limited alcohol tolerance, she thinks she can outdrink him?"
"Even if all three of them combined, they couldn't outdrink her."
Shen Yu hugged his leg, tears welling up in his eyes from the pain. He looked at Gu Qingchen pitifully, not daring to say another word.
Seeing this, Lin Jiayou said gently, "Brother Shen, you've had too much to drink. Go and rest." He helped Shen Yu up and gestured for the waiter to come and help.
Shen Yu was helped away by the waiter, leaving only Gu Qingchen and Lin Jiayou in the private room.
Gu Qingchen sat down again, picked up her wine bowl, and poured herself another bowl of wine. She didn't look at Lin Jiayou, but just drank by herself.
Lin Jiayou looked at her, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He knew that Shen Yu's appearance had completely disrupted the situation he had carefully planned.
"Qingchen, drink slowly," Lin Jiayou said softly, a hint of worry in his voice.
Gu Qingchen looked up at him, a mocking smile playing on her lips: "What? Are you afraid I'll say something I shouldn't if I'm drunk?"
Lin Jiayou's expression stiffened for a moment, then returned to normal.
"Qingchen, you've misunderstood me." He sighed. "I'm just worried about your health. You must be feeling down about the palace banquet. Drowning your sorrows in alcohol is not a long-term solution."
"My affairs are none of your business." Gu Qingchen put down his wine bowl, his voice cold. "You went to great lengths to lure me out; what exactly are you trying to do?"
Lin Jiayou remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "I just want to tell you that no matter what happens, I will stand by your side. The Crown Prince will not let you off easily, and the Empress will never let it go. Only I can help you get out of this predicament."
Gu Qingchen sneered: "Get out of trouble? Lin Jiayou, do you think I'm still that naive little girl I used to be? Everything you've done is just for yourself."
A hint of hurt flashed in Lin Jiayou's eyes. He looked at Gu Qingchen, his voice pleading, "Qingchen, why won't you believe me? Everything I've done for you has been from the bottom of my heart."
"Sincere?" Gu Qingchen scoffed. "Your sincerity is using Gu Lu's name to trick me out? Your sincerity is watching me fall into prison while you only think about how to use me to achieve your goals?"
Lin Jiayou's face darkened completely. He knew that Gu Qingchen was no longer the girl he could manipulate at will.
"Qingchen, what you're saying is too hurtful." His voice was low, carrying a hint of suppressed anger.
Gu Qingchen ignored him. She stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the bustling street below.
"Lin Jiayou, you should leave." Her voice was calm. "I don't want to see you again."
Lin Jiayou stood there, watching her retreating figure, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes. He knew that he had utterly failed today.
He didn't say anything more, but slowly turned around and left the private room.
Gu Qingchen stood by the window, watching Lin Jiayou's figure disappear at the top of the stairs, before finally letting out a sigh of relief.
She turned around, and there were still several half-empty jars of wine on the table. She picked up the wine bowl, poured herself another bowl, and drank it all in one gulp.
The wine went down her throat, carrying a hint of bitterness, but it also cleared her muddled thoughts somewhat.
Downstairs, Qian Zhenyun's servant looked at his young master's tense profile and didn't dare to breathe.
Qian Zhenyun's gaze remained fixed on the private room where Gu Qingchen was. He saw Lin Jiayou leave, and he also saw Gu Qingchen standing alone by the window.
He knew how she felt at that moment, and he knew how much she had suffered.
He wanted to go up to her, to be by her side, but he couldn't.
He could only stand in this dark corner, watching her from afar, protecting her.
"Young master, it's getting late, we should head back to the manor," the servant reminded him again in a low voice.
Qian Zhenyun didn't speak. He just stood there quietly until he saw Gu Qingchen leave the private room, then he slowly turned around.
"Let's go." His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.
The servant responded and followed behind him; the two quickly disappeared into the crowd.
When Gu Qingchen came out of the restaurant, Shen Yu was nowhere to be seen. She knew that the boy had run away long ago, afraid that she would really tell on him.
She wandered aimlessly through the streets as the bustling atmosphere of the temple fair gradually faded away.
As dusk fell, every household hung up red lanterns, adding to the festive atmosphere of the second day of the Lunar New Year.
Gu Qingchen's mood did not improve at all. Lin Jiayou's appearance was like a boulder pressing down on her heart once again.
She knew that the matter between the Crown Prince and the Empress would not end there. And Lin Jiayou would not give up easily either.
She felt more exhausted than ever before, as if all the strength in her body had been drained.
Just then, a familiar figure appeared in front of her.
"Qingchen".
Gu Qingchen looked up and saw Qian Zhenyun standing not far away, his figure somewhat blurry against the light.
She was somewhat surprised and delighted, and quickly walked up to him: "Gungun, why haven't you left yet?"