Feng Xiaoran waved to Hong Jiu and sat down, while smiling at An Zhixian:
"Look, her heart has gone astray. I'm afraid you won't be able to take her back."
Hong Jiu picked up the wine glass and filled it for himself:
"Young Master Feng is from the Tianji Sect after all. He is so provocative and is not afraid of spreading the word and making people laugh. Master, here is a toast to you. I wish you no trouble and get what you want."
Feng Xiaoran: "You just finished collecting my money, and you're going to cash in on me?"
With a slight smile on his lips, An Zhixian watched Feng Xiaoran slump, then picked up the wine glass and drank with Hong Jiu.
Zhuqing filled up An Zhixian's wine glass and then filled up Hong Jiu's wine glass:
"I wish Young Master Feng to bring this beauty home soon."
Feng Xiaoran: "Listening to your tone, I thought you were sent by my grandfather and father to persuade me. I don't know where the beauty is yet, so I can lend you some good words."
Hong Jiu bowed to everyone in a circle, picked up his chopsticks and concentrated on eating.
Everyone looked at Hong Jiu holding the cup and toasted to An Zhixian and Feng Xiaoran one by one. The two of them did not reject anyone who came and raised their glasses frequently.
After drinking until midnight, apart from An Zhixian, only Hong Jiu, who had drunk the least, was still sitting.
Several other people were leaning on chairs or lying on the table, drowsy.
An Zhixian stood up, called Hong Jiu to the study, and handed an exquisite wooden box to Hong Jiu:
"This is a new year's gift for Miss Lin. You take it back and hand it over to her."
Hong Jiu took it and turned it over, but did not open the box.
An Zhixian's eyes flashed slightly: "Ms. Lin was kind to Zhangzhou during the flood, so I prepared a gift for her."
Hong Jiu raised his eyes when he heard this and looked at An Zhixian inexplicably:
"Master must have his own reasons for doing things. You just tell me to obey your orders. It has always been like this. Why do you need to explain more this time?"
An Zhixian's face showed a trace of discomfort:
"Ahem, you talk more than before."
A smile flashed quickly in Hong Jiu's eyes:
"Learn well from my master."
An Zhixian did not continue, but changed his voice and asked about other things:
"Is there anything unusual about today's palace banquet?"
Hong Jiu said sternly: "Yes, the girl in the lady's courtyard gave her a bowl of mixed mutton soup this morning. At the palace banquet, the lady was called away by the Queen Mother and went to the Queen Mother's palace. Without much conversation, she I sent the young lady to another place. The Queen Mother did not let me follow her. On the way back to the mansion, I heard that the young lady said that she went to see Concubine Jade."
An Zhixian: "But that girl who has a good relationship with Miss Zhou?"
Hong Jiu nodded: "It's her, her name is Yulan."
An Zhixian: "Since she was the one who administered the drug, there is no doubt that the person behind the scenes must be Chu Chengyao. But since she was the one who administered the drug, why didn't she do anything? Could it be that the Queen Mother suddenly called Miss Lin away? No time to do it?"
Hong Jiu: "I don't know either, but..."
An Zhixian: "When did you become hesitant?"
Hong Jiu tentatively said, "You have a good personal relationship with the second prince. Will you help the second prince in order to deal with the third prince?"
An Zhixian: "Why do you ask that?"
Hong Jiu: "According to what I have seen and heard, the young lady seems to hate the second prince very much. If you are friends with the second prince?"
An Zhixian: "Are you worried that I will become an enemy of Miss Lin?"
Seeing that Hong Jiu was silent, An Zhixian said again:
"If that were the case, what would you do? Who would you side with?"
Hong Jiu had a tangled look on his face. After a long moment, he swallowed hard before speaking again:
"Subordinate. I know the importance of this. I just ask my master not to hurt the lady. She is really very good."
An Zhixian: "It's good that you know, I won't be her enemy, don't worry."
(End of chapter)
