Chapter 50: Wine Fragrance Of Deep Alleys

In Jindu City, many ministers’ residences were located in quiet districts because it was both quiet and dim. It was precisely because of this that Shen Yu bit her lip hard to keep from crying out in fright.

Shen Yu could be considered bold, but even the boldest ordinary person, when carried and bounced across rooftops, would have their heart leaping as if it were following the motion, one moment suspended in midair, the next falling to the ground.

Even the boldest normal person couldn’t stand it.

It was almost 9pm. Jindu City’s lanterns were just being lit and the streets lively and bustling.

Only when they finally saw the lights did Fang Rui lower Shen Yu from the rooftop and set her down from his embrace.

Set down like a teacup, Shen Yu held her breath, not yet recovered from the shock. Her face was pale and a thin sheen of cold sweat had broken out on her brow.

Shen Yu hadn’t made a sound earlier, but now that he had put her down and saw her bloodless pallor, Fang Rui panicked and reached out to touch her forehead. “Were you frightened badly?”

Hearing his voice, Shen Yu came to and instantly let out the breath she’d been holding, like a prisoner about to be executed who suddenly learned of a pardon.

Still shaken, she glared at Fang Rui and snapped, “Do I not have feet? Why must I go out through the window?!”

She was the young master of the Grand Guardian’s house, not some prisoner under house arrest. Even if she left the residence late at night, no one dared stop her!

At her words, Fang Rui was momentarily stunned, then sheepishly withdrew his hand and said, “Weren’t you the one who asked me how to get out? Didn’t I just find you a good way?”

Shen Yu exhaled to keep from getting angry, lifting a hand to press her forehead. She had only spoken offhandedly, and he had indeed picked her up. So naturally, too.

Fang Rui suddenly caught the scent of wine and a smile flickered in his eyes. Deliberately changing the subject, he took Shen Yu’s hand and led her toward the alley. “Come on, if we’re any slower we’ll miss the good wine.”

Shen Yu’s grip was no match for Fang Rui’s. Even if she told him to let go, he’d pay it no mind, so she let him pull her along.

However…

Shen Yu’s eyes fell on their joined hands. Being held like this by Jia Ming suddenly felt less repulsive than at first.

When they entered the alley, Shen Yu thought it would be pitch dark, but there were wooden posts at short intervals, each with a small lantern hanging above, wobbling in the autumn breeze.

After walking a short distance and turning left, they saw a small tavern deep in the alley, a string of lanterns at its entrance and a few small tables inside with patrons occupying two of them.

Fang Rui led Shen Yu into the tavern and only released her hand when they reached an empty table. He sat first and patted the seat beside him to indicate she should sit. “The tavern owner is free-spirited, so they’re open only seven days a month. We’re lucky to have caught it tonight.”

Shen Yu inhaled the mellow scent of wine, glanced around at the tavern’s modest interior, and then sat down.

No sooner had Shen Yu sat than Fang Rui turned to the woman serving wine and said, “Madam, bring us a jar of Top Scholar Red.”

The madam replied with an “Alright,” glanced back and snorted, “Dressed like that at night? Aren’t you afraid of being mistaken for a thief?”

Fang Rui paid it no mind. He knew that dressing like that would attract attention.

Shen Yu glanced at his outfit and smirked, teasing in a voice only she and Fang Rui could hear, “You are indeed a thief, after all.”

Hearing that, Fang Rui looked at Shen Yu and let out a low chuckle, “If I’m a thief, why are you scheming with me?”

Shen Yu curled her lip and snorted, turning her gaze away from the brazen, shameless man.

She wanted to pretend they were strangers, but only if he’d give her the chance.

After a while the madam brought over a small jar of Top Scholar Red and two small plates of side dishes, placing them on the table as she said, “I’ve got fewer customers tonight and I can’t finish selling these dishes, so they’re complimentary.”

After the madam set the items down, Shen Yu glanced at her with a thoughtful expression.

Fang Rui opened the wine jar, filled a bowl, eagerly brought it to his nose to sniff, and then took a sip.

Once the madam had left, Shen Yu turned to Fang Rui with a suspicious look and asked, “The madam may be older, but she still has some looks. You seem to be a regular, what’s your relationship with her?”

He had only just swallowed that sip of wine and hadn’t had time to savor it before Shen Yu’s words startled him and choked him with the wine.

“Cough cough!” Fang Rui turned to Shen Yu, red-faced and ears flushed from the choking, then steadied himself and said, “What are you imagining in that head of yours? I don’t even know the madam. I’ve only been here once or twice before and can’t forget the fine wine.”

Fang Rui and Rong Tai used to come here often to drink. Back then he was still the Crown Prince, not yet bearing the weight of the entire Great Qi, free to leave the palace and seek fine wines across Jindu City’s streets and alleys. But after ascending the throne he never returned.

Years later it remained unchanged.

Shen Yu withdrew her suspicious gaze and lowered her eyes to the lantern-red reflection in the wine, saying with a hint of meaning, “Who knows if you might know her? Your name, your age, your origin are all mysteries. Maybe…” She paused, then lifted her eyes as if seeing through Fang Rui. “Maybe when you take off that mask, the madam will recognize you?”

Fang Rui felt guilty under Shen Yu’s gaze and pushed the wine in front of her. “Didn’t you want to drink? Why are you only talking about me?”

Shen Yu’s mouth twisted in a half-smile and a soft snort, ended her questioning of Fang Rui, and lifted the wine bowl to sniff.

She never cared much for drinking. Only when troubled or restless did she, like men, drown her sorrows in alcohol, though her capacity was poor, only a few cups. The last time, upon hearing that her old master planned not only to take concubines but to have her bear an heir for the Grand Guardian’s house with some stranger in a few years, her mind was in chaos and she drank more than usual, allowing this Jia Ming to take advantage of her.

The more she thought, the more upset she became. She tilted the bowl and took a sip. The wine was not as harsh as usual but surprisingly mellow, leaving a lingering fragrance on her lips and teeth.

When her bowl was empty, Shen Yu felt a little dizzy. Seeing Jia Ming refill his own bowl she wondered when she might get him drunk and coax words from him.

But in the present situation, she was apparently the one to go under first.

How could she think she could outdrink Jia Ming? He clearly had a strong tolerance.

Though not completely drunk, Shen Yu’s cheeks flushed and her eyes seemed veiled with mist. Her tipsy demeanor was genuinely endearing.

Seeing Shen Yu so tantalizingly pretty, Fang Rui stopped drinking. He propped his hand on the table, supporting his forehead, and stared at her without blinking.

A little drunk and bolder, Shen Yu reached out to pat Fang Rui’s hand on the table and slurred, “Don’t stare at me, drink your wine.”

Hearing Shen Yu’s voice that contained less of the usual intentionally androgynous tone and more soft and tender, Fang Rui found it endlessly delightful.

After watching her for a while, Fang Rui asked, “Do you want to know who I am?” Shen Yu had asked him out for drinks partly to drown her sorrows and partly to probe him.

Upon hearing Fang Rui, Shen Yu lowered her gaze but her eyes grew clearer.

Fang Rui lifted his bowl and drained it in one gulp, then set it down.

He sighed deeply. “You want to know, but at this moment I cannot tell you. Knowing who I am would bring you no benefit and would be all harm and no good for me, so I cannot possibly let you know. Even if I were to tell you, it would be later. At least not now.”

Any tiny hope she had was dashed by those words, and Shen Yu rolled her eyes at him.

She lifted her bowl and finished the last mouthful, half drowsy and half clear-headed as she looked at Fang Rui with certainty. “Whether you tell me or not, I know that…you must be someone I already know.”

Fang Rui smiled. Shen Yu’s intuition was sometimes quite accurate.

Shen Yu reached out a hand, pointed at Fang Rui. Her vision doubled and her finger trembled as she asked, “Tell me the truth. What are you really after?”

No sooner had she spoken than Shen Yu went plop and collapsed face-down on the table.

Fang Rui watched Shen Yu lying on the table and quietly repeated her question to himself, “What am I really after…”

He shook his head with a wry smile. What else could he be after?

He had wealth, he had power. What more could he want? He wanted her, of course. What a silly girl.

He left silver on the table, shifted the collapsed Shen Yu onto his back, stood, and slowly walked out of the alley.

For an emperor to have to stoop to such low tactics just to get close to the one he loved, and to be disliked for it no less, was pathetic when he thought about it.

Walking down the empty alley, Fang Rui finally answered Shen Yu’s earlier question aloud, “What do you think you have that I could want? Aside from you yourself, there’s nothing else of value.”

As if hearing him, Shen Yu tightened her arm around Fang Rui’s neck in her sleep and muttered a spiteful line, “Jia Ming, if you’ve got the guts then wear that mask forever!”

Hearing Shen Yu, Fang Rui shook his head helplessly. He didn’t want their meetings to be only at night forever either. His face would have to be shown eventually, but only after the court had stabilized. He didn’t want others to use Shen Yu’s being a woman as fodder, especially those who wished her dead.

Because the night was late and the palace gates were closed, Fang Rui returned Shen Yu to her residence and did not rush off.

He laid Shen Yu back on the bed, tucked the cover over her, and sat by the bedside watching her for a long time.

Compared to how they were usually ruler and subject, Fang Rui preferred this way of being with Shen Yu, which was similar to the way when they first met. He feared Shen Yu learning he was the emperor she respected. Once she knew, they’d be like inches yet worlds apart. The person would be present physically but their hearts separated by seas and mountains, unable to return to this closeness.

He slowly bowed his head, pressed a light kiss to Shen Yu’s smooth forehead, and in his own voice said, “Good night, Ah Yu.”