“You won!” Liu Jiaojiao walked in with a bright laugh from outside the door. “Congratulations, the whole capital knows you won!”
Wen Ningwan let out a sigh of relief. She really didn’t want to become You Ran’s underling that would mean being several ranks below the State Preceptor!
Noticing the troubled expression on Miao Shiyi’s face beside her, Wen Ningwan grew uneasy again. “Shiyi, what’s wrong?”
“She’s upset because the State Preceptor carried you back early in the morning,” Liu Jiaojiao chimed in with an amused grin, clearly enjoying the drama.
“Uh!” Wen Ningwan looked utterly confused.
“The State Preceptor is no good. Why does Milord always end up entangled with her?”
“Alright, alright, it was just a coincidence,” Wen Ningwan said soothingly, patting Miao Shiyi’s shoulder with a smile.
“She carried you back herself lots of people saw it,” Miao Shiyi grumbled, pouting angrily.
“Uh!” Wen Ningwan frowned deeply. “Let me think about what happened.”
Last night, she had made a bet with You Ran. By the time dawn was approaching, You Ran had collapsed, and Wen Ningwan, cheeks flushed, watched as the State Preceptor approached. Grinning, she patted her chest and declared, “I won, hic.”
The State Preceptor glanced at her, then stepped forward to help You Ran, who was slumped over the table, casually remarking, “I’ll have the innkeeper’s wife escort you back.”
“No!” Wen Ningwan staggered to her feet, leaning on the table, and pushed away the State Preceptor’s hand that was supporting You Ran. She took a step forward, grabbed the State Preceptor’s hand, and swayed it playfully, whining, “No way, I want you to take me back.”
The State Preceptor froze on the spot, staring blankly at Wen Ningwan her cheeks flushed, lips pouting defiantly, eyes misty as she gazed up pleadingly. The State Preceptor couldn’t help but swallow nervously.
“I want you to take me, I want you to take me, I want you to take me.” Wen Ningwan kept shaking her hand insistently.
The innkeeper’s wife came over, eyes widening in shock as she stared at them in disbelief.
The State Preceptor immediately pulled her hand back and took a step away, turning to the innkeeper’s wife. “You take Young Master Wen back for me.”
“Nooo~” Wen Ningwan pushed aside the approaching innkeeper’s wife and turned back to the State Preceptor with pitiful eyes.
The innkeeper’s wife paused awkwardly, forcing a smile. “Young Master Wen must be drunk.”
“I am not!” Wen Ningwan stomped her foot in frustration, grabbing the State Preceptor’s wrist again and pointing accusingly at the innkeeper’s wife. “She’s lying! I’m not drunk, I won!”
“……”
“……”
“Fine, fine, you won. Let her take you back,” the State Preceptor said gently.
“No!” Wen Ningwan turned and suddenly hugged her.
The State Preceptor stiffened completely, at a loss as she glanced at the innkeeper’s wife, who wore a pained smile, and then at You Ran, who was still unconscious on the table.
Outside, dawn was breaking, and the morning market would soon begin. If people saw Wen Ningwan clinging to her like this, spouting nonsense, who knew what kind of rumors would spread?
With great effort, the State Preceptor pried Wen Ningwan’s arms from around her waist. “Young Master Wen, snap out of it. Do you even know who I am?”
“Hmm?” Wen Ningwan swayed as she looked up, squinting before nodding with a giggle. She reached out and poked the State Preceptor’s cheek, then clapped her hands happily. “State Preceptor, State Preceptor, you’re the State Preceptor!”
“……”
“……”
The State Preceptor’s brow twitched. This woman, who usually seemed so intimidated by her, became utterly brazen and unruly after drinking.
With a cold snort, the State Preceptor asked, “And yet you dare ask me to take you back?”
“Not scared, not scared!” Wen Ningwan shook her head cheerfully, then stumbled. The State Preceptor quickly reached out to steady her before she could fall.
Wen Ningwan looked down at the hand holding her arm its knuckles distinct, fair and slender, undeniably beautiful.
Unable to resist, she reached out and grabbed his hand, smirking mischievously: “To die under the peony, even as a ghost, would be romantic~”
The State Preceptor tensed up and immediately withdrew his hand, glaring at her angrily: “How dare you!”
The innkeeper beside them trembled in fear, quickly lowering her head and cautiously stepping back.
Wen Ningwan froze for a moment, staring at the furious man before suddenly bursting into sobs: “Wahhhhhhhh.”
“…” The State Preceptor’s lips twitched, his expression stiff as he watched the person before him cry pitifully.
“You, why are you crying?”
“Wahhh! You, you, you.” Wen Ningwan wiped her tears: “The mighty State Preceptor bullying a weak woman like me, wahhh so mean.”
“…” The State Preceptor sighed helplessly, looking at the tear-streaked, sorrowful face before him, her body trembling with each sob, utterly pitiful.
“You’re being unreasonable,” the State Preceptor said, exasperated, his brows furrowing in frustration.
Wen Ningwan immediately stopped crying, pressing her lips tightly together, her watery eyes filled with grievance as she stared at him, tears still streaming from the corners.
The State Preceptor’s heart clenched, an inexplicable guilt washing over him. She was just drunk and had asked him to escort her, why was he making such a big deal out of it?
Feeling a pang of sympathy, he stepped forward and gently wiped her tears, his voice unusually soft: “Alright, stop crying. I’ll take you back.”
“Mhm, mhm.” Wen Ningwan nodded eagerly, looking at him happily as she wiped her tears, still sniffling: “You, you, turn around and squat down.”
“Huh?” The State Preceptor was utterly confused.
The innkeeper, who had been watching the spectacle, cautiously chimed in to explain on behalf of the drunk woman: “She wants you to carry her on your back.”
“What?” The State Preceptor glared disapprovingly at Wen Ningwan, who was nodding enthusiastically.
“Don’t push your luck!”
Wen Ningwan’s lips quivered, her eyes welling up with tears again: “Wah.”
“Quiet!” The State Preceptor scowled at the pitiful sight before him, taking a deep breath in resignation. “Don’t regret this later.”
With that, he turned around and squatted down. Almost instantly, Wen Ningwan happily threw herself onto his back, playfully commanding: “Up!”
The State Preceptor exhaled sharply, forcing a sinister smile as he stood up.
The innkeeper immediately averted her gaze, raising her voice as if talking to herself: “Ah, there’s just no helping it. Time to send Miss Youran home.”
The State Preceptor shot her a glance before carrying Wen Ningwan downstairs. Wen Ningwan clung tightly to his neck, resting her head against his back, occasionally letting out another sniffle.
“Remember now?” Liu Jiaojiao smirked at the pale-faced Wen Ningwan. “Early this morning, almost everyone at the Dali Temple saw the State Preceptor carrying the utterly wasted Vice Minister Wen back.”
“…” Wen Ningwan collapsed in despair, her voice trembling: “I’m done for. Truly done for.”
“Bad news, bad news.”
Miao Shiyi looked anxiously at the newcomer: “What’s wrong?”
“The State Preceptor’s residence has sent word Vice Minister Wen is to report for questioning immediately.”