“What excellent timing—this Hereditary Prince loves hearing wine talk.”

He Wenyu pointed at Xie Zhifei and shouted loudly.

“Someone, bring several jars of wine and prepare some drinking snacks. Today I want to drink with Third Master Xie until neither of us can stand.”

“Yes.”

Wine and food were quickly brought to the table.

He Wenyu smiled. “This wine—how does Third Master plan to drink it?”

Third Master Xie crossed his legs, saying lightly, “How to drink naturally depends on what the Hereditary Prince says.”

He Wenyu glanced at Pei Xiao. “And what about Young Master Pei? Just going to sit there dryly?”

Pei Xiao also pointed at Xie Zhifei. “Do you know what this bastard is like when he’s drunk? I have to clean up the mess, Hereditary Prince.”

“Oh, so Third Master’s alcohol tolerance isn’t good!”

“More than just not good.”

Third Master Xie sighed, his face full of bitterness. “Nothing about me works—even this life is quite short.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, how pitiful indeed.”

He Wenyu’s face showed malicious delight.

“How about this—Third Master drinks these two jars, and this Hereditary Prince will give you a chance to speak.”

“The Hereditary Prince truly sympathizes with me.”

Xie Zhifei sneered coldly. “Mingting, pour the wine.”

Pei Xiao cursed He Wenyu as “grandson” in his heart, gritting his teeth as he poured.

Xie Zhifei’s alcohol tolerance indeed wasn’t great. Because of his heart palpitations, he hadn’t touched a drop before age eighteen. Later, after taking a position at the Commandery, he gradually drank a little.

Two jars would leave him dead drunk.

But poor alcohol tolerance could be compensated by drinking boldness. Xie Zhifei said nothing and picked up the wine bowl to start drinking.

He drank very quickly, bowl after bowl, without hesitation.

Wine was essentially just water. Once in the stomach, it took time for the aftereffects to kick in. Xie Zhifei had to say everything that needed saying before those aftereffects arrived.

This method of drinking was very harmful to the body. Pei Xiao said he’d drink instead, but Xie Zhifei didn’t agree.

He Wenyu was a wicked character, the type who could flip the table and curse at a single wrong word. Some things had to be said by him.

One jar emptied, Xie Zhifei felt the heat and rolled up his sleeves, opening his collar. His posture relaxed, and combined with those peach blossom eyes full of romantic charm, he exuded an indescribable boldness.

He Wenyu stared dumbfounded.

What the hell.

The Xie family were scholars—even Second Master Xie had scholarly air. How did it change when it came to this one?

But truly, this appearance was quite seductive.

He Wenyu’s heart was lightly plucked.

The two jars bottomed out. Xie Zhifei burped, one hand propping the table, the other casually draped over He Wenyu’s chair back.

He smiled lazily, directly calling out the given name.

“He Yun, you like straightforward talk, so I’ll speak straightforwardly—don’t form this marriage alliance with the Du family.”

He Wenyu looked back at him silently. After a long while, he curved his lips. “Oh, seems Third Master still has unfinished feelings for that Miss Du.”

“You wanted me to speak straightforwardly—what about you?”

Xie Zhifei’s handsome face pressed closer.

“Are you being straightforward? Do you dare ask properly why?”

Damn!

Is there anything in this world I, He Wenyu, don’t dare do?

His fighting spirit aroused, he sneered coldly. “Speak. Why?”

“Because of you.”

Three words, spoken lightly, yet making He Wenyu’s heart skip a beat.

“Be-because of me what?”

“Because I want what’s good for you.”

Xie Zhifei’s pitch-black eyes showed a hint of severity. “The crooked path isn’t easy to walk. If you step wrong, when you want to pull your foot back, it’ll be too late.”

He Wenyu raised an eyebrow. “Without walking it, how would I know which is the righteous path and which is crooked?”

“Legitimate and proper is righteous; harboring ulterior motives is crooked.”

Xie Zhifei looked at him.

“Take you, He Yun—no matter how improperly you act, you’re still the legitimate son of the Marquis of Wu’an, the Hereditary Prince. The Marquis of Wu’an’s estate should rightfully be managed by you. No one can take it. Am I right?”

He Wenyu’s eyes turned cold.

He knew perfectly well why Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao made this trip—nothing more than promising benefits and winning him over.

He never expected this Xie would use his status to say these few words, and the damned fellow spoke right to his heart.

That’s right.

So what if he, He Wenyu, liked men? So what if he couldn’t continue the family line? He was still the He family’s only seedling.

Unless he himself didn’t want it, no one else could dream of snatching the He family estate from his hands.

He Wenyu felt very displeased and shot back directly.

“The principle is correct, but unfortunately my father didn’t have another son. Otherwise, for someone like me who’s mud that won’t stick to the wall, how could my father be willing to hand the marquis estate to me?”

These words spoke of He Yun himself but alluded to the Crown Prince.

Xie Zhifei smiled.

“You, He Yun, are mud that won’t stick to the wall, but are your son and grandson too?”

He placed the hand that had been resting on He Yun’s chair back heavily on his shoulder several times. “Heaven isn’t that blind, right!”

Not a single word was wrong.

Not a single word could be refuted.

But…

He Wenyu ground his teeth hard and suddenly smiled wickedly. “Are these wine words truly Third Master’s own thoughts?”

“No.”

“Oh?”

He Wenyu’s face showed an aggrieved expression like a resentful wife. “So Third Master doesn’t truly care for my wellbeing!”

Look at your coquettish behavior!

Young Master Pei rolled his eyes. “Third Master cares for your wellbeing, this young master also cares for your wellbeing, and the person behind this young master cares even more for your wellbeing.”

Now this was truly straightforward talk.

The wine was drunk by Third Master, but the words were spoken by the person behind Young Master Pei. The person behind Young Master Pei was none other than the Grand Prince.

This was the Grand Prince making a promise—as long as you come over to our side, the Marquis of Wu’an’s estate can continue its glory and wealth for three more generations.

He Wenyu felt as if his mouth was stuffed with cotton—he couldn’t say anything.

How embarrassing!

He’d originally calculated that at minimum they’d have to make three visits to his thatched cottage, properly negotiate terms, and have a good contest of wits.

How could he know that before one round was even complete, he’d be struck dumb.

Xie Zhifei supported himself on the chair back and stood up. The alcohol hit him, and his vision doubled.

Pei Xiao quickly stepped forward to support him, half-dragging, half-pulling him forward.

Good lord, he’s heavy as death.

Walking to the door, Xie Zhifei turned back, his eyes full of spirited brilliance.

“Hereditary Prince, speaking from the heart, if Du Yiyun were truly good, I wouldn’t dream of blocking this. She’s not worthy of you!”

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

Pei Xiao dragged him out. “You’re not the matchmaker god. Is it your place to manage who’s worthy or not?”

The door creaked shut with a squeak. The warm pavilion fell quiet.

Moments later, someone emerged from behind the screen and sat in the chair Xie Zhifei had just occupied.

He Wenyu glanced at him and sighed. “It’s really not that I fall for everyone I meet. Your family’s third son is simply a top-grade specimen among specimens.”

Xie Buhuo sneered coldly. “Don’t even think about it. No chance. He doesn’t go for your type.”

He Wenyu laughed heartily, his face completely improper.

“Give me a straight answer.”

Xie Buhuo impatiently kicked him with his foot. “What about this marriage arrangement?”

“What else can I say?”

He Wenyu tapped his fingers on his knee.

“You persuaded me, then he came to persuade me. This Hereditary Prince has never seen you brothers so united. As the saying goes, listen to advice and eat your fill.”

He leisurely brought his face closer.

“Second Master, don’t you agree?”