Shao Mingyuan returned to the Marquis Guanjun’s residence, walking through the empty courtyard with his heart feeling as if it were pressed down by a huge stone, making it almost impossible to breathe.

He was Marquis Zhenyuan’s son. That Marquis Zhenyuan, whom many people mentioned with either regret or evasion, was his true father.

In the fifth year of Mingkang, when he had chatted leisurely with Zhaozhao, he had mentioned many times that the year held many secrets, yet he could never have imagined that his origins were the greatest secret of all.

That year was no longer one where he was a spectator, but one where he was truly immersed in blood and carnage. Every trace of bloodshed that people smelled contained the blood of his relatives.

Shao Mingyuan walked to the pavilion and sat down on a stone bench, instructing the personal guard who had followed: “Bring me wine.”

Though the personal guard didn’t know what had happened, he could see that the General was somewhat off. In such circumstances, he dared not ask questions and hurried to the kitchen to fetch wine. After thinking about it, he thoughtfully prepared several plates of drinking snacks as well.

In the February spring chill, the wine and food placed on the stone table in the pavilion quickly grew cold.

Shao Mingyuan didn’t touch a single chopstick of the drinking snacks, only pouring cup after cup of wine to drink.

The personal guards standing outside the pavilion exchanged glances.

The General was very much not himself!

“Could it be that he quarreled with Miss Li?”

“Impossible. Our General and Miss Li have always been fine.”

“Then you stay here and keep the General company properly. I’ll go invite Miss Li over.”

Upon receiving the message, Qiao Zhao rushed to the Marquis Guanjun’s residence and immediately saw Shao Mingyuan sitting alone in the pavilion, drinking morosely.

She frowned and lifted her skirts to walk quickly closer. Before even entering the pavilion, she could smell the thick scent of alcohol.

Hearing familiar footsteps, Shao Mingyuan turned his head. His eyes instantly brightened as he showed a gentle smile: “Zhaozhao, you’ve come.”

Qiao Zhao nodded to the personal guard who had brought her. The guards tactfully withdrew to a distance before she quickly entered the pavilion and sat down beside Shao Mingyuan.

Her delicate hand fell upon the man’s hand that gripped the wine pot as the young woman’s voice carried a hint of reproach: “Shao Tingquan, are you drinking alone in depression?”

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “Now that you’re here, it’s no longer drinking alone in depression.”

Qiao Zhao gazed seriously into Shao Mingyuan’s eyes.

The other party had already drunk quite a bit before her arrival. His pupils carried a watery glimmer, and the corners of his eyes were slightly reddened, making him appear less cold and self-possessed while adding a quality that made one’s face flush and heart race.

At this moment, however, Qiao Zhao had no leisure for such thoughts, her eyes full of concern: “Tingquan, what happened?”

The man suddenly leaned forward, pulling her into his embrace.

“Tingquan?” Qiao Zhao called softly.

The rich wine fragrance made her somewhat dazed, as if even her thoughts weren’t clear. She could only push against the man holding her and sigh: “Didn’t you say you’d tell me about anything that happened? You just promised my father. If you don’t keep your word, be careful that your father-in-law will seek you out for another drinking heart-to-heart.”

The man rested his chin on the top of her head, gazing into the distance as he spoke softly: “Military songs should sing of great sabers bright, sworn to destroy the barbarians beyond Jade Gate. Only knowing to die for the country on the battlefield, why do we need a horse’s hide to wrap our bones for return? Zhaozhao, actually, for us military generals, being buried in green mountains is the best ending.”

Qiao Zhao’s body trembled. She raised her hand to cover Shao Mingyuan’s mouth but said nothing.

Buried in green mountains, wrapped in horses’ hide—if it truly came to that day, she wouldn’t stop him.

Qiao Zhao turned to hold Shao Mingyuan even tighter.

“Zhaozhao—”

“Mm?”

“My father is Marquis Zhenyuan.”

The man’s hoarse voice came from above. Qiao Zhao’s entire body shook as she suddenly raised her head.

“Very surprising, isn’t it?” Shao Mingyuan slowly smiled, the rich wine scent brushing against Qiao Zhao’s face, causing the young woman’s fair cheeks to bloom with peach blossoms.

“Marquis Zhenyuan from the fifth year of Mingkang?” Qiao Zhao slowly asked.

Shao Mingyuan gently nodded: “Yes, Marquis Zhenyuan from the fifth year of Mingkang.”

After speaking, he fell silent, holding Qiao Zhao motionlessly.

Qiao Zhao opened her mouth, then raised her hand to gently place it on Shao Mingyuan’s back: “Tingquan, if your heart feels terrible, don’t hold it in. Come, I’ll drink with you.”

Shao Mingyuan reached for the wine pot and poured half a cup, handing it to Zhaozhao: “I can drink more, but you can only have half a cup.”

Qiao Zhao raised her cup to touch Shao Mingyuan’s wine cup: “Drinking together with you.”

Shao Mingyuan raised his cup and drained it in one gulp, then poured another cup of wine.

Qiao Zhao didn’t stop him. Watching him drink no fewer than ten cups in succession, he finally couldn’t keep his eyes open and honestly collapsed onto the stone table.

“Tingquan?” Qiao Zhao gently pushed Shao Mingyuan.

The drunk someone reached out to pull her over, resting his head against her as he murmured: “Zhaozhao, I feel terrible…”

Qiao Zhao’s eyes suddenly grew moist.

Having spent so much time together, she understood this man. If the bitterness in his heart weren’t unbearably heavy, he wouldn’t voice his pain aloud.

“It’s alright, it’s all passed. From now on, I’ll be with you.”

Shao Mingyuan kept his eyes closed. The surging pain and anger in his heart seemed to have finally found an outlet. He held tightly to that bit of warmth, but immediately after, a churning sensation struck.

Shao Mingyuan pushed Qiao Zhao away and rushed out of the pavilion to lean against a tree and vomit.

Qiao Zhao hurried over and took out her handkerchief to wipe his mouth.

After vomiting, Shao Mingyuan became somewhat more sober. He turned his face aside and said bashfully, “Don’t come over. It doesn’t smell good.”

Qiao Zhao glanced at him: “What are you avoiding? What state of yours haven’t I seen?”

Shao Mingyuan opened his half-drunk eyes and asked blankly: “You’ve seen all my states?”

Qiao Zhao looked at Shao Mingyuan with suspicion: “Shao Mingyuan, are you drunk or pretending to be drunk?”

“I, I want to rinse my mouth…” Shao Mingyuan staggered to the side.

Qiao Zhao sighed: “Wait here. I’ll have someone bring you water, and I’ll go prepare soothing soup.”

Shao Mingyuan grabbed Qiao Zhao’s hand: “Zhaozhao, don’t leave—”

“You’re drunk. Let me prepare sobering soup first, then we’ll talk.”

Shao Mingyuan shook his head: “The sobering soup can go without drinking, but just don’t leave.”

Qiao Zhao was helpless and finally had to compromise, supporting Shao Mingyuan back to the pavilion.

Laughably, though someone was drunk, he still remembered not to overwhelm his wife-to-be with the smell, sitting far from Qiao Zhao. Yet, afraid she might leave, his pair of eyes pitifully stuck to her.

Qiao Zhao had no choice but to call for personal guards to prepare sobering soup. By the time Shao Mingyuan was completely sober, it was already evening.

“Sorry, I won’t drink so much in the future.” Before Qiao Zhao could speak, Shao Mingyuan proactively admitted his error.

“No need to apologize. Drinking is also a way to relieve pressure.”

If it festered in his heart, she’d rather he get drunk and speak it out.

“Marquis Jing’an’s meaning is that Lan Shan will use this to guess your true identity and move against you?”

Shao Mingyuan nodded.

Qiao Zhao’s heart stirred: “Tingquan, doesn’t this indicate that the person who spread your illegitimate son’s identity far and wide isn’t from Lan Shan’s faction? Making Lan Shan notice you, thereby moving against you and even the Jing’an Marquis residence—that was the other party’s ultimate goal?”

“I think so, too.” Shao Mingyuan chuckled softly. “The other party truly has excellent methods. Starting from the death of the Xijiang warrior, advancing step by step, finally drawing Lan Shan to confront me while they hide in the shadows to watch the fire from across the river.”

“Then who is this person?”