Zheng Yang’s burial did not bring an end to the matter. On the contrary, the rumors about Yunyi cursing her husbands to death grew more intense throughout Luoyang City, with almost everyone believing that Yunyi had cursed Zheng Yang to death.

On this day, Du Ruhui and Cuiji went to Qingxu Winery to drink again. Facing the Langguan wine that the servant brought up, the three men unanimously poured a cup and spilled it on the ground.

Pei Qiancheng set down his empty wine cup and said sadly, “From now on, there will only be three of us left.”

Cuiji stared blankly at his wine cup and said in a bitter voice, “Every time we came here before, Brother Zheng would always order several pots of Langguan wine first. In the end, it was this very wine that killed him. If he hadn’t drunk so much that night, or if any one of us had been with him, such a thing wouldn’t have happened!”

Pei Qiancheng patted his shoulder and said, “What’s done is done. There’s no use thinking about it anymore. Although Brother Zheng is gone, we will always remember him as our brother and never forget him!” As he spoke, he filled each of their cups with wine and raised his cup, saying, “Come, let’s all toast Brother Zheng!”

The cups crossed in midair, and the mellow wine felt like bitter tears as it slid down their throats and into their stomachs.

After drinking several more cups, their emotions settled somewhat. Cuiji asked, “Brother Du, have you entered the palace these past few days?”

“I’ve been busy with Brother Zheng’s funeral affairs these past days and haven’t had time to enter the palace. I plan to visit the Princess tomorrow.” Facing Du Ruhui’s words, Cuiji gripped his wine cup and remained silent for a long while. The former probed, “Is there something wrong?”

Cuiji shook his head without speaking. At this moment, two men sat down at the table next to them. After ordering wine and food from the servant, one of them said, “Tell me, is Princess Jinyang really cursed to kill her husbands?”

The other shook his head and said, “There’s no smoke without fire. It’s probably true. That young master from the Zheng family was truly unlucky. He thought he was climbing up to marry into royalty, but who knew she was a deadly demon. He didn’t even get to be a prince consort for a single day before losing his life. I also heard that the Zheng family’s Grand Dowager is now seriously ill and could die at any moment.”

The man clicked his tongue and said, “After such an incident, I’m afraid no one will dare marry this Princess anymore. She’ll have to be an old spinster for life.”

“Not necessarily. She’s still a Princess after all. Marrying her would make one His Majesty’s son-in-law. As they say, great wealth comes with great risk. There should be people willing to marry her.”

“Wealth is good, but one must have the life to enjoy it. I certainly wouldn’t dare marry her.”

His words drew mockery from the other man, “Even if you wanted to marry her, it wouldn’t be your turn.”

The man’s eyes widened as he said, “What’s wrong with me? This morning when I went to buy tofu, the tofu beauty even winked at me. Someone with such a cursed fate should be grateful if anyone is willing to risk their life to marry her. What right does she have to be picky!” As he spoke, he reached for the wine pot, but someone else grabbed it first. He looked at the person who had taken the wine pot in surprise and said, “What are you doing?”

The usually gentle and refined Cuiji’s face was now unusually cold and gloomy. “Zheng Yang’s death was an accident. There’s no such thing as cursing husbands to death. If you dare speak such nonsense again, don’t blame me for being rude!”

Suddenly receiving such a scolding, the two men said displeasedly, “We’re talking among ourselves. What business is it of yours? Why can’t we talk?”

Cuiji didn’t say much to them, only saying, “In any case, you’re not allowed to speak ill of the Princess anymore. Do you hear me?!”

One of the men snatched the wine from Cuiji’s hand and said, “So what if we talk about it? Can you control us? Besides, we’re not the only ones discussing this matter.”

Pei Qiancheng hadn’t expected Cuiji to suddenly act like this. He quickly stood up and pulled him, saying, “Let’s drink our own wine. Don’t lower yourself to their level.”

Cuiji paid no attention to him and only stared coldly at the two men. “You still haven’t answered me.”

The man slapped the table and said, “What exactly do you want, boy? Will this ever end?” As he spoke, he called the shopkeeper over and said, “Quickly throw this madman out. Don’t disturb our drinking mood.”

The shopkeeper knew Cuiji’s identity, and even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare throw him out. He could only say, “Please calm down, honored guest, please calm down!”

When the man saw no action for a long time, he said angrily, “I say, old man, did you understand what I said? Quickly throw him out, or don’t blame me for being rude.”

The shopkeeper didn’t know what to do and could only look to Pei Qiancheng and the others for help. Du Ruhui walked over with a half-smile and said, “Calling yourself ‘master’ with every breath—such arrogance. May I ask how we should address you?”

The man lifted his chin proudly and said, “Well said. My surname is Wu, and I take care of the entire Deyue District. The neighbors show me respect by calling me Master Wu.”

Du Ruhui laughed and said, “I wondered who it was. So it’s the local ruffian who occupies Deyue District. Such a person actually has the nerve to call himself ‘master.’ How ridiculous!”

“Bastard!” The man immediately slapped the table and stood up, glaring angrily. “What are you, daring to speak of your young master like that?”

Du Ruhui ignored him and only said to Cuiji, “I remember Deyue District is near the Cui residence. Does your Cui family actually allow such ruffians and thugs to run wild right under your noses?”

Cuiji said coldly, “When I return, I’ll give orders that any ruffians or thugs caught causing trouble should be arrested and expelled from Luoyang City.” With the Cui family’s power, expelling a few ruffians from Luoyang was an easy matter.

Their words made the self-proclaimed Master Wu’s expression change, realizing something was wrong. He exchanged glances with the other man and said, “Who are you people?”

“Shopkeeper, you tell them.” Facing Du Ruhui’s words, the shopkeeper pointed at them one by one and said, “This is the young master of the Pei residence, this is the Chief Clerk of the Court of Imperial Stud, and this one… is the young master of the Cui residence in East City!”

After learning the identities of Du Ruhui and the other two, Master Wu and his companion’s faces became extremely ugly. Any one of these three men was someone they couldn’t afford to offend, let alone offending all three at once. They had really kicked an iron plate this time.

Pei Qiancheng sneered, “Master Wu, do you still want us to get out?”

Master Wu came to his senses and quickly smiled obsequiously, “Master Pei is joking. It’s all because we were blind and didn’t recognize you gentlemen. Please be magnanimous and don’t lower yourselves to our level.”

The other man immediately picked up the conversation, “Yes, yes, yes. This humble person failed to recognize Mount Tai. We’re truly sorry.”

Cuiji said expressionlessly, “Answer me!”

Master Wu asked carefully, “What does Young Master Cui want this humble person to answer?”

The other man’s brain was quicker than his. Understanding the meaning of Cuiji’s words, he hurriedly said, “Young Master Zheng died by accident and it has nothing to do with Princess Jinyang. There’s no such thing as cursing husbands to death. Those previous words were all nonsense from us humble people. If we ever say such things again, may we die with our intestines pierced and stomachs rotten!”