Chapter 248: Chapter 188 Brother Bei, Are You Drunk? No, It’s Brother Ji Who’s Drunk!_1
The wine in the jar was potent, and as the two shared a feeling of regret for not having met sooner, the jar was quickly emptied. Su Bei staggered to his feet, his eyes hazy, let out a belch, and held the wine jar, wondering why there was so little left inside.
A gust of wind blew past. With a shiver, his body tilted to the side.
In an instant, he collapsed onto Ji Nanjue.
Ji Nanjue’s cheeks were flushed. For a moment, she was stunned. Pushing at Su Bei, her eyes were clouded, her hair disheveled. Her voice, as soft as an orchid’s breath, emanated the unique mellow fragrance of Floating Life Drunk,
"Brother Bei, you’re drunk!"
Su Bei felt like he was lying on the Eastern Emperor, feeling his scrawny shoulders, a body so soft it was unnerving, and a faint, fresh scent still lingering at his nose—this was hardly like lying on a man!
Her long hair fluttered, and the breeze tangled it with Su Bei’s before the wind scattered them apart.
"No! It’s you, Brother Ji, who’s drunk!"
As Su Bei pressed down on him, he tried to get up. He reached out a hand to brace himself against the ground but, in his carelessness, his head lolled and landed on some part of Ji Nanjue’s body.
Even though it was only through the silk satin, Su Bei could still feel that the man beneath him seemed somewhat soft!
"Brother Ji, you look so beautiful, like a woman! Are you too tired from dealing with government affairs every day? Your constitution—it’s not good. You need... you need to train! Your muscles are too soft!" Su Bei slurred, his articulation unclear. He looked at the bowl placed in front of Ji Nanjue, not minding whether she had drunk from it, and took a big gulp.
Ji Nanjue felt lightheaded, only sensing that Su Bei’s weight on her body was excessively heavy. Her eyes were half-open, a blush spreading across her face.
Before long, an arm was draped over her snowy-white neck. Su Bei, utterly unconcerned, conversed with Ji Nanjue. For the first time since his arrival in this world, he felt he had found a kindred spirit. This intimate gesture was nothing out of the ordinary between the best of brothers.
Arm over the shoulder, right!
Yet his hand, as if playing a prank, casually reached towards ’Brother Ji’s’ armpit!
The moment Su Bei’s hand touched Ji Nanjue’s waist, even with her cultivation, she shivered slightly.
Even through two layers of thin silk, she could still distinctly feel the warmth of Su Bei’s fingers!
She hastily clutched her robes, feigning indifference as she tried to casually swat his hand away. However, her face had already flushed, though thankfully it wasn’t too distinct due to the alcohol.
If any ordinary person had taken such liberties with her, they would have likely been reduced to ashes by now. But for some reason, she felt no such repulsion in her heart toward the man before her! After all, she was now only the Eastern Emperor, only Ji Nanjue.
To Su Bei, it was as if he had discovered a new continent—this feeling of softness was truly startling, sending a jolt to his very core.
Even Dan Wulan didn’t seem to have Brother Ji’s exquisite skin? The warm and fragrant scent? The boneless, supple figure? The silky strands of black hair? The smooth, delicate spine? Upon closer inspection of that breathtakingly androgynous face, he couldn’t help but marvel to himself. Had he really developed a preference for the same sex?!
The shock of it sobered him by half. He quickly released his hand and looked again at the Eastern Emperor before him. She, too, seemed to have sobered up considerably from his actions. She picked up her wine bowl and took a sip, trying to cover up the awkwardness.
Ji Nanjue calmed herself, her expression complex as she gazed at Su Bei, and said,
"Brother Bei! We... we’re friends now, aren’t we?"
Hearing Ji Nanjue’s sudden question, Su Bei smiled and replied,
"Of course!"
The sunlight poured down. Su Bei quietly observed the noble man before him, as if the drunkenness from moments ago had never occurred.
Ji Nanjue, is he truly a friend? It seemed this word, ’friend,’ finally had a place for him in this world.
"Brother Ji, why didn’t you bring the Empress with you to the Azure Cloud View?"
Suddenly recalling Lin Jinyu, Su Bei thought of the Phoenix Belly Band inside his storage ring and felt a pang of guilt.
Does this make me... the other man? A sense of remorse overwhelmed him. Feeling ashamed to face the wronged party before him, he gently coughed to disguise his expression. How should he compensate for his mistake? Perhaps he should find time today to return the belly band to Queen Lin...
Hearing Su Bei’s words, she did not show much reaction, casually smiling as she replied,
"The Empress said she wanted to visit Wu City today to meet a friend. I’m not sure who this friend could be."
Upon hearing Ji Nanjue’s words, Su Bei subconsciously felt that Lin Jinyu’s so-called friend was somehow related to him!
Yet, he kept deluding himself, trying not to overthink...
"Speaking of which, the Saintess will have finished making that elder Token by tomorrow. Elder Su, you could take your disciples to that courtyard we visited before..."
Ji Nanjue reverted to her previous gentle and graceful demeanor. Watching Su Bei, she gave a light flick of her lashes, contemplative, and offered a faint smile.
"The Saintess’s guidance is indeed invaluable. Brother Bei, you really should consider it further."
It seemed that because their relationship had progressed significantly, Ji Nanjue kindly offered him this advice. Her words reflected her hope that the man before her would not pass this excellent opportunity on to his disciples.
After all, in her opinion, Su Bei’s cultivation was indeed too low...
Yet Su Bei just smiled lightly and said,
"Great love incurs great expense; much hoarding leads to heavy loss. Knowing contentment prevents disgrace, knowing when to stop prevents danger, and thus longevity is assured. Su Mou is not a greedy person. To stop when one has enough is best; those who are content are always happy."
However, his words clearly lacked their previous ease. Perhaps he now resembled a sanctimonious hypocrite? —Offering him guidance would truly be a waste.
But Ji Nanjue harbored no suspicion. After all, back at Unrepentant Cliff, this man had been just the same. She could only sigh. Her gaze upon Su Bei filled with even greater perplexity as the feeling in her heart deepened. Could there really be such noble-minded individuals in this world? Without self-display, without self-righteousness, without self-promotion, without self-praise... it’s truly about not competing.
"To embrace simplicity and shun materialism, to have few desires—Mr. Ji shall raise a glass to Brother Bei with great admiration!"
As the emotional storm within them gradually calmed, the misty rain outside had unknowingly ceased.
Ji Nanjue felt it was about time and looked towards Su Bei, saying,
"It’s getting late. I wonder, where does Brother Bei reside now? Having enjoyed Brother Bei’s fine wine today, it shall be Mr. Ji’s turn to play host in a few days."
Looking at the man before her, clad in a white robe with a crescent headdress and embroidered begonias, Ji Nanjue thought for a moment before continuing,
"Does Brother Bei know of Dongting Stream? It’s not far from Wu City and is a rare scenic spot in the Sacred Land. If Brother Bei is free after the visit to the Ascension Platform, why don’t we meet there for a chat?"
Dongting Stream? Su Bei had heard of it, though he had never been there.
But thinking of Ji Nanjue’s scarce leisure upon her return to court, he accepted the invitation with great joy.
The bell of the Daoist Temple echoed, its sound drifting among the layered pavilions.
Sunlight shone hazily on the eaves of the flying pavilions, accompanied by the poignant sound of wind chimes.
Ji Nanjue gently straightened her clothes and, unbeknownst to Su Bei, discreetly tightened her chest binding.
Her black hair flowed like a waterfall, fluttering in the wind and veiling parts of her face.
"Mr. Ji shall see Brother Bei off."
Su Bei smiled and did not refuse.
「Outside the Sword Sect’s residence.」
Lin Jinyu was clad in a light-blue, narrow-sleeved inner dress, over which she wore a red gauze robe embroidered with phoenixes. With deep-purple embroidered shoes on her feet and a phoenix-feather hairpiece in her hair, she strolled leisurely outside the Sword Sect’s residence courtyards, her hands clasped behind her back.
A few patrolling Sword Sect Disciples watched the woman nearby with puzzled expressions.
She wore light makeup and moved with grace. She carried an extraordinary poise, the epitome of unshakable serenity!
If not for her exceptional demeanor, the Sword Sect Disciples would have already apprehended this furtive individual.
"Could she be a villainess?"
"Unlikely. With such noble bearing, dressed so elegantly, and so beautiful... it doesn’t seem so!"
"Elder Su said that the prettier the woman, the more deceitful she is!"
Finally, the plump disciple in the lead made up his mind. Determined to protect the honor of the Sword Sect, he approached the woman who was tiptoeing and peeking over the wall.
Lin Jinyu took a deep breath.
She silently scoffed, her phoenix eyes fixed on the Sword Sect’s residence. She was just here for an item; why did she suddenly feel nervous?
Just then, she saw several Sword Sect Disciples approaching her. Although the lead disciple was exceedingly humble and mild-mannered, Lin Jinyu could still sense a hint of wariness in his eyes.
"Miss, you who lurk about stealthily, may I ask what business you have with the Sword Sect?"
For a moment, Lin Jinyu found it amusing to be called stealthy.
But she calmed herself, looked at the Sword Sect Disciples, and smiled, saying,
"Where is Elder Su’s courtyard? I have urgent business with him!"
Then, one of the Sword Sect Disciples suddenly remembered. He thought he might have seen her at Elder Xi’s birthday celebration last time!
He quickly suppressed his inner turmoil and said,
"This disciple greets Queen Lin! We regret not being here to welcome Your Majesty from afar. Please forgive our oversight!"
A thin disciple grinned, then pointed to an ancient-looking courtyard not far away, and said,
"That is Elder Su’s courtyard over there, though I’m not sure if Elder Su has gone to the Sacred Sanctuary. Does Your Majesty require an escort?"
Lin Jinyu regained her usual dignified grace and smiled gently, saying,
"Thank you, but that won’t be necessary!"
With that, she stepped towards the courtyard and knocked lightly on the door.
Soon, a grumbling voice was heard from inside,
"Master, why are you only back now? Were you out enjoying the flowers under the moon with Ninth Uncle again?"
CREAK— The door opened.
Xiao Ruoching stared bewilderedly at the woman before her, rubbing her eyes in astonishment.
Queen Lin? Why has she come? Her mind reeled in confusion, already wildly speculating about her Master...
"Is Elder Su not here? Where did he go?"
Lin Jinyu paid no mind to Xiao Ruoching’s rapidly changing expression. Instead, she glanced briefly around the courtyard and asked softly.
At that moment, a faint voice came from within. A silver-haired disciple then walked out from the house, looked at Lin Jinyu, and said indifferently,
"Mo Li greets Queen Lin. My Master is out, and it is uncertain when he will return."
...
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