Damn, is this wine really that strong? Can it really get someone who practices martial arts drunk in just a few cups?
Does that tavern owner really have some side business going on?
Looking at the girl in front of him who was still muttering to herself, Zhao Yi’an felt more than just helplessness; he was genuinely surprised.
After all, the last time they drank, Liu Yao had personally said that after finishing that specialty wine and leaving the tavern, she walked in a perfectly straight line.
Looking at her now though…
Maybe that was an overstatement.
“Let me tell you something, your Master, me, back in the day, I was actually quite well-off. I often regret it now, back when I ran away from within the sect, why didn’t I swipe a stone or half a stone of stuff from those old men?”
“It’s gotten to the point where I’m always going to my good friends for a little help, otherwise, I might end up fighting the village entrance’s big yellow for food one day!”
“To be honest…”
Ahem!
Zhao Yi’an hurriedly interrupted Liu Yao, who was getting into the swing of things. He raised his hand and said helplessly:
“Master, stop drinking. Look at you, you’re already drunk.”
“Who’s drunk!? I am not.”
The girl’s flushed red face held no persuasiveness in anyone’s eyes. After saying that, she grabbed the wine pot, lifted it, and started gulping it down in big mouthfuls.
The overflowing wine soaked the drunken girl’s clothes, revealing her enticing figure.
“Ha—whew! Are you sure you didn’t buy the wrong wine? Why does it hit harder the more I drink?”
Liu Yao put down the wine pot in her hand. Her eyes were dazed, as if there were whirlpools in them, exuding a silly air.
Looking at the girl who had gotten herself all wet like this, as a sixteen-year-old boy, where had he ever seen such a slightly suggestive scene?
Zhao Yi’an’s face flushed red. He hurriedly ran back to his room, grabbed a towel, and flung it directly onto Liu Yao’s face.
Thump.
“And you say you’re not drunk? You’ve managed to get yourself all wet just from drinking!”
“Hurry up and wipe yourself off! How can someone your age be so careless about their own appearance?”
Liu Yao lifted the towel covering her face. After the sudden “towel assault,” she had calmed down a bit.
“Alright, alright, I know! Why do you talk like an old mother hen? If you keep talking like this in the future, you’ll have a hard time finding a wife.”
As she spoke, the girl used the towel to wipe the places that had just been soaked with wine while teasing Zhao Yi’an.
“I told you I’m not drunk. I can easily neutralize the effects of this little bit of wine with my inner power. Why are you making such a big fuss? Here.”
After wiping herself clean, she handed the towel back and then scolded him.
“And how can you talk to your Master like that? Be careful, or if I get unhappy, I’ll expel you from the master’s school.”
“Honestly, I’d like a relationship of mutual respect between master and disciple, but Master, you’re always so casual like this. It’s really hard for me to keep a straight face.”
Zhao Yi’an took the towel, sighed, and explained with a helpless expression.
“Hmph—!”
Hearing the boy’s words, although Liu Yao seemed a bit unconvinced on the surface, she didn’t say much more.
Because she knew her own personality was just like this—carefree and straightforward. Saying they were master and disciple was less accurate than saying they were more like friends.
The girl propped her chin with one hand, pouting as she asked:
“Well then, tell me, what exactly is the situation with the Wang wealthy family?”
“Tell me, tell me.”
After Liu Yao’s earlier antics, Zhao Yi’an’s originally somewhat complicated emotions had now calmed down.
He picked up his wine cup, took a sip to clear his throat, and began to talk about the “rumors” he had heard at the tavern.
“Actually, I only know the gist of it. I heard it all from others, so I don’t know if it’s true or not.”
“According to that newspaper-selling kid, on the night of the wedding at the Wang wealthy family’s house, the so-called New Groom never showed up.”
“Huh?” Liu Yao was stunned, even forgetting to move her chopsticks. “Then who performed the wedding ceremony?”
Zhao Yi’an glanced around, making sure no one was eavesdropping, before continuing.
“I heard… it was a young man.” Zhao Yi’an’s expression grew even stranger as he said this. “The guests saw him wearing the groom’s clothes, stepping in to replace him.”
Liu Yao burst out laughing:
“What kind of drama is this? Even the storytellers at the teahouses couldn’t come up with something this absurd.”
“And then Miss Wang rushed out, protecting that young man.” Zhao Yi’an’s voice lowered. “Wealthy Wang was so angry he was trembling, and ordered people to beat the young man. But before they could finish, he himself ran out of breath and fainted.”
“Wow—”
“Everyone in the tavern was talking about it at the time.” Zhao Yi’an shook his head.
“That young man was later beaten half to death. Miss Wang was crying, protecting him. Wealthy Wang is still lying in bed to this day. As for the original groom… he disappeared after greeting the guests, and no one has seen him since.”
“Some people even say it won’t be long before the Wang Family declines like the Zhou Family did before.”
“The Zhou Family?”
Hearing Zhao Yi’an mention a somewhat unfamiliar term, the girl was visibly taken aback for a moment before asking:
“Yi’an, what’s the story with that Zhou Family you mentioned?”
“Huh? Master, you didn’t know about that?”
Zhao Yi’an raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
“I’m from out of town. Is it strange that I don’t know?” Liu Yao pouted.
“Well, that’s true.” Zhao Yi’an nodded. “The Zhou Family… they used to be a prominent family in the town, having established themselves years before the Wang Family.”
“I heard they were very prosperous back then. They had people in business, scholars… all sorts.”
“And then? Why did they decline?”
“And then…” Zhao Yi’an paused, his voice dropping. “And then they declined for no apparent reason. Some say the whole family caught a seasonal plague. Others say enemies came looking for them. There are all sorts of theories.”
“In short, the Zhou Family also suddenly experienced a major upheaval at home, and then they declined.”
Liu Yao clicked her tongue, spinning the empty wine cup in her hand a couple of times.
These two families clearly had similar experiences, yet it always felt somewhat ambiguous…
Hmm… whatever, what does it have to do with me! It’s not like there are bandits or robbers involved. I can’t meddle in this kind of family affair.
But come to think of it…
Why is this kid so calm about it this time?
She glanced at Zhao Yi’an and found that while his expression was fairly calm, his eyes seemed a bit distant.
Liu Yao raised an eyebrow, then poured herself another cup.
“Alright.” She raised her cup. “Come on, drink.”
Zhao Yi’an looked at the cup she had raised again, pursed his lips, seeming hesitant to speak.
“Hmm?”
“I want to ask you for a favor.”
Seeing his hesitant appearance, Liu Yao’s interest was immediately piqued.
She propped her chin with both hands and said with a teasing smile:
“What is it? Tell me. As long as it’s not some foolish nonsense like asking your Master to marry you, if it’s not too excessive, I’m willing to listen.”
“Pah! What are you talking about! Am I that kind of person?”
The boy was flustered by Liu Yao’s teasing words, but his earlier awkward demeanor disappeared.
It was replaced by a look of earnest pleading.
“I want… to ask you to help me investigate the truth of the Wang family’s wedding banquet night.”
“Huh?”
Liu Yao’s smile froze on her face.