CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 323: NEVER DRINKING AGAIN

After three rounds of drinks, Zhao Ting finally understood why Meng Yao and Teacher Wang reacted so strangely earlier.

Lady Qian had one foot on a stool and was hooking his shoulder, wanting to become sworn siblings with him!

Teacher Wang looked embarrassed, yet he couldn’t do anything about Lady Qian.

From now on, he swore he would never let his wife drink again.

"Brother, you’re really lucky. Our Ah Yao looks this way, with this figure! Tsk tsk!"

Zhao Ting held back a laugh.

Meng Yao pinched him lightly.

Before she could withdraw her hand, Zhao Ting caught it.

"Big Sis is right, being able to be with Ah Yao is my good fortune," Zhao Ting said while holding Meng Yao’s hand.

These weren’t soft hands, much like their owner, always far from fragile.

In fact, they were quite firm.

Very powerful.

But he couldn’t bear to let go of these hands.

Meng Yao couldn’t free herself, so she let him hold her hand.

"You and Ah Yao, while you may have reconciled, you can’t be so casual about it. You must properly give Ah Yao a status!"

If you say Lady Qian was drunk, every word still defended Ah Yao.

If you say she wasn’t drunk, well, in a sober state, she certainly wouldn’t be so bold.

"Let Ah Yao give me a status, that’s fine, I’ll listen to Ah Yao," Zhao Ting said.

Since he was the one marrying into the family, he had to listen to Ah Yao about everything.

Meng Yao truly had no further intention for Zhao Ting to marry into the family. Initially, the decision was made by the original person, not her.

Moreover, he wasn’t the real Zhao Ting.

"Ah Yao, a man as good as your brother-in-law is rare. You must seize the opportunity, lest you regret it!" Lady Qian earnestly advised, "Look at me, I married someone like your brother-in-law, sigh—"

Lady Qian sighed three times in a row.

Teacher Wang’s face darkened.

"Ah Yao, Ah Ting, your big sister is drunk. I’ll help her back to her room to rest, you two take your time,"

Teacher Wang feared she might say something about divorce later, which would truly embarrass him.

This woman, after drinking, was like a different person.

"Brother-in-law, do you need a hand?" Zhao Ting asked.

Teacher Wang, being a scholar, had limited strength.

Lady Qian, clearly not fully intoxicated, couldn’t be moved at all.

"No need." Teacher Wang rolled up his sleeves, unwilling to accept defeat!

Nowadays, at Qixia Academy, he exercises daily, clearly feeling much healthier than before.

He should be able to handle a Qian Min!

Bai Su, for once being observant, grabbed the last pig’s trotter and darted back into the house.

She was too delighted with the food.

Braised pork, pig’s trotters, were too delicious.

Teacher Wang, with great effort, carried Lady Qian into the room.

"So nice." Zhao Ting wrapped an arm around Meng Yao’s shoulder, pulling her into his embrace.

"What is so nice?"

"Having you by my side is so nice." Zhao Ting lowered his head and pecked Meng Yao’s lips.

Meng Yao’s face flushed; this man was really quite the charmer.

"I never realized before, how good you are with words," Meng Yao teased.

"That’s because you never agreed to be with me before."

"I haven’t agreed now either."

Zhao Ting realized, indeed, Ah Yao had never explicitly agreed.

Zhao Ting looked intently into Meng Yao’s eyes, "Then I ask now, Ah Yao, are you willing to be with me?"

Zhao Ting’s eyes seemed to have a vortex, pulling Meng Yao into them unconsciously.

"I am willing."

A handsome man who treated her so well, only a fool wouldn’t be willing.

After sobering up, Lady Qian felt somewhat embarrassed after learning of her ’brave deeds’ from Teacher Wang.

"Why didn’t you stop me? Embarrassing myself in front of my brother-in-law, wasn’t that just tarnishing Ah Yao’s reputation!" Lady Qian complained.

"I did try to stop you, Qian Min, are you underestimating yourself or overestimating me? The way you were, could I stop you? Look, look!" Teacher Wang pointed to his panda eyes, "I painstakingly carried you into the room, and before I could catch my breath, you hit me, calling me a lecher!"

Lady Qian felt guilty; she almost asked who had hit him, then realized it was she herself.

"I promise I won’t drink again," Lady Qian smiled ingratiatingly.

"Your promises have lost credibility," Teacher Wang huffed.

"I mean it this time!" Lady Qian smiled apologetically.

She couldn’t help it, having no tolerance for alcohol yet loving to drink.

Once she drank, her demeanor wasn’t very good either.

Feeling guilty.

"Shall I trust you once more?"

"I guarantee I won’t disappoint you."

"You said it, if you act like that again, don’t even think about touching alcohol," Teacher Wang glared at Qian Min.

"Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you."

A great man, oh, not a great woman, can bow and stand tall.

Now, let’s placate him first.

Because of his swollen eye sockets, Teacher Wang reluctantly requested another three-day leave from the Academy.

Lady Qian also took three days off under the pretext of Teacher Wang’s injury.

Then she made plans for them to take a good stroll around.

Poor Bai Su—everyone else paired up, leaving her out of place.

Lady Qian, seeing her pitiful state, couldn’t bear it and braised a pot of pig’s trotters to console her.

It seemed clear—this girl loved to eat, especially pig’s trotters.

Bai Su was overjoyed, "You two sisters, brother-in-law, have fun. I’ll make sure everything’s alright at home."

Go on, everyone. Don’t delay her pig’s trotters feast.

Going out, what’s more comfortable than gnawing on pig’s trotters?

——

Meanwhile, Meng Yao was leisurely traveling around, having a great time.

The Capital City, however, wasn’t that peaceful.

Many court ministers, using Emperor Jing’s lack of heirs as a reason, suggested he expand his harem, essentially pressuring him.

Others went further, saying the absence of an Empress was the reason Emperor Jing had no heirs.

They insisted that Emperor Jing, for the good of Zhou Country’s dynasty, should appoint an Empress swiftly.

Currently, there was only one pregnant concubine in the palace, Consort Jing.

Consort Jing, who had been in the palace for many years, had a daughter—intelligent, graceful in bearing, cautious in her dealings, virtuous by nature, respectful without overstepping, gentle and compliant, poised and elegant, suitable for great responsibility.

Indeed, some court officials joined forces to petition for Consort Jing to be named the Empress.

With turbulence in the court, Consort Jing became more low-key, kneeling outside Emperor Jing’s palace with her pregnant belly, openly stating she had no aspirations for the position, just wishing to safely give birth to her child.

This was also telling Emperor Jing that the court’s affairs had nothing to do with her.

But would Emperor Jing believe it?

The uproarious noble families, though not part of Consort Jing’s family, all had intricate connections with her family.

Did they take him for a fool?

He had never imagined that Consort Jing aimed for the Empress position.

Some things, if you don’t fight for them, he might willingly give them.

But if you fight for them too hard, he doesn’t want to give them at all.

However, Consort Jing was carrying his child.

He had to take that into account.

"I’ve always understood your intentions, dear Consort. Rest assured that those discussions in court won’t influence my feelings towards you. Just focus on taking care of yourself," Emperor Jing said kindly.