CHAPTER 138: CHAPTER 138: WAR KING TO BE EXECUTED IN HALF A MONTH, TANG ZAN DRUNK

In the blink of an eye, it was time to harvest the white radishes on the Deserted Mountain, all belonging to the third family.

Pei Shu’er’s eyes were full of laughter.

As long as these crops are harvested, by then, the people of the third family can collectively have their sentences reduced by three months.

At night, more than a dozen people dressed in rags came to this piece of land. When they saw those plump white radishes, their eyes were full of hatred and jealousy.

After pulling out a radish, someone exclaimed.

"Such a big radish is enough to feed a whole family for a meal."

After saying this, they hurriedly went to pull out another radish.

Even though these people’s faces were already dirty, they were covered in dirt.

But from their facial features, it was not difficult to recognize them as that group of people who had been driven away before.

That group now looked at these radishes, their eyes green with envy.

Isn’t Pei Shu’er supposed to be formidable?

Tomorrow is the inspection day; they’re going to dig up all these radishes and take them away.

Let’s see how she explains it then!

Her three-month sentence reduction will forever be out of reach.

During this time, they went to Yuhua Valley, but when they got there, they had no place to stay.

The people there were ruthless, vicious, and very xenophobic.

As soon as they stepped into Yuhua Valley, everyone rushed at them menacingly with hoes.

All the suffering they endured was caused by Pei Shu’er.

Even Tang Qingrou had sent a few of her skilled men to help them.

They thought someone would stop them, but everyone was knocked unconscious by those few experts.

With no one to intervene, they uprooted even faster.

There were so many radishes; they had to shuttle back and forth several times to transport them all.

Looking at the bare patch of land, they felt a sense of satisfaction.

Now, Pei Shu’er and her people were doomed.

...

At dinner, Pei Shu’er noticed Liu Xu and Tang Qingning had red eyes, even Tang Zan’s expression was more somber than usual.

Not until after dinner did Pei Shu’er ask Tang Qingning, who finally choked up and spoke.

"Shu’er, Father will be executed in half a month."

Pei Shu’er was shocked; she had not heard about War King’s execution before and assumed he had already been executed; it’s just that the third family hadn’t received the news yet.

Pei Shu’er could only pat Tang Qingning on the shoulder.

"Big sister-in-law, don’t worry. There might still be a turning point."

Tang Qingning trembled at this comfort, and tears flowed from her eyes.

"There will be no turning point. Father’s fate is sealed. The Emperor is determined to kill him."

Pei Shu’er sighed, looking at Tang Zan with half-closed eyes, thinking his mood must be even worse.

In the original story, Tang Zan had the closest relationship with War King.

It was because the War King was executed that led to his complete downfall.

On the way back, Tang Zan followed closely behind her, never uttering a word.

It wasn’t until they reached the room’s doorstep, Pei Shu’er opened the door, and the White Rice rushed into the room, that Tang Zan finally placed his hand on the back of Pei Shu’er’s hand.

"Pei Shu’er, drink some wine with me."

Pei Shu’er had learned to brew wine, and at the same time, she secretly moved several jars of wine from the space into wine jars, which were now stored in the cellar.

Pei Shu’er sighed: "You’re still injured, drinking isn’t good for your health."

Thinking it over, she suspected he was in such pain he wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway, so perhaps it was better to drink.

Pei Shu’er changed her mind: "Alright, let me get my wine."

The two headed toward the cellar, Pei Shu’er intended to descend the ladder into the cellar, but Tang Zan lifted her horizontally, and they both entered the cellar together.

Pei Shu’er lit the kerosene lamp, and among the wine jars, she found the few she had taken from the space.

To get Tang Zan drunk enough to sleep early, Pei Shu’er picked some high-proof wine.

She lifted a wine jar and placed it in Tang Zan’s arms.

Meanwhile, Tang Zan crouched, allowing Pei Shu’er to lie on his back.

Pei Shu’er complied seamlessly.

Tang Zan carried Pei Shu’er all the way to the watchtower to sit, and only then did he set her down.

She took two bowls, poured a bowl for Tang Zan, and also poured a bowl for herself.

She sat quietly beside him, drinking with him.

Tang Zan initially said nothing, just buried his head in the wine, finishing one bowl and then pouring another; when the bowl was gone, he took the small wine jar and drank from it directly.

After drinking half a jar, he finally began to speak coldly about War King.

"My father raised me strictly from childhood, and at thirteen, he took me to the East Wave Military Camp for training. It was then that I learned to kill."

"Soon, I became known as the Young General, respected by our troops, feared by the enemy."

"The greater my father’s power, the more the Emperor feared him. I knew in my heart that even without this incident, we would face other disasters."

At this, Tang Zan chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"It’s pathetic that even after being captured by the Emperor, my father still wanted to clear his name. As if he wasn’t already a thorn in the Emperor’s side. How could he be so blind?"

Pei Shu’er said nothing, quietly listening to Tang Zan.

Tang Zan started sitting a meter away from her on the rooftop, but as he got drunk and couldn’t hear well, he moved closer.

Gradually getting nearer, he leaned in to speak by Pei Shu’er’s ear.

His warm breath, tinged with the scent of alcohol, brushed against Pei Shu’er’s ear, turning it red.

His phoenix eyes were drowsy, his eyes a little red, giving his already exquisite features a touch of allure.

He looked quite different from his usual gloomy self, with an unexpected charm.

Pei Shu’er’s tolerance for alcohol was never great, and now slightly tipsy, she propped her chin, watching Tang Zan talk.

After those few words, Tang Zan spoke no more, simply drinking his sorrows away.

Pei Shu’er thought he might cry; after all, she had seen many such disheartened drunks in the modern world, weeping into people’s arms.

But he didn’t; he just hugged the wine jar tightly, leaning on it, watching her with blurred eyes.

Somehow, Tang Zan rested his head on Pei Shu’er’s shoulder, his hot breath on her neck.

He called out to her softly.

"Pei Shu’er, you’re not leaving again, are you?"

His eyes focused intently on her, more pure than ever.

The question took Pei Shu’er by surprise; the sudden change in topic left her momentarily speechless.

Seeing her take long to reply, Tang Zan chuckled softly, then started coughing, his eyes even redder.

The self-deprecation at his lips deepened.

He tilted his head back for another swig of wine.

Then he spoke no more, merely resting on her shoulder.

Soon, Pei Shu’er heard gentle breathing.

She nudged him, realizing he was asleep.

Pei Shu’er patted his face, but Tang Zan didn’t respond at all.

Pei Shu’er called softly, "Tang Zan, wake up."