The farewell feast was too exhilarating; with poetry, wine, songs, and dances flowing freely, eventually, everyone drank too much.

Lin Wanwan misjudged her drinking capacity, Ma Zhou couldn’t resist the modern wines, Dugu Di was in high spirits and unafraid of getting drunk (having made significant achievements with Xiao Chong in technology), and Xiao Ce, as usual, was a one-cup dropper.

Only Xiao Chong, who drank quite a bit too, remained only mildly intoxicated thanks to the hangover medicine prepared by the mansion’s doctors.

The loss of control due to inebriation was something he always disliked, and he dared not face it now more than ever.

When his eyes were hazy with drink, others were already singing, dancing, or asleep, even Lin Wanwan was in a daze.

The person acting as the banquet supervisor, Heng Wu, had crawled under the table, clutching the konghou, and was sleeping soundly.

Since becoming the music teacher at the Lin Family Manor’s school, Heng Wu hadn’t socialized and drunk like this in a long time.

Although she belonged to the class of low-status female musicians, within the school, no one treated her as such. The children affectionately called her ’teacher’ and held her in great respect.

Occasions like today seemed to her like events from a past life.

If it weren’t for Lin Wanwan personally inviting her, she wouldn’t have left the Lin Family Manor.

Though Lin Wanwan was her mistress, she never used her for entertainment.

The reason for inviting her to be the banquet supervisor today was simply because she seemed suitable. Primarily, Lin Wanwan couldn’t act as the supervisor herself, and she couldn’t just invite someone from a brothel.

After some thought, Heng Wu seemed the only choice.

Beautiful and skilled in playing the konghou, having been meticulously trained in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and response abilities, Heng Wu was an excellent banquet supervisor at high-society gatherings.

Lin Wanwan was merely utilizing the talents where they fit best by inviting her.

Not far from Heng Wu, Xiao Ce lay down with a wine jar, sleeping.

Ma Zhou and Dugu Di were drunkenly chatting about everything under the sun, occasionally breaking into loud song.

Equally intoxicated, Lin Wanwan sat quietly on a crescent stool, supporting her chin with one hand, her eyes unseeingly staring into the unknown depths, completely zoning out, utterly oblivious to the date and time.

The attendants stood outside the flower hall, not stepping forward without a summons from their mistress.

Xiao Chong gathered up his usually unhurried expression, gazing at Lin Wanwan with drunken eyes and a bittersweet smile, a somewhat abnormal flush showing on his fair face.

Maybe his gaze was too unguarded, even someone as oblivious as Lin Wanwan sensed it, slowly turning her eyes, as clear as glass, to stare blankly back at Xiao Chong.

The candlelight under the glazed lamp shade grew hazier, the face so sculpted like jade, how could it resemble Xiao Chong so much? But why did he look so heartbroken?

This was not like him at all.

Xiao Chong was always so graceful, carefree, and unfazed.

Lin Wanwan’s muddled mind grew more confused as she thought about it.

Night had fallen, wasn’t she supposed to be with Lu Shouyue? He loved holding her at night, but Lu Shouyue didn’t look like this.

Where exactly was she?

Xiao Chong sighed, withdrew his gaze, and serenely poured and drank his wine.

He didn’t need to look at Lin Wanwan; that face was already engraved deeply in his heart.

Clearly, she was within arm’s reach, yet also unattainably distant.

He had thought stepping back to the role of a cousin would be easy, but reality proved that giving up would ultimately leave him with unresolved regrets.

As the air in the flower hall grew more stifling, without realizing it, Xiao Chong found the wine in his hand unable to pour another drop.

Just then, from the corner of his eye, he saw someone move, startling him into instinctively supporting himself on the dining table and standing up.

He didn’t want her to come near him, not even to give him a moment of tenderness.

He didn’t want to endure the pain of living in unpredictability.

The sole relatively clear-minded Xiao Chong left, hands behind his back, walking to the screen and instructing the attendants on the side, "Your masters have all drunk too much, help them to rest."

Then he turned and stepped into the profound night.

Shuqi and Hu Li, the guard hidden in the shadows, immediately followed, holding their swords and keeping watch around.

Even though the County Government was very close to the Lin Mansion, anything could happen at night. With the master drunk, they had to be even more vigilant.

The next day, when Lin Wanwan woke from her hangover, she felt crushed as if under Mount Tai.

Upon a closer look, it turned out to be the little one, little Qingyu, lying on her.

Seeing Lin Wanwan open her eyes, little Qingyu immediately grinned sweetly, revealing two small dimples, "Mother, you’re awake? Uncle Ma is leaving, so shouldn’t I skip school today and go with you to see him off?"

Lin Wanwan nudged the little one off her and lightly tapped her nose, "What does Uncle Ma leaving have to do with you going to school? Just obediently go to the Wang Family’s private school."

Upon hearing she couldn’t miss her studies, little Qingyu looked instantly disappointed but nonetheless proceeded to wash up and prepare as told.

Lin Wanwan sat on the bed recalling last night’s events - fragmented scenes were still there; she probably hadn’t done anything too outrageous.

The excitement of singing and dancing yesterday and unprepared drinking games made her lose repeatedly, leading to her drinking too much. The key was her tolerance had dropped!

"I should have known not to bring out modern champagne; if I drank Great Tang’s wine, I wouldn’t get drunk even after a thousand cups," Lin Wanwan mumbled, "Luckily, I didn’t accidentally open the Space-Time Gate."

Lin Wanwan got out of bed and with the service of her personal maids Hong Yan, Ji Yue, and Cai Yun, washed and dressed.

"Mother! Mother! It’s snowing!" Little Qingyu’s excited voice echoed in the courtyard, surely he’d run into the snow with an oiled paper umbrella by now.

In Mao County, pure snow in winter isn’t frequently seen, especially since the whole Great Tang was in a warm period. It was mostly sleet, turning to water upon contact with the ground.

If it were the Little Ice Age of Great Ming, perhaps snow could be seen every day in winter. Of course, many more people would likely starve or freeze to death too.

"Come quickly, little Qingyu, fetch your Aunt Yixun, and let’s have breakfast together."

"Oh, alright!" Little Qingyu was still obedient, having already studied Tang noblewomen’s etiquette for a while.

Madam Cui Ying, the tutor, was constantly reminding her to be not only affectionate but also respectful to her mother, refraining from retorting or defying, to show filial piety.

Indeed, the respect Tang people had for their parents and elders was incomparable to modern society.

Governing with filial piety, filial piety above all.

When the group arrived at the flower hall where breakfast was set, the hungover Ma Zhou, Dugu Di, and others also came.

Whoever drank so much yesterday, apart from Xiao Chong, spent the night at the Lin Mansion.

After exchanging greetings, everyone quietly began eating breakfast.

Hua Nong, who now managed the kitchen, personally prepared most of the food for the master.

Ma Zhou took a sip of the rich, fragrant soup and praised, "Sister Le’an, your family’s kitchen is quite skillful! I’ve lived to see my thirties, yet it’s only here I’ve tasted real delicacies! I heard the cook at Zifang Mansion was trained by you too, is that right?"

Lin Wanwan smiled, "Yes. If Brother Prince Bin is interested, I’ll send some over to Chang’an once I’ve trained them."

"Good, good, that’s great," Ma Zhou naturally agreed enthusiastically - how could a foodie refuse a master chef!