The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 471 - 439: Yuanbao’s Terrible Alcohol Tolerance (Part 2)
In the evening, Song Wei finished the Lower Court session, and, as expected, Zhao Xi had arranged for Eunuch Sanbao to receive him.
Song Wei intended to return home and change out of his official uniform, but, fearing it might delay Zhao Xi, he opted to get on the carriage directly and arrive at the Moonlight Pavilion.
Zhao Xi and Song Yuanbao were already waiting inside.
When Song Wei entered the elegant room, the two were whispering about something.
Hearing the stir, Zhao Xi looked up, smiled, and greeted him, then gestured to the seat beside him, "Minister Song, please sit."
Song Wei swept aside his robes and sat down.
Zhao Xi immediately instructed Eunuch Sanbao to order the dishes and specifically called for a good pot of wine.
Song Wei asked him, "After overturning the case, have you gone to see the Emperor?"
Zhao Xi nodded, "I have."
Song Wei was concerned that Emperor Guangxi might take his anger out on him, so he asked, "What did the Emperor say?"
Zhao Xi recalled his father’s reaction before leaving the palace, shook his head, "Nothing special, just told me to focus on my studies from now on."
At fifteen, besides studying, certain affairs of the various government offices could completely be handed to the Eldest Prince for early training.
Song Wei couldn’t grasp the Emperor’s thoughts on appointing an heir, nor did he ask Zhao Xi. Instead, he advised Zhao Xi in an adult tone, "The Emperor is busy managing royal duties, inevitably missing some things. If he overturns your case, it means he holds you in his heart. Do not let this distance you from the Emperor, for after all, he is your biological father."
Zhao Xi usually appeared indifferent, but, in fact, valued family the most. This assassination plot, with someone from the Xue Family already having lost their life for it, yet his father still harbored personal feelings to protect his beloved, frustrated him greatly and also led to an unavoidable resentment towards his biological father.
Now, hearing Song Wei’s words, Zhao Xi fell silent. After a while, he looked at Song Wei with gratitude in his eyes, "Thank you for the guidance, Minister Song. I have learned today."
Song Wei showed a look of relief.
Though the Eldest Prince was his peer and cousin, after all, he was only fifteen. In Song Wei’s view, he was just like Yuanbao, still a child.
Song Wei had always been very patient with children.
Song Yuanbao proudly raised an eyebrow at Zhao Xi, "What did I say before, just nod if you want to seek justice for yourself, and there is nothing that can’t be done. See, not only your case was overturned, but all those who wanted to harm you were dragged down as well. Wasn’t this handled beautifully?"
Zhao Xi glanced at him, "However beautiful, the credit goes to Minister Song."
Song Yuanbao was flustered, "I did contribute, didn’t I? To overturn your case, I almost ran my legs off those few days, gathering information everywhere for you. We live in the same palace, don’t tell me you didn’t notice."
Seeing his eagerness for recognition, Zhao Xi smiled, "Then I’ll credit you with a merit."
Song Yuanbao widened his eyes, "Is that all?"
"What more do you expect?"
"Well... how can there be no reward for merit?"
Zhao Xi understood, "Just say what you want, I won’t deceive you in front of your father."
Song Yuanbao seized the opportunity, "I want to play polo."
Zhao Xi said, "You don’t even know how, why play polo?"
Song Yuanbao righteously replied, "Not knowing isn’t a crime, if His Highness doesn’t teach me, then it’s your fault."
"So you want me to teach you to play polo?"
Song Yuanbao said, "Not teaching is fine too, just give me a three-day leave."
He really wanted to go home, missed Jinbao, missed sleeping in, basically missed everything at home.
Zhao Xi looked over, "In a few days, there will be a match at the polo field. I’ll take you to watch first. If you’re really interested, I’ll teach you then."
Song Yuanbao eagerly looked at his father, "Dad, did you hear clearly? His Highness’s word is as good as gold; he can’t go back on what he said today."
Song Wei was rather helpless about this, "It’s okay to play occasionally, but don’t let it interfere with His Highness’s studies."
Song Yuanbao didn’t care, "Staying in the palace all day makes one sick with boredom, where’s the mind to study? I’m just helping His Highness to relax a bit."
In his peripheral vision, he stealthily glanced at Zhao Xi, and seeing he wasn’t angry, Song Yuanbao continued, "His Highness is already fifteen years old and should get in touch with other things. There are so many books; anyway, they can’t be finished. Staring at books every day, sooner or later, you’ll turn into a bookworm."
Song Wei asked him, "Where did you learn such nonsense?"
"It’s the truth."
Song Wei found himself at a loss with him and could only apologize to Zhao Xi, "Yuanbao has a lively character and often speaks without moderation. I hope His Highness can help manage him well in the future."
Zhao Xi laughed, "Indeed, he should be managed."
"Hey, hey, hey!" Song Yuanbao protested for himself, "I just want to play some polo. If His Highness is unwilling to teach me, I can find someone else. Is that necessary?"
As they spoke, the waiter at the tavern gradually brought out the dishes and wine for the three of them.
To show his gratitude, Zhao Xi personally filled Song Wei’s cup, then asked Song Yuanbao, "Can you handle the drink?"
Song Yuanbao had a very poor capacity for alcohol. Being called out, he felt a bit guilty but didn’t want to admit defeat, "If you both can drink, so can I."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Xi had already filled his cup to the brim.
Song Yuanbao looked at the cup in front of him and swallowed nervously.
Song Wei said, "This isn’t a grand banquet. Don’t force yourself if you can’t drink. You know His Highness well. He won’t hold it against you."
"Who said I can’t drink?" Song Yuanbao muttered, raising his cup and downing it all in one go, then shook his cup to show off his drinking prowess.
The wine went down smoothly, not hurting his throat. Song Yuanbao didn’t feel uncomfortable, so he reached for the wine pot again to pour another.
Zhao Xi reminded him, "The First Fragrance at Moonlight Pavilion is sweet and mellow, with a strong aftereffect. You’ve had one cup already. If you don’t want to make a fool of yourself later, drink less."
When in the palace, Zhao Xi never let him drink. Song Yuanbao only got to taste a little when he went home for festivals. The wine there wasn’t as good as here, so he wanted to seize the rare opportunity to test his drinking ability. Ignoring Zhao Xi’s warning, he filled his second cup to the brim again.
Seeing this, Song Wei chimed in, "You don’t have a strong capacity for alcohol. Don’t drink on an empty stomach; have some food first."
Saying this, he placed some of Song Yuanbao’s favorite dishes into his small bowl.
Obediently, Song Yuanbao picked up his chopsticks, eating as he drank.
The wine did not seem to have any immediate effect when first consumed. But after two cups, his head started spinning, and the plates in front of him seemed to appear in doubles.
He rubbed his eyes, trying hard to stay alert.
Zhao Xi and Song Wei were engrossed in conversation, not noticing his small movements.
When Zhao Xi finally glanced around, the person beside him was already slumped on the table, fast asleep.
Zhao Xi had never seen Song Yuanbao drink before and was surprised to discover how weak his capacity was.
Song Wei, not wanting to trouble Zhao Xi, said, "Since he’s drunk, why don’t I take him back to sober up? I can bring him to the palace tomorrow. What does His Highness think?"
"Moonlight Pavilion is close to the Imperial City, so let him return to the palace," Zhao Xi said as he reached out to support Song Yuanbao and looked at Song Wei. "When I was at the Divine Soldier Bureau earlier, I heard they said Minister Song has been very busy lately. If you still have work, feel free to return and handle it. I will have someone take care of him."
"Then I’ll entrust him to Your Highness," Song Wei said.
Song Wei lent a hand, helping to place Song Yuanbao onto the carriage.
Song Yuanbao was sleeping soundly, but when he was tossed onto the carriage seat, his head knocked into something. He forced his eyes open but couldn’t see clearly that the person next to him was Zhao Xi. "Hey," he said, "Who are you?"
Zhao Xi glanced at him calmly, "Knowing your weak capacity, why do you still pretend? When will you stop being so stubborn?"
Before he could finish speaking, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and Song Yuanbao’s drunken voice said, "Buddy, make way."
Zhao Xi removed his hand and asked, "What’s the matter?"
"I...I want to...throw up."
Judging by his appearance, he clearly couldn’t hold it in any longer.
Zhao Xi hurriedly asked Eunuch Sanbao to bring in a basin.
There were indeed basins available on the street, but they were far away and hard to find quickly.
Eunuch Sanbao eventually found a chipped clay pot by the roadside and handed it in.
Zhao Xi pushed the clay pot in front of him, gesturing, "If you need to throw up, do it in there."
Song Yuanbao glanced at it, "This is too, too...ugh..."
He wanted to say the opening was too small but hadn’t finished speaking before he started throwing up, creating a mess all over the place.
Standing outside, even Eunuch Sanbao felt queasy and almost retched, but he quickly suppressed the feeling, remembering the prince. "Your Highness, I’ll prepare another carriage for you immediately."
Zhao Xi furrowed his brows and looked at Song Yuanbao beside him, "Prepare some water first."
Eunuch Sanbao had no choice but to buy a large bowl of tea from a nearby stall and bring it over.
Zhao Xi received it and handed it to Song Yuanbao.
Song Yuanbao held it in his hands and was about to drink when he heard a calm voice beside him, "Rinse your mouth."
He still hadn’t realized it was Zhao Xi, but obediently rinsed his mouth with the tea.
Zhao Xi handed the bowl out, then instructed Eunuch Sanbao to prepare a new carriage.
