Chapter 355: Chapter 356: Scheming

Ancient Wen Heng followed the crowd, toasting his superior. He was careful, though. Each time, he used his robes as cover to pour the wine into a sponge he had prepared beforehand.

"Mr. Gu." Ning Yuchen came up to Ancient Wen Heng, dragging He Nan along and holding a wine cup. "We may have passed the exams in the same year, Mr. Gu, but you’re soaring through the ranks. You’ll have to look out for the rest of us in the future."

He Nan said, "Lord Ning is drunk. Why don’t I take you aside to sober up?"

"I’m not drunk! Don’t you think I’m right?" Ning Yuchen retorted. "In less than a year, Mr. Gu has already been promoted three ranks. It’s an unprecedented feat! Who knows, he might soon be appointed Prime Minister. By then, he’ll be completely out of our league."

Ancient Wen Heng noticed several other colleagues glancing over frequently. ’He knows what he’s doing,’ he thought. ’He’s just pretending to be drunk so he can come here and make a scene.’

"Lord Ning, watch your words," Ancient Wen Heng said coolly. "My current post was bestowed by the Holy Emperor. Do not use wine as an excuse to spout such nonsense."

’If he wants to play the drunken fool and stir up suspicion against me, why should I help him save face?’

Called out for pretending to be drunk, Ning Yuchen’s face suddenly flushed red. "Mr. Gu, what did I just say? If I’ve offended you, please forgive me."

As he spoke, he staggered, spilling the entire cup of wine all over Ancient Wen Heng’s chest.

"Oh, I’m so sorry," Ning Yuchen said, raising his hands and fumbling to wipe the wine off, but Ancient Wen Heng sidestepped him.

"It’s soaked. It’s all my fault, I’m so clumsy." Ning Yuchen stumbled forward, about to touch Ancient Wen Heng again, but He Nan stepped in and stopped him.

"Don’t go making things worse." He Nan looked at the front of Ancient Wen Heng’s robes, which were completely soaked. He cursed inwardly, ’Ning Yuchen is such a handful.’

Ancient Wen Heng took a handkerchief from his robes and dabbed at the stain. "It’s nothing. It will dry later."

"Sir," a servant stepped forward. "We have spare clothes in the mansion. Allow me to guide you somewhere to get changed."

"Yes, you should get that taken care of, or you’ll catch a chill," Ning Yuchen chimed in.

Ancient Wen Heng walked over and grabbed Ning Yuchen. "You stink of wine. Best not to cause any more trouble here. Come outside with me and sober up."

"If the gentleman needs to sober up, we have a room specifically for that," the servant said, beckoning over a maid. "Take this gentleman to a side courtyard to rest."

But Ancient Wen Heng raised a hand to stop him. "There’s no need for all that trouble. We’ll just take a walk around, and he’ll sober up soon enough."

Ning Yuchen tried to pull away, but Ancient Wen Heng tightened his grip. "You made this mess. Can’t you at least walk with me?"

He Nan offered, "Wenheng, should I come with you?"

But Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "A man must take responsibility for his actions. I trust Lord Ning has at least that much integrity!"

Having been put on the spot, Ning Yuchen knew he couldn’t get out of it. He had no choice but to let Ancient Wen Heng lead him out of the main hall.

They followed the servant through several winding corridors. Ancient Wen Heng said nothing, simply keeping a firm grip on Ning Yuchen.

"Mr. Gu, I’ve already come with you. You don’t have to hold on so tight. It’s not like I’m going to run away," Ning Yuchen joked, trying to be witty.

Ancient Wen Heng replied, "I’m just worried you can’t handle your drink. If you stumble again and knock your teeth out, it could affect your career."

Ning Yuchen was speechless. ’You’re the one who’s going to knock their teeth out!’

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The servant pointed to a side room ahead. "There are spare clothes inside. Please, Sir, go on in."

Ancient Wen Heng started to lead Ning Yuchen inside, but the servant put out a hand to stop them. "Why don’t I wait here with this gentleman? It might be... inconvenient for him to go in right now."

Ancient Wen Heng said, "We’re both men. What could be inconvenient? Besides, it’s only my outer robe that’s a bit wet. If you’re worried, you can come in with us."

The servant was speechless.

Ancient Wen Heng didn’t give him time to react. Using his strength, he pulled Ning Yuchen straight into the inner room.

The moment he stepped inside, however, he held his breath. Under the cover of his robes, he pressed the wine-soaked sponge to his nose and mouth.

"We’re inside now. Can you let go of me?" Ning Yuchen said again, seeing that they were the only two in the room.

Ancient Wen Heng saw that the incense in the burner had nearly burned to its end. Only then did he release his grip.

"There’s no reason for two grown men to be in here together," Ning Yuchen said, turning to leave. "I’ll just wait for you out—"

Ancient Wen Heng watched as Ning Yuchen’s body went limp and collapsed. He didn’t even bother to catch him.

He walked a lap around the room. Other than a large canopy bed, all the windows were nailed shut. ’No wonder it was so dim in here,’ he thought.

He went to the door and peered through the crack. The servant who was supposed to be waiting outside was gone.

Ancient Wen Heng sneered. He walked over, hoisted Ning Yuchen up, and tossed him onto the only bed. Then he dusted off his hands, pulled the door open, and headed straight back.

"Where’s Lord Ning?" He Nan asked curiously, seeing Ancient Wen Heng return alone and still in his damp official robes.

"He’s completely drunk. We’d just gotten there when he collapsed on the floor, dead to the world. I had to leave him in that room. I was going to find that servant to help get him home, but strangely, I couldn’t find the man anywhere."

Ancient Wen Heng beckoned to a nearby maid who was pouring wine. "The official who left with me earlier is drunk. He’s lying in the room you use for changing. Have the steward go and take care of it."

The maid quickly assented and hurried off to find the steward.

After all the commotion, the banquet was drawing to a close. Ancient Wen Heng followed the other guests in bidding farewell to the hosts and left directly in the He Family’s carriage.

Meanwhile, chaos had erupted in the rear courtyard of the Huang family estate.

Xiao Shi Yu had come out with a large retinue of maids and matrons to search for her younger half-sister, and the great commotion she was making had attracted the curiosity of the other household branches.

"What is the meaning of this commotion?" Gold demanded, his face dark with anger. "I am hosting a banquet in this mansion today. How can a woman like you come charging over here with all these people?"

’Thankfully, most of the officials have already left. The only one remaining is a drunkard. Otherwise, this would have been a complete farce.’

"My Lord, I am simply worried about my younger sister. She came to the mansion today to see me about a matter. I was walking with her in the rear courtyard while we talked, but I had to step away for a moment. When I returned, she was gone.

This estate has so many courtyards; I’m afraid she may have gotten lost."

"Nonsense! You had a guest and didn’t even have a maid attend to her?" Huang Zhengyong stepped forward to scold his daughter-in-law. "There are so many important officials visiting the mansion today. Could you bear the consequences if she had offended one of them?

Don’t just stand there gawking. Send people to search the area immediately. If something has happened, it is the Huang Mansion that will lose face!"

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