60 - Crazy! Criticizing the Prime Minister for Being a Servant

### Chapter 60: The Secret Realm Jinghu blushed upon hearing the words. Jinghu stood tall and handsome, his youthful face radiating vigor and a composed demeanor forged over years. His dark and delicate eyebrows, high and narrow nose bridge, indeed made him a rare, striking young man. If Ning Songwu were placed next to him, they would appear as a perfectly matched couple, destined by heaven. Cheng Yunhuan maintained her habitual stern expression and found a place to sit. Jiang Yue held Jiang Mang close and sat beside Cheng Yunhuan, placing Jiang Mang on his lap. Jiang Mang appeared to be just a five or six-year-old girl, but she had lived many years. She was extraordinarily gifted, learning anything quickly and being exceptionally intelligent. However, due to an unspeakable incident, her body remained at the age of six, and so did her intelligence. Jiang Yue rarely took Jiang Mang out of Wanlang Pavilion. He cherished Jiang Mang as his own daughter. Even for the short distance from Wanlang Pavilion to Rongku Pavilion, he had wrapped her up like a little round zongzi. Helan Mianmian, who was idly standing by, walked over with a smile and took Jiang Mang from Jiang Yue's hands. Jiang Mang was extremely adorable, like a little white rabbit, her big eyes framed by long lashes smiling brightly. She called out crisply, "Sister Helan Mianmian." Helan Mianmian laughed, "Yes, little Jiang Mang has finally remembered my name. How about I take you to meet Sister Cen Ran and Sister Ning Songwu? Hmm... let me count... one, two, three... nine people. I need to get nine pairs of chopsticks. My goodness, there's so many people in Rongku Pavilion today... I need to ask Sister Cen Ran to make more dumplings..." Jiang Yue replied gently, "Take good care of her, and don't let the kitchen smoke burn her." "Got it, Jiang Yue, she won't get hurt." Helan Mianmian carried Jiang Mang to the kitchen, observing the bustling scene inside. She smiled, "Sister Cen Ran, look at me..." "Get out! Didn't I tell you to stay out?" Cen Ran didn't even have time to lift her head, focused on the dishes in her hands. Seeing Ning Songwu, Jiang Mang's eyes lit up. She wiggled free from Helan Mianmian's arms, running over to Ning Songwu with her short legs. She hugged Ning Songwu's leg tightly, "Sister Ning Songwu..." Ning Songwu quickly put down her work and picked up Jiang Mang. "Why is Jiang Mang here? Did Jiang Yue come?" "Yes, Master Cheng Yunhuan and Jinghu are also here." Helan Mianmian glanced at Ning Songwu, emphasizing Jinghu's name deliberately. Ning Songwu's face darkened slightly. Cen Ran also came over, pinching Jiang Mang's soft cheeks with a smile, "Jiang Mang, what would you like to eat?" Jiang Mang's innocent voice was filled with laughter, "Sister Cen Ran, I don't want to eat anything." Helan Mianmian joined in, resting her head on Cen Ran's shoulder, her big eyes sparkling. "Sister Cen Ran, I want to eat something." Cen Ran laughed and pushed Helan Mianmian away. "Go away." But then she turned and stuffed a piece of meat into Helan Mianmian's mouth. Ning Songwu looked at Helan Mianmian disdainfully and clicked her tongue. She had endured these sparkles between her senior sister and Helan Mianmian for so many years, almost to the point of blinding her. "Quick, take the child outside. We're about to eat. We still need to light lanterns and set off firecrackers tonight." Cen Ran pulled Jiang Mang from Ning Songwu's arms and handed her back to Helan Mianmian, pushing her outside. Night had already fallen, and Rongku Pavilion was illuminated cheerfully by the red lanterns hanging everywhere, resembling a typical New Year celebration. The dishes were gradually brought to the table, and everyone started getting busy, setting the table and chairs, looking nothing like the usual serene and otherworldly cultivators. Only Cheng Yunhuan, Jiang Yue, and Ran Fanyin remained seated like esteemed guests, as none dared to command them. Jiang Yue sipped tea slowly, holding the cup with his left hand, which was missing a pinky finger—a scar from his journey to the East Sea. Jinghu, helping to set the tableware, silently followed Ning Songwu. Taking a moment, he tried to strike up a conversation, "Junior Sister Ning Songwu." Ning Songwu glanced at Jinghu, responding politely, "Senior Brother Jinghu, is there something you need?" "N-no... nothing..." For some reason, the tall and upright Jinghu blushed, scratching his head. Ning Songwu did not initiate further conversation and let him continue to follow her. "Junior Sister Ning Songwu, you’ll be seventeen soon. Is there anything you want?" Jinghu suddenly asked. "Thank you, Senior Brother, but I don't want anything." Ning Songwu remained polite yet distant. "Oh..." Jinghu's face reddened even more. Ran Fanyin observed the two, who were always "sticking" together, for a long while before withdrawing her gaze and sipping her tea slowly. Soon, the table was laden with all sorts of dishes—flying, running, swimming, you name it—and many, many dumplings. Cen Ran prided herself, "These dumplings have coins inside. Who eats them will be very fortunate this year." Jiang Yue asked with interest, "How many dumplings have coins?" Cen Ran pondered, "About thirty." "Isn't that too much luck for everyone? How uninteresting! Why not make it that whoever eats a coin has to drink three cups of wine to share the luck around!" Luo Shen suggested with a mischievous smile. Ran Fanyin calmly inquired, "Did you clean the coins before putting them in?" Ning Songwu chuckled, "Master, rest assured, they are clean and safe to eat." Luo Shen grabbed his chopsticks eagerly, "Let's see who has the best luck! I'll go first!" Luo Shen picked a dumpling and popped it into his mouth. After one chew, he yelped, "Ouch!" "So lucky you are! Fill up three cups of wine for him!" Cen Ran teased. Luo Shen spat out the coin, "Almost made me bleed. I didn't expect to be the first caught by my own idea. Come on, I'm not afraid of three cups of wine!" "Brother, try not to embarrass yourself; don’t get drunk and start causing trouble!" Helan Mianmian scoffed. Ran Fanyin quietly picked a dumpling and chewed slowly. It seemed no one noticed her eating. After two chews, Ran Fanyin froze slightly. She glanced at the others and discreetly turned away. Moments later, she returned nonchalantly. Perhaps others didn’t notice, but Ning Songwu’s eyes had been on Ran Fanyin the entire time, and she didn’t miss even the slightest movement. She suddenly spoke, "Master, what are you doing?" Ran Fanyin responded calmly, "Nothing." "Oh? Then what's that in your hand?" "Ha, Ran Fanyin, if you found a coin, you should show it. Your disciple already drank three cups; you can't skip out." Jiang Yue’s smile revealed the truth. "Ahem... Of course..." Ran Fanyin's neck turned red, and she had no choice but to drink three cups. Her cheeks flushed afterward. "Come on, let’s keep eating! Don’t skip the dumplings just to avoid drinking—I've got my eyes on you. If my master drinks, you can't get away either!" Luo Shen, energized by the three cups, raised his voice. Cen Ran held little Jiang Mang in her arms, feeding her food. Helan Mianmian, feeling neglected, thought to herself: Everybody calls her Sister Cen Ran, so am I less favored because I’m older? So she leaned closer to Cen Ran, chatting nonsense. Though Cheng Yunhuan remained quiet, she didn’t hesitate to drink a few shots whenever she found a coin in her dumplings. Soon, Jiang Yue, Jinghu, and Luo Shen also drank quite a bit. Ning Songwu and Cen Ran, busy caring for little Jiang Mang, ate only a few dumplings themselves. Ran Fanyin was much more unfortunate, eating honestly yet finding many coins by sheer luck. Luo Shen, ever the troublemaker, pointed to the growing pile of coins in front of Ran Fanyin, "Master! You should drink these owed cups first." Ran Fanyin, silent, reached for the wine pot. But Ning Songwu intercepted it. Ning Songwu shook the pot slightly, "Master, don’t drink anymore. I’ll drink these for you." Helan Mianmian snickered in the corner, ready to witness a show. Ning Songwu didn't have a good tolerance for alcohol. Lucky not to have found any coins herself, now she was inviting trouble. Feeling for her master, she didn't measure her own capacity. The banquet concluded with Ning Songwu passing out drunkenly after six cups. "Serves her right for being reckless, ha! Let her show off." Helan Mianmian, also a bit tipsy, rested on Cen Ran's shoulder, her breath sweet with wine. "Oh, quit laughing. Soon it will be midnight, and we still need to set off firecrackers. I'll go make some hangover soup for Ning Songwu in the kitchen. Take care of Jiang Mang. Ugh, you smell like booze; I’ll make some for you too." Cen Ran gently pushed Helan Mianmian’s head away, smiling wryly. The men lingered at the table, engrossed in their drinking. Helan Mianmian, following Cen Ran's instructions, tried to feed Jiang Mang, but in her eyes, she saw Jiang Mang with three heads, struggling to get a spoonful of food in. As for Ning Songwu, she had to be supported back by Ran Fanyin. Ning Songwu wasn’t completely unconscious, just dazed, barely keeping her eyes open, leaning softly against Ran Fanyin. Ran Fanyin was slightly taller than Ning Songwu, so supporting her came naturally. After delivering Ning Songwu to her sleeping quarters, Ran Fanyin struggled to free a hand to close the door. Suddenly, Ning Songwu seemed to awaken, turning quickly and holding Ran Fanyin tightly. Ran Fanyin's heart fluttered, feeling Ning Songwu's hot, alcohol-tinged breath on her ear, instantly turning her sensitive ears a deep red. She looked at Ning Songwu, who still had her eyes half-closed. "Ning Songwu? Are you very drunk?" Ran Fanyin asked softly. Ning Songwu slightly pulled back her head, struggling to focus on Ran Fanyin's eyes, and earnestly called out, "…Master." "Yes." Ran Fanyin lifted a hand to help tuck Ning Songwu's stray hair behind her ear. The cool touch of Ran Fanyin's fingers on Ning Songwu's burning cheek felt incredibly soothing, causing her eyes to narrow further in comfort. "Let go of me and lie down on the bed." Ran Fanyin softened her voice. Ning Songwu rubbed her cheek against Ran Fanyin's, unwilling to part from the cool and comfortable sensation. The pleasant plum fragrance emanating from Ran Fanyin enveloped her nose, making her hug Ran Fanyin even tighter. Ran Fanyin thought Ning Songwu was just drunk and let her indulge in her drunken madness while she tried to support her to the bed. As soon as Ran Fanyin freed her left hand, Ning Songwu quickly grabbed it. Her gaze seemed to ignite, as if she wanted to melt the icy woman in front of her into her embrace. She held Ran Fanyin's hand up to her face, looking at the dark red scar revealed beneath the sleeve, and pressed her lips against it. Ran Fanyin let out a soft moan. The sudden, burning, and moist sensation on her wrist made her hair stand on end. She tried to pull her hand back but realized Ning Songwu was using all her strength, gripping her wrist tightly and wantonly licking and biting the scar. Ran Fanyin herself had drunk a bit of alcohol. Normally, she would have coldly knocked the misbehaving disciple away. But now, her face was flushed, and she weakly struggled in Ning Songwu's arms. "Ning Songwu!" Ran Fanyin reprimanded in a low voice. Ning Songwu released Ran Fanyin's wrist, but her lips moved to Ran Fanyin's slender, fair neck, as if she wanted to merge Ran Fanyin into her very bones. Yes, she was drunk, so she could use this as an excuse to get closer to her master. She had loved her master for seven years. Ran Fanyin grasped Ning Songwu's shoulders and tried to push her away, but she feared hurting Ning Songwu, so she didn't use any true energy. Without using true energy, she couldn't break free from the now incredibly strong Ning Songwu. Ning Songwu frantically kissed Ran Fanyin's neck, ears, and cheeks. Her thick alcoholic breath seemed to push the atmosphere to a fevered pitch, unbearably ambiguous. Ning Songwu cupped Ran Fanyin's perfect chin, her burning gaze like she wanted to devour her. This time, she aimed for Ran Fanyin's lips and kissed deeply. It felt like going back seven years. Ran Fanyin had a fleeting sense of déjà vu. The same person, the same melting warmth. But now, this child had grown up. Ning Songwu didn't just give the dragonfly kisses from seven years ago. She held Ran Fanyin's lips firmly, sucking and kissing them intensely, letting out a comfortable moan from her throat. Ran Fanyin was momentarily stunned. Coupled with the influence of alcohol, she didn't immediately push away Ning Songwu's advances. Inside the room, the beautiful young girl held the frosty woman in white tightly, pressing her against the door. The sound of their lips intertwined in friction filled the air, making hearts race. Suddenly, Jinghu's voice came from outside: "Ning Songwu? Master Ran Fanyin?" Ran Fanyin woke up from a dream, pushing Ning Songwu away harshly, her eyes filled with shock. What had she just done with her disciple? Jinghu knocked on the door again, "Ning Songwu? Have you retired for the night?" Ning Songwu, stumbling back a few steps, grabbed onto the table to balance herself. Her face was red from both alcohol and emotion, her eyes burning red. Ran Fanyin glanced at her disheveled clothes that Ning Songwu had wrinkled, cleared her throat, and called out, "Ning Songwu... has gone to bed. You can leave now." "Yes, Master Ran Fanyin." Jinghu was puzzled. Why was Master Ran Fanyin still inside if Ning Songwu had gone to bed? Nevertheless, he concluded he had no business here anymore and decided to head back to the main hall. Ning Songwu took an unsteady step forward, making Ran Fanyin instinctively retreat. Ning Songwu took another step, and Ran Fanyin backed away again. After her outburst, Ning Songwu started feeling regret. She must have scared her master. Ran Fanyin stayed silent for a long time, but her mind was in chaos. Ning Songwu was just drunk. Just drunk. Yes, just drunk. Finally, Ning Songwu spoke with difficulty, her voice dropping to a whisper, "Master... please don't hate me." "I won't hate you." Ran Fanyin straightened her clothes, opened the door quietly, and just before stepping out, she glanced back and said softly, "But... don't come near me again." "Yes, Master." Ning Songwu sniffled, wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye.