Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 83: Alcohol-induced madness
Shen Tuzhuo argued with him: "If you don't have feelings for her, why are you giving me such stupid ideas for no reason?"

It wasn't that he truly believed Zhou Wencong and Luohua were interested, but he knew full well that Tan Huaike had no desire to be a princess, and had never considered marrying into a foreign alliance to rise to prominence. But to avenge her father and brother, she might be willing to use herself as bait to lure out the man behind the scheme. However, the dangers and potential complications involved were so numerous that Shentu Zhuo didn't even dare to contemplate them.

Zhou Wencong was so angry at the inexplicable slander that he felt dizzy and turned away, not wanting to bother with this drunkard anymore. He really didn't know what was wrong with this old friend. He used to have a very smart mind, but this time he didn't help him with any ideas. At the mention of that lady, he became like a lost soul and became stubborn, refusing to listen to a single word.

Shen Tu Zhuo was still indignant. "She was plotted against by the Tan family and married to my brother, becoming a widow. Now she's being plotted against by you too, taking risks in vain, pretending to be a princess and marrying you... Why? I just wanted to protect her, but you're all against me! All against me!"

The hand rubbing his forehead suddenly stopped, and Zhou Wencong looked at him in astonishment: "You, you won't do that to her..."

"..." After venting their anger together, Shen Tu Zhuo seemed to sober up a little. Facing Zhou Wencong's incredulous gaze, he didn't avoid it. Instead, he looked directly at his old friend and his own heart.

"You're crazy, she's your sister-in-law!"

"So what if she's my sister-in-law?" Shen Tu Zhuo snorted coldly, "Song Shu, I'm not as strict and respectful as you. Secular ethics and prejudices are bullshit to me."

"But what can possibly happen between you, uncle and sister-in-law?"

"Ridiculous." Shentu Zhuo said disdainfully, "When Aisha wanted to adopt her as her adopted sister, did she ever care that she was my Shentu family's widowed sister-in-law? When you just said you wanted to use her to break up the marriage, did you ever care that she was my sister-in-law? How come when I sincerely asked for a partner, you remembered that she was my sister-in-law? Besides, my brother passed away, and she is in danger and alone. It is only right that I take care of her for the rest of her life."

"Hearing what Zhongqi said, I guess you and that lady are in love with each other?"

"I...she..." Shen Tuzhuo suddenly froze, and said weakly, "She hasn't expressed her feelings to me yet."

"Oh, so it's unrequited love." Zhou Wencong couldn't help but roll his eyes. "So you're forbidding this and that, and you're going to take care of her for the rest of her life, but you're just figuring it out in secret and never asked her at all?"

"I...you..."

"Zhongqi, although I'm not as... uh... disrespectful of etiquette as you, I'm not that pedantic either. Your sister-in-law is a widow at such a young age, it's only right that your Shentu family should release her and let her live her own carefree life. She hasn't agreed to your feelings, so why must she be killed by her brother?"

"Alright, alright, stop talking!" Shen Tu Zhuo was humiliated and furious. "Aren't we talking about a marriage alliance? Let's first resolve the issue between you and Princess Mo He! If that doesn't work, just ask Mo He to send another princess. It doesn't matter if she's from a legitimate royal family, as long as she has the title."

"Mohe hasn't taken any action yet. I'm afraid they're too busy to take care of themselves. It's been several months. If they really wanted to make amends, they would have sent a new princess long ago. There wouldn't be any need for Aisha to come here and claim her as their sister."

"In short, you must not act on your own in this matter or fall into the trap of that Great Prince Mohe," Shen Tuzhuo warned. "Don't try to harm my sister-in-law again!"

"Eh? I suddenly remembered something."

"What's the matter?"

The effects of the alcohol wore off, and the night wind made people shiver. Zhou Wencong gathered his cloak and walked back. "Shen Tuheng died in battle, and she became a widow. Princess Mo He died, and I also became a widower. Speaking of which, she and I got along quite well."

Shen Tu Zhuo: "...What kind of fate is this? The fate of being a lonely star from heaven?"
-
After changing his clothes, Tan Huaike returned to the banquet while thinking about Xu Guanbai's words.

At that time, the Chi County Magistrate was still feigning a leisurely attitude, awaiting these distinguished guests, and even though he was being treated coldly, he hadn't complained at all. Meanwhile, Aisha was still drunk, slumped over the table, and a servant had already covered him with a cloak. A short while later, Zhou Wencong and Shen Tuzhuo also returned. However, for some reason, Shen Tuzhuo looked gloomy, and he seemed to be quite resentful of the Third Prince.

After everyone gathered and exchanged a few pleasantries, County Magistrate Chi tactfully dismissed the banquet and sent for them to be properly accommodated. The Third Prince no longer needed to stay at the inn. County Magistrate Chi had specially prepared an exquisite and secluded courtyard not far from the County Magistrate's Mansion and assigned elite soldiers to guard it, so that he could rest in peace.

Xu Guanbai and Tan Huaike were helped onto the carriage, followed by maids and servants, and the carriage creaked back to the Shentu Mansion. Shentu Zhuo rode along on horseback, glancing at a corner of the carriage curtain that had been lifted by the wind. His face flushed and paled, and he was confused.

As for Aisha, he woke up after the banquet and politely declined the arrangements made by Chi Junshi. He simply had a servant escort him to the door, and then had Badan carry him to another carriage. However, after leaving the Junshi Mansion, the two carriages did not drive to the courtyard he had purchased in the city, but followed the previous one all the way to the vicinity of Shentu Mansion.

The women's carriage first stopped at the main gate of Shentu Mansion.

Xu Guanbai got out of the carriage with the help of a maid and asked, "Why doesn't the lady get out?"

Tan Huaike smiled and said, "The door between the main house and the side yard is locked. I can't go back to my own yard if I go in here. It's freezing cold, so Guan Bai Niangzi should go in first. I can ask the coachman to take me to the small door in the side yard later."

Xu Guanbai nodded and turned to look at Shentu Zhuo.

The latter said nothing, as if he was going to escort her to the side yard.

Seeing their expressions, Xu Guanbai understood something. He lowered his eyes and said no more, then walked into the gate by himself.

Unexpectedly, when the carriage reached the side yard, there was already another carriage parked there.

Aisha, who seemed unconscious, was standing by the small door without any sign of drunkenness, patiently waiting for Tan Huaike.

Pei'er lent a hand, and Tan Huaike stepped out of the car. He didn't seem surprised: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is indeed pretending to be drunk."

Shentu Zhuo also dismounted and stood before Tan Huaike, saying unhappily, "Wandering in front of someone's bride's door late at night is something only thieves and robbers would do in our Daxuan."

"I just wanted to apologize to Madam Chao for my disrespect today and have a few words with her," Aisha mocked him. "Isn't Master Zhuo watching over you? Are you afraid I'll kidnap her and run away?"

"You also know that you are being rude? In public..."

"Uncle, I also have something to ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Tan Huaike said.

Shentu Zhuo snorted coldly and moved away a little, but did not go far. He could still hear everything they said clearly.

Aisha didn't mind. She bowed her head, placed her right hand on her chest, and performed a profound ceremony towards Tan Huaike. "I was rude in publicly proposing to take you in as my adopted sister. I've come here to apologize."

Tan Huaike responded with a gesture of respect: "How dare I, a mere merchant girl, marry the eldest prince and become his sister?"

"You are wise and insightful, and have helped me so much. I truly want to accept you as my sister," Aisha said. "Besides, this is the last wish of my sister Alan, my daughter-in-law. How could I fail to live up to your promise?"

"Princess?"
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　Next chapter: What should I do if you become a princess?
　　(End of this chapter)