Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 146 Drunk
His breathing was heavy, and he was exceptionally strong; his firm arms gripped Song Yi's back so tightly it hurt.

She was somewhat surprised to hear Jiang Lanye say these things, and it was rare to hear his tone unsteady, with a hint of obsession.

"Song Yi, you know what kind of person I am, so in this life, no matter when, you can never leave again, and you can't be away from me for too long. Not to mention three years, you can't even stand an hour."

He lost Song Yi three years ago. Every day and night, his longing was like a deadly poison attached to him, which had long since invaded his bone marrow and merged with his flesh and blood, making it impossible for him to be a normal person anymore.

He only wants Song Yi, and it can only be Song Yi.

Song Yi was startled by his words and quickly struggled to turn around, gazing into Jiang Lanye's possessive eyes. She asked with concern, "Is it because tomorrow is the anniversary of the late Empress's death?"

Jiang Lanye thought Song Yi would act as if she was very afraid of him, or at least instinctively shrink back.

But she didn't. Seeing the genuine concern in her eyes, Jiang Lanye felt his previously cold heart warm up and hugged Song Yi tightly again.

"Song Yi, it must be that before the Empress Dowager closed her eyes, she was worried about me, so she prayed to Heaven and sent you to my side."

"Don't leave me again. If I say you'll be back in a certain time, don't be late, okay?"

All this is just because Song Yi came back a little late tonight, maybe not even for half an incense stick's time.

Even though she felt a little uncomfortable with Jiang Lanye's forceful possessiveness, at this moment, all she wanted to do was hold Jiang Lanye tightly and give him a hug.

"I understand. Tonight was an accident. It won't happen again."

Jiang Lanye closed his eyes, rested his chin on her shoulder, and gave a muffled "hmm".

His father never let him experience a moment of tenderness. He was like the sword in his hand, cold and sharp. He only taught Jiang Lanye how to bend the bow and shoot arrows, how to hit the bullseye, and how to kill the enemy with the sword in his hand.

The Empress Dowager was the complete opposite of the Emperor. She possessed wonderful qualities such as gentleness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and kindness. She was like a pool of tender water, embracing Jiang Lanye and trying to teach him how to love and how to be happy.

Unfortunately, my mother passed away too early.

No one else could teach Jiang Lanye these most basic emotions.

He had witnessed many lives taken before his eyes in his youth, which is why he was known as a tyrant.

Now that he finally has someone he loves, he can't accept Song Yi's departure at all.

"Song Yi, will you blame me?"

Song Yi silently hugged him back.

To say it's not strange would be too untrue.

After she was discovered, she was imprisoned in the Golden Palace. How could it not be strange?
But she was deeply conflicted, blaming him for not giving her freedom, yet loving all the good things he did for her.

Hate made her unable to accept Jiang Lanye's strong and obsessive personality, while love made her unable to resist getting closer to him.

"Alright, what's wrong with you tonight? All you need to know is that I won't leave you easily."

Jiang Lanye calmed himself down, released her, and took her hand as they walked out from behind the screen.

Seeing the particularly noticeable bite marks on her neck, Jiang Lanye was in a good mood.

Song Yi's dress today didn't have a snow-white rabbit fur collar, so it couldn't cover the bite mark.

"I have some things to attend to later, and Xie Ling will also be coming. You can sit next to me."

Song Yi nodded blankly.

She eventually sat down next to Jiang Lanye, in the highest position in the tent, looking uncomfortably at the people below. On everyone's table was a pot of wine and several side dishes. Song Yi glanced at them; most were meat grilled over charcoal, some of them dry and mushy. She had just eaten and had little appetite.

The charcoal fire in the center was burning fiercely, and the aroma of wine in the tent grew stronger and stronger. Song Yi had a very low alcohol tolerance, and even though she hadn't drunk a drop of alcohol, just smelling these aromas made her head spin.

Xie Ling looked up, not wanting to look at Song Yi, but her fair skin and the marks on her neck were too conspicuous. He couldn't help but pause, and after seeing what they were, his lips twitched involuntarily.

It couldn't have been Song Yi who bit herself, so who else could it be?
Looking at His Majesty, who was casually seated above, his expression was as cold and stern as ever. He looked exceptionally aloof and indifferent, making it hard to believe that he would be so fierce to the Imperial Concubine in private.

Jiang Lanye had just taken two sips of wine when Song Yi couldn't help but curiously take his wine glass, sniff it, and then frowned.

The wine here is very strong, almost as if it's meant to ward off the cold, completely different from the mellow and sweet wines in the capital.

Jiang Lanye noticed her subtle movements and chuckled softly, "What? You want to try some too?"

She remembered the time she got drunk and immediately shook her head:

"I don't know what I'm like when I'm drunk, and I'm scared."

Jiang Lanye raised an eyebrow, finding Song Yi quite adorable when she was drunk last time. Normally, she was very quick-witted, but after drinking, she seemed unwilling to think, and couldn't understand ordinary speech.

"With me here, what are you afraid of?"

Song Yi glanced at him sideways, still hesitating.

Tonight was a rare moment of relaxation for them, possibly their only chance to unwind in the coming days, so everyone drank themselves into a stupor, closing their eyes and hoping it was all a dream.

Jiang Lanye was talking to Xie Ling, who was still sober. Song Yi thought for a long time, but still couldn't resist her curiosity. She took a wine glass, poured the wine next to Jiang Lanye, and took a small sip.

Then, she frowned and couldn't help but cough twice.

Jiang Lanye immediately turned his head and gently patted her back: "What's wrong?"

Song Yi was so spicy that she couldn't speak, so she raised her wine glass to show Jiang Lanye.

Seeing this, Jiang Lanye couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Didn't you say you wouldn't drink?"

Song Yi stopped coughing, glared at him, and said, "Can't I even try?"

Jiang Lanye narrowed his eyes and said meaningfully, "Alright, keep trying. If you can finish this cup of wine, your body will warm up quickly."

"That's amazing."

She muttered something under her breath, and seeing Jiang Lanye talking to Xie Ling as if nothing had happened, she took another small sip.

The two chatted for a long time. During this time, as if to overcome the spiciness of the alcohol, Song Yi kept taking small sips of it, even though she felt like her tongue was being bitten.

Seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, and quite a few had even passed out drunk, Jiang Lanye's eyes remained clear as he calmly said:

"Thank you all for your hard work. I hope that starting tomorrow, we will be able to defeat the enemy."

After saying that, he pulled Song Yi to leave, but suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder.

Song Yi slumped against his shoulder, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes somewhat glazed, and she could barely speak.

"This wine seems to have chili in it."

(End of this chapter)