klisemfg Chapter 503 Drunkard Hu Bufei collapses drunk at the table, Su Muyu investigates Yuxuan at night!
Chapter 503 Drunkard Hu Bufei collapses drunk at the table, Su Muyu investigates Yuxuan at night!
After several rounds of drinks, the night deepened.
Hu Bufei, feeling the effects of the alcohol and having been cooped up for too long, poured himself another glass, tilted his head back, gulped it down, wiped his mouth, and said:
"When my father was alive, he often told me how wise and powerful Emperor Tianwu was when he founded the country. He knew how to appoint people to positions of power and cared for the people."
However, after several generations, by the time of Emperor Tai'an, the court was in a state of chaos and corruption. Factional strife was rampant, corruption was pervasive, officials vied for power, and even several eunuchs were plotting their own rise to power…
As he spoke, his eyes reddened: "My father was honest and upright all his life, and he only wanted to do something practical for the people, but what did he do in the end?"
Just because of his past relationship with Lord Baili, he was labeled a member of the "Baili Party" and was ostracized everywhere. After I took office as censor, I wanted to impeach several corrupt officials, but when I submitted my memorial, it was like a stone sinking into the sea.
Later I learned that those people all had powerful backers and couldn't be touched..."
Sikong Changfeng frowned upon hearing this: "So you just drink all day long?"
"What can you do if you don't drink?" Hu Bufei smiled bitterly. "Seeing corrupt officials go unpunished and honest people suffer injustices, if you are powerless to help, what can you do besides drown your sorrows in alcohol?"
He suddenly looked at Baili Dongjun, his eyes gleaming: "But this time is different. Although the old Marquis was forced to raise an army, I think... it's a good thing! The land of Beili needs a change of blood long ago!"
Baili Dongjun nodded emphatically: "Brother Hu is right! The first thing I want to do after my grandfather and cousin overthrow Beili is to open a big winery and brew the best wine. Anyone in the world who loves wine can come and taste it!"
He grew more and more excited as he spoke, and stood up, saying, "Not only that, I also want to take on many disciples and spread the art of winemaking throughout the world. So that all those who appreciate fine wine can drink truly excellent brews and no longer have to defer to the whims of royalty!"
Sikong Changfeng clapped his hands and laughed, "What ambition! When the time comes, your title of 'Wine Immortal' will truly be well-deserved."
Hu Bufei also raised his glass: "Then I, Hu, would like to wish Baili Dongjun... no, Baili Jiuxian, a speedy fulfillment of your wishes!"
The three of them clinked their glasses and drank it all in one gulp.
Sikong Changfeng suddenly asked, "Dongjun, those three wine vendors... do you really think there's something wrong with them?"
Baili Dongjun's smile faded slightly, and he nodded: "Most likely. Especially that young man named Sang Dalang, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before... His eyes are too cold, not like a businessman. And the way they sell wine... it's too deliberate."
"Then why did you still buy their wine?" Hu Bufei asked, puzzled.
"Use the trick!"
Baili Dongjun raised his face with a smug look and said, "They wanted to use alcohol to get close to us, so I gave them the chance. I want to see what's really going on behind these Eight Drunken Immortals!"
He looked at Sikong Changfeng: "Sikong Changfeng, go and investigate tomorrow morning to find out who those three people came into contact with and where they went after they settled in."
Especially... see if they've inquired about Tingyuxuan and Brother Hu's family!
"understand!"
Sikong Changfeng nodded, then frowned: "But if they really came for Imperial Censor Hu, why didn't they just take action directly? Why go through all this trouble just to deliver a jar of wine?"
Baili Dongjun pondered for a moment: "There are two possibilities—"
Firstly, they knew they were no match for me, so they tried other methods.
Secondly...their target may not be just Brother Hu."
Hu Bufei's heart skipped a beat: "You mean..."
"Snow Moon City has become too powerful and is now attracting a lot of attention. If the imperial court really wants to deal with us, it will not only send three people!"
A cold glint flashed in Baili Dongjun's eyes, "These three... might just be pebble thrown in to test the waters!"
Just then, a very faint sound came from outside the window.
Baili Dongjun's ears twitched, and his figure darted to the window like a ghost. He pushed the window open—the moonlight was bright outside, the courtyard was quiet, and there was only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
"What's wrong?" Sikong Changfeng also came over.
“It sounds like someone’s there.” Baili Dongjun frowned. “But the presence disappeared very quickly. Either the person has extremely high lightness skills, or… I must have misheard.”
He closed the window again and said to the two of them, "Tonight we will take turns keeping watch. You will keep watch for the first half of the night, and I will keep watch for the second half."
Brother Hu, you should rest well. No matter what noise you hear, don't come out.
Hu Bufei nodded: "Don't panic, don't panic. Although I am not as good as the two of you, I still have the cultivation of a goblin..."
As he spoke, Hu Bufei flicked his finger, and the empty wine glass was actually chipped by him. The broken porcelain shards flew out and embedded themselves into the wooden floor!
This move truly surprised Baili Dongjun: "Wow! Brother Hu, you've been hiding your true strength!"
Sikong Changfeng shrugged and said, "Actually, the day Imperial Censor Hu first arrived, I could tell from his every move that he had something special about him!"
Hu Bufei chuckled, slightly drunk, "A little... haha, but not much!"
Before he could finish speaking, he lay down on the table and fell asleep, soon followed by soft snoring.
Sikong Changfeng and Baili Dongjun exchanged bewildered glances: "This alcohol tolerance... is indeed not high!"
Little did they know that Hu Bufei had nothing to do at Tingyuxuan these past few days, except eat, drink, relieve himself, and drink alcohol. Since it was all on the bill of the city lord, Baili Dongjun, Hu Bufei naturally wouldn't be polite.
Before Baili Dongjun arrived, Hu Bufei had already drunk four or five jars of Tingyuxuan's aged wine. Now, he and the other two had drunk the twelve-year-aged Zui Baxian wine. Even immortals would be drunk!
Baili Dongjun and Sikong Changfeng helped Hu Bufei back to his bedroom. After they came out, the two extinguished the candles, plunging Tingyuxuan into darkness.
Baili Dongjun sat in the shadows by the second-floor window, making a shushing gesture with his finger to his lips. Sikong Changfeng naturally understood what he meant; there was indeed someone outside!
Outside the window, a dark shadow silently swept across the rooftop and disappeared into the night like an owl.
That was Su Muyu. He had indeed been here just now, only lingering on the eaves for a moment before quickly leaving.
When Su Zhe returned to Wangyue Tower, he was still awake and sitting at the table wiping the magic wand covered with gold rings.
"how?"
Su Zhe asked without looking up.
“All three of them are here,” Su Muyu said in a low voice. “Baili Dongjun is very alert. He noticed me when I approached and even turned off the lights in the room.”
Su Zhe paused for a moment, then confidently said after a brief thought, "It's alright, our plan remains the same!"
After saying that, he stood up and looked out the window at the night: "It will be dawn in two more hours. How are the preparations going in Changhe?"
"The wine has been bottled, and the Soul-Guiding Incense has been mixed in according to the dosage," Su Muyu said. "It will be available for sale first thing tomorrow morning."
Su Zhe nodded, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Then let this show... begin."
……