146: Chapter 146 Preemptive Strike

The poem was finished.

Yet, the wine party had fallen silent.

They were savoring it, and they were comparing.

The loneliness and free-spiritedness in the poem subtly overlapped with the sickly young man in the corner.

He sat alone on the edge of the crowd, facing the harassment of others, yet used a single poem to silence everyone.

Shame.

This was the emotion that welled up in the hearts of many present.

They actually didn't have much hostility toward Jiang Xun; after all, no one would feel disgust for someone they had just met.

It was more of a desire to be entertained.

To see how this freeloader would be unable to step down.

That's right; according to Ximen Shu's account, Jiang Xun was just a freeloader, a pretty boy, a medicine jar.

But who would have thought, he actually had real talent.

At this moment, someone stood up and walked over to Jiang Xun.

It was a young man in his early twenties, wearing a blue long gown, with refined features and a composed manner, holding a half-finished cup of wine in his hand.

He offered a slight bow, his tone sincere, "May I ask, Brother Jiang, does this poem have a name?"

Jiang Xun looked up at him.

"It does." He took a light sip of tea. "It is called 'Drinking Alone Under the Moon'."

The man smiled sheepishly.

The people present had indeed been intentionally or unintentionally ostracizing Jiang Xun.

They claimed to be scholars, yet they couldn't even recognize a truly learned person.

He bowed again, this time with a deeper bend, "This gathering has truly been less than satisfactory."

"I am Song Zhiran. I will host another banquet at my residence tomorrow, and I invite Brother Jiang to attend."

Everyone present knew this Young Master of the Song family, knowing that he only appreciated those with genuine talent.

Jiang Xun bowed in return, "I shall consider it."

He neither agreed nor refused.

He would have to discuss it with his wife when he got back to see if she would let him go.

Song Zhiran did not insist, turning to say to Ximen Shu, "Brother Ximen, I have some matters to attend to, so I cannot stay here any longer."

After saying this, he left directly without any hesitation.

Song Zhiran had only come because he heard that the famous beauty of the wine shop, praised by the town, was also here, which is why he accepted the invitation.

Seeing Bai Jiu for the first time, his eyes had indeed lit up; her temperament and appearance were truly rare in this world.

Not only him, but everyone present had designs on Bai Jiu.

But upon hearing she was already married, Song Zhiran no longer had any such thoughts.

He had no interest in the sordid business of coveting another man's wife.

But others might not think so.

Ximen Shu still had a smile on his face, but it was so stiff it was about to crack.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Then we shall talk another day."

Seeing Song Zhiran leave, others were unwilling to stay and began to rise and take their leave.

The excuses were varied.

Some said they had matters at home, some said they were feeling unwell, and some said it was getting late.

They were all scholars who had originally wanted to show off their literary talent in front of the beauty.

But now that 'Drinking Alone Under the Moon' had appeared, who had the face to stay any longer?

The wine party broke up.

Those who remained were all people who were very close with Ximen Shu.

A few of them sat in the somewhat empty room, looking at each other.

Ximen Shu took a deep breath and walked up to Jiang Xun.

His steps were heavy, each one feeling like stepping on nails.

"Brother Jiang, this 'Drinking Alone Under the Moon' is truly brilliant."

"I have been negligent this time, and I will certainly come to your door to apologize another day."

He knew when to advance and retreat, knowing that if this matter wasn't handled well, he would never be able to keep a good reputation in the circle.

Suppressing and framing a person of profound learning was much more serious than bullying an ordinary person.

Ximen Shu turned to look at the remaining few, raising his voice as if to give himself a way out.

"Having Brother Jiang's 'Drinking Alone Under the Moon' as the finale for this wine party is, I think, excellent."

"I must return home to savor it; tonight's wine party ends here."

Seeing this, the others didn't say much and dispersed.

Some people stole a glance at Bai Jiu as they left.

What a pity! She was already married.

Jiang Xun also stood up and walked to White Fox Jiu's side.

She was lying on the table, her face buried in her arms, revealing only half of her profile.

That half of her face was red, as if stained by rosy clouds, spreading all the way to her ears, and even her neck was dyed a faint pink.

She looked quite drunk.

But Jiang Xun glanced at the table; there was still more than half a cup of wine left in her glass, and the wine pot next to it had hardly been touched.

At most, she had drunk less than three cups.

Jiang Xun found it amusing.

Little fox, your performance is full of flaws.

White Fox Jiu sprawled on the table, unmoved no matter how Jiang Xun called her.

"Wife? Wife?" No response.

"Bai Jiu?" Still no response.

Jiang Xun reached out and waved in front of her eyes; her eyes were half-open, her gaze unfocused, as if covered by a layer of mist or separated by a veil.

She gave a vague "hmm" and buried her face back into her arms.

Jiang Xun was helpless.

He bent down, draped one of her arms over his shoulder, and then stooped to carry her on his back.

White Fox Jiu was very light.

Her chin rested on his shoulder, her breath blowing against his neck, warm and carrying a faint scent of alcohol.

Jiang Xun said to Ximen Shu, "Then I will take my wife and leave first."

Ximen Shu wore a smile, but the jealousy in his eyes was about to overflow, "It's dark, take care on the road."

"Mhm." Jiang Xun nodded, "Then my wife and I will be going."

Leaving Hecai Pavilion, the night wind blew in their faces, carrying the chill of early autumn.

The street was empty, with only the occasional rustle of wind through leaves.

The carriage they came in was hired by Tao Fu, and he had forgotten to instruct Tao Fu to pick them up.

At this hour, there wasn't a soul to be seen on the street.

Forget it, let's walk back.

It wasn't far anyway.

The night was cool and the moon bright.

The moon hung in mid-air like a polished silver plate, its light spilling onto the bluestone road, shimmering with a cold glow.

Jiang Xun carried White Fox Jiu on his back, walking along the empty street.

His steps were steady, unhurried, and White Fox Jiu lay on his back, motionless, breathing evenly, as if she were truly asleep.

After walking for a while, she rubbed her head against his shoulder.

Like a cat looking for a more comfortable position.

Jiang Xun felt the subtle movement and whispered, "We'll be home soon, just wait a little longer."

White Fox Jiu opened her eyes hazily, her voice slurred, "Do you blame me?"

"Blame you for what?"

"Blame me for leaving you alone at the wine party."

Jiang Xun was stunned for a moment.

Then he gave a bitter smile and said dismissively, "I will never blame my wife."

White Fox Jiu's head rested on his shoulder, her hair cascading down, "But the poem you recited, wasn't it talking about you being all alone?"

"Doesn't that mean you're blaming me for not keeping you company?"

She spoke fuzzily, like drunken ramblings, every word mumbled and slurred.

How could Jiang Xun not hear that she was testing him?

This poem indeed carried a sense of loneliness; in White Fox Jiu's eyes, wasn't it obvious that he was blaming her?

"This poem was not written by me."

He deliberated for a moment and finally told the truth, "But by someone else."

"I just felt it fit the theme of tonight, so I recited it."

Jiang Xun spoke openly; he wasn't thick-skinned enough to claim the talent of his predecessors as his own.

Besides, this was to prevent potential future trouble.

If this fox were to ask him to write poems all day, his limited stock wouldn't be enough.

White Fox Jiu suddenly bit his shoulder.

It wasn't hard, but her teeth sank into his flesh, and it still hurt a little.

Jiang Xun hissed, "What are you doing?"

White Fox Jiu let go, her voice tinged with grievance, "You lied to me."

"Although I don't understand poetry, I can tell that the poem you recited is no ordinary work. If it were written by someone else, with so many scholars present, wouldn't someone have exposed you?"

Jiang Xun already had an explanation in mind.

His tone became hollow, as if recalling something very distant.

"What I said is indeed the truth. This poem was written by someone in my memory. He was incredibly talented, free-spirited, and the most romantic person in the world."

White Fox Jiu scoffed.

"If he were really as good as you say, why have I never heard of him?"

Jiang Xun was silent for a moment.

The moonlight shone on his face, splitting his expression into light and shadow, full of desolation.

"I don't know either, maybe... he only exists in my memory."

White Fox Jiu said, "You mean to say, only you know him?"

"Maybe."

"What is his name?"

Jiang Xun was silent for a long time; he was afraid that this fox would go and investigate that non-existent name.

He slowly said, "I forgot."

White Fox Jiu didn't ask again.

She lay on his back, feeling his body temperature and listening to his steady heartbeat.

She realized that perhaps Jiang Xun's memory was recovering.

The Dao Xun in her impression was indeed a person of immense talent and free-spirited nature.

Arrogant, flamboyant, unyielding, yet able to say things at certain moments that made people ponder.

"Then think again," White Fox Jiu said, her tone softening, "What other beautiful poems does that romantic person you mentioned have?"

She paused and added, "If you can't say any, then that poem was written by you."

Jiang Xun almost laughed out loud.

He was just about to recite a poem when...

"Wait," White Fox Jiu interrupted him, "It must be about me."

"About you?" Jiang Xun was stunned.

"That's right," White Fox Jiu said, "It must describe a woman."

Jiang Xun thought for a moment.

He blurted out:

"Clouds resemble her clothes, flowers resemble her face, Spring breeze brushes the railing, dew makes the blooms thick. If not seen atop the Qunyu Mountain, one would meet her under the moon at the Jade Terrace."

Every word seemed to have been washed by moonlight, clean, bright, and carrying a tenderness that did not belong to this world.

White Fox Jiu's face flushed.

She didn't speak for a long time.

Even without having studied poetry, just by listening, one could tell that this poem was extremely beautiful.

Jiang Xun thought he had passed this hurdle.

But suddenly, as if thinking of something, White Fox Jiu bit his shoulder again, this time more fiercely than the last, her teeth sinking into his flesh, making Jiang Xun gasp in pain.

"What is it again?!" he hissed, his shoulder instinctively flinching.

White Fox Jiu let go, her voice filled with anger, "Speak! Which woman did you write this for?"

Jiang Xun was completely confused by her question.

"How would I know? It wasn't written by me!" His voice carried a touch of ignorance and confusion.

White Fox Jiu sulked and didn't speak again.

In her view, this poem was written by Dao Xun for another woman in the past.

That tenderness, that praise, that cautious yet unbridled affection, was not for her, not for Yan Qingning, but for someone she didn't know.

Her heart was as sour as if a jar of vinegar had been overturned.

Jiang Xun didn't dare to provoke her anymore.

He kept his mouth shut and silently carried her toward the shop.

During this time, White Fox Jiu seemed to have truly fallen asleep, not saying a word.

From far away, Jiang Xun saw Chun Cui waiting at the entrance of the wine shop holding a lantern.

The little girl huddled by the door frame, the light of the lantern shining on her dark little face, flickering on and off.

She kept looking in the direction of the street entrance.

When she saw Jiang Xun's figure, she immediately ran up to meet him.

"Young Master, you're back!" Her voice was full of joy, as if she didn't have to wait anymore, "I've boiled ginger soup, which can help Young Miss sober up."

"Thank you for the trouble." Jiang Xun nodded.

Chun Cui kept her head down without speaking, holding the lantern to light the way for Jiang Xun.

The light of the lantern swayed, stretching the shadows of the three of them, making them flicker long and short.

Once inside the shop, Jiang Xun carried White Fox Jiu upstairs.

Chun Cui placed the ginger soup on the table, tiptoed, and quietly retreated, closing the door behind her.

The door hinge made a slight creaking sound, and then everything returned to silence.

Jiang Xun placed White Fox Jiu on the bed.

She had her eyes closed, her face flushed red.

He helped her take off her shoes, then pulled the quilt over, preparing to cover her.

A hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.

The grip was very strong.

White Fox Jiu opened her eyes.

Those eyes were so clear they didn't look like those of a drunk person, like two deep wells, the water clear to the bottom.

"Don't go," she said.

Pulled by her, Jiang Xun lost his balance and fell onto the bed.

White Fox Jiu hugged him.

"Tonight... stay with me."

Jiang Xun fell onto White Fox Jiu, trying to push himself up, but he couldn't break free.

Helpless, he could only say, "Have you forgotten? We are husband and wife, we are supposed to sleep together anyway."

White Fox Jiu loosened her grip, and Jiang Xun was able to get up.

He moved a bit further from the bed.

Jiang Xun said, "Let me go get you a bowl of ginger soup to sober you up."

But White Fox Jiu sat up and said, "Have you forgotten? I run a wine shop, how could I get drunk so easily?"

Jiang Xun had known it all along.

He could only pretend not to know and said, "Then why did you pretend to be drunk?"

White Fox Jiu got up, walked up to Jiang Xun, and said, "If I hadn't been drunk, do you know how many people at that wine party would have come to talk to me?"

Her tone was reproachful, "But you..."

Jiang Xun realized that this fox wanted to blame him for not stepping forward to protect her.

Thinking of this fox's unforgiving nature when she had the upper hand.

He immediately preempted her by saying, "You know you are eye-catching, yet you still accepted that Ximen Shu's invitation."

His tone suddenly faltered, as if choking up.

"Have you ever cared about my feelings in your heart?"

"I..." White Fox Jiu was momentarily speechless.

Jiang Xun stepped forward, and the fox was forced to take a step back.

"Or is it that you have long been tired of me, annoyed with me?"

He acted self-pitying, but his tone was full of accusation, "Have you long wanted to find another husband?"

White Fox Jiu fell back onto the bed.

She never expected that Jiang Xun would think so much and even attack first.

At the same time, the lingering emotions in her heart were swept away.

At the wine party, she was surrounded by Ximen Shu, and Jiang Xun was unmoved, which made her doubt whether Jiang Xun really cared about her.

It turned out he was just bottling it up inside and not saying it.

White Fox Jiu raised her hand, hooked onto Jiang Xun's belt, and said, "My husband will only ever have one, and that is you."