Jiang Xingyan was furious seeing Huo Ci wearing her face, putting on such a spineless, groveling act.
It was just a bowl of wontons! Was there any need to fight over it?
Back when she had offered exquisite delicacies to Huo Ci, he hadn’t even taken an extra bite.
He was clearly doing this on purpose to humiliate her!
Oh, she understood now.
He must have found out from the Imperial Hospital that she had admitted he hit her, damaging his reputation. So now he came running to get revenge, to make a fool of her in front of Yun Ge, right!
Jiang Xingyan grabbed a soldier and ordered him to notify Xin Zhui: “Tell him to gather more people, start the feast early, and no one leaves until they’re drunk!”
She was determined to use the pretext of being drunk to utterly humiliate Huo Ci, leaving him too ashamed to show his face.
Upon receiving the message, Xin Zhui smirked coldly.
You really choose the path to hell when heaven is wide open. Since you dared to possess our General’s body, don’t blame me for getting you drunk, tying you up, dragging you to the Golden Light Temple in the suburbs, and beating your spirit into oblivion!
With a grim expression, Xin Zhui poured the strongest liquor into the jars specially prepared for the General.
By the time he carried the wine jars into the banquet hall, Jiang Xingyan had already been waiting for some time.
To deal with this female ghost, Xin Zhui had even brought out his entire life’s savings. He hadn’t just invited the captains from ten battalions; even the few centurions he was close with were called to join.
There were too many soldiers in the Huo Army to invite them all. To avoid any hard feelings, he made sure everyone got a good bowl of wine.
Five whole tables laden with delicacies and several dozen large jars of fine Nu’er Hong wine!
Xin Zhui gritted his teeth: I absolutely have to make the General pay me back for this!
As he lifted the tent flap, he had already switched to a look of utmost respect.
“Ah, General! My apologies for the delay. Let me propose three cups to you!”
Jiang Xingyan: “?”
Shouldn’t you be penalizing yourself with three cups?
Trying to bully me because I don’t know the drinking rules?
She narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Xin Zhui as he respectfully held out the wine bowl.
Since when had he ever been so obsequious?
Something unusual was definitely afoot.
It seemed this grand, noisy setup must be hiding some ulterior motive.
But Jiang Xingyan didn’t want to overthink it. Tonight was about drowning her sorrows.
Whatever schemes Xin Zhui had could wait until she’d had her fill!
She grabbed the wine bowl, tilted her head back, and drained it in one go.
The strong liquor hit her stomach, and Huo Ci’s body suddenly grew warm. If there had been a bronze mirror nearby, Jiang Xingyan would have seen that her face was now as red as a freshly boiled shrimp.
Yet, her mind felt even sharper.
She had started sneaking drinks at age eight. By the time she turned sixteen, her grandfather had specially procured an extremely expensive wine to test her capacity. The result? Her capacity remained untested, but her grandfather’s private stash was nearly emptied.
She wondered just how much money Xin Zhui had saved up, and if it would be enough for her to drink to her heart’s content.
Xin Zhui watched, dumbfounded, as Jiang Xingyan downed three bowls in quick succession, her eyes shining brightly like the full moon.
“Truly excellent wine! More!”
Xin Zhui suddenly felt a pang of regret.
What if all this wine still wasn’t enough to get this female ghost drunk?
That was his entire life’s savings!
But there was no turning back now. Xin Zhui had to swallow his bitterness.
He promptly poured three more cups, reciting a stream of toasts: “These three cups represent my admiration for your distinguished bearing, my gratitude for your long-standing care and guidance, and my respect for your magnanimity, for not holding a grudge against—”
Before he could even finish, Jiang Xingyan had already downed three more bowls.
Xin Zhui was lost for words.
Fortunately, the boisterous laughter of several captains echoed as they entered.
“Rare indeed for Deputy General Xin to host a feast! Today, we must drink with the General until we’re all thoroughly drunk!”
Xin Zhui hurried to greet them, shooting them meaningful looks. “Ah, Captains, you’re finally here! Hurry up, each of you must propose three cups to the General!”
The captains were baffled. They were familiar with penalizing themselves three cups for being late, but never with penalizing the host three cups.
Jiang Xingyan didn’t care about the formalities. Weren’t they trying to get her drunk?
She found drinking bowl by bowl too tedious anyway!
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
Under the astonished gazes of everyone present, Jiang Xingyan simply picked up a large jar of wine and started chugging it directly.
In just a few breaths, the entire jar was empty.
The captains swallowed hard, glancing sideways at Xin Zhui.
The General has a sea-like capacity for liquor! Are you sure we’re here to get him drunk, and not for him to drown us in wine?
Xin Zhui was completely stupefied.
“Hey, what’re y’all standin’ around for? Brother Xin, lookin’ all pathetic like that? Where I’m from, even if ya got cured, you’d still be droolin’. Oh, General! Yer a rare guest! How ’bout old Zhang here drinks a few with ya?”
Fifteen minutes later, Old Zhang was completely unconscious.
The captain of the Vanguard Battalion wouldn’t have it. “Our Vanguard Battalion charges ahead in every battle, big or small! Are we gonna show weakness now? My turn!”
The captains of the Supply Battalion and the Raid Battalion immediately followed. “We fight together, ever victorious!”
The three captains strode over, full of vigor.
Half an hour later, they were lying on the ground, dead drunk.
Xin Zhui couldn’t bear to look.
Jiang Xingyan threw aside the empty jar and slammed her hand heavily on the table.
“Stop dawdling! Come at me together!”
Three hours later.
Jiang Xingyan finished the last jar of wine.
Looking around, the banquet hall floor was now covered with two layers of unconscious men.
Only then did she finally feel the faint dizziness of intoxication.
She pressed against the table, preparing to stand up, when suddenly a cold sensation touched her neck—the sharp blade of a dagger pressed tightly against her skin.
A concentrated aura of killing intent solidified behind her.
“Speak! Who are you!”