Chapter 338: Shouting “Serves Him Right!”

The Drunken Immortal Brew House was equally lively, with patrons eagerly discussing last night’s explosion and the massive fire at the Imperial Palace.

Shopkeeper Yang Haibo was busy running around, with hardly a moment to spare. But in the private room on the second floor, Tang Xiaotong slept deeply, unaffected by the chaos.

He said he would slowly drink and wait until today’s hour of the dragon, watching towards the Imperial Palace and listening for the grand ceremony’s bells, as if personally sending Princess Yujia off to marry into the palace.

In reality, however, before the late afternoon arrived, having drunk all afternoon, he was already as drunk as a puddle of mud, oblivious to the events outside.

When he finally awoke, it was already sunset. The remaining sunset rays slanted through the window lattice, casting the wood grain on the table unusually clear.

Tang Xiaotong only felt a splitting headache, his throat dry as if stuffed with a handful of sand.

He propped up his heavy head and sat up, listening to the noisy dice calls in the tavern, the waiter’s shouts, and the faint discussions coming from the street.

“Last night, in the palace…”

“Shh, be quiet…”

These scattered conversations drifted into his ears, leaving him even more confused.

Slowly opening his eyes, in the blur, he seemed to see a woman standing before him, her figure against the light, remarkably familiar in outline.

The wildflowers on her braid swayed gently with her movements, and the silver ornaments on her Turkic attire made a faint, crisp sound.

“Is this…am I still dreaming?”

Tang Xiaotong muttered to himself, rubbing his aching eyes hard.

When he opened them again, the figure was still there, even smiling at him with a familiar expression.

“Yu…no, Prin…Princess?”

Tang Xiaotong’s voice was hoarse from the hangover, as he incredulously called softly, his fingers unconsciously gripping the edge of the table.

The pain from the wooden splinters digging into his palm reminded him this wasn’t an illusion, though reason made him doubt.

He turned his head to look at the sky outside, in a daze, mistaking the sunset for sunrise.

When the sun rises, shouldn’t Princess Yujia be holding her grand wedding ceremony in the Imperial Palace? Why is she here?

Princess Yujia’s smile was tinged with sadness, as she gently caressed the wildflowers on her braid.

“The marriage alliance is canceled,” she said softly, her voice seeming to come from a distant place.

“Canceled?” Tang Xiaotong abruptly sat up, the sudden movement causing the chair to screech terribly.

It was then he noticed the Princess’s red and swollen eyes, evidence of having cried. “What happened? Why…”

Princess Yujia bit her lower lip, her fingers twisting together.

“Last night, suddenly, there was an earth-shattering noise from the Imperial Palace and a big fire. This morning, an attendant from the palace came to the courier station to convey the Emperor’s order that the marriage alliance was canceled.”

Only then did Tang Xiaotong realize he had missed such a significant event: “Earth-shattering noise? Why didn’t I hear it?”

Frustrated, he slapped his forehead, feeling that his hangover had dulled his senses.

“You…you were drunk.” A blush suddenly spread across Princess Yujia’s cheeks, her eyes shifting, not daring to meet his.

Hearing this, Tang Xiaotong finally looked down at his crumpled robe and lifted a hand to smell the heavy scent of wine on himself, blushing with embarrassment.

He immediately stood up, awkwardly tidying his wrinkled robe.

He knew Princess Yujia must have gone to the Brocade Workshop to find him, and the people at the Brocade Workshop had told her to come here to look for him.

“When I came, everyone outside was saying that last night’s commotion in the palace was just like that day at the Champion Marquis’s mansion, and the Emperor of Da Jing might already…” Princess Yujia spoke cautiously.

“What?” Tang Xiaotong was shocked. Immediately, his face revealed a trace of joy, almost shouting, “Good riddance.”

He certainly knew about the Champion Marquis’s mansion, no one survived. So that means Emperor Jing might have also met his demise, which is why the marriage was canceled.

“You…you sit here for a moment, I’ll be right back.” Tang Xiaotong excitedly pointed to the chair next to him, and once Princess Yujia sat down, he smiled and ran out.

Outside, it was a noisy chatter.

He went downstairs, walking around the Drunken Immortal Brew’s hall, and indeed heard patrons discussing the explosion at the Imperial Palace last night.

Yang Haibo was carrying a tray, serving drinks to patrons, and happened to pass by him. Seeing that Tang Xiaotong had sobered up from his drunkenness, he mouthed the words “Did you see?”

Tang Xiaotong quickly nodded. He knew Yang Haibo was asking about Princess Yujia.

Yang Haibo winked at him, as if conveying some message, then smiled meaningfully and said, “Go quickly.”

Tang Xiaotong understood instantly, turned around, and ran back to the private room upstairs.

He remembered that when he wasn’t blacked out from drinking yesterday, Yang Haibo opposed his infatuation with Princess Yujia, even fearing he might mention it.