TRBDM -Chapter 99 Xie Sheng Gets Drunk

At Wangxian Tower, Xie Sheng had finished an entire jug of Wangchun Zui.

Wangchun Zui was the signature liquor of Wangxian Tower—its aroma was strong, with a distinct pear blossom fragrance unique to the place, attracting countless connoisseurs.

Xie Sheng could actually hold his liquor quite well, but he usually restrained himself because drunk people looked ridiculous, and he found such scenes unbearably unsightly.

But today, he was far too troubled. If he didn’t vent his restless, agitated energy with alcohol, he had no idea what he might do.

Wangchun Zui was expensive, and Xie Sheng was already carrying a debt of 1,300 taels—he really shouldn’t have been so extravagant.

Yet, despite the pangs of guilt, he decided to indulge himself this once.

He had even given up his title—so why shouldn’t he drink Wangchun Zui?

Xie Sheng drank until the sun began to set, finally reaching a half-drunk haze.

Through the blur, he saw someone running toward him.

“Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law!”

Xie Sheng looked up and, in his daze, thought he saw Shen Tianci.

“Brother-in-law, what are you doing here?”

It wasn’t until Shen Tianci’s large face came right up to his that Xie Sheng confirmed it really was him.

“Wow, it smells amazing! Brother-in-law, you’re drinking Wangchun Zui.”

Without waiting for permission, Shen Tianci picked up the jug and poured himself a cup.

Before the cup could even reach his lips, a palm came down and knocked it to the ground.

The full cup of Wangchun Zui spilled entirely on the floor—not a drop reached Shen Tianci’s mouth.

“Brother-in-law! You hit me?”

Shen Tianci’s hand stung from the sudden blow.

Xie Sheng’s eyes were red as if stabbed with knives. If he hadn’t cared about appearances, that palm would have landed on Shen Tianci’s face.

“Think you deserve Wangchun Zui? You?” Xie Sheng’s face twisted slightly, his bloodshot eyes making Shen Tianci shiver inexplicably.

“Bro…ther-in-law, what…what do you mean? Can the Shen household not even afford a jug of Wangchun Zui? Aren’t you underestimating people?”

Shen Tianci had been pampered by the Shen family, knowing nothing of hardship. The family was just an empty shell, yet he still pretended to be a wealthy young master outside.

Thinking of Shen Zhizhi having taken 1,300 taels for his sake made Xie Sheng want to kill Shen Tianci on the spot.

“Get out!”

Xie Sheng waved dismissively, as if Shen Tianci were a plague spirit—just touching him would bring misfortune.

“You—” When had Shen Tianci ever been treated like this by Xie Sheng?

What kind of brother-in-law was this? He was just like the other outsiders, only knowing how to bully and look down on him.

“Hmph, I’ll go tell my sister,” Shen Tianci threatened.

He knew that Shen Zhizhi and Xie Sheng were deeply attached, and that Xie Sheng respected her.

He had to tell his sister about the grievance he suffered today, so she could properly scold Xie Sheng.

What he didn’t know was that Xie Sheng didn’t even want to see Shen Zhizhi’s face right now, let alone be threatened by her.

“Are you going or not? Waiter, throw him out.”

“Yes, Second Master Xie, right away.”

The one who pays calls the shots, and the waiter was sharp-eyed.

Shen Tianci hadn’t spent a single coin and wanted to freeload. People like him were considered a nuisance just standing in Wangxian Tower.

Soon, Shen Tianci was tossed out.

He kept cursing loudly, but couldn’t resist. In the end, he was left humiliated, dumped on the street.

“Tch, such a lowly, condescending fool. I’m the only young master of the Shen household, and you, a mere lackey, think you can touch my clothes?”

No one paid attention to his curses; passing pedestrians glanced at him briefly and ignored him as if he were air.

Shen Tianci ended up bored and, with his head hung low, slunk away.

At Quyang Courtyard, Shen Zhizhi leaned against the doorframe, eyes straining for any sign of him.

“Second Master hasn’t returned yet? It’s almost dark.”

Her face was pale as if on the brink of collapse, her eyes sunken, as though all her vitality had been drained.

“No.”

The maid replied softly.

“Second Madam, you should go back. You’ve just conceived, and the child is still delicate. The court physician said you should rest as much as possible each day.”

In just a few short days, Shen Zhizhi had experienced both great joy and great sorrow. Now, plagued by anxiety, she had spent sleepless nights. Her ability to endure until now was purely a matter of willpower.

“No, I have to wait for Second Master.”

She hadn’t seen Xie Sheng all day, and her feet felt as if they weren’t touching the ground.

After half an incense stick’s time had passed, a servant came to report, “Second Madam, Young Master Shen requests to see you. The steward stopped him outside the mansion and won’t let him in.”

Shen Zhizhi, now under a cloud of disgrace in the mansion, naturally wasn’t welcomed by the Shen family either.

Shen Tianci’s reputation had never been good, but out of respect for Shen Zhizhi, he would have been treated as a guest when visiting the mansion.

Now, with both face and reputation gone, he stood outside like a spoiled young master—ignored by everyone inside.

Thinking of her brother being held at the gates, Shen Zhizhi panicked. “Quick, take me to see Tianci.”

Shen Tianci stood frustrated beneath the mansion’s stone lion, kicking pebbles angrily with his toes.

“Tianci, what are you doing here?”

Shen Zhizhi came up beside him and took his hand.

Shen Tianci impatiently shook it off. “I just ran into my brother-in-law at Wangxian Pavilion. Guess what happened?”

Shen Zhizhi’s heart skipped a beat.

“My brother-in-law was drinking Wangchunzui, and he wouldn’t even let me taste a single cup. He told me to get lost! What’s wrong with him, treating his little brother-in-law so harshly? And he doesn’t even care if people laugh at him.”

Shen Zhizhi couldn’t even manage a bitter smile. She tried to console him, “Your brother-in-law is in a bad mood. He was careless. I’ll talk to him later.”

“You, you’re just too nice to him, always listening to everything he says. When he bullies me, you defend him instead of thinking of me. And besides, what’s his bad mood got to do with me? Letting his anger fall on me isn’t impressive at all.”

Shen Zhizhi didn’t know how to respond.

Tianci fancied himself innocent, yet he was precisely the culprit.

“Tianci, did you come to see me just about this?”

“Uh… Sister, can you give me some silver?”

Nine times out of ten, when Shen Tianci sought out Shen Zhizhi, it was for money.

He treated her like a free bank—whenever he needed funds, he came to withdraw them, convinced she had plenty of silver.

After all, he had asked so many times, and Shen Zhizhi had never once refused him.

Tianci held out his hand, waiting.

Yet after a long while, his hand grew sore—Shen Zhizhi still hadn’t moved.

“Sister, where’s the silver? Hurry up, it’s almost dark. If I don’t return soon, Father and Mother will worry.”

Shen Zhizhi’s face showed her difficulty. “Tianci, sister’s a bit tight on cash lately, there isn’t any available silver at the moment.”

“No way! When you married, the Shen family gave you so much dowry. Now I just ask for a little, and you’re hiding it?”

Shen Tianci was upset—very upset!

“Tianci, I’m not lying. How about…” Shen Zhizhi pulled a hairpin from her hair. “Take this for now—you can exchange it for silver.”

Tianci reluctantly took it, sneering, “Such a shabby hairpin, it’ll only get me a few copper coins. Fine, I’ll use it today in a pinch. But next time, you must give me silver—fifty taels. Remember that.”

Shen Tianci patted his backside and left, leaving the weak Shen Zhizhi standing alone.

Her legs gave out, and she needed the maid to support her.

Just as she was about to return to the mansion, a carriage appeared in the distance—Xie Sheng had returned.