USWHC -Chapter 504 Alliance (Part 4)

“Brother Ji, why take it so seriously?” Lu Anzhi said, patting Ji Yi hard on the shoulder. “So what if you didn’t pass this time? Didn’t I take it twice myself? Don’t worry—you’ve got the favor of the Third Prince and the Fourth Princess. Your future is boundless. One day, you’ll definitely pass!”

“No. I should have passed this year!” Ji Yi gulped down a mouthful of wine and slammed the bottle onto the table with a sharp bang. “If not now… it’ll be too late!”

Looking at the bottles scattered haphazardly across the table, Lu Anzhi couldn’t help but sigh. “Good grief, you drink even more than I did back then! That’s five bottles already, isn’t it? If you keep going like this, you’ll drink yourself to death!”

“Hey, Brother Ji, stop drinking!” Just as Lu Anzhi lifted his head to stop him, he suddenly found the seat in front of him empty. “Damn it—where’d he go?”

He hurriedly chased after him, but the tavern was packed—he couldn’t even squeeze through the crowd. From afar, he caught sight of a lonely figure swaying unsteadily toward the exit.

“Wait for me, Brother Ji!” Lu Anzhi ran after him at full speed, yet he couldn’t even catch up to a drunk man. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. “What is this, riding on wind and fire wheels?!”

In the blink of an eye, Ji Yi had reached the gates of the imperial palace. What was he trying to do?! Panic surged in Lu Anzhi’s chest as he watched Ji Yi stagger straight toward the palace entrance.

“You audacious fool! How dare you trespass into the imperial palace in broad daylight—are you tired of living?!” the guards shouted.

Lu Anzhi rushed forward, yelling as he ran, “Don’t kill him, don’t kill him! He’s just drunk—a drunkard!” As he spoke, he quickly took out some silver and handed it over.

The guards had already caught the scent of alcohol from Ji Yi from afar. Seeing how cooperative Lu Anzhi was, they reluctantly sheathed their weapons, casually accepting the silver. One of them still barked loudly, “Keep a close eye on him!”

“Yes, yes!” Lu Anzhi nodded repeatedly, though inside he felt utterly wronged. After all, he was a newly appointed jinshi—and yet here he was, bowing and scraping like this!

But just as he was about to grab Ji Yi and drag him away from this dangerous place, he turned his head—

Huh? Where did he go now?!

Even the guards were stunned. How did the man disappear in the blink of an eye? Did he wander off somewhere else? Everyone looked around in unison, but there was no trace of Ji Yi’s staggering figure anywhere.

“Princess, look—butterflies! There are actually butterflies!” Wan Yue exclaimed happily, her voice filled with childlike delight.

Zhu Jie, however, frowned, clearly weighed down by her thoughts. Just then, a low voice suddenly called out, “Wife… wife!”

Huh? Was she hearing things?

Zhu Jie let out a small, self-mocking laugh. Had she really fallen lovesick, to the point of hearing Ji Yi’s voice in the palace?

But just as her thoughts wandered, she heard it again—more clearly this time, filled with excitement:

“Wife, I finally found you!”

This time, it sounded even more real, as if he were speaking right beside her ear. Smiling to herself, she turned her head—how could that be possible?

But the moment she turned, she froze in shock.

Heavens—it really was Ji Yi! In the imperial garden!

And in the next instant, Zhu Jie burst out laughing.

Ji Yi looked utterly ridiculous—his head adorned with three freshly bloomed peonies, branches hanging off his body, leaves rustling down with every movement.

This outfit… was truly something else!

Just as the thought crossed her mind, Ji Yi suddenly dashed forward like a fluttering butterfly and threw himself straight into her arms.

No way—this guy was really drunk!

The strong smell of alcohol hit her, and Zhu Jie couldn’t help rolling her eyes. What on earth was wrong with him?

At that moment, the sound of approaching footsteps came from afar. Someone was coming.

Zhu Jie’s heart tightened. This was bad—if they were discovered, Ji Yi’s life would be in danger!

“Sister Jinghan!” From a distance came the sweet voice of Princess Lanyi.

But to Zhu Jie, that voice now felt like a blade stabbing straight into her heart.

Without hesitation, she pushed Ji Yi back down into the flower bushes. But at a time like this—how on earth was she supposed to hide him?!