Chapter 208 - 128: The King No Longer Holds Morning Court

Chapter 208: Chapter 128: The King No Longer Holds Morning Court

When Shan Weizi returned a moment later, holding the wine she had brewed herself, she heard them discussing ’Young Master Su’s’ identity and his stocks. Su Ran looked at Shan Weizi. "You sold me out?"

Previously, Shan Weizi had curiously asked, "Was it you?" and Su Ran had answered truthfully, "It was!"

Afterward, well, girls will be girls. With such an impressive boyfriend, she naturally couldn’t keep it to herself and ended up boasting about it to her family. Her family was utterly stunned that Su Ran was so skilled at playing the stock market. So now, upon seeing Su Ran in person, they showered him with praise. In their hearts, however, their admiration for him grew even deeper. They thought their granddaughter had excellent taste. Of course, the family had always felt Shan Weizi was so outstanding that they had worried no young man would ever be worthy of her. That is, until Su Ran appeared. He had surprised them time and time again—with his painting, his stage presence, and his identity as Young Master Su. They felt incredibly proud.

Liu Piaopiao, in particular, was beaming. She grew fonder and fonder of Su Ran and breathed a sigh of relief. ’He’s the one. He’s going to be my daughter’s future husband!’

Su Ran didn’t boast about these identities. He changed the subject in just a few words. Humble despite his wealth, he fit in perfectly with the Shan Family’s low-key values.

"Let me pour the wine." Su Ran took the wine jar, poured its contents into a pitcher, and filled the Old Master’s cup first, followed by Liu Piaopiao’s, then Shan Zhentian’s, then Shan Weizi’s, and finally his own.

Su Ran sniffed the wine’s aroma and said to Shan Weizi, "This really is good stuff." He then raised his cup to give a toast, thanking the Shan’s for their warm hospitality and expressing his ’guilt’ for being late due to traffic.

After a couple of drinks, everyone loosened up. The conversation naturally turned to the topic of ’Wu School Painting’. The Old Master loved to drink, especially with like-minded people, and he downed cup after cup. Eventually, Su Ran said he couldn’t drink anymore, worried that the Old Master’s body wouldn’t be able to take it. But the Old Master insisted he must drink. "If you don’t drink, you paint," he declared. "One painting cancels out one cup of wine." Su Ran was skilled at painting, but he didn’t want to show off in front of the two masters. After all, with his Tang Yin’s Painting Skill, he was afraid that if they saw it, they would pull him aside to paint several more pieces, and painting was a lot of trouble.

The wine Shan Weizi brewed had a strong kick. By the end, even the Old Master was drunk, but miraculously, Su Ran was not. It was as if a mission was whispering in his ear, ’I can’t get drunk. Not tonight. There’ll be plenty of time to get drunk later.’

After Su Ran, Shan Weizi, and Liu Piaopiao helped the Old Master and Shan Zhentian back to their rooms, Liu Piaopiao took charge of looking after Shan Zhentian. Su Ran and Shan Weizi tidied up the dining room, then left the East Courtyard and headed for Shan Weizi’s small courtyard.

Er... This was the Shan Family estate, so of course, they couldn’t be too unrestrained. Liu Piaopiao had arranged for Su Ran to stay in the same courtyard he had used before, the one directly across from Shan Weizi’s.

「At the gate of the small courtyard.」

Shan Weizi said demurely, "You’ll be staying across the way tonight, and I’ll be in my courtyard. If you need anything, just let me know, and I’ll bring it over."

As a young lady, she was naturally reserved; she needed the young man to be a little more proactive. So, Su Ran said, "I’ve never been to your courtyard before. May I have a look around?"

"Mm," Shan Weizi nodded. She pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in quickly. After Su Ran followed her inside, she reminded him to close the gate.

"Should I lock it?" Su Ran asked deliberately.

"Do as you please."

"Heh heh."

The small courtyard wasn’t large. One yard, one building, one plum tree, one stone table, and two people.

The moonlight, like flowing water, illuminated the pretty face of the white-clad woman before him. Tender and beautiful, with a timeless classical charm, she was a rare, traditional-style woman one seldom finds after experiencing the hustle and bustle of a prosperous city.

"Why are you staring at me?"

"You’re beautiful."

"Oh."

Being alone together again, it was inevitable that they felt a little awkward at first. As Su Ran stared at her, a shy blush crept onto her cheeks.

Su Ran walked over and took her hand. "Come on, let’s go see your little building." And just like that, he led her by the hand into the small building.

The walls of the first floor were covered with Shan Weizi’s paintings. Directly ahead hung the piece they had collaborated on, *The Peacock Flies Southeast*. Walking up to it and gazing at the painting, Su Ran said, "This painting is the cause of all the trouble."

"I know, right? It’s all this painting’s fault."

"Then should we destroy it?"

"No."

"I’m just kidding."

"Don’t make jokes like that."

Su Ran paced around the first floor for a few moments before asking, "Can I see the second floor?"

Shan Weizi smiled. She probably knew that the second floor had been Su Ran’s destination from the start, and the first floor was just a formality. "Mm, I’ll allow you to look around for one minute. Let’s go."

CREAK~

He pushed open the door to the second floor, which revealed Shan Weizi’s boudoir. A faint fragrance filled the antique-styled room. It wasn’t a cutesy, pink-and-fluffy girl’s room, but rather the kind of chamber a well-bred young lady from ancient times would have. Su Ran’s gaze swept across the room, finally landing on a large, unfinished, bright red embroidered phoenix robe lying on a work table directly ahead. He walked over and reached out to touch the golden thread of the embroidery. "Is this a new Hanfu design?"

"No." Shan Weizi shook her head and said very seriously, "It’s the wedding gown I’m embroidering for myself."

"..." At her words, Su Ran picked it up. "It’s gorgeous. It looks exactly like what the heroines wear in historical dramas. Weizi, you’re amazing."

"Do you want to see me wear it?"

Su Ran saw a special kind of seriousness in her eyes—the kind of devotion that comes from ’falling in love at first sight and being bound for life.’

"Yes!"

"Then wait a moment. I was sweating today and I don’t want to get it dirty. I’ll take a bath first, then I’ll wear it for you." With that, she picked up the bright red phoenix robe and disappeared behind a screen. The Su Embroidery on the screen cast a silhouette of her graceful figure, leaving Su Ran utterly mesmerized. To be honest, Shan Weizi had given herself to Su Ran quite early in their relationship. She was a believer in fate, much like the well-bred young ladies of ancient times. Those ladies would fall head over heels for a talented and compatible scholar, giving themselves to him without reservation. But then the scholar would go off to take the imperial exams and become the top scholar, only to forget the poor, naive young lady who had given him everything. She would be left waiting bitterly for her champion to return, only to be let down time and time again.