Chapter Thirteen: Night of No Dreams

  This day and night, the dusk is like ink, the full moon is empty!

  Xiatong tossed and turned on the wooden bed, still unable to fall asleep. Since moving into Liuli Pavilion, she hadn't had a good night's sleep. As soon as she closed her eyes, she would see the same face with slightly resentful eyes!

  Her past life, that woman who died without a clear purpose, has been tormenting her day and night!

  In the darkness, Xia Tong opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, turning from left to right, then turned again, from right to left!

  Embracing the clouds, tightening up, wanting to find a thread of peace, closing eyes, wanting to enter that beautiful dream!

  After a long time, Xia Tong opened her eyes, let out a sigh and sat up, got dressed and lit the candle, sat down with her chin in her hand, looking at it and thinking of the bright nights in modern times.

  The door creaked open with a loud "creak" as it was pushed from outside!

  Xiatong was startled and looked up to see Mubojin swaying in the candlelight, holding a jug of wine, reeking of alcohol, stumbling into the room.

  Walked over to Xia Tong's opposite side, sat down, narrowed his eyes and stared at her for a while, then slammed the wine jug on the table, "Drink with me!"

  Looking at him, Xia Tong was shocked!

  Mo Bei Chen didn't say a word, directly took out two cups from the tray and filled them up. He then pushed one cup in front of Xia Tong, "Drink!" After saying that, he himself picked up a cup and drained it in one gulp!

  Staring at the crimson liquid in his cup, Xia Tong was perplexed: Tonight's him is so strange! He suddenly appeared, and in his dark, profound eyes, the cold indifference of the past was replaced by a hint of helplessness.

  "Why don't you drink? This is a fine wine from the palace!" Mu Beichen poured more wine, saying with drunken eyes.

  Xia Tong looked at him with a puzzled expression, picked up the rosé wine and took a sip, savoring the aftertaste, "Grape wine?"

  He gazed at her with profound meaning, Mu Beichen poured himself another cup and drank it in one gulp, saying: "At the time of brewing, grapes and herbs were indeed added, but it has a more elegant name - called Beauty's Drunkenness!"

  As he spoke, he reached out his hand and, before Xiaotong could react, grasped her chin, rubbing her scorching hot cheeks with his fingers. His enchanting eyes gazed at her as he murmured: "Beautiful woman drunk, beautiful woman drunk! Drunk for the beauty!"

  "You're drunk!"

  Xia Tong awkwardly pulled down his hand and stood up, saying "I'll go get some hangover soup!"

  Xia Tong took a bowl of vinegar with sugar from the small kitchen in Liuli Pavilion, while Mu Bei Chen was still drinking alone, his solitary figure swaying in the dim candlelight, making him look even more desolate.

  When dad got drunk, mom often did it this way, she made it according to the method, but didn't know if it worked!

  Xia Tong handed him a bowl. "Drink some sobering soup!"

  The wine glass was raised halfway into the air and then put down.

  Mu Beichen raised his head, looking at her with furrowed brows and unfocused eyes that seemed to pass through her, landing on some unknown place. He muttered to himself: "The Emperor wants you to have a child for me!"

  Like a thunderclap on a clear sky, Xiaotong's heart skipped a beat, the bowl in her hand fell to the ground, shattering into pieces, soup splashing everywhere, dyeing a patch of darkness, just like the dark cloud covering Xiaotong's heart.

  Have children with him? She doesn't want to! She's still a minor! How can she have children with him? Besides, they don't love each other, how can they have kids?

  "If you want children, go ask the Oriole!"

  Xia Tong said angrily, taking a step back and looking at him with some resistance!