C80 Chosen 169

In front of you are three barrels of wine and five cups. I’m giving you the duration of one class to mix five different drinks. If you can drink them and walk out of the room without collapsing, you’ll qualify to attend the next class,” Shen Ci’s voice was calm, yet carried a weight of experience.

Tiange knew Shen Ci’s methods well; to mix drinks, you had to be able to handle your liquor.

“With cups this big, who wouldn’t get drunk?” a new student exclaimed.

Shen Ci had three barrels of wine in front of him as well. He picked up the one in the middle. “I didn’t say you couldn’t get drunk, just that you couldn’t fall.”

After setting the barrel down, Shen Ci looked up. “Whether you get drunk or not depends on the person. I once had a student who, during her first class, didn’t just drink five cups—she drank all three barrels.”

Tiange’s hand paused on the barrel. He was talking about her. Back then, full of youthful pride, she drank all three barrels just because Shen Ci made a remark. What he said, she couldn’t remember.

“Who was it? Who could handle that much?” a new student asked, curiosity piqued.

“Dugu Yan.” As Shen Ci spoke the name, the room fell silent. In this city, the name Dugu Yan was taboo. To live well, one had to steer clear of anything associated with that name, even if it was just a name.

"The former Grand Marshal's spirit is unmatched by ordinary people," Tiange remarked, pouring some wine into each cup.

Beside her, Zhixi smiled softly, "Everyone knows Dugu Yan can hold her liquor. Maybe she just had a craving back then."

A few newcomers chuckled quietly, but Tiange didn't mind.

During the extra exam, Zhixi had already expressed her opinion of Dugu Yan. Others might think she was being harsh because of her father’s political position, but Tiange could tell she genuinely looked down on her.

"Our lesson today," Shen Ci began, focusing on the cups before him, "is that those who get drunk easily have a craving, while those who can drink endlessly have a talent. And Dugu Yan is the most talented student I've had since joining the academy, bar none."

Zhixi hadn't expected Shen Ci to say that. She looked up, slightly bowing her head, "I misspoke."

Shen Ci didn't respond.

It's easy to add to what's already good, but much harder to help when times are tough. Tiange felt deeply grateful for Shen Ci's support even after her downfall.

Just then, an unexpected guest burst into the room.

At least, that's how Tiange saw it.

"Instructor Rong!" A new student exclaimed with delight, standing up and waving frantically, as if afraid Rong Qi might not notice them.

Facing the unexpected arrival of someone, Tiange instinctively lowered her head, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, while resentment brewed in her heart. How long would this guy haunt her?

To her surprise, Rong Qi left the next moment. Yes, he left without saying a word or even glancing at her.

For the first time, Tiange tasted the bitterness of her own wishful thinking in front of Rong Qi. Through the lattice window, she watched his hurried figure. Compared to when he arrived, he now carried two more jars of wine...

The bell rang again, and as instructed by Shen Ci, ten new students drank the five cups of wine they had prepared. Except for Tiange and Ye Zhixi, who drank it all, six got drunk, and two passed out. This meant that for the upcoming lessons, only eight would remain in the wine room...

After leaving the wine room, Ye Zhixi caught up with Tiange. "Do you admire Dugu Yan?"

"Who didn't admire her before she became a corrupt concubine?" As the saying goes, people with different paths can't make plans together, and she and Ye Zhixi were destined not to be friends.

Noticing Tiange's eagerness to leave, Ye Zhixi gave a slight smile and gestured for her to go ahead.

The tallest trees catch the most wind; being too conspicuous only leads to a downfall. Those who understand the times are the true heroes. Ye Zhixi admired Tiange's courage, but she didn't envy her one bit.

She didn't think much of Tiange, just as she never appreciated Dugu Yan back then...

Leaving the Imperial Academy, Tiange headed straight for the palace. She had promised to take Bai Yushuang somewhere special. That place was Puning Temple.

The temple wasn't far from the royal city, less than a couple of hours by carriage. To avoid disturbing the temple's nuns, Tiange instructed the driver to take the carriage along the mountain path behind the temple.

When the carriage stopped, Tiange was the first to jump out, her gaze landing on a low peak.

"Is this place special to Dugu Yan?" Bai Yushuang asked, jumping down from the carriage with a curious look.

It was indeed special. It was here that she had first shared the news of her pregnancy with Silver Mask. She was the first to tell him, even before Beiming Yuan knew. She had told Silver Mask that she had dedicated the first half of her life to Great Qi without regrets, and now she wanted to live for herself. Unfortunately, Beiming Yuan never gave her that chance...

"Special is good," Bai Yushuang said, instructing Dao Wu to bring out the items she had prepared. They headed up the peak, with Tiange following, lost in thought.

At the top, as Bai Yushuang arranged the paper soldiers she had folded, someone wiped sweat from their brow.

"Do you really think the Crown Prince Consort needs these things?" Feng Tiange mused, thinking to herself, can't you be a bit more practical?

Bai Yushuang shrugged it off. "You've never been to war, so you wouldn't understand how brutal it is for a marshal to be short on troops."

Feng Tiange admitted she truly didn't get it, as she'd never done anything so foolish.

Seeing Bai Yushuang light a match, Feng Tiange decided not to interrupt her anymore.

"Dugu Yan! Bet you didn't expect this general to come see you!" Bai Yushuang knelt on one knee, grabbing a handful of spirit soldiers and tossing them into a copper basin. "Honestly, I envy you. Look at you, even in death, you have me sending troops to ensure you keep strutting your stuff down there. When my time comes, who knows if anyone will be so thoughtful..."

Feng Tiange listened silently, occasionally twitching her lips.

"I always told you, don't be too ruthless. Keeping a low profile isn't so bad. Look at me, I've been humble. I fought you seven times and never won once, yet here I am, alive and well, while you're off to meet your maker!"

Bai Yushuang sighed deeply. "But since I'm sending you troops, put in a good word with the big guy down there, will you? Maybe let me live another hundred years or so. I don't mind getting old..."

Despite the freezing weather, Feng Tiange was sweating bullets listening to all this.

If she could speak, she would tell Bai Yushuang, "The Grim Reaper said my time isn't up yet, so I'm here to call you down."

"As for your revenge, if someone else takes it, I'll just watch. If no one does, I'll do it for you," Bai Yushuang finally said something serious, but because of the bizarre things said earlier, Feng Tiange couldn't quite feel moved.

Just then, a wisp of smoke rose in the distance.

Feng Tiange and Bai Yushuang noticed it almost simultaneously and exchanged a glance.

"I'll go check it out," Feng Tiange said softly, turning and heading toward the smoke.

Once she was out of sight, Bai Yushuang tossed a handful of paper soldiers into the copper basin. "I trust the people you brought out."

Deep in the woods, Rong Qi sat alone in a snowy cloak on a clearing, a campfire burning in front of him, roasting snake meat.

The moment Feng Tiange saw Rong Qi, she was taken aback.

It's a small world, after all!