“Your Highness, I know you’re suffering in your heart. But the princess is doing so for her own reasons.” Liu Ling walked to Yan Lingjun and said while looking at the lake.

Yan Lingjun sneered, “Do they ask you to come here to persuade me?”

“Your Highness, you’ve taken me wrongly. You and I have grown up together. Why can’t I come here to care for you simply as your friend?” Hearing that, Liu Ling frowned and stared at Yan Lingjun.

Yan Lingjun turned around, walked to the stone stool, and sat down. He said, “Sometimes I really envy you.”

“Your Highness, why do you envy me?” Hearing that, Liu Ling raised his eyebrows slightly. Then he walked to the stool opposite Yan Lingjun and sat down.

Yan Lingjun sighed and said with a forced smile, “I envy you because there is no responsibility on your shoulder. You can do everything you want.”

“Your Highness, why are you saying so?” Liu Ling asked, looking at Yan Lingjun.

Yan Lingjun took another sigh, “A prince as I am, my mother has been reminding me of the responsibility on my shoulder. She tells me to consider the whole picture before making decisions. Do you know? Every time I saw you out, I always want to follow you. However, I have never dared to tell my mother about it.”

“The princess has her own difficulties of doing so. With Yan Ji ruling the country, the residents are suffering terrible miseries. You are the only hope of us.” Liu Ling said.

Hearing Liu Ling’s words, Yan Lingjun couldn’t help smiling, “Even you think so, too! However, I really don’t want the throne. All I want is to do something I like, but I can’t. I can’t...”

While saying this, Yan Lingjun shook his head.

“Your Highness, stop saying so. If the princess learns what you are thinking, she must be very sad.” Hearing that, Liu Ling looked around and reminded Yan Lingjun.

Yan Lingjun patted his chest, “Sad? Does anyone of you care about my feelings?”

“Your Highness, when we find the treasure and attack Zhaoge, you won’t have such thoughts anymore.” Seeing Yan Lingjun’s behavior, Liu Ling couldn’t find proper words to comfort him in a short time.

Yan Lingjun shook his head again, “No. You don’t understand...”

While saying, Yan Lingjun lay on the stone table.

Seeing Yan Lingjun acting like that, Liu Ling didn’t know what to do for a moment. At that time, Yan Wanchu came from one side.

Seeing Yan Wanchu, Liu Ling wanted to stand up and curtsey. But Yan Wanchu put her hand on her mouth, hinting him not to speak.

Liu Ling got her meaning and nodded to her.

Yan Wanchu walked over, holding a flagon. Then she put it on the stone table.

Hearing the sound, Yan Ling raised his head, seeing Yan Wanchu, “Wanchu, why do you come here?”

“Well, have a look. See what I’ve brought for you.” Yan Wanchu said, pointing at the flagon on the table.

Yan Lingjun looked at the flagon on the table. A gust of hot gas came out from its mouth.

“Liquor?” Yan Lingjun frowned slightly.

Yan Wanchu nodded and said, “Yes. It’s liquor. Just now I saw you and Mr. Liu here. It’s really cold now. So I asked the servant to heat a bottle of liquor to drive away your coldness.”

“Thank you, sister.” At this moment, Yan Lingjun recovered a little. He said to Yan Wanchu with a smile.

Yan Wanchu also smiled and said, “Well, what about having a drink and tasting it?”

While saying, Yan Wanchu put those cups on the table, took the flagon, and poured the liquor into all the cups.

After pouring, Yan Wanchu put down the flagon. Then she was the first one to take a cup. She said, looking at the other two, “Have a drink.”

“Your Highness, thank you,” Liu Ling said. He took the cup in front of him and put it to his mouth for a sip. Then he raised his head to drink it all.

Liu Ling nodded and praised it, “Oh! It tastes nice. Your Highness, please have a drink.”

Liu Ling said to Yan Lingjun.

At this moment, Yan Lingjun put the cup to his mouth. Then he raised his head to drink the liquor. He was choked because he drank too fast.

Yan Wanchu hurried to put down her cup and pat Yan Lingjun on his back, “Brother, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry. Sister, your liquor is good. It tastes nice.” Yan Lingjun said. Then he took the flagon to pour liquor into his cup again. With a bitter smile, he raised his head and drank all the liquor again.

Yan Lingjun had several drinks one after another like that. Seeing this, Liu Ling couldn’t help frowning. He was about to persuade Yan Lingjun when he saw that Yan Wanchu, who was standing behind Yan Lingjun, shook her head while staring at him.

After a few drinks, Yan Lingjun couldn’t endure the strength of the liquor and fell on the table. Liu Ling stood up immediately, “Your Highness. Your Highness.”

“I’m fine. Let’s keep drinking... drinking...” Hearing Liu Ling calling him, Yan Lingjun raised his head, held up the cup in his hand tipsily, and continued to put it towards his mouth.

Seeing this, Liu Ling held Yan Lingjun’s hand and said, “Your Highness, you should stop drinking. You are already drunk.”

“Drunk? No. I’m not drunk… Not. Come… Keep drinking.” Yan Lingjun said. He shook himself free of Liu Ling’s grasp and continued to drink.

Liu Ling was about to say something when Yan Wanchu said, “Mr. Liu, please let him drink. Maybe he will get the answer to his problem in his mind after getting drunk and getting a sleep.”

“How can the depression in His Highness’s heart be solved in one night?” Liu Ling looked at Yan Lingjun and said.

Yan Wanchu sighed and said, “Brother has to bear the expectation of all the people. As time passing, it’s natural for him to feel tired physically and mentally. What’s more, the trip to the Jihan Mountain is indeed very dangerous. I bet that brother will understand mother’s plan in the future.”

“While this is the case, it requires time. As his friend, I can feel that he is not happy in his heart.” said Liu Ling.

Yan Wanchu nodded, “As the saying goes, ‘You can’t have your cake and eat it, too’. Brother will be the emperor in the future. He will learn it sooner or later.”

“Your Highness, if His Highness can think it in the same way as you do, he won’t act like this now.” Hearing that, Liu Ling raised his eyebrows and said.

Yan Wanchu smiled. At this moment, a gust of cold wind blew.

Yan Wanchu looked at Liu Ling, “Mr. Liu, the wind is blowing now. Please help my brother go back in case he catches a cold.”

“Okay.” Liu Ling nodded and walked to Yan Lingjun.

Yan Lingjun was already drunk now. He lay on the stone table and fell asleep.

Yan Wanchu walked to the other side of Yan Lingjun and supported him along with Liu Ling.

At this time, Yan Lingjun’s face looked rosy. He opened his eyes slightly and asked Liu Ling with confused eyes, “What… what are you doing? Why are you supporting me?”

“Your Highness, you are drunk now. It’s cold outside, so Her Highness and I will help you return to your house and have a rest.” While saying this, Liu Ling put Yan Lingjun’s arm on his neck.

Hearing that, Yan Lingjun moved his hand away from Liu Ling’s neck. Without support, Yan Lingjun took a few steps backward.

Then he pointed at the two people with his finger, “Who says I’m drunk? I... I’m not drunk. I can have a few drinks more. Neither... neither of you can stop me.”

Just after saying this sentence, Yan Lingjun’s body softened, falling to the ground directly.

Seeing that, Liu Ling hurried to run forward, holding Yan Lingjun in time before he fell onto the ground. He asked, “Your Highness, are you alright?”

Yan Lingjun was still murmuring, “I’m not drunk. Not drunk.”

“Mr. Liu, please carry him to his house on your back. I’ll ask the servant to cook some soup to sober him up from drunkenness.” Yan Wanchu walked to Liu Ling and said.

Liu Ling nodded, “Okay. Your Highness, don’t worry. I’ll bring His Highness back.”

Then with strength, Liu Ling carried Yan Lingjun on his back.

After Liu Ling was gone with Yan Lingjun on his back, Yan Wanchu also walked to the other side, ordering the servants to prepare the soup sobering people up from drunkenness.

It was darkening now.

In the Snowy House, Pei Moning couldn’t help walking in the house back and forth. It was about time for dinner. How came Yang Zijin still hadn’t returned yet?

Why did the emperor of Beiling invite Yang Zijin to the Royal Palace? Why did she leave in the early morning but hadn’t returned till now? Pei Moning couldn’t help worrying.

Runyu took the water bottle on the table, had a drink, and said, “Pei, you’ve been walking in the house for a whole afternoon. Sit down and have a rest.”

“Runyu, how can I sit down without worrying? It’s sunset now, but Zijin still doesn’t return. I’m worried that the emperor of Beiling may know something and have some tricks.” Pei Moning walked to Runyu and said with anxiety.

Runyu said, “Even though the Beiling emperor knows something, he can’t do anything to us before we leave Beiling.”

“I know. Although this is the case, why does it take Zijin so long there? No. I can’t just wait here. I want to sneak into the palace and have a look. I want to know the reason.” Pei Moning couldn’t help frowning. He was going to walk outside while saying.

Runyu said again, “Her Highness has just arrived at Beiling. Maybe after the discussion of remembrance ceremony of the deceased emperor, the Beiling emperor offers a banquet to Her Highness.”

“Yeah. How come I didn’t think of that? I’ll wait for some time more. If Zijin doesn’t return later, I’ll go to the palace!” Hearing Runyu’s words, Pei Moning couldn’t help clapping hands and said.

Pei Moning walked to the chair next to Runyu and sat down.

After dinner, Pei Moning couldn’t keep sitting anymore. He focused on the noise outside.

Pei Moning looked at Runyu and said, "It's so late now. She still doesn't come back. There must be something happening. I cannot wait anymore. I'll go to the palace."

While saying, Pei Moning walked towards the gate.

Runyu stood up from the chair and said, "Wait!"

"What?" Hearing that, Pei Moning stopped and turned around to look at Runyu.

Runyu walked to Pei Moning and said while staring at him, "Pei, if you are discovered by someone when you go to the palace now, have you thought of the way to escape? Also, if the Beiling emperor knows something, your behavior of sneaking into the palace maybe taken as evidence."