Chapter 584 - 217: Ascending the Hall
Chapter 584: Chapter 217: Ascending the Hall
The next day, the newly minted scholars gathered at the Golden Jade Restaurant.
This time, not only were all the scholars present, but even some of the students who had failed the examination came along after hearing the news.
Some were joyous, while others were sorrowful.
The students who had failed couldn’t help but feel envious when they looked at the new scholars. The scholars, in turn, looked upon the failed students with no shortage of pity. However, everyone welcomed their presence.
For those who wished to enter the world of officialdom, how could one possibly go it alone?
Having a few more friends from one’s hometown, knowing a few more people, opened up more paths in life. This was not necessarily a bad thing.
De’an, Wang Jun, and the others also came. The gathering started in the morning and didn’t break up until late at night.
That day, Zhao Jing was utterly exhausted.
Many people had come specifically for him, including a good number of the students who had failed.
They clutched their examination papers, eagerly crowding around him and waiting for him to offer some guidance. Zhao Jing wasn’t fond of socializing, but how could he possibly refuse at a time like this?
After dealing with one, another three, four, five, or six would appear. Over the course of the day, he had reviewed countless examination papers and drunk countless cups of wine toasted to him by others.
By the time he got home, he was completely drunk.
This was the most drunk Chen Wanqing had ever seen him since they married.
He couldn’t even walk straight and only made it home because Cao Xu was supporting him.
De’an wasn’t much better off, but at least he could still walk on his own. And even though his speech was a bit slurred, he was still somewhat conscious.
Chen Wanqing knew they would be out late, so she had told her mother in advance to have De’an stay over with them, which would save her mother the trouble.
She ordered the servants to help De’an to his room to rest, while she supported Zhao Jing back to their own courtyard.
In the past, whenever Zhao Jing drank, he would only get slightly tipsy.
He was always very restrained and would never let himself get to the point of blacking out. This time, he truly couldn’t get out of it, so he had no choice but to drink so much.
After laying him on the bed, Chen Wanqing soaked a cloth in water and began to wash his face and hands.
During this, Zhao Jing’s eyes seemed to clear for a moment. He looked at the person struggling to clean him up. "Wanqing?"
"It’s me. Does your head hurt? Do you want to drink this hangover soup?"
Zhao Jing shook his head. "I don’t want to."
The smell of alcohol on his breath was strong as he spoke, even stronger than the smell on his clothes. It was clear he had really drunk a lot.
"If you don’t want it, then don’t drink it. You should sleep first. I’ll massage your head in a little while."
"Don’t trouble yourself, Wanqing. Come to bed with me."
"I’ll sleep in a bit. Let me finish cleaning you up first."
Chen Wanqing then asked him if he had met a lot of people that day. What kind of wine had he been drinking to get drunk so easily? Hadn’t he taken the Hangover Relief Pills she had prepared for him to take before drinking?
After waiting a long time for a response, Chen Wanqing looked up, only to see that he had fallen asleep again at some point.
She couldn’t help but shake her head, then re-wet the cloth and continued to wipe him down.
When she was finished, Chen Wanqing also got into bed to rest.
The next day, she was awakened by a dampness on her lips.
Before she could even open her eyes, she felt something press deep inside.
The tongue was soft and fresh, tasting of mint-flavored tooth powder. Paired with the clean scent of his body, she knew who it was without even opening her eyes.
Without even opening her eyes, Chen Wanqing was plunged into a wave of overwhelming pleasure.
’She didn’t know how other people felt the morning after a night of heavy drinking, but they certainly weren’t like Jing.’
’So impulsive!’
’And so full of energy!’
Her scalp tingled, and her body, having been thoroughly pleasured, felt limp and pliant. When they were finished, she drank a cup of warm water from his hand and fell asleep again.
When she woke again, it was nearly Noon.
Chen Wanqing looked at the man sitting and reading in the room, then sat up, still dazed.
He still had that same bright, breezy, and otherworldly air about him, but the soreness in her body was a stark reminder of just how deep his desires ran.
Chen Wanqing clutched the blanket to herself and asked in a hoarse voice, "Jing, don’t you ever feel tired?"
Zhao Jing looked over at the sound of her voice.
He understood what she meant almost instantly. Standing up, he walked over to her, took her hand, and said, "I can’t help it. You’re just too beautiful to resist, Wanqing. I really couldn’t hold back."
’Waking up to see the one you love sleeping beside you... Her skin was so delicate, her body exuded a subtle fragrance, and her figure was slender and graceful. And when they made love, her face would be flushed, a captivating vision of passion, her voice as sweet as a songbird’s.’
’Before, with the examinations, he had to be restrained, afraid that indulging himself would hinder his progress and prevent him from giving Wanqing the life she deserved. Now that he had achieved some small success, a little relaxation was just a reward for himself.’
’But clearly, the reward had been a bit too generous, and Wanqing was a little annoyed.’
Zhao Jing promised in all sincerity, "I’ll be sure to stop at the right time next time."
Chen Wanqing glared at him. "You say that every time, but you always break your promise. Jing, you should know what they say about those who eat their words—one of these days, your credit with me is going to go bankrupt."