Chapter 101: First Blood
He grew up in a life of luxury, spoiled and pampered. He always toys with others, bullies others. Never before has anyone had the guts to toy with him, making him swallow his pride and lower himself for so many days.
Wei Chengchao was furious, every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
He widened his eyes, his face flushed red, as if he wanted to vent all his anger on the innocent tables and chairs.
The two attendants saw this and also rushed forward to kick the toppled tables and chairs as if they were Han Lei.
After venting his anger for a while, Wei Chengchao gradually calmed down a bit.
"Damn it. No way, I can’t just let this slide!"
He panted heavily, a gleam of viciousness flashed in his eyes, and he began plotting how to get back at Han Lei.
"You two, tomorrow go back to Taoyuan County for me, and see what that slut has been up to lately. When I find the opportunity, I’ll kill her."
Wei Chengchao’s voice was low, each word sounding like it came from hell, sending a chill down one’s spine.
"Yes!"
"Yes! We’ll pack up and leave right away."
The two guards replied in unison, disregarding their weariness from returning to the Capital City today, and turned to walk towards the door.
Just as they reached the door, one attendant paused, turned back cautiously to ask their master.
"Um... Young Master. Do we... do we still need to keep taking the antidote?"
Antidote?
It was fine not mentioning it, but once it was brought up, Wei Chengchao slowly lowered his head, looked at the small porcelain bottle still in his hand, and his anger flared up again.
Ironic, so ironic!
Smash!
Wei Chengchao angrily smashed the porcelain bottle on the ground, and with a "smash" sound, the small porcelain bottle shattered into pieces, shards flying everywhere.
"Pah! Fool. What antidote, clearly that slut was playing us. Don’t let me catch that slut, I’ll definitely kill her if I catch her. Remember, no word about this goes out, or I’ll kill you too if there’s any leak."
Wei Chengchao’s small eyes were wide open, yelling hysterically, scaring the two attendants into a daze, who hurriedly nodded in agreement, then turned and ran.
After the attendants left, Wei Chengchao sulked alone in the hall for a while.
The mighty Mr. Wei in the Capital City, tricked by a little girl from a remote place. If this were to spread, how could he mingle in the playboy circles in the Capital City? It would be utterly embarrassing.
By this time, the moon was high in the sky outside.
Filled with frustration, thinking that his father had gone to seek pleasure,
he also called all his concubines into his room and recklessly indulged in debauchery, venting his anger severely.
After all, he was young and full of vigor!
After a night of chaos, by the next day, most of Wei Chengchao’s anger had dissipated.
Han Lei deceived him, true, but since it was diagnosed that he wasn’t poisoned, it was just a false alarm, escaping death, which was a huge relief for him.
Upon carefully reconsidering everything, he gradually became cheerful.
He rested obediently at the Prime Minister’s residence for a day, nervously observing for a day.
After not taking the antidote for a day, he felt fine, his body indeed showed no anomalies. This further convinced him that Han Lei was just toying with him.
On the third day, he reverted to his playboy nature, starting to call on friends.
"Come here!"
Wei Chengchao shouted toward the outside of the door. Soon, a maid standing outside entered with her head lowered.
"What’s your command, Young Master?"
"Go, have two people invite Mr. Li, Mr. Yang, and Mr. Qiu one by one... tell them that I’ve returned. We’ll meet at noon at Tengyun Building to drink and have fun together."
"Yes!"
The maid received the order and left.
With the help of his concubines, Wei Chengchao dressed and groomed himself well, bringing along several attendants and maids, swaggering off toward Tengyun Building.
The gentle spring sunlight shone on the ancient streets of the Capital City, making Tengyun Building appear more vibrant in the warm sunshine.
This weathered tavern, every brick and tile seems to tell the stories of the past.
In front of Tengyun Building, the crowd was bustling, business as hot as ever.
Inside Tengyun Building, the hot aroma of delicious food wafted through the air, diners gathered in groups of three or five or enjoyed solitude, their faces radiating satisfaction and joy.
Wei Chengchao swayed his folding fan as he stepped through the gate of Tengyun Building, drawing the pupil-contracted gaze of the busy shopkeeper, who quickly came over in person to greet him.
"Oh! It’s Mr. Wei, please come in. Your favorite private room has been reserved for you! Please follow me."
The shopkeeper respectfully led Wei Chengchao to an elegant room by the window on the third floor. He thought to himself: this little ancestor, it’s fine if he keeps a tab, just don’t cause any trouble here today!
"Go! Bring the best food and drink, I’m going to have a good gathering with my friends today."
Wei Chengchao arched an eyebrow, strutted to a seat by the window, and sat down.
"Yes, yes, yes. Young Master, please have some tea and snacks here first, I’ll go arrange it."
The shopkeeper personally attended to him, bowing and scraping, placing the tea and snacks before him, then turned to head downstairs to arrange everything.
Outside the window, under the March sunlight, willow branches swayed lightly, peach blossoms bloomed, and the spring scenery intertwined with the street scene formed a captivating painting.
While waiting for the food and friends, Wei Chengchao leaned on the window sill, watching the street scene outside. His small eyes, with a frivolous and lecherous gaze, lingered incessantly on the women passing by on the street.
Soon, his friends arrived one after another, and the food and drink were served, and everyone began to drink and have fun.
Previously, the drinks at Tengyun Building were tasted like unrivaled delicacies, intoxicatingly delicious, but now felt bland and tasteless.
"Why do these drinks taste more and more bland?" Wei Chengchao frowned.
"The taste hasn’t changed!"
The friends beside him smacked their lips, feeling no difference from what they used to drink.
Wei Chengchao always felt something was lacking in the drinks, suddenly recalling the few jars of Drunken Immortal Brew he brought back from Taoyuan County.
That was wine Han Lei instructed him to bring back to the Capital City, as a promotional tasting sample.
"Go! Bring those few jars of wine I brought back yesterday over here, hurry up!"
Wei Chengchao dispatched an attendant to fetch the Drunken Immortal Brew, then turned to brag and boast to his table of friends.
"This wine of mine! It’s called Drunken Immortal Brew. I got it from out of town; you’ll taste it and find it far better than the wine here at Tengyun Building. Even gods would be reluctant to leave after tasting it."
The taste of Drunken Immortal Brew was unforgettable. Even though Wei Chengchao hated Han Lei to the core, he acknowledged the deliciousness of Drunken Immortal Brew.
The Prime Minister’s residence wasn’t far from Tengyun Building, so quickly, the attendants brought over a few jars of wine.
As soon as the attendant opened the seal of the jar, the rich and lingering aroma permeated the entire private room.
"Wow! Such fragrant wine!"
"This wine, just the smell is already different."
"The wine adhesion effect is great too!"
"I want to taste it already. Quick, quick, quick, pour me some."
Seeing everyone praising the wine, Wei Chengchao, having successfully shown off, smirked in satisfaction.
The attendant filled the cups for the young gentlemen; Wei Chengchao immediately raised his glass and stood up.
"Come, come, come, everyone let’s have one, give it a try."
"Alright! Let’s have one!"
Just as Wei Chengchao brought his cup to his lips, the aroma of Drunken Immortal Brew filled his nostrils.
He felt a warm flow in his nose, then a drop of nosebleed suddenly dripped into the wine glass.
The fresh red nosebleed hadn’t even fully diffused in the Drunken Immortal Brew before a second drop followed. Then came the third, and the fourth...
Wei Chengchao wiped his sleeve across his face, leaving a red streak on his cheek.