Qing Yun sat down beside her, took the cup she offered without hesitation, and downed it in one go.
“Sour! The aftertaste isn’t bad, but there’s too little of it,” he commented lightly after drinking.
Such a scene might be normal in an ordinary household, but in the Ice Thorn Palace, it left Miao Jing trembling. For eleven years, His Majesty had never drunk anything but bajiu. That habit inspired both fear and respect because drinking only bajiu made poisoning impossible. And yet, this eleven-year habit crumbled in front of Queen Guan Ying.
“Your Majesty!” Miao Jing couldn’t help but remind him. However, Qing Yun simply waved his hand dismissively. “Leave us!”
Huang Bei Shuang smiled and spoke softly, “Lord Miao, you don’t need to worry. Go rest; I wish to be alone with His Majesty.”
Hearing this, Miao Jing could only bow and slowly retreat.
Once he had left, Qing Yun picked up the small gold and purple clay teapot in front of him and inspected it. “What kind of alcohol is this?”
Huang Bei Shuang smiled faintly, took the pot, and poured another half-filled cup. “Do you like it?”
Qing Yun took the cup and sipped it, then remarked, “Can’t you pour more? Drinking like this is exhausting!” After a pause, he turned to her and said, “To be honest, it’s not that great.”
Huang Bei Shuang giggled, “This is called Tonggui wine; it’s a custom of the Er Na Qi tribe.”
“Tonggui?” Qing Yun raised an eyebrow. “As in ‘mutual destruction’?”
“Nonsense!” Huang Bei Shuang pinched his cheek playfully. “It means ‘destined together for three lifetimes, traveling different paths but arriving at the same destination.’”
“Oh!” Qing Yun seemed pleased by her explanation. He grabbed her hand and brushed it against his lips, saying softly, “Is this like the wedding song tradition?”
Huang Bei Shuang nodded. “Tonggui wine is sour when it first touches the tongue but leaves a sweet aftertaste. On the wedding night, the bride and groom share a cup of this wine. It’s a wisdom passed down from our ancestors, symbolizing that life is filled with trials—birth, aging, illness, death, separation, and reunion. But over time, those who can keep their promises will eventually taste the sweetness of life. No matter how divergent two people’s paths may seem, in the end, they will walk together.”
“So, that’s why it’s called Tonggui wine!” Qing Yun smiled, seeming to appreciate the wine’s significance now. “But why only half a cup at a time?”
“It’s to remind you that life’s journey is only halfway through.” As she spoke, Huang Bei Shuang poured another two half-cups of the wine, then intertwined her hand holding the cup with Qing Yun’s. “Cheers!” she said.
Qing Yun chuckled, and they drank the wine, arms entwined.
Late into the night, without knowing how many hours had passed, the two continued drinking cup after cup, until the clouds obscured the moon.
And as usual, behind the dark green curtains, they embraced tightly.
However, in that moment, as Qing Yun leaned over her, there was an uncharacteristic coldness in his expression. He laughed bitterly and asked, “Are you still not going to tell me? What are you planning to do this time?”
Huang Bei Shuang froze, surprised by the clarity in his gaze.
“For thirteen years, I’ve drunk bajiu, and you have no idea how many times I’ve vomited blood because of it. My tongue can no longer even taste spiciness.” Qing Yun tightened his grip on her, speaking with a trace of bitterness. “Even if poison were mixed into the food or drink, I would survive. So what can a few small cups of wine do to me? Huang Bei Shuang, you’ve truly disappointed me. Did you think I would never get angry?”
With that, he grabbed her chin, his anger surging in an instant. “Tell me! What are you planning?”
Huang Bei Shuang had indeed drugged the wine, though it wasn’t poison—just a sedative meant to make him sleep for a few hours. She had taken a gamble, hoping he would drink the wine she offered. And she had won. Watching him down cup after cup, she had won… but it broke her heart. Before she could calm her inner turmoil, she realized she had lost—completely.
“You know I despise poisoned wine!” Qing Yun pressed down on her furiously, his lips trembling with rage. “Huang Bei Shuang, remember this: in our relationship, you win, not because you’re clever or because you’ve outmaneuvered me, but because I like you, I love you. Whatever you want to do, I’m willing to accept. But…” His hand dug painfully into her chin. “But I was wrong. Letting you have your way is just harming myself. Maybe I should learn from Ruo Wen—take whatever I want, no matter what you think.”
His eyes were bloodshot with fury. He roughly tore her clothes away, no longer holding back the hatred and anxiety that had been festering within him.
To love you until I lose all reason,To want you until I can never stop,To think of you until I’m single-minded,To hate you until my soul is detached from my body!Why is it always you?Why is it forever you?!
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