The Prime Minister had been preoccupied since his return that day. This incident had left him deeply disheartened with Nangong Jin. As an emperor, Nangong Jin constantly indulged in capricious behavior, how could his subjects not feel a chill? If not for the protagonist's halo in his previous life, if not for Nangong Jin's powerful aura, he would have long been dethroned.
A few days after the Prime Minister's return, Prince Yi, Nangong Yi, sought out Ming Li.
That day, Ming Li was leisurely strolling alone on Vermillion Bird Street when a man in black suddenly appeared out of nowhere and blocked her path. If Ming Li walked to the right, he followed; if she walked to the left, he also followed.
Ming Li: ...?! She stopped and sat in place, staring directly at the man blocking her way, impatience practically overflowing from her eyes.
Seeing Ming Li look at him, the man standing before her quickly bowed and said, "Miss Bai, my master wishes to meet with you. Please follow me."
Ming Li raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest sparking. "Who is your master? I've been so bored lately, I'm practically going moldy. Since someone has come looking for me, I'll go take a look."
This man in black was Mu Yan, Nangong Yi's subordinate. Mu Yan replied, "Prince Yi."
Ming Li: ...?! Curious, why would this minor character seek her out at this moment?
Ming Li followed Mu Yan to a wine shop. Upon entering a room, she saw Nangong Yi sitting alone by a dark red table, holding a cup of tea and savoring it.
Ming Li: ...?! She looked at Nangong Yi with a bewildered expression. If she remembered correctly, this was a wine shop, wasn't it?! So, had this minor character lost his mind, coming to a wine shop to drink tea instead of a proper tea house? Forgive this little fairy for not understanding Nangong Yi's peculiar behavior.
System in the space: ...?! Its host was shamelessly calling herself a little fairy again...
Ming Li sat down opposite Nangong Yi and asked with a speechless expression, "Do you drink?"
Seeing Ming Li sit opposite him, Nangong Yi put down his teacup. He looked confused by her question and said somewhat sheepishly, "I have been frail and sickly since childhood, so I cannot hold my liquor."
Ming Li: "Then why did you come to a wine shop? And don't tell me it's to cover your tracks."
Nangong Yi: "To cover my tracks."
Ming Li: ...?! Fine, it was exactly as she suspected.
Seeing Ming Li's strange expression, Nangong Yi felt a sense of bewilderment.
As Nangong Yi fell silent and kept staring at her, Ming Li spoke, "Since it's to cover your tracks, we must commit to the act."
Then, Nangong Yi watched as the woman opposite him ordered five to six jars of wine. He then watched as she began to drink; one jar, two jars, three jars...
Nangong Yi: ...?!
Nangong Yi watched in disbelief as Ming Li finished all the wine on the table in no time, and yet, the woman opposite him showed no signs of drunkenness.
Nangong Yi: ...?! He was utterly shocked by this scene.
He glanced at Ming Li, who stood before him with no flush and steady breathing, then looked at himself.
Nangong Yi: ...?! He instantly felt like trash.