"Young master, don't hesitate any longer. What a wonderful thing it is, just to drink a cup!"
"Yes, yes. It's such a simple matter. If I could, I'd wish to go in your stead, and ease my craving too."
"Can't you drink? No way? Such a grown man who can't even drink, wouldn't he be laughed at if word got out?"
...
They spoke one after another. Rui'er, after all, was only fifteen or sixteen years old and had never seen such a scene. He poured a cup of wine, hardened his heart, closed his eyes, and gulped it down in one go.
Seeing everyone happily clapping, he couldn't help but smile. It was just drinking, not that difficult. It was just that the wine didn't taste very good. He wondered why everyone cherished it like a treasure.
"Young master, this way please. I will personally escort you downstairs." The assistant to the shopkeeper Liu, who had just selected the person, politely invited him.
Rui'er followed him downstairs without a second thought. But after only a few steps, his vision began to darken. He quickly gripped the railing and forced himself to walk down despite his discomfort. The objects in front of him doubled, then tripled, then quadrupled.
"What's wrong, young master? Is it the aftereffect of the wine? Are you feeling unwell? Shall I support you?" The man, who had been paying close attention to him, immediately noticed something was wrong. After a moment, he stepped forward to help him downstairs.
"Thank you!" Rui'er said weakly, relying on the man's strength to make his way to the main entrance with difficulty.
"You came here alone without any servants. It's not appropriate to go home by yourself. Wait here for a moment, I'll call for a carriage." After saying that, he led him to the opposite riverbank, where there were stone tables and chairs, perfect for him to rest for a while.
Rui'er's head was pounding violently. He regretted venturing in alone and hadn't paid attention to whether they were following. He had relied on his martial arts, thinking that with so many people around, it should be fine. They couldn't possibly attack him in broad daylight, could they?
However, sometimes what you fear most comes to pass. As he rubbed his forehead to alleviate the pain, he suddenly heard someone shout, "Fire! Fire! Everyone escape quickly..."
Rui'er laboriously raised his head and tried to open his eyes. He saw a blaze of fire before him. Thinking that the building was not far from where he was sitting and the fire was too large, he worried that the building might collapse and crush him. In a panic, he used all his strength to stagger to his feet.
The once bustling street suddenly descended into chaos. Everyone screamed and fled in terror. Someone bumped into him, causing him to stumble and fall against the railing by the river.
Enduring the pain in his waist, he wanted to leave this dangerous place. He didn't know when his side was surrounded by frightened people. Someone pushed him, and Rui'er fell directly into the river.
Although he could swim, his mind was muddled and his body was weak. He could only try his best to swim in one direction, attempting to get to shore. After finally reaching the bank, another person fell into the river and landed right on him. Caught off guard, he plunged headfirst into the water. Just as he thought he was going to suffocate, his arm was grabbed, and he was suddenly pulled upwards. The next moment, he was standing on the bank.
Looking at the person standing in front of him, though very blurry, he recognized his mother at a glance. He felt relieved and fainted.
"Master, what do we do now?" The hidden guard looked at her anxiously, not understanding why, despite being not far from the young master, she could stand by and watch, doing nothing whenever he encountered danger. Wasn't she supposed to protect him flawlessly?
"It's nothing. He's just drunk. Take him home and let him rest well." Wu Caiwei wasn't unaware of their confused expressions. She just felt that no matter how much she talked to her son normally, he wouldn't realize how dangerous some things were. She hoped this experience would teach him a lesson.
Rui'er woke up late in the morning, his head throbbing. A maid immediately brought him a hangover soup.
After drinking the soup, he remembered what had happened the previous night. He couldn't help but lament his bad luck, and at the same time, he was glad his mother had arrived in time. Otherwise, his life would have been lost in that river.
Wu Caiwei looked at her son, who came to greet her early in the morning, complaining about how unlucky he was. She was somewhat speechless.
Seeing his mother staring at him fixedly without interrupting, and having talked for the entire morning by himself, Rui'er sheepishly touched his nose.
"Are you finished?" Wu Caiwei asked calmly, seeing that the foolish boy had finally realized something was amiss and had quieted down.
" I... I'm finished," Rui'er said guiltily. For some reason, he felt as if he had made a terrible mistake and a sense of guilt washed over him.
"Come with me to see two people." After saying that, Wu Caiwei led the way. Rui'er followed her curiously. They walked further and further into a secluded area, finally stopping in front of the woodshed.
"Mother, why have you brought me here?" Rui'er, unable to hold back his curiosity, finally asked the question in his heart. He had always been composed, only acting childishly in front of his mother, and had lost his composure.
Wu Caiwei rolled her eyes at him and ignored him, walking ahead. When the door opened, Rui'er exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't this Shopkeeper Liu and his assistant? How did they end up here?"
Wu Caiwei sat directly on the only stool and motioned for the people behind her to take out what was in their mouths. She said with a half-smile, "Why they are here is something we should ask them about."
"Madam Zheng, we have no grievances or enmity. Your forcibly binding us here is illegal." Shopkeeper Liu looked at her somewhat indignantly. Those who did business in the capital, didn't they all have influential backing? The Zheng family, though praised for their loyalty, actually implied that they had no successors and held no influence in the court.
"No grievances or enmity? Before last night, we indeed had no grievances or enmity. But you two conspired to harm my son's life. I am a petty person and very protective of my young. Since you hurt him, I naturally have to retaliate." Wu Caiwei said with a cold laugh.
"I have been doing business honestly in the capital for so many years. I don't know Master Zheng. Last night was the first time we met. How could I have harmed him? Besides, I also have backing, someone your Zheng family cannot afford to offend. I will have an official handle this for us. Even in court, evidence is required. To have an adult convict us isn't as simple as fabricating a story." Shopkeeper Liu was very confident that he had acted discreetly and was determined not to confess.
"Our Zheng family treads on thin ice. We naturally wouldn't bind people for no reason. How do you know I don't have evidence?" Wu Caiwei said mockingly, sipping her tea.