By the time dinner was ready, Ye Shen, who had finished his official duties, also arrived, and the group sat down in the Imperial Garden.
They ate, drank, and chatted, and Emperor Zhou didn't put on too many airs.
However, with Ye Li and Consort Xian's supervision, Emperor Zhou couldn't drink much, so he kept urging Pei Ji and Ye Shen to drink with Shen Jing, clearly intending for them to help him get Shen Jing drunk to get revenge for the last time Shen Jing got him drunk.
Even with Shen Jing's various attempts to refuse, facing round after round of drinks from Pei Ji and Ye Shen, he still drank a considerable amount.
Towards the end, Shen Jing was so dizzy he felt like he was floating.
But Pei Ji, like a big fool, kept pouring him drinks, making him want to choke Pei Ji several times and fight that old man to the death.
When Shen Jing was once again forced to empty his cup, Ye Shen personally picked up the wine pot, poured Shen Jing a cup, and said with a chuckle, "I hear Marquis Shen is a brilliant scholar; why not compose a poem on the spot to add to the festive mood?"
"Yes, yes!"
Emperor Zhou nodded with a slight smile, "I also want to hear a poem from a great talent like you!"
"Your subject... has no literary talent."
Shen Jing shook his dizzy head, "All of my poems... are... copied, mm-hmm, yes, they're all copied..."
Upon hearing Shen Jing's words, Ye Li immediately became displeased, "Marquis Shen, are you trying to contradict Father Emperor and Big Brother?"
Pei Ji was also quite drunk, and in a state of abandon, he slung his arm around Shen Jing's shoulder, "If you don't compose a poem, then... a penalty drink, drink this entire pot of wine!"
Saying this, Pei Ji took the wine pot and placed it in front of Shen Jing with a 'clang,' still smiling like a big fool.
As soon as Pei Ji said this, Ye Li, that Xiao Ba Po, was the first to join in the clamor, and Emperor Zhou and the others also nodded.
Shen Jing, still dizzy, picked up the wine pot and roughly estimated its weight.
There was at least more than half a pot left!
If he drank all of that, he probably wouldn't be able to hold on.
"Your subject will still... compose a lyric! No, copy... copy a lyric!"
Shen Jing patted his head, swayed as he stood up, and without much thought, began to recite loudly.
"With furious hair, I lean against the railing, and the pouring rain ceases."
"I look up, howl at the sky, my heart filled with passionate ambition."
"Thirty years of fame are but dust, eight thousand li of road are but clouds and moon."
"Do not let time pass idly, turning youthful heads white, only to regret it!"
"Jing..."
As he recited, Shen Jing suddenly jolted.
Damn it!
What had he just recited?!
Jingkang?
Where did Jingkang come from?
Should it be changed to Jin Province's Shame?
The Former Emperor led an army on a personal expedition years ago and suffered a great defeat in Jin Province; even the Former Emperor himself was struck by two arrows and almost lost his life.
That was indeed a disgrace!
But bringing this up in front of the Emperor and the Crown Prince, would they interpret it in some other way?
Nima!
Just as he said, these poems shouldn't be copied casually!
Your grandma!
How was he going to smooth this over now?
"Jing... Jing..."
Shen Jing repeated it several times, his mind racing.
However, his head was already dizzy, and with his heart tightening in panic, he thought for a long time but couldn't figure out how to smooth it over.
Shen Jing had a flash of inspiration, and his body suddenly went limp, swaying as he fell down.
"Shen Jing!"
Ye Shen was quick-eyed and quick-handed, catching Shen Jing in one swift motion.
However, Shen Jing seemed to have passed out from drunkenness.
Several people called out to him repeatedly, but Shen Jing showed no reaction.
"Do not let time pass idly, turning youthful heads white, only to regret it!"
Emperor Zhou savored the line, exclaiming, "What a good lyric, what a pity I didn't hear the rest..."
"Father Emperor, Marquis Shen seems truly drunk this time."
Ye Shen looked up at Emperor Zhou.
Emperor Zhou glanced at Shen Jing and instructed Yu Rang, "Send someone to take him to the Southern Warm Pavilion."
Huh?
The Southern Warm Pavilion?
Not sending him home?
If that's the case, then he was going to cause some trouble!
At Emperor Zhou's command, two eunuchs helped Shen Jing towards the Southern Warm Pavilion.
The Southern Warm Pavilion was located within the palace, but in the front palace.
It was also the only place in the palace where adult men were allowed to stay overnight.
Sometimes, if the Emperor and his ministers talked too late, he would let the ministers rest in the Southern Warm Pavilion, saving them from having to rush home in the middle of the night, only to have to get up again for court after barely lying down.
It was practically early winter now, and the cold wind, combined with Shen Jing's already dizzy state, made him even dizzier.
However, Shen Jing kept reminding himself internally: don't sleep!
He still had to cause trouble!
Shen Jing struggled to stay awake all the way, finally being brought to the Southern Warm Pavilion.
After helping Shen Jing onto the bed to rest, one eunuch sternly instructed the palace maid, "This is Marquis Shen, whom His Majesty just bestowed an honor upon today; serve him well!"
"Yes!"
The palace maid bowed her head in reply, but she was very unhappy inside.
The Southern Warm Pavilion rarely had court officials staying there for ten days, and she had just arranged to meet her beloved guard for a night of fun, but now someone had been sent here.
After giving instructions to the palace maid, the eunuch left.
Shen Jing had originally wanted to seize the opportunity to create some trouble, staging a play where he was assassinated.
But seeing someone there to serve him, he immediately abandoned that idea.
As that thought vanished, a wave of drowsiness immediately overcame him.
Soon, Shen Jing fell into a deep sleep.
The palace maid poked her head out and glanced at Shen Jing; seeing that he was already in deep sleep, she tentatively called out, "Marquis Shen, Marquis Shen..."
The palace maid called out several times, but the deeply sleeping Shen Jing showed no reaction.
Seeing Shen Jing sleeping so soundly, the palace maid's mind became active again.
About half an hour later, a few cricket chirps suddenly sounded from outside.
The palace maid listened for a while, then called out to Shen Jing a few more times; seeing that Shen Jing still didn't react, she hesitated for a moment, then carefully left the room.
Shen Jing didn't know how long he had slept until a strong urge to urinate came over him, and he groggily opened his eyes.
He instinctively rubbed his throbbing head, and in his daze, he forgot that someone was there to serve him; just as he was about to get up to find a chamber pot, the door was suddenly pushed open softly.
Through the dim lamplight, the still-groggy Shen Jing vaguely saw a stealthy figure approaching him.
The moment he saw the person's movements, Shen Jing suddenly became alert.
It wasn't until he saw the person's face was covered through his slightly open eyelids that his drunkenness and urge to urinate rapidly receded.
The person's footsteps were very light, almost soundless, as they quietly approached the bed, carefully pulling a corner of the quilt to cover Shen Jing's head.
Shen Jing's heart suddenly leaped; he abruptly kicked towards the person's crotch, simultaneously grabbing for their face cloth.
However, the person's reaction was also very fast.
The moment Shen Jing made his move, they quickly retreated, creating distance from Shen Jing, and looked at him with surprise.
Shen Jing was equally surprised, and at the same time, he loudly shouted, "Help, an assassin!"
While shouting, Shen Jing lunged at the assassin again.
But being drunk, his movements were clearly a bit sluggish; his lunge missed again.
The assassin didn't entangle with Shen Jing at all; after evading the lunging Shen Jing, they darted towards the window on the inner side of the room, leaping to break open the window.
Shen Jing pounced forward, but only managed to snatch one shoe from the assassin's foot...