Yu Jin Chang An (With Jin's Chang'An)

Extra: A Few Instances of Jin'an's Drunkenness

Li Shuang knew that Jin'an's alcohol tolerance wasn't actually that great; this was about three months after they had set out from Nan Chang Mountain.

On that occasion, Li Shuang and Jin'an encountered bandits on the road who were robbing a wedding procession. While Li Shuang rescued the bride, Jin'an went directly to the bandits' hideout and captured their three leaders, delivering them to the local authorities.

For Li Shuang and Jin'an, this wasn't much trouble, but the family of the bride and groom were extremely grateful to them. They insisted on inviting the two of them to attend the wedding banquet as a gesture of gratitude.

Unable to decline such a heartfelt invitation, Li Shuang agreed. The two families marrying into each other were both from affluent families in neighboring towns. The celebration wasn't as grand as those attended by high-ranking officials Li Shuang had seen before, but it was still a rare sight both locally and beyond. As the lifesavers of the bride, Li Shuang and Jin'an were seated at the main table.

Amidst the joyful atmosphere, Li Shuang couldn't help but smile. When the groom helped the bride into the hall, the bride stumbled slightly, and the groom promptly caught her. The surrounding guests cheered, and the groom blushed, but he completed the ceremony with a sense of pride.

Finding it amusing, Li Shuang drank a cup of wine. As she reached for the nearby wine jug, someone refilled her cup for her.

Glancing sideways, Li Shuang saw Jin'an looking at her calmly. He put down the jug he had used to refill her cup and took a sip from his own. Looking around, Li Shuang asked, "Why are you looking at me like that at someone else's wedding?"

"Because there's no one here as beautiful as you."

Coming from Jin'an, known for his blunt and natural speech, it was quite a flattering remark. Li Shuang had gotten used to his habit of casually complimenting himself. Taking advantage of the festive atmosphere and the effects of the wine, she asked, "Are you so captivated by my beauty that you forget to eat and only drink?"

"You're already the full package of beauty, fragrance, and flavor."

Li Shuang was momentarily at a loss for words from the unexpected compliment. She looked away and said, "Then consider me your appetizer."

What neither Li Shuang nor Jin'an anticipated was that the wine brewed by the local gentry in this small town was extremely potent, and it had quite a kick.

Li Shuang could hold her liquor, so she drank while eating, stopping when she felt the effects of the alcohol. But when she turned to look at Jin'an, his face was already slightly flushed, and his clear eyes seemed hazy, lost in a daze.

After observing him for a while, Li Shuang couldn't help but say, somewhat incredulously, "Are you drunk?"

Jin'an didn't respond, simply placing his wine glass on the table. The clinking sound of the glass against the tabletop indicated his difficulty in controlling his strength.

Li Shuang was convinced; he was indeed drunk.

This puzzled Li Shuang a bit. In her view, since Jin'an was the prince of Western Region, according to the robust nature of the Western Region people and their drinking traditions, Jin'an's alcohol tolerance should at least be stronger than hers, right? Yet, he was easily intoxicated?

"Do you want me to help you back to rest?"

The host knew they were travelers, so they had prepared two rooms for them.

Jin'an shook his head at the offer. He was still sitting upright, and unless someone knew him well like Li Shuang did, it would be hard to tell he was drunk. Li Shuang was afraid he might fall, so she reached out to hold his arm. She had never seen him drunk before and didn't know how he would behave. What if he stubbornly tried to support himself, only to tilt his head back and fall to the ground?