Roses and Thorns

After a month of exhausting travels, this lunch was, without a doubt, the most lavish meal Xianyue had enjoyed in a long time—fine dishes and exquisite wine.

The moment the bottle of twenty-year-old rose wine was uncorked, the entire hall was filled with its rich aroma. Xianyue took one whiff, and it felt as though she were floating, already intoxicated by the scent alone.

Licking the corner of her mouth, Xianyue stood up, snatched the bottle from Bai Zhanfeng's hand, and brought it to her nose for a deep inhale. The fragrance was intense, the wine pure and sweet—clearly a rare vintage. This wine only grew more fragrant and refined with age.

"Old Bai, is this the only jar you have?"

Cradling the jar like a treasure, Xianyue beamed at Bai Ao. She was notoriously stingy, especially when it came to fine food and drink, and although this wine wasn't hers, she very much wanted to claim it for herself.

Bai Ao looked at Xianyue, also smiling, but said nothing as he picked up his chopsticks. Bai Zhanfeng chuckled and tried to retrieve the bottle from her hands, but Xianyue skillfully dodged him.

"There are a few more jars. If we finish this one, I'll go fetch another."

Bai Zhanfeng's smile was warm, devoid of his usual nagging, and his generosity made Xianyue arch her brows in amusement. "Bai Zhanfeng, you're quite the gracious host today—full marks for hospitality!"

Xianyue didn't bother with a small wine cup; a cup the size of her fingertip wouldn't satisfy her, not even if she drank until tomorrow. She passed a large bowl to Bai Zhanfeng instead.

"If Old Bai is happy, drink with us. Once you've had your fill, rest here, and I'll have two large jars sent to you."

Xianyue protested, "Bai Zhanfeng, I'm not one for moderation. Just let me drink my fill! I've been setting an example for others by abstaining from alcohol for over a month, but now that scent—I can't resist!"

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, an expression of utter bliss on her face. Bai Zhanfeng could hardly stand it, and the servants nearby lowered their heads, barely stifling their laughter.

"You can all leave," Bai Zhanfeng said, waving away the servants. It wouldn't do for others to witness Xianyue in this state—it was too undignified.

"Let her drink with the bowl," Bai Ao chuckled. 

Xianyue opened her eyes and smiled at Bai Ao, then turned to urge Bai Zhanfeng, "Exactly! I was planning to drink straight from the jar, but I'm already holding back."

With no other option, Bai Zhanfeng personally poured her a large bowl of wine. Before he could hand it over, Xianyue was already up, taking it herself. Without even sitting down, she tipped her head back, and with a few loud gulps, the full bowl was emptied in no time. Setting the bowl back on the table, not a drop left, Xianyue licked her lips in satisfaction. The subtle fragrance of roses lingered, soft and long-lasting, a match for Lan Yixuan's famous plum wine. It had been ages since she'd tasted such a fine vintage, and with a deep sense of satisfaction, Xianyue thought, one word—bliss.

"Miss Xianyue, what a remarkable capacity for drink!" 

Bai Ao laughed, raising his own cup. Watching her drink, you couldn't help but feel like indulging alongside her. There was a carefree ease about her that made even the most restrained person want to throw caution to the wind.

"I've always been a good drinker," Xianyue grinned, handing her bowl to Bai Zhanfeng with one hand while her other hand deftly picked at the dishes.

The cuisines of the six nations varied greatly, and many of the dishes on the table were unfamiliar to Xianyue, but the flavors were exquisite. It wasn't just Bai's cooking; while Lei Yun might not match the head chef's experience in the Bai household, in terms of skill, he was no less refined. And these dishes were right up her alley.

Chu Kingdom, with its coastal location, frequent rains, and humid air, had a taste for spicy food, the heat warding off the dampness. Of all the six nations, the people of Chu consumed the most spice, and Xianyue, too, had a penchant for it. The lingering warmth of the wine, combined with the fiery spices, sent a burning sensation through her stomach, but Xianyue found it invigorating like never before.

With Xianyue at the table, no matter how large the jar, it wasn't enough to last. Bai Ao, too, drank more than usual with her company. By the time the meal was halfway through, he was already a bit tipsy.

"Miss Xianyue, I feel I owe you an apology," Bai Ao said, holding his cup, his weathered face softened by the faint haze of alcohol, losing some of its sharpness and becoming more approachable. His eyes, once as sharp as blades, were now filled with remorse.

"Back then, when you fell from the cliff, I turned a blind eye. But later, I asked for your help time and again. If it weren't for you, Chu Kingdom and the Bai family would have long since fallen."

His voice choked up slightly. Xianyue could somewhat understand the depth of his feelings for Chu Kingdom, for the Bai family. Today, he wasn't just speaking out of guilt; these were words he needed to say to her. Sober, he held onto his remorse, but now, under the influence of alcohol, he was finally able to express the thoughts he'd kept bottled up for so long. This old man carried so much in his heart, yet had no one to confide in.

"You're a rare and exceptional young woman. I've lived many years, seen noble ladies and modest beauties of all kinds, but you're the only one who has truly earned my admiration. At such a young age, you're measured in your actions and considerate of others. Though I watched Ruoxi grow up and always thought of her as my granddaughter-in-law, if I'm being honest, she doesn't compare to you. While Ruoxi is gentle and virtuous, she lacks your magnanimity. She doesn't have your capacity for understanding, and although she's intelligent and perceptive, I can't help but worry."

Bai Ao sighed, his words tinged with concern. In the future, this worry would be tragically validated. Ruoxi's inability to forgive Xianyue and Bai Zhanfeng led her to commit acts that nearly brought the Bai family and all those close to Xianyue to ruin—a wound that would never fully heal.

Xianyue merely nodded in response. She understood the subtext of his words. Bai Ao had already aligned himself with her, hoping that if she ever ascended to the pinnacle of power in the Six Nations, she would treat Chu Kingdom kindly and continue to favor the Bai family, ensuring their legacy would endure in the new era she might build. As for Chen Ruoxi, a woman she had never met, Xianyue believed she must be intelligent and capable—otherwise, Old Bai wouldn't have chosen her as the Bai family's matriarch. This was his way of warning her in advance. He hoped she would be magnanimous in the future, especially toward Chen Ruoxi. Magnanimity was not something every woman possessed, especially when it came to matters of the heart. People were selfish by nature, and love was no exception. If Chen Ruoxi loved Bai Zhanfeng, it was only natural she wouldn't like Xianyue. After all, Xianyue herself would feel the same.

Bai Zhanfeng looked at Xianyue, supporting Bai Ao without saying a word. 

Suddenly, Old Bai turned, patting Bai Zhanfeng's shoulder. "Feng'er, it's your grandfather who has wronged you." 

These words of apology carried a weight far heavier than before. 

As a grandfather, he had always considered Bai Zhanfeng's well-being. That's why he had sent him to train with Nian Tianba from a young age, knowing that Zhanfeng detested the intrigues of politics. Even when Bai Zhanfeng had mastered his skills, Old Bai didn't immediately call him back to inherit the family estate. He had done everything he could to give his grandson what he wanted, but in the end, he was still burdened by the weight of their family legacy. 

The Bai family, with its centuries-old history, could not be allowed to fall apart—not under his watch. And Old Bai had fought too long and too hard to let it happen. 

"I know you resent me, hate me for holding you back, but Feng'er, I am your grandfather. How could I watch you walk to your death with my own eyes? I couldn't do it!" 

His voice choked with emotion by the time he finished. Though Xianyue wasn't fully aware of what had transpired, she was certain that the animosity Bai Zhanfeng harbored toward his grandfather stemmed from the Valley of Death incident. 

Suddenly, Xianyue recalled the question Bai Zhanfeng had once asked her: If it had been him who had fallen off the cliff with her, would the outcome have been different? If both he and Lan Yi Xuan had grabbed her hand, would he have stood a chance? Even now, Xianyue couldn't answer such questions. 

Perhaps, if Bai Zhanfeng had been the one to fall with her, she might have married him out of gratitude, for he was indeed better suited to be a good husband compared to Lan Yi Xuan. But it wouldn't have been out of love. When Lan Yi Xuan fell with her, she wasn't moved by emotion; she was struck by something far deeper—an overwhelming thrill. That intense feeling told her she had always harbored a different kind of emotion toward him, one she had fought desperately to suppress. 

Old Bai's actions were understandable—Bai Zhanfeng was his most cherished grandson, the heir to his legacy. Anyone in his position would have made the same choice. If Bai Zhanfeng bore a grudge over it, it wasn't truly justified. But emotions, especially those involving family, were never straightforward. 

Bai Zhanfeng had chosen familial loyalty over love, but now, it seemed, he had forsaken both. Xianyue finally understood why Bai Zhanfeng had changed so drastically—perhaps his heart had long since withered away. 

"Feng'er, please forgive your grandfather." 

Xianyue glanced at Old Bai, now collapsed in Bai Zhanfeng's arms. He must have never been so drunk before, or else he wouldn't have let himself drink so much. Maybe he had wanted to get drunk, to find an excuse to reconcile with Bai Zhanfeng, because these words would never have come from a sober Bai Ao. In her memory, Old Bai had always been stern with Bai Zhanfeng, wielding the authority of an elder. 

Bai Zhanfeng looked at Xianyue, lost and a little panicked. 

"Xianyue." 

Xianyue smiled. "The old man's drunk. Help him to rest and find someone to take good care of him. When you come back, bring me a few jars of good wine, enough to make him feel it." 

Friendship could never fill the void left by love, but she hoped Bai Zhanfeng would cherish the family ties he still had.