Chapter 518: Raising Your Hand Isn

The family members chatted here and there, seeming peaceful but actually quite awkward.

It wasn't just Li Yuan; everyone was trying to find a topic.

Fortunately, Empress Changsun was present, so everyone could barely sit properly without being driven away by the atmosphere.

At this moment, Li Lizhi, Li Chengqian and the others were eager for Chen Yan to return quickly.

Because whenever Chen Yan was present, the atmosphere was always very relaxed, allowing everyone to get along happily.

In fact, they had subconsciously felt that seeing Chen Yan made them instantly relax.

After an unknown amount of time, even Empress Changsun was about to lose patience when the door finally rang.

Chen Yan pushed the door open and entered, his face slightly flushed, clearly having drunk a lot.

He looked at the plentiful dishes on the table and cheerfully said, "Retired Emperor, His Majesty, and the Empress, why does it look like you haven't eaten much? Do you think my family's food isn't to your taste, or are you being polite and waiting for me?"

The moment he said that, the awkward atmosphere in the room vanished instantly, and everyone relaxed.

Li Yuan laughed scoldingly, "With such fine dishes, if I said they didn't suit my palate, would that not betray my conscience?"

"So you were waiting for me?" Chen Yan grinned, "Is that so apologetic? You're being overly courteous; there's no need to wait for me, after all I'm the junior."

"Come, Retired Emperor, His Majesty, there were indeed many guests outside, which wasted a lot of time; I've kept you two waiting, so I'll toast you both."

Saying that, he strode over, unceremoniously sat in the empty seat beside Li Yuan, and casually lifted the wine jar, pouring a cup for Li Shimin, Li Yuan, Li Tai, and Li Chengqian.

Li Shimin joked, "Zi An, I've even heard of your reputation for never getting drunk. Looking at your complexion, you must have drunk a lot outside just now, yet you're still drinking so heartily—what, not afraid of getting drunk?"

"All slander, slander!"

Hearing that nickname again, Chen Yan, flustered, retorted, "You think I'm afraid to drink? I'm just giving them face, worried that if I knock them down later I'd lose face!"

"Who knew they wouldn't appreciate it and gave me such a nickname? They're just riff‑raff; His Majesty need not pay attention!"

The few glanced at each other with meaning in their eyes, smiling without speaking.

Now that they're crowned, they're adults, after all they care about face.

"What's with those looks? You don't believe me?"

Chen Yan, stretching his neck, shouted, "I'm not bragging to you; you know the strongest liquor from my Zui Xian Lou, right? I use that stuff to rinse my mouth every morning; if I don't drink a couple of large jars, I'm embarrassed to tell anyone I've been drinking."

"And this thing…"

He, with a disdainful expression, tapped the small wine cup on the table, "I think this thing is an insult to us; I usually hold the jar and drink it as water."

"I'll just tell you that!"

"East wind blows, war drums beat! Since ancient times, who has ever feared drinking?"

Chen Yan slightly lifted his head, looking at everyone, and no one spoke; the room fell into a heavy silence.

After a while, Li Chengqian lowered his voice and asked the man beside him, Li Tai, "Fourth brother, what do you think this counts as?"

Li Tai pondered, "It counts as him being able to brag."

Chen Yan: "......"

"You'd better stop," Li Shimin said with disgust, "Don't you see who's around? Doesn't anyone know what kind of person you are? What's the point of you bragging so loudly here?"

He lightly tapped his chin against the wine cup, "Isn't drinking something no one's ever feared? Come, have a drink?"

"If you're coming, come!"

The atmosphere built up to this point, and Chen Yan wasn't scared at all.

Moreover, wine is something you drink more when you're in a good mood and less when you're in a bad mood.

When interest rose, Chen Yan naturally didn't hold back!

Immediately after, the group truly began a drinking contest, yielding to no one.

Even Li Tai, who had the poorest tolerance, kept up.

Empress Changsun and the others watched as the atmosphere grew hotter; Li Shimin and Li Yuan began conversing naturally, even quarreling over the little wine left at the bottom of their cups, their smiles widening.

After a long while, everyone's faces were flushed and necks thickened; while still conscious, they tacitly stopped, began eating dishes and chatting.

"Chen kid, over these years I still find talking with you the greatest pleasure; next time you're free, shall we find a place to go fishing?"

Li Yuan exhaled a puff of foul breath, slightly tipsy, "The fish you found for me are indeed good, but they're farmed after all; catching them doesn't have that feeling."

"The last time I went to Weinan County, on the way back I tossed a couple of lines into the Wei He; although I only caught a few small white carps that afternoon, I felt completely satisfied."

"I see you're free now, right? Tomorrow, shall we find a place to fish?"

"What?" Chen Yan was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing, "Your Majesty fishes an entire afternoon and only catches a few small white carps?"

Li Yuan: "......"

"Is that the point? I ask you, is that the point?"

"Oh dear…" Chen Yan chuckled, already a bit drunk, and raised his hand slightly, "Raising your hand isn't an apology; it's that you still need to practice!"

Li Shimin: "......"

Empress Changsun: "......"

Li Lizhi and Gao Yang broke out in cold sweat; you really say anything, don't you?

The two women hurried, frantic to give Chen Yan an explanation.

Li Yuan's face flushed red first, angrily saying, "That day I was underprepared, and luck was bad; do you understand?"

"Tomorrow! Just tomorrow! You'll go with me, and I'll show you how I fish."

"You'd better stop," Chen Yan said offhand, "It's such cold weather, not suitable for fishing. If I may say, if you're truly idle, why not come to my place and play mahjong with Gao Yang and the others?"

"Anyway, Li Lizhi, Gao Yang, plus a Wei Wang Consort make only three people; how can a mahjong game work with three missing one?"

"I tell you, that thing is really fun, definitely more addictive than your fishing, great for passing time, and you'll often see Li Lizhi and Sizi there."

"Isn't it better than staying in the Da An Palace?"

When the words fell, Li Shimin and Empress Changsun were momentarily stunned, their brows relaxed; after exchanging a glance, they said nothing.

Li Yuan asked, puzzled, "What is Mahjong?"

"Explaining it is a bit troublesome; when you have time, come over and play a couple of hands, and let Gao Yang and the others explain it to you. They are now at home playing Mahjong all day."

Chen Yan paused, then reminded, "By the way, remember to bring some money; when you play, you need a little seed money, that makes it more interesting."

"Actually, I would quite recommend that you stay here for a while; not only will you see Sizi and the other little ones every day, I can also take the chance to help you recuperate."

"......"