Not sure if the next chapter of the #sangcheng betrothal AU will stay at Lotus Pier or move to the Unclean realm to start, but in any case....

It takes Nie Huaisang a minute to realize the pounding torturing him isn't due to his activities of the night before, but to someone hammering on his door.

"Nie-er-gongzi! Nie-zongzhu requests your presence as soon as possible!"

Fuck fuck fuck, he thinks.

"Uh.. yes... tell him I'll be right there,” he manages to reply, pushing himself to sit up on his bed.

He wonders if the guards on duty last night betrayed him and told his brother the time and state he came back in last night.

He takes as long as he dares to make himself presentable before making his way to the main hall, all the while planning what kind of revenge to exact on the traitorous guards and their big mouths. He distinctly remembers bringing them a jar of very fine wine to share, how dare they tell on him! If can only figure out who was on duty when he came back, they'll be sorry. It was very hard to tell, from inside the carriage.