Distorted World

Warm wine.

On a morning in the Gengzi month, snowflakes were falling over Liuzhou City. The chill seeped into every corner, covering the ancient stone steps, the long embankment, and the bare trees with a layer of white.

It had been nearly two years since he arrived in Liuzhou City. Bai Changming got up and opened his wardrobe. One side was filled with luxurious clothing, with the topmost piece being a crimson official robe. His fingers touched the cool white jade, the gold and silver threads, and the embroidered beasts and birds. On the day he was appointed as the Minister of Works, smiling officials solemnly knelt to present it to him, as if the entire court was congratulating him on a trophy.

When he unfolded the robe, he realized that the embroidery depicted mythical creatures.

Below that were several other garments, which seemed to be gifts. As his rank rose, the frequency of gift exchanges naturally increased. He had to remember the positions, names, and faces of those who gave him gifts. Most of the stacked clothes were dark, symbolizing authority and luxury, with gems embedded like concubines, each one beautifully set.

He closed the wardrobe and opened another beside it, which contained only black and white clothing, alternating for daytime and nighttime outings.

As a white fox spirit, he still preferred his original colors.

He pulled out a white long robe and walked to the window. Outside, fine snow was falling, and the warm stove could not dispel the chill inside the room.

Over the past year, his position had steadily climbed through his meticulous planning. Power, status, and wealth were his rewards, thanks to his intelligence, focus, and the secret use of magic. He employed ruthless means, manipulating situations to his advantage, causing internal strife and inviting envy. He shared drinks with all kinds of people, from mediocre yellow wine to the renowned Tai Xi Bai, considered the nectar of the human world. Despite consuming so much warm alcohol, he felt increasingly cold.

Back in Sahel City, two thin shirts were enough to keep him warm while leaping across rooftops in the dead of winter. Now, with just a light snowfall, he needed a thick cotton robe to stay warm.

He rubbed his hands to warm them and leaned against the desk to review documents. The vast mansion was almost completely silent. The front hall was lavishly decorated with exquisite furniture. His own room, however, resembled a simple study, with no extra embellishments.

His acute hearing meant that wherever there were people, there was noise. In a fit of frustration, he reduced the number of servants to four, and in another fit, he dismissed them all. He kept only one steward to report news and receive orders, adopting a "keep your distance" attitude.

The common people praised his integrity, and many mid-level officials emulated him, considering him a role model. High-ranking officials, while praising him outwardly, harbored doubts and maintained a certain distance. As for the Emperor, he seemed to trust him for now... In short, the mansion of a second-rank Minister of Works was unusually sparse in personnel, which was almost a novelty in the current dynasty.

Holding an umbrella in the snowy weather, the streets were nearly deserted. He went out again to buy wine, despite the mansion's cabinets being filled with expensive liquor, none of which could dispel his chill.

He took out some silver coins. The shopkeeper, living in a corner of Liuzhou City, unaware of court affairs, treated him like any other customer, pulling out two bottles of white wine and offering a few routine greetings.

As he walked back, holding the umbrella in one hand and the wine in the other, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. The sound stopped not far behind him, and a woman's voice, clear and melodious like a flute in the cold wind, called out:

“Minister Bai, is that you?”