AEOGA CH60

“Young Master Lin has arrived!”

Not long after the banquet began, Lin Chanzhi arrived late.

He offered his greetings first: “Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to Your Highness the Empress. This humble subject has arrived late, please forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Neither he nor Wang Yiming had been formally conferred consort titles, nor did they hold official positions in court. In the capacity of male favorites, they ought to address themselves as “servant,” but His Majesty was not stickler for such status, considering them common citizens and permitting them to address themselves as “this humble subject.”

Xie Chongjin said, “You came from the outskirts of the capital. Given the distance, it is understandable, and We shall not fault you. Take your seat.”

Lin Chanzhi replied, “Thanking Your Majesty.”

Today, he no longer wore his short, coarse farming clothes suitable for field labor; instead, he had changed into a trendy ginger-yellow Yunjin palace attire, looking delicate, refined, and handsome—clearly having dressed up with care for the feast, looking quite striking.

Wang Yiming, holding his wine cup, was momentarily dazed, waving to him: “Little Lin, come sit over here! There’s an empty seat!”

Because their status was the most similar and they had entered the palace together, Lin Chanzhi and Wang Yiming were the closest. Although Wang Yiming worked the most with Hua Yan, Hua Yan admired Fu Xinian, who was well-read, and preferred Helian Xi, with whom he could discuss cosmetics. Hua Yan shared little common ground with Wang Yiming’s copper-scented merchant nature, maintaining a purely professional colleague relationship. In his spare time, Wang Yiming loved running off to Lin Chanzhi’s small farm courtyard to leech meals, finding them far more delicious than the food at Huaman Pavilion.

While everyone shared good relations, people naturally had varying degrees of closeness. Wang Yiming simply loved sticking by Lin Chanzhi’s side.

Lin Chanzhi sat down in the seat beside Wang Yiming. Wang Yiming sizing up his outfit, praised, “You look really good today! Did you use the cosmetics I gave you last time?”

Usually when Wang Yiming went to the capital’s outskirts, Lin Chanzhi was clad in coarse linen, and even in the palace he dressed plainly. Dressed up like this, he instantly looked far more handsome.

Just as Buddha relies on golden plating, a person relies on fine clothing. Lin Chanzhi was, after all, a main character of a consort route, possessing good looks that could brighten anyone’s eyes when properly prepared. It was just that he rarely cared to dress up. Earlier, when Hua Yan developed a lip pomade of exceptional color, he gave a portion to his colleague Wang Yiming, who then used it to present a gift on borrowed wings when visiting Lin Chanzhi’s farm, thinking Lin Chanzhi would look great wearing it. Unfortunately, Lin Chanzhi had kept it tucked away without using it, saying it was impractical for field work.

Lin Chanzhi nodded with slight embarrassment: “Everyone dresses up for the festival, so I couldn’t be impolite.”

Besides, a man adorns himself for the one who pleases him.

Lu Xuechao asked, “Has the wine been delivered?”

Lin Chanzhi rose to answer: “According to Your Highness’s instructions, it has all been delivered.”

Xie Chongjin asked, “What wine?”

Lin Chanzhi clapped twice, and palace attendants immediately brought forth jars of rice wine, placing one at every seat.

Lin Chanzhi smiled and said, “It is the rice wine brewed personally by Your Highness the Empress—mellow, sweet, and not intoxicating. Your Highness said he wanted to give everyone a surprise at the Mid-Autumn banquet, strictly forbidding this humble subject from revealing it beforehand.”

Xie Chongjin looked toward Lu Xuechao, letting out a soft laugh: “So the reason you kept running over to his place lately was to brew wine behind My back?”

“Why didn’t you mention it in advance? Were you afraid We would blame you?” Xie Chongjin’s smiling tone held a hidden trace of danger. “Didn’t We say long ago that you were permitted to brew wine, provided We act as your ‘poison tester’? Confess carefully—how much have you secretly drunk these past days?”

His voice was not loud, at a volume audible only to Lu Xuechao beside him. Yet, using “We” in private conversation meant he was genuinely displeased.

After all, Lu Xuechao had once fallen gravely ill from excessive drinking; his stomach and intestines were weak, unable to bear overly stimulating, harsh liquor. Xie Chongjin could indulge him in anything, but not when it came to his physical health.

Lu Xuechao softly said, “This subject will not dare do so next time.”

Without offering excuses, he simply uttered gentle words in line with Xie Chongjin’s mood, knowing that Xie Chongjin’s anger would not last long.

Sure enough, Xie Chongjin’s expression turned helpless: “Presuming upon My favor—there better not be a next time.”

Getting angry was useless anyway; he couldn’t actually do anything to Lu Xuechao, completely wrapped around his finger.

“Your Majesty, please taste the rice wine.” Lu Xuechao poured a cup for Xie Chongjin and handed it over. “Brewed by my own hands, this wine is not intoxicating.”

Xie Chongjin’s expression turned subtle: “Speak—what do you want?”

Between Emperor and Empress, using “We” and “this subject” was proper by default, yet the two of them never cared for such protocol unless attending formal and crucial occasions. Xie Chongjin never enforced hierarchy in private; using such forms of address now felt more like roleplay flirting.

He had already promised not to hold it against him, yet Lu Xuechao remained so obedient, which meant he must be seeking something.

Lu Xuechao said, “Your Majesty should drink the wine first.”

Xie Chongjin drank the rice wine. It was indeed mellow, fragrant, and sweet upon entry, without any harshness choking the throat, nor as bland as plain water, still retaining the flavor of wine.

“Is it truly not intoxicating?” Lu Xuechao asked.

Xie Chongjin nodded: “Indeed.”

He wasn’t even surprised that Lu Xuechao could brew such wine. Qingshu was truly omnipotent.

“Then from now on, may I drink as many cups as I wish?”

A single cup of Manjianghong was enough to intoxicate someone, so Xie Chongjin strictly limited it. If replaced with rice wine, he could enjoy it to his heart’s content.

“I wondered why you were suddenly being so attentive; it turns out you were waiting for this.” Xie Chongjin chuckled. “You are permitted to drink a few more cups, but even non-intoxicating wine can harm the body if overconsumed, so do not overdo it.”

Lu Xuechao said, “I know my limits.”

As the two discussed up above, the rest of the group tasted the rice wine and began singing its praises.

Hua Yan said, “This rice wine is sweet, rich, and doesn’t sting the throat. I fell in love with the flavor after just one sip. I thought I couldn’t hold my liquor, but it turns out I simply hadn’t tasted the wine brewed by Your Highness the Empress.”

“Exactly, exactly.” Wang Yiming patted Lin Chanzhi’s shoulder. “Little Lin, keeping such wonderful wine from me without letting me taste it first is hardly fair.”

Qin Yulong set down his wine cup: “The taste is good, but I still feel strong liquor is more satisfying to drink.”

“Who doesn’t know that no one in the army can out-drink Young General Qin? Young General Qin can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, so naturally you prefer strong liquor. For those of us who pass out after one cup, this rice wine is just what we need to satisfy our cravings,” Shen Hezhou laughed.

Helian Xi’s expression changed slightly.

Qin Yulong can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk?

…Then were those words he said earlier just drunken ramblings?

Helian Xi mindlessly drank a cup of Manjianghong.

The rice wine was delicious, but he was in a foul mood tonight, seeking only to get drunk so he could numb his homesickness.

Qin Yulong’s body went rigid. Seeing Helian Xi merely drinking by himself without much reaction, he finally relaxed.

Xie Chongjin said, “Since the Empress has brewed such fine wine, We ought to reward you.”

Lu Xuechao replied, “Your Majesty has practically moved all the world’s treasures into Chongxue Palace; if you bestow any more rewards, there won’t even be room for me. The rice wine was brewed using the glutinous rice grown by Young Master Lin, the rice served at tonight’s banquet was freshly harvested from Young Master Lin’s new crop, and the silk clothes we wear are woven from cotton and silk raised by Young Master Lin. If Your Majesty wishes to reward someone, why not reward him?”

Liu Yansheng smiled: “No wonder today’s rice tastes exceptionally fragrant and sweet.”

Xie Chongjin: “Then We shall appoint Lin Chanzhi as Minister of Agriculture, overseeing all agricultural affairs.”

The Minister of Agriculture was a Changli official position, ranking at the principal third grade, with the first-grade Grand Minister of Agriculture above it. Lin Chanzhi had dedicated his heart and soul to farming and breeding seeds, deserving of reward; being appointed Minister of Agriculture left room for future promotions as well.

Lin Chanzhi hadn’t expected a stroke of luck to drop from the sky so suddenly, leaving him dazed. Wang Yiming reminded him: “Little Lin… no, Lord Minister of Agriculture, are you stunned by joy?”

Only then did Lin Chanzhi leave his seat to kneel in gratitude: “Thanking Your Majesty, thanking Your Highness the Empress.”

Everyone offered their congratulations.

Lin Chanzhi returned to his seat in a daze. His father used to say that all trades were low, only scholarly pursuits were high, scorning his farming as useless and claiming he could never rise above a fifth-grade official in his life. Yet by farming, he had unexpectedly leaped into becoming a third-grade official.

…

After several rounds of drinks, Liu Yansheng suggested, “Drinking at Mid-Autumn is dull on its own; why not play a drinking game? With Your Highness the Empress’s rice wine, there’s no need to worry about passing out after a single cup.”

“Great idea!” Hua Yan loved joining the fun and immediately raised his hand in agreement. “What game shall we play?”

Drinking games came in many varieties: riddles, dice rolling, passing the flower under drumbeats… Commoners favored dice and rock-paper-scissors to decide winners and losers, while nobles preferred refined amusements like guessing games and matching poetry.

Liu Yansheng pondered briefly: “Tonight we admire the moon for Mid-Autumn, so let us play the Flying Flower Order, but instead of the character ‘flower,’ we shall use ‘moon’ as our topic. Starting with His Majesty and moving left in sequence, whoever fails to answer or answers incorrectly takes a drink.”

The Flying Flower Order was strictly regulated, requiring one not only to recite a seven-character line containing the word “moon” within a set timeframe, but also to follow a precise sequence: the first person’s line had to feature “moon” as the first character, the second person’s line had to feature “moon” as the second character, the third person’s line as the third character… and so on until the seventh person’s “moon” sat as the seventh character, whereupon the eighth person returned to the first position. It tested not only knowledge of poetry, but also quick reflexes.

Hua Yan instantly wilted upon hearing this: “This is a game for cultured people. Unrefined folks like me without an ounce of literary talent will end up drinking until we’re more pickled than these drunken crabs!”

Wang Yiming nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Wang Yiming was unlearned, Lin Chanzhi was obsessed with farming, Hua Yan lacked literary ink, and Qin Yulong’s literary talents lagged far behind his martial prowess. They were essentially just along for the ride.

“Participation is what counts,” Liu Yansheng said. “Or is Your Highness the Empress’s rice wine not to your liking? Drink if you can’t answer; three fails and you’re out, let’s see who can last until the very end.”

With those words spoken, no one refused and ruined the mood further. Besides, being eliminated meant they wouldn’t be forced to drink until they threw up.

Xie Chongjin kicked off the game: “Moon falls, crows cry, frost fills the sky.”

Lu Xuechao immediately followed: “When will the bright moon shine on my return?”

Liu Yansheng recited without a second thought: “Over the vast sea, the moon shines, tears shedding like pearls.”

Shen Hezhou spoke with full confidence: “When will the spring flowers and autumn moon end?”

Fu Xinian stated without hesitation: “Flowers possess a subtle fragrance, the moon casts its shade.”

When it came to Hua Yan’s turn, he froze briefly before suddenly remembering something: “Twenty-four Bridges on a bright moon night!”

The verse Qin Yulong recited was also filled with heroism: “Drawing the carved bow full as the moon.”

Helian Xi held Qin Yulong in higher regard for a brief moment: “Moonlight illuminates the flower grove, looking all like frost.”

Wang Yiming racked his brain: “Uh, in the eighth month when autumn is high, the wind roars furiously?”

Lin Chanzhi wracked his brains: “…In the depth of night, moonlight falls on half the houses.”

…

After several rounds like this, Wang Yiming was the first to be eliminated, followed shortly by Lin Chanzhi and Qin Yulong, who both drank their penalties and bowed out. Hua Yan, having picked up many poems recently from spending time around Fu Xinian, had only taken two penalty drinks and was surprisingly still holding on.

As the game progressed, fewer available poems remained. Liu Yansheng, Shen Hezhou, and Helian Xi had begun to hesitate and ponder, while only Xie Chongjin, Lu Xuechao, and Fu Xinian, the Tanhua scholar, could still recite effortlessly.

Fu Xinian said: “The lake’s light and autumn moon complement each other.”

Hua Yan pondered deeply for a long time, his head aching from the effort.

Though he had only taken two penalty drinks, he had consumed several cups of Manjianghong earlier, and the alcohol was now hitting him, leaving him lightheaded.

After a good while, he finally came up with a line: “When the wild geese return, the moon fills the western tower…”

“Wrong. It must be seven characters, and the character placement doesn’t work that way either—how can you count the preceding line?” Shen Hezhou said with a smile.

Fu Xinian, seeing that he was somewhat tipsy and fearing that drinking more would cause him a headache, softly whispered a hint: “Night chants should feel the moonlight’s chill…”

“What?” Hua Yan repeated, “Night nightingales faint from the moonlight’s chill? This moonlight is far too cold if it can freeze nightingales until they faint…”

The crowd burst into a roar of laughter. Qin Yulong spat out a mouthful of wine, Shen Hezhou doubled over laughing, and even Wang Yiming slammed his hands on the table.

After slamming the table, Wang Yiming quietly asked Lin Chanzhi: “What are they laughing at? Was that not the original line?”

Lin Chanzhi: “…You didn’t know and still laughed along?”

Wang Yiming: “Participation is what counts!”

Lu Xuechao smiled gently: “The Tanhua scholar cannot cheat. Sitting so close, do you think we can’t see you hinting to him?”

Fu Xinian stood up: “Your Highness, please forgive me. I saw that Hua Yan is already somewhat drunk and cannot drink any more. Since he is eliminated this round, I shall drink his penalty for him.”

So saying, he took a penalty drink for himself.

“Oh my,” Shen Hezhou teased, “The Tanhua scholar truly knows how to cherish beauty.”

Fu Xinian’s face flushed slightly, sitting back down without a word.

After a few more rounds, Liu Yansheng and Shen Hezhou were also defeated. One ran out of time to answer, while the other accidentally repeated a poem someone else had already spoken. Before anyone else could react, Lu Xuechao pointed out that Fu Xinian had already recited that line earlier.

Everyone inwardly marveled at the Empress’s terrifying memory, able to remember who had recited which poem.

Unexpectedly, Helian Xi had not been eliminated yet. Though he had taken two penalty drinks, lasting this long alongside scholars like Xie Chongjin, Lu Xuechao, and Fu Xinian was impressive in itself.

However, he looked like he couldn’t hold on much longer. Unlike the others who drank rice wine for penalties, he drank Manjianghong, and having consumed more than Hua Yan earlier, his cheeks were already flushed.

When his turn came again, Helian Xi’s face was deeply flushed as he gazed through hazy, drunken eyes at Qin Yulong, speaking his mind: “A dark night with high winds, time for murder and arson…”

And the first person he would kill was Qin Yulong.