[R18] Will drink wine – “About Wine” Chapter 48 [English]

Chapter 46 Banquet (Part 2)

At the beginning of the banquet, Luji temple began to pass the food, and the imperial wine room followed by serving wine non-stop.Li Jianheng loves sweets, so the dessert shop made a lot of silk nest tiger eye candies.

Li Jianheng sat on the dragon chair, followed by the Queen Mother and Hua Xiangyi, and then Mu Ru, who had just become a concubine.Shen Zechuan and Han Cheng stood at the foot of the steps, with the Imperial Guard on the opposite side. The eunuchs from the Shangshi Bureau were kneeling behind and to the right of Shen Zechuan. Every dish on Li Jianheng’s table had to be tasted first by the eunuchs from the Shangshi Bureau.

Li Jianheng was in high spirits tonight. He frequently asked for drinks and became a little tipsy.He sat on top and said: “Since I came to the throne, I have been fortunate to be assisted by virtuous people. I have a mirror like Mr. Haige by my side. I dare not forget to learn and reflect on myself for a day.”

When he drinks high, he becomes a little arrogant.

“I am very grateful to Mr. Haige and would like to regard Mr. Haige as the father of Central Asia. Such an honor has never been given to any previous elders, but now it is Mr. Hai…”

Yafu!

How can you say this?Hai Liangyi’s expression changed after saying this.He had already stood up in shock and was about to kneel down to stop him, but Li Jianheng just happened to belch and was still waving.

“No need to panic, Mr. Ge, it’s time to…”

“The Ai family thinks this is inappropriate.” The Queen Mother looked at Hai Liangyi and paused for a moment, seeming to see through Hai Liangyi’s shock at this moment, sheHe turned sideways and said softly to Li Jianheng, “Old Haige is the respected leader of the world’s literati. He is as tall as a cliff. Since he entered the official position, he has been brave and outspoken. If such a humble minister were to be called a father by the emperor, although he showed his favor, he would have lost the public spirit of Mr. Ge who lamented the evils of the times.”

Seeing the gentleness of the Queen Mother, Li Jianheng smiled and said: “In the past, King Xiang valued righteousness and respected Fan Zeng as his father. Now I also appreciate the help of Mr. Ge, so I call him “father”. It not only means closeness, but also can be used to reflect on myself! Mr. Ge, Mr. Ge, do you think it is okay?”

Hai Liangyi had already kowtowed and said, “This is absolutely impossible!”

Li Jianheng was like cold water being poured on his face, his enthusiasm was turned into displeasure by this stern “no”.He’s expression changed several times, and finally he forced a smile and said: “I am close to Mr. Ge, it’s just a title, what’s the big deal.”

Hai Liangyi said: “The emperor is a noble person, and he is completely different from the overlord who lives in a corner. The old minister was born in the mountains of Hezhou, and he is really a vulgar man. How can he share the word ‘father’ with the divine and sage Emperor Guangcheng!”

Li Jianheng’s original intention was to win the favor of Liang Yi and the literati all over the world, so as to prove that he was not a idiot who disrespected talents and learning.But he had only read a few books, but he didn’t know that a title could arouse Hai Liangyi to resist so much.At this moment, it was difficult to get off the tiger, and I had sobered up a little bit from the wine.

Li Jianheng couldn’t lose face tonight, so he wanted to put the matter aside and say, “If the elder is unwilling, then that’s it…”

“Old minister thinks,” Hai Liangyi said, “if the superiors do something good, the subordinates will follow suit! The emperor has set a precedent tonight, and there will be people who will try to follow suit in the future. When the time comes, they will collude with other parties and form constraints in the government, which will endanger the country and the country. The Hua Dang case has only been settled for a month. We should not forget the past and be the guide for the future. It is really inappropriate for the emperor to drink and get drunk tonight!”

Li Jianheng clenched the wine glass in his hand, looked down, and saw that the officials lowered their heads and did not dare to look directly at him, so he calmed down his anger.He couldn’t get angry at Hai Liangyi, but he didn’t want to admit his mistake today. He was restless on this dragon chair. He had already tasted the sweetness of surrender by all living beings. How could he be willing to be criticized?

He is the emperor.

Li Jianheng’s eyes turned red. He took the last sip of wine and said, “…let’s let this matter go. Let Mr. Fuge go back to his seat.”

Hai Liangyi also knew that tonight was not the time to give advice, but his nature was hard to change and he was outspoken: “Old minister, I still have something to say.”

Li Jianheng’s lip lines were tight and he didn’t say a word.

There was silence at the table. Hai Liangyi didn’t get a response, so he knelt down and didn’t move.This time it was a deadlock, no one touched chopsticks anymore, and even the music stopped.

Suddenly I heard a “pop” sound.

Xiao Chiye put down his chopsticks on his seat, laughed loudly, and said, “I feel so happy when I see the emperor and the elders like this. The so-called kings, saints, and ministers are nothing more than this. Du Yuyao, there is a way in ancient times. With such a sage king and such upright and loyal ministers in the Zhou Dynasty, a prosperous world is just around the corner.”

“The emperor is open to the public and is good at accepting direct advice, which is a blessing to all ministers.” Xue Xiuzhuo raised his glass, “Tonight in the Spring Festival, why not drink a toast to this holy scene.”

The ministers raised their glasses and congratulated in unison.

Li Jianheng softened his congratulations a little. Seeing Hai Liangyi still kneeling, he couldn’t help but sighed: “Please get up, Mr. Ge.”

A crisis turned invisible. The Queen Mother looked at Xiao Chiye for a moment and said, “Everyone knows that starting a family and starting a career is a man’s lifelong wish. Does Ce’an have anyone to be engaged to?”

Shen Zechuan’s eyes flickered and he also looked at Xiao Chiye.

Xiao Chiye smiled shamelessly and said, “Back to the Queen Mother, with my current appearance, how can any daughter of the capital be willing to marry me? Besides, it is not my ambition to start a family and start a career.”

The Queen Mother said: “The Governor is too modest. Nowadays, there are very few people in the capital who can be called new rich. With the appearance of the Governor, there are also red-sleeved tricks when crossing the East Street Bridge. Your Majesty, if you don’t urge me, it will be too late.”

Xiao Jiming also smiled and said, “My father at home thinks that his temperament is uncertain, and he is also afraid that he will delay someone else’s girl.”

The Queen Mother turned her head again and smiled at Li Jianheng: “The Ai family sees that none of you are in a hurry. He has been married for three or four years when he was the same age as King Bei.”

Li Jianheng had not yet recovered from what happened just now. He was a little uninterested at the moment. He did not dare not to answer the Queen Mother’s words. He glanced at Xiao Chiye and said, “Mother doesn’t know that Ce’an has a short temper, and ordinary noble ladies in Qandu can’t resist it.”

“You can’t say that. It will delay your marriage in vain.” The Queen Mother said, “There is no need to be obsessed with the noble daughter of Qandu. The Ai family meets the daughter of Marquis Helian. Princess Zhaoyue is about the same age as Ce’an, so she is a good match.”

Marquis Helian was the Marquis of Dancheng, a member of the Fei family, one of the Eight Great Families, and the Queen Mother’s finger really matched his family.

Helian Hou Fei Kun quickly toasted and looked towards Xiao Jiming.

Xiao Chiye thought that the Queen Mother would talk about Hua Xiangyi’s marriage at the banquet, but he didn’t expect that this time it was for him.He cannot reject it directly, let alone marry him in a daze.

Li Jianheng was also caught off guard. He was stunned for a moment, looked at Xiao Chiye and said, “I… Princess Zhaoyue…” He had an idea, “The national mourning has not yet passed, so it may not be appropriate to propose marriage at this time.”

“It’s one thing to get married, and it’s another thing to get married. Seeing that things are not going well for the Ai family recently, they can just get married first, and then wait until they find an auspicious day in the summer before getting married.” The Queen Mother said lovingly, “Zhaoyue and Xiangyi are close friends, so getting married at once can be considered a success.”

She kept silent about who Hua Xiangyi wanted to marry and only pushed Princess Zhaoyue to Xiao Chiye. She made it clear that she regarded Xiao Chiye’s marriage as a state matter and Hua Xiangyi’s marriage as a private matter.

Qi Zhuyin looked solemn and didn’t even speak.

When Lu Guangbai saw this, he knew something was wrong. He guessed that Qi Shiyu had already nodded, so he told Qi Zhuyin to be silent.But marrying Princess Zhaoyue is absolutely not an option. If this marriage is decided, when the Queen Mother makes Zhaoyue a princess, Xiao Chiye will be Princess Shang.The prince-in-law of the Great Zhou Dynasty had no real power and only gained a false reputation. What he took away was the military power of Qidu that Xiao Chiye had just held at this moment.

The wine in Xiao Chiye’s throat turned into fire. He had already stood up, but saw the Queen Mother laughing again.

“The prince married the daughter of the Lu family of Bian Sha Bo in Bian County. The son is now four or five years old, right?”

Xiao Jiming replied: “The dog is four years old.”

“The grandson is already four years old, and General Lu has not married yet.” The Queen Mother looked at Lu Guangbai, “Bianjun is a land of yellow sand, and it is not easy for the general to guard it. Getting a family as soon as possible will be a worry for Bian Shabo. The Ai family sees that General Lu is similar in age to the prince. Why, starting a family and establishing a career is not an ambition for the general?”

Lu Guangbai was speechless for a moment and said: “Go back to the Queen Mother——”

The Queen Mother continued: “Zhao Yue’s temperament is playful and playful. Seriously speaking, Ce’an is indeed too impatient. The general seems to be more calm. But Ce’an, what do you think?”

If Xiao Chiye doesn’t marry Princess Zhaoyue, then Lu Guangbai will have to marry her.This problem lies across the banquet, which is to put him in a dilemma.

Xiao Chiye had already asked Zhao Hui to manage the people in the Ministry of Etiquette. He was waiting for the Queen Mother tonight to prove that Hua Xiangyi was a distant relative of Qi Shiyu, so that the marriage would be interrupted by the barriers of etiquette and law and the separation of seniority.But the Queen Mother didn’t give him a chance to fight back. Who would have thought that what he was going to hand over tonight would be Xiao Ce’an’s lifelong event.

In this flash of lightning, Xiao Chiye saw Shen Zechuan’s eyes.The two people looked at each other for a moment in front of everyone, separated by the imminent problem.

Xiao Chiye took a step forward and said, “Go back to the Queen Mother.”

The eunuch of the Shangshi Department was passing the dishes to the dessert room. He sorted out what he wanted with a low eyebrow, picked up the chopsticks, and looked at Li Jianheng, who was just an arm’s length away.

Li Jianheng was hesitating, frowning as he listened to the exchange between them. He felt that the eunuch in front of him hadn’t moved, so he looked sideways and said, “Why are you pestering——”

Soon enough, the eunuch clenched his gold-covered chopsticks and stabbed Li Jianheng in the neck!

The sudden change occurred, and Li Jianheng didn’t even have time to react. He could only watch the tip of the chopstick stabbing him.He’s whole body was stiff, panic showed in his eyes, and he couldn’t even move his fingers.

At the moment when everyone’s color changed, Shen Zechuan had already pulled out Yangshan Xue, and the cold light of the straight blade passed by in the blink of an eye.

Li Jianheng’s throat tightened and he screamed with all his strength.As soon as he’s voice came out, the hot blood splashed on his lapel and hem of his robe.Li Jianheng shouted at the top of his lungs: “Escort——”

The eunuch’s head rolled forward and fell on Li Jianheng’s body.Li Jianheng held the sides of the dragon chair with all his strength. In the strong smell of blood, he watched the headless body leaning toward him being picked up.

Shen Zechuan threw away the body, turned around and ordered indifferently: “Guard me!”

Ge Qingqing immediately drew his sword, and the snow light spread out with a “swish”. The Jin Yiwei stood in front of the imperial army like a golden soup pool, becoming Li Jianheng’s first shield.

Xiao Chiye had to look upward to see Shen Zechuan’s face across the Jin Yiwei.

The high-low balance they had always had was finally broken at this moment. Shen Zechuan looked down on him and gave him a meaningful smile.That look was like substance, stepping on Xiao Chiye’s chest.