[R18] Will drink wine – Chapter 12 of “About to Enter the Wine” [English]

Chapter 12 Dragon Boat Festival

In the eighth year of Xiande’s reign, it was midsummer.

Wang Xian, the head of the Household Department, had his collared shirt soaked with sweat. He sat on pins and needles on his chair and more than once opened his black gauze hat to wipe away the sweat.

“Master Xiao.” Wang Xian swallowed and said, “No, it’s not that the Ministry of Accounts doesn’t allocate money to you, it’s that the treasury expenses haven’t been calculated yet, and Eunuch Pan doesn’t approve the money, so we really can’t do anything to allocate it!”

“Settling accounts takes time.” Xiao Chiye took a few sips from the tea cup and said, “Shouldn’t I be waiting? There’s no rush.”

Wang Xian’s throat slid as he looked at the calm Xiao Chiye and the motionless imperial army in the corridor outside.

“Sir,” Wang Xian almost begged, “It’s hot, so I feel sorry for the sergeants standing outside. I’ll treat you to some cold drinks, and I’ll reserve some ice…”

“No reward for no merit.” Xiao Chiye smiled on his face, “Our Imperial Army is thick-skinned and thick-skinned. What we do is hard work. What does it matter if we stand for a few hours? Don’t bother me, sir, and concentrate on settling accounts.”

Wang Xian held the account book and couldn’t put down his pen for a long time.

Today is the beginning of spring, and the emperor is seriously ill.For this matter, the Queen Mother ordered people to carry out large-scale construction in the palace to build a Brahma Temple to bless the emperor and chant sutras.The Ministry of Industry had an errand to welcome timber from Duanzhou. In order to save money, it called the Imperial Army to transport it.The imperial army transported the wood into the capital, and the Queen Mother withdrew the plan to build the temple because of the advice of Mr. Hai Ge.The Ministry of Revenue was short of this amount of money, and it delayed the imperial army for two months without paying it off.

We don’t have much money, but when the treasury is full, this won’t be a problem. Who is willing to offend Young Master Xiao for this little money?But Hubu is also in trouble now.On the Queen Mother’s birthday last year, nearly one million was spent on hosting a banquet and distributing gold and silver rewards.

Wang Xian put down his pen and simply said with his neck crossed: “Sir, we can’t make this money right now. Let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. According to the current accounts, the expenditure at the end of the year will not match the budget, and our salary may not be able to be paid. We really have no money. Even if you give me Wang Shoucheng a knife today, there is nothing I can do!”

“The military pay of the Eighth Battalion has been paid correctly. We, the Forbidden Army, have no money when it comes to our turn. They are all working for the emperor, and I, Xiao Ce’an, deserve to be a lowly person. I have to wait for you to turn around with this debt.” Xiao Chiye threw the tea cup on the table with a clang, “The Ministry of Households cries about poverty every year.But what does this have to do with me?It’s all done in black and white.Don’t talk to me about anything else.If you have to rely on others to deal with the problems in the accounts department, what are you doing to make room for others?”

Wang Xianrang he said with a livid face, stood up and said: “Since they are all working for the emperor, why are you forcing me so hard! Who wouldn’t want to get married if they have money? The Forbidden Army is really capable. They can work as coolies in the Eighth Battalion! Then who dares not to pay!”

Seeing that the atmosphere between the two parties was not good, a man was lifting his robe and stepping in outside.

“Master Wang, why should you be angry? The second young master is also quick to talk to others.” He took off his sun hat[1], wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and said, “Xue Xiuzhuo came here for this account when I was responsible for the matter of the next department supervisor.”

The position assigned to Shizhong by the Huke Superintendent was only the seventh rank. Logically speaking, he could not even be considered an official in Qindu.But it is special. It can not only supervise the progress of various ministries and yamen, but also participate in the evaluation and review of the moral and administrative performance of all officials every six years, and can even write to the emperor directly without permission from the six ministries.

Wang Xian couldn’t afford to offend, so he rolled down the slope and said, “How dare you get angry? The Imperial Army has worked hard, and I don’t want Mr. Xiao to do it in vain. But Yanqing, come and take a look at this account, the Ministry of Accounts can’t allocate it.”

Xue Xiuzhuo’s nickname is Yanqing, and he looks particularly elegant.He didn’t even look at the account, and said to the two of them: “I know the difficulties in the Ministry of Finance. Second Young Master, look at this. Quancheng provided a batch of silk a few days ago. Let’s exchange the silver and tie the silk for you in full, okay?”

As soon as Xiao Chiye left, Wang Xian turned cold and said to Xue Xiuzhuo: “Why are you asking for money for the Forbidden Army? Most of it is squandered by yourself. Since this second young master took up the post of governor of the Forbidden Army, he has been living and drinking all day long, pushing people to the point of being helpless every time, and showing no sympathy at all!”

Xue Xiuzhuo smiled and said nothing and did not answer any questions.

*****

Xiao Chiye left the household office and got on his horse to go to Donglong Street.he is taller than he was five years ago, and the energy he once had has faded away.

King Li Jianheng of Chu waited for him all morning. When he saw someone, he quickly said: “Why are you going? I’m so worried!”

“It’s a wave.” Xiao Chiye sat down and drank the cold drink. When he saw an ice basin in the room, he stretched out his limbs and lay on the Arhat bed, saying, “It’s comfortable here, but it’s so hot outside that I feel dizzy. I’ll take a nap.”

“That won’t work!” Li Jianheng shook his bamboo fan vigorously and sighed with his clothes open, “You have to wait until I finish talking before going to bed!”

Xiao Chiye didn’t know what he was doing at night. He was feeling sleepy and said “hmm” casually.

Li Jianheng first took a sip of ice wine with his pampered hands, and then said: “Do you still remember the woman I told you about last time? She was the one I raised in the village five years ago and planned to collect it myself, but she was taken away by that bastard Xiaofuzi to pay tribute to that eunuch Pan Rugui!”

Xiao Chiye said “Oh”.

Li Jianheng became even more enthusiastic and said: “I went out for summer vacation a few days ago, and I saw her again at Zhuangzi! The little lady has been raised with fine skin and tender flesh, and she looks more lovely than she was five years ago. It makes me feel distraught and hate eunuchs to death! A dog thief steals my love with a knife and ruins a good marriage of mine. Can this matter be over? It can’t be over!”

Xiao Chiye yawned.

Li Jianheng said angrily: “Are you a brother? You have to find a way to get him once! Pan Rugui can’t be touched, and Xiao Fuzi has to be beaten!”

Xiao Chiye was really tired. He said, “What should we do? Drag people out of the palace?”

Li Jianheng pushed away the attendant, closed his fan, and said: “The Dragon Boat Festival is about to happen, and the emperor is going to Xiyuan to watch the dragon boat race. Pan Rugui will definitely follow him then, he will follow, and so will Xiao Fuzi. When the horse supervisor comes to watch the horse racing, we will lure him out and beat him to death!”

Xiao Chiye seemed to be asleep. Seeing that he was silent, Li Jianheng said, “Ce’an, are you listening?”

“You can’t beat him to death.” Xiao Chiye closed his eyes and said, “If Pan Rugui hates you because of this, there will be a lot of trouble in the future.”

Li Jianheng said angrily, “How about a beating? If I don’t get angry like this, I can’t even eat. What’s wrong with you recently? You always look like you’re in low spirits. What did you do at night? Why did you get rid of the chicks I picked for you last time!”

Xiao Chiye was completely silent and waved his hand to indicate that he understood.There is no bone on his thumb, but the teeth marks from the tiger’s mouth have left traces.Li Jianheng said something else later, but he turned a deaf ear to it.

*****

A few days later, during the Dragon Boat Festival, Emperor Hamde, who had not been in court for a long time, moved his sick body to Xiyuan.The accompanying palace family members were all wearing gauze clothes. Ji Lei and Xi Gu’an, the commander of the Eighth Battalion, escorted him. The imperial army was free and they also sent word to Xiao Chiye.

The crowd was already full when Xiao Chiye arrived. Emperor Xiande had finished planting the willows and was waiting for the Royal Horse Supervisor to start the horse racing.The accompanying Guanglu Temple served millet and pastries on the table next to him, while Li Jianheng stayed at the prince’s table and waved to Xiao Chiye.

Xiao Chiye threw the riding whip to Chen Yang behind him, untied his arms and got into the seat.

Li Jianheng was still holding the bamboo fan today and said, “Why did you come here? I’m so anxious!”

Xiao Chiye said: “I’ve been anxious all day long, are you okay?”

Li Jianheng fanned the wind and said, “Aren’t I used to saying this? Well, did you see? Xiao Fuzi is waiting there.”

Xiao Chiye took a look and saw Xiao Fuzi smiling happily and talking in Pan Rugui’s ear.He said: “Don’t rush up later, just ask someone to give him a beating.”

Half an hour later, Xiao Fuzi stepped on the edge of the latrine and was about to drain the water. Suddenly, his vision went dark and someone covered him completely with a sack.

“Hey!” Xiao Fuzi screamed, but was knocked unconscious by a punch.

When Li Jianheng saw the sack, without saying anything, he first lifted up his robe and kicked it with his feet.Xiao Fuzi was covered with a sack and gagged, and rolled on the ground groaning in pain.

The race ahead was at a critical moment, and no one was listening.

Xiao Fuzi was beaten for half an hour. Before Li Jianheng could feel his anger, he was stopped by Chen Yang.Chen Yang winked at the palace guards behind him, and the guards quickly picked up the sacks and ran away.

“Your Highness,” Chen Yang said, “If you beat me again, you will die. Let’s do it next time.”

Li Jianheng straightened his robe, looked at he, and said, “Where are you throwing this person?”

“The governor has ordered them to be thrown into the woods by the lake. The banquet will be held later, and all the eunuchs in attendance will pass by, so he can untie the bundles.”

Li Jianheng took another sip at the place where Xiao Fuzi had just rolled over, and returned to the table.

*****

When the banquet started, Li Jianheng had already forgotten the person. Xiao Chiye looked at Pan Rugui’s side carefully, but did not see Xiao Fuzi’s figure.

Li Jianheng picked the dishes with chopsticks and said: “I probably felt embarrassed and ran back to change my clothes. The eunuchs who serve in front of the emperor are most afraid of being unclean and making the masters displeased. Are you going to play in my village in a few days? I also want you to meet that little lady.”

Xiao Chiye drank cold tea and said, “I’m busy.”

Li Jianheng laughed and said, “You’re pretending to be too? You’re busy. The Forbidden Army is about to be disbanded. What’s the point of being busy with this idle job?”

“Busy about drinking.” Xiao Chiye also smiled, his eyes fixed on the tea in his hand, his profile a bit ungrateful, “As soon as autumn comes, the police will be inspected. I have to invite people to drink in order to keep my idle position.”

“Being a human being.” Li Jianheng pointed his chopsticks and said, “You have to be raised with good clothes and good food, and you have to eat and wait for death. They talk about Pan Dang and relatives, fighting to the death, are you tired? What’s the fun in that?”

“Yeah.” Xiao Chiye laughed more and more, “Isn’t that just making things difficult for myself? Playing is the most enjoyable thing.”

Li Jianheng looked at he and smiled, and said: “Look, what’s going on? Who dares to remove my brother’s official title? You are personally appointed by the emperor, and we are just following the order to get along. Let’s do this, before autumn, I will hold a flower viewing banquet in the mansion, and you invite everyone.”

“Don’t be in a hurry.” Xiao Chiye said as he looked at Xiyuan and saw the treasure hall of Zhaosu Temple from the undulating eaves.He frowned and said, “This place is right next to Zhaosu Temple.”

“I’m still thinking about it.” Li Jianheng said, “It’s been so long since I lost the ring.”

Xiao Chiye rubbed his thumb habitually.

“The remnant of the Shen family has also been locked up for five years, and there has never been any movement. The emperor has never asked whether the person is dead or crazy.” Li Jianheng said, “If it were me, let alone five years, even half a month, I would go crazy.”

Xiao Chiye’s mouth hurt and he didn’t want to mention this person.

Just as the drums were beating by the lake, Li Jianheng threw away his chopsticks, stood up and urged: “Let’s go, let’s go! The dragon boat race, you guys will definitely bet money!”

Xiao Chiye was about to get up when he saw Ji Lei walking quickly through the crowd, leaning towards Pan Rugui and saying something.Pan Rugui suddenly turned his head, and for just a moment, he took a photo of the table.

Xiao Chiye immediately looked behind Chen Yang.

Chen Yang was stunned and said: “General…”

“Your Majesty!” Ji Lei was already kneeling in front of the emperor and said loudly, “I’m afraid the dragon boat race will fail. Just now, Wei Chen led the Jinyi Guards to inspect and actually fished out Xiao Fuzi, who was on duty in Ouchi, from the water!”

Emperor Xiande coughed violently, and Pan Rugui stepped forward to caress Emperor Xiande’s back.Emperor Xiande calmed down a little and then asked: “What are you doing in the water?”

Ji Lei raised his head, not knowing whether he was looking at Emperor Xiande or the Queen Mother, and said in a deep voice: “The person has drowned.”

There was a commotion among the palace family members, and they all covered their mouths with silk handkerchiefs.

Li Jianheng immediately knocked over the tea cup on the table. He helped him up in panic and looked at Xiao Chiye: “I was just talking…”

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[1]: A sun hat often worn by scholar-bureaucrats.