Wuchang Prefecture.

The lobby of the government office was bustling with activity.

There were two tables in the lobby, on which were placed various delicacies, making people drool at the sight.

In the open space of the lobby.

A dozen dancers from the Jiaofangsi were wearing thin clothes and showing off their dancing moves to their heart's content. The whole hall was suddenly filled with the atmosphere of spring.

During the Ming Dynasty, the Jiaofangsi was just a department under the Ministry of Rites, responsible for managing official prostitutes.

The Jiaofangsi was not equivalent to a government-run brothel. Its main responsibility was actually to manage the music, dance and drama performances in the palace.

"Come, let me offer a glass of wine to Brother Yuan!" Zuo Liangyu, who was slightly bloated and had a round face, sat in the main seat and raised the wine glass to toast Yuan Jixian.

"Brother Zuo, you're welcome. Come, cheers!" After saying that, Yuan Jixian drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.

After drinking a glass of wine, Zuo Liangyu glanced at Yuan Jixian out of the corner of his eye.

He took a bite of food, picked up the wine glass again, and said to the people around Yuan Jixian: "Eunuch Zhang, Zuo offers you a toast!"

Eunuch Zhang Rong from the Imperial Household Department nodded, picked up the wine glass and drank it all!

While Zuo Liangyu was picking up the food, Yuan Jixian kept winking at Zhang Rong.

After Zhu Cilang learned of Yuan Jixian's difficulties, he not only sent his capable general Zhang Rong, but also sent more than a hundred Jinyiwei from Nanjing to sneak into Wuchang Prefecture and wait for the opportunity.

After Yuan Jixian and Zhang Rong met in Jiujiang, they quickly discussed a countermeasure. If they wanted to get rid of Zuo Liangyu and his son, the best way was to poison them!

The best time to poison was when he was drinking with Zuo Liangyu.

but...

Zuo Liangyu was very wary, so he prepared two tables for the banquet: one for Yuan Jixian and Zhang Rong, and one for Zuo Liangyu and his son.

The two tables were far apart, and Yuan Jixian had no idea what to do and could only ask Zhang Rong for help.

Zhang Rong was not in a hurry at all. He picked up the wine jug and poured wine into the glass, then drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing this, Zuo Liangyu winked at his son Zuo Menggeng.

Zuo Menggeng reluctantly moved his eyes away from the dancers and raised his glass to Zhang Rong: "Eunuch Zhang, is there something you are worried about?"

"Oh!" Zhang Rong sighed, "Don't mention it!"

"Since you are in Wuchang Prefecture, you have nothing to worry about! I offer a toast to Eunuch Zhang!" Zuo Menggeng did not ask any more questions and drank the wine in the glass.

Drums and music rang out in the hall of the government office, and the dancers' sleeves fluttered, their graceful figures swaying under the lights.

It makes people's hearts surge.

Zhang Rong was a eunuch. He had no interest in the dancers. His eyes were fixed on the wine jug in front of him, and he kept pouring himself.

soon.

He finished drinking the wine in the jug, and Zhang Rong was so drunk that he could hardly sit still.

The servant in charge was about to fill the wine jug, but saw Zhang Rong stand up and walk to Zuo Menggeng and take the other's wine jug in his hand.

He held the wine jug in his right hand and the wine glass in his left hand. With a splash, he filled the glass and then drank it all in one gulp!

Zuo Menggeng was absorbed in the dancer's dancing and was startled by Zhang Rong's behavior. He first looked at Zuo Liangyu, then stared at Zhang Rong with a serious expression, not knowing what to do.

Before entertaining Yuan Jixian and Zhang Rong, Zuo Liangyu gave specific instructions.

They have offended the imperial court by having their own troops.

The imperial court is short of soldiers but not generals when it comes to military strategies. In order to avoid being ambushed by the imperial court, one must be careful at all times.

Especially at the dinner table, you cannot have any contact with Zhang Rong.

The Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are good at poisoning, and the consequences would be disastrous if you were poisoned.

After Zhang Rong poured out all the wine in Zuo Menggeng's jug, he placed the jug on the table and walked back to his seat.

"Hey! Brother Zuo... Brother Zuo, you said... I escorted the prince to Nanjing, is it... a great achievement?"

Zuo Liangyu signaled Zuo Menggeng to stay where he was with his eyes, then raised his wine glass and said loudly: "Eunuch Zhang's achievement is not only a great one, but also a miraculous one! I guess he must have received a lot of reward money, right?"

"Heh..." Zhang Rong sneered, "Don't... forget about it. I'll... I'll toast to you and your son!"

As he spoke, Zhang Rong picked up the wine glass and drank it all again.

Zuo Liangyu and his son looked at each other and raised their glasses to drink.

Zhang Rong had already finished drinking the wine in Zuo Menggeng's jug. When the servant was about to pour more wine into the jug, Zuo Liangyu stopped him with his hand, "No need to pour more wine. I still have some in my jug."

"Wait...wait a minute!" Zhang Rong stood up upon seeing this.

He walked drunkenly to Zuo Menggeng, took the wine jug in his hand, and asked dissatisfiedly: "Zuo...Brother Zuo, what do you mean?"

Zuo Liangyu pretended not to understand: "What do you mean, Eunuch Zhang?"

"You... dislike the wine jug I used, right...right?" Zhang Rong held the wine jug in his right hand, his whole body swaying left and right uncontrollably.

"That's not true! Eunuch Zhang is overthinking it!"

"Bullshit! You...you just...dislike me, dislike...that I'm not clean, right!" Zhang Rong's words became more and more unpleasant.

Yuan Jixian, who had been watching from the sidelines, quickly stood up to smooth things over: "Brother Zuo, don't take it personally. Eunuch Zhang has drunk too much."

"Bullshit! I...I'm not drunk!" Zhang Rong pushed Yuan Jixian hard.

Yuan Jixian's expression changed. He exhaled heavily and came to Zhang Rong again: "Eunuch Zhang, you've drunk enough today. Let's drink another day."

He then turned to Zuo Liangyu and his son and said, "Brother Zuo, my dear nephew, Eunuch Zhang is not very good at drinking, and I apologize for the offense."

"It's okay, it's normal to drink too much. We father and son can't blame Eunuch Zhang."

"No!" Zhang Rong swayed to a servant and ordered him to fill the jug with wine.

Then he returned to the three people with the wine jug and slapped them hard, "Today...if you don't despise me, the four of us will drink this jug of wine together!"

"Stop it. You're not afraid of being embarrassed, but I am!" Yuan Jixian stopped him again.

"Yes, Eunuch Zhang, you've drunk a lot today. Let's drink another day!" Zuo Liangyu said politely, his eyes always fixed on Zhang Rong.

Poisoning can be done in a moment, so don't take it lightly.

"No!" Although Zhang Rong was drunk, his tone was unquestionable: "If you... don't drink with me, I will go back to Nanjing and tell the prince... that you want to rebel!"

When these words were spoken, not only Zuo Liangyu and his son, but even Yuan Jixian was stunned.