Chapter 470: Taking Advantage of Drunkness
Ying Zhilin was shocked when he saw this.
He turned around and tried to catch her.
Wen Yan looked sleepy, but her alertness was not diminished at all.
As soon as I took a step forward, I realized something was wrong.
She quickly retracted her foot and squatted down to lower her center of gravity: "That was a close call. I almost fell flat on my face."
Ying Zhilin helped nothing and thought she was funny. Who would describe themselves as a dog?
He reached out to help her again.
Wen Yan jumped off the carriage and picked up the large food box he had brought with him. "Why are you leaving work so late today? Was there some urgent business at the Hanlin Academy that delayed you?"
Ying Zhilin looked at his empty hands: "..."
Wen Yan walked in carrying the lunch box.
Ying Zhilin smelled a faint smell of alcohol from her.
Seeing Ying Zhilin standing there in a daze, she turned around and urged, "What are you standing there for? Come in quickly!"
Ying Zhilin: “…”
Whose house is this?
He smiled helplessly, followed Wen Yan closely and walked in.
Ying Zhilin turned around and closed the gate.
Wen Yan placed the food box on the table under the grape trellis. She opened the box and waved at him with a smile: "What did you have for dinner? Are you hungry? I brought some delicious food. Do you want to eat some more?"
"You usually ignore me, so why are you coming to my house tonight?" Ying Zhilin snorted, "You're being so attentive to me for no reason. What do you want from me?
Wen Yan glanced at him and said, "Ah, if there's anything, let's discuss it after we've eaten and drunk enough."
Ying Zhilin snorted before sitting next to her.
Wen Yan smiled and poured a glass of wine, pushing it in front of him. "I made this jasmine-scented wine. I've been keeping it as a treasure, intending to use it as the signature wine for the anniversary of Qingfeng Xiaolou. I'm giving it to you today. Come and try it and see if you like the taste."
Ying Zhilin picked up the wine glass, took a sip, savored it carefully, and commented, "It has a smooth taste. After the grape aroma dissipates, a light jasmine fragrance remains between the lips and teeth. It's a very good wine."
Ying Zhilin praised, "I didn't expect that besides incense, you are also good at making cocktails."
Wen Yan propped up her chin with one hand and looked at Ying Zhilin. "When I was in the Wen Mansion before, besides the rules of a young lady from an aristocratic family, Jiang Xinkui loved to let me learn some unusual skills and tricks so that I could surprise everyone when needed."
"You draw, too?"
Wen Yan nodded: “Both painting and embroidery.
When I couldn't even write, I was forced to learn painting and embroidery.
Fortunately, I had some talent for painting, and I had already gained a small reputation by the age of ten. Later, I met Chi Fei.
If the emperor's favor is ten points, the General's Mansion accounts for three points.
The Wen family was on the decline, and they wanted to curry favor with the Meng family to raise their status, so they asked me to be Chi Fei's little follower.
The Meng family is kind-hearted and treats me like their own daughter."
Wen Yan looked at Ying Zhilin and smiled: "Tell me, am I very lucky?"
Ying Zhilin did not answer, but said: "Wen Ruyue has always hated you, hated you for taking away her destiny.
She thought that if she stayed in the Wen family, she would become as talented and virtuous as you."
"Talent and character?" Wen Yan raised an eyebrow. "Is it because I look so bad that you can't praise my appearance?"
"Of course not, you're beautiful.
Your good looks are just the least noticeable of your many advantages."
"Then tell me, what are my outstanding advantages?" Wen Yan saw that his wine glass was almost empty, so she filled it up for him.
She poured herself a glass, clinked it with his, and took a sip.
She savored it carefully and said, “I am really talented, this wine is really delicious.
My female guests will probably like it. It would be even better if it could be paired with a few refreshing snacks."
Wen Yan seemed dizzy and shook her head: "Tell me, what are my advantages?"
"A flexible mind, a resolute character, and a seemingly cold but actually kind nature.
Also, the way you protect someone..."
Ying Zhilin counted them one by one.
Wen Yan nodded repeatedly after hearing this: "Well, not bad, not bad, these advantages are indeed like me..."
She accepted all the praise from Ying Zhilin.
The two talked about other things.
The pot of wine is empty.
Most of the side dishes that Wen Yan brought were gone.
Seeing Ying Zhilin's blushing cheeks and a dazed look in his eyes, Wen Yan asked tentatively, "Ying Zhilin, I need your help with something. Do you want to help me?"
"That depends on what the matter is." Ying Zhilin spoke in a muffled voice. He was indeed a little drunk.
Wen Yan wanted to take advantage of him being dizzy to finalize the matter.
She held Ying Zhilin's hand and blinked at him innocently: "I have a friend whose son is going to take part in the provincial examination in two years. She wants to find a candidate from Wutong Academy to help her son get promoted."
Ying Zhilin didn't even ask which friend it was, and shook her head to refuse: "Although Wutong Academy has many candidates, some of them have to prepare for the imperial examination.
Some people are not knowledgeable enough to be teachers.
Although Wutong Academy is well-known among scholars, not everyone is suitable for teaching and educating people."
"Besides, teaching privately won't bring any fame to Wutong Academy, so why bother?
If you have the energy, you'd be better off finding a reputable teacher to teach you carefully. Who knows, your chances of success might be even better." Yingzhi Lin Tongwenyan analyzed the pros and cons.
"That's easy for you to say. Is it that easy to find a famous teacher?" Wen Yan wrinkled her nose and said, "Besides, my friend's family situation is complicated. No one wants her son to be too successful, so she can only do it quietly!"
"But my friend is not short of money. As long as your classmates are willing, they can name any price."
"You have so many candidates in your academy, and I believe each of them has his or her own strengths.
You find those among them who have special skills and form a team.
Wouldn't it be better to let them teach according to their strengths?"
"You even thought of the idea for her!" Ying Zhilin gently pinched Wen Yan's chin and looked around, "I think you and your friends don't really want to invite these scholars.
But he is the mentor behind him."
Ying Zhilin stroked Wen Yan's lips with his thumb.
The bright red lips became soft and smooth because of the wine, with a touch of creamy texture and a warm temperature.
Ying Zhilin's eyes were attracted by her lips and he couldn't look away for a moment.
"Who among the senior and junior brothers who excel in a certain area doesn't have a mentor who values them?
The fellow apprentices had developed the habit of seeking help from the master whenever they encountered difficulties.
They took a huge amount of money from your friend, so they must want to teach their students well. In this case, they will inevitably show their students' articles to their master.
Your friend is quite clever, this is a roundabout way to save the country."
Ying Zhilin directly exposed Wen Yan and Jing Mingmei's little tricks.
Wen Yan was fearless and looked at him with a smile: "Oh, you saw through me, so are you going to punish me?"
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