Chapter 371: Drunk

"Eight horses, five champions..."

In the most elegantly decorated flower hall, the sound of fists clapping, which only peddlers would shout, could be heard.

Ji Yong, however, stretched out his arm with his sleeves rolled up high with a normal expression and pointed at the wine cup in front of Song Mo.

Song Mo said nothing, just smiled and drank the cup.

The sound of "Seven Stars" fists rang out in the flower hall again.

Then the drinker became the one who made the song.

Ma Youming looked at the wine cup in front of him, which was still empty, and then looked at the empty wine pot piled in a corner of the flower hall. He quietly asked Dou Zhengchang: "What's going on? I haven't had a drop of wine yet."

Dou Zhengchang was embarrassed and raised his cup: "I will drink with Master Ma."

Ma Youming shook his head, covered the wine cup with his hand, and said, "Don't break the rules, it will be meaningless."

Dou Zhengchang blushed and said awkwardly, "I don't know how to punch. How about we play a drinking game?"

Ma Youming smiled, then scratched his head and said, "But I don't know how to play drinking games, I only know how to punch!"

"What should we do?" Dou Zhengchang asked in embarrassment.

You've really become pedantic because of reading too much!

Ma Youming shook his head secretly.

What to do?

Naturally, I tried to separate these two people.

Otherwise, if he got drunk on such a happy day, wouldn't that cause trouble for the Zhao family?

He was secretly complaining in his heart.

He slapped Song Mo on the shoulder and said with a smile: "My Lord, let me have a fistfight with Master Ji. Seeing you guys drinking so heartily, I feel itchy inside."

Song Mo, who was always generous, smiled and pushed him away, saying, "He is a guest. Lord Ji is honored today. Please be patient."

Aren't you a guest?

Ji Yong muttered in his heart, and said with a smile: "One person is also a drink, two people are also a drink, I have never been afraid of large numbers, why don't we draw a three-person fist. Why does the prince refuse to let Lord Ma go a thousand miles away?"

The implication is that he is not afraid of Song Mo asking for a helper, but he is afraid that Song Mo will not agree for the sake of face.

Don't seek fame by imitating the tyrant.

Song Mo was not fooled by this and said with a smile: "It can be seen that Master Ji is not very good at boxing. When three people are boxing, naturally everyone counts their own. Master Ji is too suspicious."

Implying that Ji Yong lacks courage.

Ji Yong raised an eyebrow at Ma Youming with disdain.

Ma Youming did intend to join forces with Song Mo, but he was straightforward and respected the strong, so he would not resort to verbal attacks, and certainly would not take Ji Yong's sarcasm to heart. He smiled and raised the wine glass, saying "I'll drink this first as a sign of respect", which was considered as officially joining their ranks.

The sound of fists clashing could be heard again in the flower hall.

But this time the one drinking was Ma Youming.

Song Mo and Ji Yong both glared at Ma Youming.

Ma Youming had no choice but to say awkwardly: "How about we play a drinking game?"

Ji Yong curled his lips and said, "I'm just afraid that the prince won't agree!"

Song Mo smiled slightly, his smile was reserved but warm: "As for entertaining guests, as long as Master Ji thinks it's good, why wouldn't I agree? However, using a wine cup is not fun, I think we should get a bowl."

Ji Yong sneered, raised his eyes and saw a set of ivory cards on the tea table next to him. He turned his eyes slightly, called the maid in loudly, and told her to bring in a few large bowls. Then he stood up and grabbed a few cards and put them on the black lacquered and gold-painted crabapple tea tray, saying, "Then let's use these ivory cards as orders and write a seven-character poem each. What do you think, my lord?"

Dou Dechang, who had been sitting silently nearby, started to shout.

Drinking games are the strong point of scholars.

Moreover, most people in the world study the Four Books, and few people work hard on poetry. Even Uncle Qi did not have the heart to examine Song Mo, which shows that Song Mo's poetry is mediocre. No matter what, Song Mo is his brother-in-law. Ji Yong's evildoer is known to everyone. Who knows what he is up to? He can't just watch Song Mo suffer in secret!

"The more people we have, the better it is for a drinking game." He pretended not to understand the situation and said with a smile, "Shall I join in?"

Song Mo saw that Dou Dechang wanted to help him, so he was even more unwilling to let Dou Dechang be implicated.

He took the tea tray and turned the cards over one by one so that their backs were facing upwards, and said with a smile, "Then I will be the official in charge of the game."

Dou Dechang had no choice but to push the tea tray in front of Dou Zhengchang and said, "Let my brother be the official in charge! I'll drink with my cousin and fourth... fourth aunt!"

Song Mo always called him "uncle", and he was used to calling Song Mo "fourth brother-in-law", but looking at Ji Yong's stern face, he changed his words and respectfully called Song Mo "fourth aunt".

Ji Yong's expression really turned unhappy after hearing this, but he didn't argue any more and signaled Dou Zhengchang to draw a card.

Dou Zhengchang touched the card and saw it was Zhang Yizhichun.

This is a bit troublesome, but fortunately it is not unfamiliar. I don’t know if Mr. Ma can follow it?

He looked worriedly at Ma Youming, who claimed that he didn't know how to play drinking games, and said, "The snowy valley is lush and green," and drank a bowl of wine.

Pretty decent, just like him.

Ma Youming felt a little embarrassed when he saw this. He smiled and said to Dou Zhengchang, "A faint fragrance wafts from the jade steps of the thatched cottage," and drank the wine.

This was beyond Dou Zhengchang's expectations.

Ji Yong then chanted "The clear pool is covered with white brocade under the apricot rain" and then looked at Song Mo.

Song Mo drank the wine slowly and said with a smile: "The leaves of willow trees are dancing in the air."

The whole sentence does not mention any winter objects, but uses spring objects to describe the winter scenery.

Ji Yong's eyes were slightly sad.

Dou Zhengchang and Dou Dechang breathed a sigh of relief.

Dou Dechang drank the wine in front of him and said with a smile: "The sun is warm and the tung blossoms are blowing in the wind."

It turned out that the banker lost.

Dou Zhengchang drank a bowl of wine with him, and then touched Zhang Yisuo.

The corners of Ma Youming's mouth twitched up barely perceptibly.

The prince is best at this kind of literary drinking game, but not so good at boxing.

Lord Ji picked the thing that the prince is best at to compete with him. It would be strange if he didn't lose!

The sound of poetry was heard in the house.

Soon, Dou Zhengchang was forced to drink seven or eight bowls of wine, and his face became so red that it seemed as if blood could drip out.

Ma Youming couldn't bear it, so he took over the tea tray and became the banker.

The one who drank became Ma Youming.

Ma Youming couldn't help but roar secretly.

How come all these relatives of the Dou family are so powerful? Whoever becomes the Zhuang family will be in trouble!

Fortunately, he has a good alcohol tolerance and he is not overwhelmed for a while.

Ji Yong began to quote from classics, adding a rule every time he turned over a tooth card, and finally limited the scope of poetry to the Four Books and Five Classics.

Song Mo remained expressionless as he drank elegantly and played drinking games. It was a pity for Dou Dechang, who could only utter a word after a long while. Dou Zhengchang was even more drunk and confused, and his words were irrelevant. Ma Youming simply accepted the punishment directly.

Half an hour later, Song Mo and Ji Yong were the only ones left awake in the flower hall.

Ma Youming still had some clarity of mind. He grabbed a maid who came in to change their wine bowls and whispered, "Go and tell your wife." The maid's scream was so frightened that she was muffled in her throat and ran out in panic.

After a while, the master of ceremonies came over and said to them with a smile, "The bride's escort will soon arrive. Please go to the tea room and have a few cups of tea so that we can discuss how to drink with the groom later."

Ji Yong stared at Song Mo, motionless as a mountain.

"Master Ji, the groom is the most important today. Why don't we go to Zhao Zishu's place in Thousand Buddha Temple some other time to have a few drinks." Song Mo stood up, nodded at him meaningfully, turned around and left the flower hall.

Ji Yong's face turned pale.

Ma Youming watched Song Mo leave in a daze, then staggered to his feet and followed him, saying, "My Lord, where are you going?"

Song Mo supported Ma Youming and told Chen He: "Master Ma has drunk a little too much. Go and tell the steward to arrange a place for Master Ma to rest."

Chen He responded respectfully and went to help Ma Youming.

Ma Youming suddenly became anxious, waving his arms and almost hitting Chen He in the face.

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" He wanted to grab Song Mo's arm, but he couldn't see the person in front of him clearly. He missed it several times. "My Lord, I actually came to find you... but I never had the chance. You don't know, I've been living a miserable life these days... My Lord, I know you are a smart person. You go in and out of the palace just like you go in and out of your own home. I just want to ask you for something... I'm not smart, but I will follow smart people... I will follow you through thick and thin..."

He patted his chest, making a "bang bang" sound.

However, when Song Mo said "You enter and leave the palace as if you were entering and leaving your own home", he saw Ji Yong and Mr. Zhibin coming out. He did not bother to think about Ma Youming's words, and whispered to Chen He, "Why don't you find a suitable place for Lord Ma?" and left.

Chen He dragged Ma Youming away.

Ji Yong's eyes were slightly cold.

But the gentleman who knew the guests envied him recklessly and said, "This man, having achieved the status of the Prince of England, can be considered that his life was not lived in vain. Look at that Lord Ma, a third-rank military officer, but he has to pat his chest to show his loyalty in front of the Prince... It is said that the Prince is only seventeen years old this year. Look at those people of the same age as him, who knows where they are studying hard, hoping to gain fame and fortune. But even if they can pass the imperial examination at a young age, if they want to be like the Prince, I am afraid they may not be able to achieve their wish even if they work hard all their lives!" At the end of the words, his tone was already a little sighing.

Ji Yong didn't say anything, but his eyes became colder as he looked in the direction where Song Mo was going away.

"Wenhua Daxun" was praised by the emperor, but Yu Qi did not take credit for it. Instead, he praised several people who had worked with him on the book in front of the emperor, especially the youngest one, Ji Yong. Ji Yong had the title of Tanhua (three places in the imperial examination) and a sharp eye, which made Yu Qi feel that he had a bright future. He wanted to establish this good relationship with him and rewarded him especially.

The emperor was pleased and summoned Ji Yong into the palace to chat with him for a while.

Ji Yong thought that the matter was over.

Who knew that a few days ago the Emperor ordered the Hanlin Academy to compile the "Zhou Li He Xun" and specially ordered him to participate in the revision.

Great-grandfather was delighted to hear this and reminded him: "This is an opportunity, an opportunity for you to go down in history. You must seize it!"

His uncle and father were also overjoyed. One wanted to put all the good things in the house in front of him and ask him to choose; the other was afraid that his heavy steps would disturb him, which made him very annoyed and wanted to talk to someone. However, everyone around him praised him in unison: "You are so young, not only did you win the title of Tanhua, but you also had two opportunities to participate in the compilation of the collection of essays with the emperor's preface. You are destined to leave a strong mark in the literary world of this dynasty."

What this means is that even if he worked as an editor in the Hanlin Academy for his entire life, it would be something to be proud of.

Today, Yu Li called him over and talked about the same old things again, which made him feel extremely depressed. He thought that if he was really trapped in the Hanlin Academy and edited books day after day and year after year, he might as well die.