“This is white wine with a strong mineral flavor.” Wei Yue poured the wine. “I like this flavor. Actually, this place used to serve the top-quality Champagne Salon 1996, but it was discontinued because the owner’s son was an alcoholic and kept it for himself.”
Duanmu Ci raised his wine glass and swirled it twice. "It's fine if you keep it to yourself. Actually, I prefer drinking tea."
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After a sumptuous dinner, they didn't rush to leave, partly because it was still raining outside, and partly because they wanted to enjoy dessert. Chef Toru Okuda not only excels at the main courses but also pays great attention to desserts, which are delightful in every aspect, from ingredient selection and preparation to presentation.
Duanmu Ci picked up a piece of tiramisu and put it in his mouth. The rich flavor of this classic Italian dessert melted in his mouth, leaving him speechless for a moment.
Wei Yue did not eat or drink with Duanmu Ci. He gazed out the window and said, “Tokyo at night is different from Tokyo during the day. During the day, Tokyo is a bustling city with more than 10 million people living and working here. They are like the gears of a huge machine, meshing precisely with each other to keep the city running. They move through the city like they are moving through a labyrinth of power. This is a world of power.”
Duanmu Ci leaned back in his chair, assuming a listening posture.
"Before the second year of the Meiji era, this place was called Edo, the residence of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the successive shoguns. For 260 years, it was the true capital of Japan. The post roads were well-connected, and messengers rode on fine horses to deliver the shogun's orders to all directions. The emperor, far away in Kyoto, would occasionally look in this direction, but his eyes were filled with awe. He was not in awe of the city, but in awe of the master of the city."
"The high-ranking shogun wielded his long sword to conquer all directions, maintaining the glory of the shogunate and Japan, until later when Westerners used guns and cannons to blast open Japan's doors. The shogun began to descend from his pedestal, and the feudal lords of the four directions no longer obeyed the orders from Edo. Later, the shogun 'restored power to the emperor,' fought a fierce battle with the anti-shogunate faction, and then abandoned his sword and submitted a petition to surrender. Edo has since become a city without dignity."
"Later, Emperor Meiji moved the capital to Edo and renamed it Tokyo. He commanded the country from here, and the feudal lords and samurai from all directions began to respect this city again, because the master of this city held the sword."
Wei Yue gazed into Duanmu Ci's eyes and said, word by word, "A man cannot be without a sword. You can use a longsword to protect your city, to protect your heart, to protect your family name. In short, you cannot give it up! This world is a battlefield. Right now, it's raining and seems harmless, making you feel like you can put down your sword and take a break. But on the battlefield, anyone who abandons their sword has no right to live."
"The hilt of the sword is the power!"
Duanmu Ci stared intently at Wei Yue, his expression more serious than ever before. He had never imagined that the usually leisurely and lazy Wei Yue would utter such ambitious words, as if the blood of their ancestor's bravery and arrogance were boiling and burning in his veins! The ancestor of the Minamoto family was Minamoto no Yoritomo, who once conquered the land, established the Kamakura Shogunate, and began the history of the shogunate system, treating the emperor as a puppet. Duanmu Ci gazed into Wei Yue's eyes as if he were looking into the eyes of that peerless hero from a thousand years ago!
Wei Yue stood up and turned to the huge glass window, his gaze falling on the outside. Tokyo was still brightly lit in the rainy night. Wei Yue was the ruler of this city, and he looked down at the city like a king inspecting his country.
Wei Yue suddenly smiled, the smile spreading to the corners of his eyebrows. The ambitious Wei Yue from just now had vanished, and he had transformed back into a noble young master, his smile as beautiful as if he were about to attend a date with a lady of high society.
"Duanmu-kun, I've told you so much about Tokyo during the day, would you like to see Tokyo at night in the rain?" Wei Yue looked out the window. "I'd be happy to accompany you."
Duanmu Ci remained silent for a moment, then stood up without saying a word and turned around.
"Where are you going?" Wei Yue asked from behind.
"Didn't you say you'd accompany me to enjoy Tokyo in the rain? I'll go get an umbrella from the waiter."
Duanmu Ci's voice drifted in through the aroma of white wine, mixed with the scent of rain outside the window, and seemed to carry a hint of power.
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P.S.: I'm very satisfied with this chapter; it felt really engaging!
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