Chapter 122 Can You Protect Everyone with Your Dripping Flower?
At the end of the long street, if Ji Fang hadn't been holding Feng Shisan's wrist tightly, Feng Shisan would have already drawn his sword and rushed out. Feng Shisan wasn't blind; he saw Xiao Ma and Guan Ye returning from who-knows-where. These two were actually quite happy in the street. Xiao Ma was brandishing his sword and jumping for joy, while Guan Ye's face was flushed with laughter. The two were dressed respectably, but behind the scenes, they were doing something shameful. Feng Shisan hated nothing more than poaching someone's partner, especially his own brother. Xiao Ma probably wanted to die.
"It's a misunderstanding, it must be a misunderstanding." Ji Fang said with all his might, "Xiao Ma isn't that kind of person, and neither is Guan Ye."
"I hope it's not true." Feng Shisan shook off Ji Fang's hand. "If Ajiu knew, Xiao Ma's death wouldn't be as simple as just dying."
Ji Fang knew that Feng Shisan was not happy. Today, he took Ji Fang to the Zhuque Gate and did nothing but watch the soldiers guarding the city gate. Two strong young men, holding weapons, stared at the city gate guards for two hours. Anyone would be suspicious. Ji Fang watched as several soldiers with swords approached them. He was so scared that he wanted to run away. Feng Shisan stood firm and did not move. Since he did not move, Ji Fang could not run away on his own. He could only stand there with a stiff upper lip.
The soldier looked imposing and strong in his armor. Compared to them, the tall and imposing Feng Shisan was just a young boy who hadn't grown up yet. His eyes were wide open, though. Ji Fang thought that Feng Shisan would at least say a few words: What's wrong? You haven't done anything, so you won't let people watch?
Yes, that's exactly the kind of aura Ji Fang wanted—the fearless Thirteenth Young Master, right? Who knew…
When the officer arrived, Feng Shisan's pupils contracted sharply, his fingers loosened and the sword fell to the ground. He clasped his hands and said, "Officer, please don't be offended. We're just waiting for you."
Waiting for someone? Ji Fang thought he had tinnitus, so who was he waiting for?
The officer asked the same question: "You've been waiting for an hour or so, but who are you waiting for? If you don't see the person you're waiting for, lying will land you in jail."
Just as Ji Fang was about to beg for mercy, Feng Shisan suddenly pointed to the carriage approaching from the city gate and said, "Look, the people are here."
Ji Fang rubbed his eyes. "Hey, isn't this Pei Bi, who's out of town on business? He even has the Xingguo Ward's curved sword flag hanging on his carriage."
"A mere swordsman from Xingguo Ward?" Several soldiers chuckled. One of them nudged Feng Shisan's shoulder and gestured something, while another picked up the fallen sword and handed it to him, telling Feng Shisan to grip the hilt tightly. "You've already dropped your sword, what kind of swordsman are you? You certainly won't be selected for the imperial sword trial."
A few words from him made Feng Shisan blush with embarrassment. He was seething with anger, but Ji Fang was right there beside him. Although Ji Fang would never say a word, he knew that the young master was still ashamed and indignant.
Feng Shisan looked at the armored general, his eyes filled with envy. If nothing had happened to his family, he would have been the one to inherit his father's prestigious position. But the laws of the Great Jin Dynasty forbade those convicted of crimes from joining the army. This single sentence extinguished Feng Shisan's ambition. The general glared at him, his sword slipping from his hand. "Feng Shisan, Feng Shisan, your father was wronged. Why are you so flustered when you see the general? Back then, they were just lowly soldiers under your father's command. At his roar, they wouldn't even flinch."
Feng Shisan was already in a bad mood, and seeing the spirited Xiao Ma only made him more depressed. He felt like punching himself. "Brother, you should be happy for him. If your brother is doing well, you'll be doing well too. Do you expect everyone to be worse off than you, waiting for you to draw your sword and save them? You can't even hold your sword properly, how can you protect everyone?"
As he thought about it, his anger subsided, and Feng Shisan sighed heavily. Ji Fang was right: you're just bored.
Chengen Hall of the Imperial Palace
Ajiu was summoned to the palace at noon. Stepping into Chengen Hall, she found the dishes already laid out on the octagonal table. Ajiu glanced at them, wondering why Mu You had summoned her today.
The charcoal stove on the table warmed the wine, emitting a pleasant aroma. Ajiu took a deep breath; the wine's fragrance was neither strong nor overpowering, with a subtle hint of floral and fruity notes. Mu You scrutinized Ajiu's determined expression, picked up the wine pot, filled it, and gestured for him to take a sip.
Ajiu picked up the wine cup and took a small sip. The wine was warm and sweet on her tongue, and after swallowing, the aftertaste was long and spicy. Seeing Mu You's unpredictable eyes, Ajiu tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp, then carefully placed the empty wine cup back on the table.
"Do you know what kind of wine it is?" Mu You suddenly asked.
Ajiu shook his head, "I have never tasted such sweet wine before."
Mu You smiled slightly, "This is a new wine brewed in the palace winery. I haven't had time to name it yet. Why don't you think of one? If you can name it to my liking, I will reward you."
Seeing that Mu You didn't seem to be joking, Ajiu closed her eyes and savored the aftertaste in her mouth. She then opened her eyes and said, "The wine is infused with floral dew, smooth and not astringent. It's very similar to a kind of wine that my mother mentioned, called... Dihua Shao."
Mu Youcang's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and his hand holding the chopsticks froze in mid-air. "Drip Flower Wine, what a beautiful name. Does she like to drink this wine?"
Ah Jiu lowered her eyes sadly, "She once tried to brew this kind of wine, but unfortunately she couldn't. The Emperor's wine, as soon as it was tasted, made me recite the name. Your Majesty, please forgive my embarrassment."
Mu You gestured for Ajiu to sit down, and picked up some mussels for him with his chopsticks. "I don't know what you like to eat. You've lived on the island for a long time and are used to seafood, so I had the imperial kitchen make some."
Ah Jiu was flattered and hurriedly stood up and stepped back, saying, "Your Majesty, you flatter me."
"Sit down." Mu You's eyes darkened, and his voice was gloomy.
Ajiu obediently sat down, picked up the mussels from the bowl, stuffed them into her mouth, and chewed with difficulty. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mu You staring at her, and hurriedly swallowed them whole. With a mouthful stuck in her throat, she quickly poured some simmering liquor into her mouth before she could catch her breath.
Mu You stared intently for a moment, then his tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed. "You don't like seafood?"
Ajiu wiped the wine stains from her lips, lowered her eyes, and dared not look at Mu You. "Although I grew up by the sea, I really can't stand these things. Seafood is fishy and salty, and if I eat too much... I'll..." Ajiu blushed, "and it'll easily upset my stomach."
"Hahahaha." Mu You chuckled softly. "I have the best imperial physicians in my palace, so I'm not worried about you getting an upset stomach." Mu You tossed the plate of mussels aside, raised his eyes, and said, "I heard from Pei Yuan that Xingguo Ward has led people to reclaim wasteland and cultivate the land, but the people of Canglang Island still mostly make a living by fishing and collecting shellfish. Their lives are hard, and the island is barren. If you don't eat seafood, won't you go hungry one day and full the next?"
“Your Majesty,” Ajiu hesitated, then said, “There are many ways to cook seafood. Crab meat can be extracted and stuffed into fruit, called crab stuffed fruit. Fish and shrimp can be marinated or salted. When the sea is closed in winter, the islanders rely on pickled fish and shrimp to fill their stomachs. They are not only easy to preserve, but they also have a unique flavor whether stewed, stir-fried, or eaten raw. Life is made by living, and there is always a way to live.”
Mu You looked closely at Ajiu. He was the same height as Mu Chenbi, and although he was a bit thin, he was still quite strong. His muscular build was visible beneath his brocade clothes, showing that he had been disciplined and self-reliant over the years and had been carefully raised. Ajiu said that there was always a way to get through life, and Mu You felt a pang of sorrow in his heart as he listened.
"Are you full?" Mu You stared at A Jiu, who had put down her chopsticks and bowl. "You gave my wine a good name. What reward do you want?"
Ajiu smiled faintly and said, "I was just talking nonsense. How could I really want any reward? Being able to dine at the same table as the Emperor is already a great blessing."
"I feel an instant connection with you and am delighted with you. You don't need to be so reserved with me." Mu You waved his sleeve and pointed to the table beside him, on which were several eight-treasure fruit plates. "These are newly presented candied fruits from various places. Go and pick some out and take them back to your friends in the neighborhood. You are not one to eat alone, so share your good fortune with them as well."
Candied fruit? Guan Ye had said a while ago that she wanted to try some of the tribute items. It was so tempting that the girl was practically drooling. Ajiu got up and walked over to the table, lifted the lid of the dish, and looked at the various candied fruits. The candied fruits recognized him, but he didn't recognize any of them.
Seeing that Ajiu seemed a little troubled, Mu You stood up and pointed to each item, saying, "These are jujubes, candied plums, and salted kumquats. This dish contains herbal pills, hawthorn pills, and preserved plums. And this is honey lychee..."
"—Honey lychees?" A-Jiu blurted out, "Are they delicious?"
Mu You turned around with his hands behind his back, opened his large palm to A Jiu, revealing a honey lychee, and asked, "Have you ever heard of honey lychees?"
Ah Jiu swallowed hard. “I know that lychees are produced in Lingnan. Lychees are sweet but don’t keep well, so they are made into candied fruit for people to enjoy. I have never eaten lychees before, so when I heard about candied lychees… I was surprised… Your Majesty, please don’t be offended.”
“Yes.” Mu You gazed at the honey lychee in his hand. “Lychees are precious, and honey lychees are a rare delicacy. Only a few dozen boxes are presented to the palace each year, and after being distributed among the various palaces, not many are left. I even said I would bring him some to try, but in the end, I couldn’t…”
Mu You put the honey lychee into his mouth. It was supposed to be sweet, but it tasted bitter. Mu You chuckled to himself and gestured for A Jiu to put the honey lychee away.
"Your Majesty," Chang Lu called cautiously outside the Cheng'en Hall, "the Imperial Preceptor Cui has arrived."
Cui Jin, it's Cui Jin again. Ajiu covered the eight-treasure plate, "Your Majesty, then this subordinate will take his leave."
Mu You flicked open his wide embroidered dragon robe, looked at Ajiu's cautious expression, and said in a low voice, "The New Year will be here soon. There will be a New Year's feast in the palace on New Year's Eve. Come."
"Me?" A-Jiu's ears were ringing. "The Emperor sent me to the New Year's Eve palace banquet? This..."
"You don't dare?"
Ajiu was at a loss, "It's not that I dare not, it's just that I feel... it's not a good idea."
"What's wrong with it?" Mu You pressed on. "I am the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty, the Son of Heaven, the master of this palace. I can decide who attends the palace banquet without asking anyone else's opinion. I decide alone."
Seeing Ajiu's troubled expression, Mu You knew what he was thinking. After a moment, he said, "I won't make things difficult for you. Here's what we'll do: Shen Ao, the head of the inner workshop, is the emperor's brother-in-law. He has a place at the palace banquet. I will also summon Pei Yuan to the palace. This is Xingguo Workshop's first major festival after returning to the capital, and I need to give Xingguo Workshop this face. There are also a few swordsmen in the workshop. You can choose one to accompany you, so you can keep each other company."
Ajiu looked up and asked, "Besides swordsmen, may I bring other people with me?"
"Anyone else?" Mu You recalled the faces he had seen in Xingguo Ward. Besides the swordsmen's youthful and spirited faces, there seemed to be a girl in red standing next to A Jiu. Although he didn't quite remember the girl's appearance, the air about her was unforgettable and etched in his memory to this day. "I understand," Mu You said meaningfully. "What's her name?"
"Guan Ye." Ajiu glanced at Mu You's expression. Mu You showed no displeasure, and his sharp, eagle-like eyes seemed to reveal a sense of relief.
"You like her?" Mu You asked in a low voice.
A flicker of emotion, unnoticed even by herself, flashed in Ajiu's dark eyes. "Yes."
Mu You laughed heartily, "Good, unlike Shen Bi, who is almost twenty and still hasn't fallen in love. In this respect, you are better than him. Bring Guan Ye to the palace banquet that day. What you like must be good."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ajiu spoke, but then became somewhat worried. The prosperity of Rongdu was not something Guan Ye envied. He had rashly suggested taking her to the palace. Would she be unhappy? The palace banquet was a feast of delicacies. Guan Ye loved to eat and could eat a lot. She probably wouldn't refuse.
Mu You noticed Ajiu's conflicted expression and took a step back. "It's getting late. Let's take the carriage back. The honey lychees are sweet and delicious. Your Guan Ye will definitely like them."
Ajiu clasped his hands and bowed his head. He pushed open the palace door and immediately saw Cui Jin waiting not far away. The moment Cui Jin's single eye glanced at him, Ajiu quickly looked away, trying his best to avoid Cui Jin's piercing gaze.
"A-Jiu".
Having avoided eye contact, but unable to pretend to be deaf and dumb, Ajiu stopped her hurried steps and headed towards the direction of the sound. When she saw the terrifying tattoo on Cui Jin's face, she clasped her hands and said, "Greetings, Imperial Preceptor Cui."
After exchanging greetings, Ajiu started to leave, but then saw Cui Jin walking towards her step by step. Ajiu stopped and slowly straightened up. "His Majesty is inside waiting for the Imperial Preceptor."
“No rush.” Cui Jin revealed a mysterious smile, which made his already frightening face even more eerie. Through his gold-rimmed blindfold, Ajiu seemed to be able to see the empty hole under the blindfold, like a well-dug trap waiting for its prey.
"Drip Flower Wine, is it good?" Cui Jin breathed heavily, his black robe pressing down on A Jiu, greedily inhaling the subtle aroma of wine emanating from his mouth. "Is it as I described it to you, wine with floral dew, smooth and not astringent?"
Ajiu's brows furrowed suddenly, a thunderclap exploded in her mind, her lips trembled slightly, and she couldn't utter a single word in her daze. The knuckles of her hand gripping the sword creaked as she exerted force.
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