Chapter 64 Su Yuyao chugs plum wine
The group followed the winding mountain road upwards. At the mountainside stood a jade-carved, three-bay, four-pillar mountain gate with phoenixes carved on the pillars and the striking red characters "Jiujiaotang" inscribed on the gate.
Looking at the imposing mountain gate, Su Yuyao recalled the small courtyard she had seen on the hill earlier and couldn't help but marvel at the vast difference between these different sects! Since the sects here are so large, it must be a place where hidden talents reside!
After entering through the mountain gate and circling the mountain path several times, and passing through dense forest, we finally came to the palace complex built along the mountain cliff—the Vermilion Bird Palace.
The Vermilion Bird Palace is predominantly red, with its layered buildings and dark blue corridors creating an image of a swooping eagle against the gray-white cliff face.
Su Yuyao was stunned. She had never seen a building that could stand upright before. She raised her fingers and counted the floors one by one. How many floors was this?
"Yao'er! Why are you so slow!" Qi Men stroked his beard and greeted her with a smile.
"Uncle! This place is so...so beautiful!" Su Yuyao's eyes widened. "The houses here are so...so tall!"
"Hahahaha!" Qimen laughed and said, "Yao'er, did you broaden your horizons this time?"
"It's open! It's open!" Su Yuyao exclaimed excitedly, counting the houses on the cliff face and asking, "Uncle Qimen! Which floor do we stay on?"
"We'll be staying here!" Qimen pointed behind him. "This is Lord Guan Xiao's courtyard. Usually, only Lord Guan Xiao lives here. This time, we brought horses and the sick Feihua, so staying in the Vermilion Bird Palace would be inconvenient. We can only trouble Lord Guan Xiao for his peace and quiet!"
"How is this disturbing? I'd love for a lively atmosphere!" Guan Xiao said with a smile as he led Su Yuyao into the courtyard, which, though small, was very elegant.
“Miss Yao’er, Lord Qimen and I will stay in the East Courtyard, while you will stay in the West Courtyard! You can choose any room you like! I have already instructed the servants to make you some grilled fish. Why don’t you go back to your room and rest for a while? Once the fish is ready, I will have Yue’er come and call you, is that alright?”
"Alright! Thank you very much, Lord Guan Xiao!"
Excitedly, Su Yuyao pulled Bai Er around the rooms in the courtyard, then pointed to the main house and said, "Granny Fangchun! You and Feihua can stay here! There are two bedrooms and a heater! Remember to start decocting the medicine first, we've been traveling a long time today, don't miss taking your medicine!"
"Yes, Miss Yao'er!"
"Ruixue! You sleep in the room across the street. Baimi Gao is tied up in the yard. You're in charge of looking after it!"
"Yes, Miss Ningbao!"
"Bai Er! We'll sleep in the side room. Go tidy up and boil some water. I need to wash up and change!"
"Yes, Miss!"
With everyone arranged, Su Yuyao thought for a moment and said to Guan Xiao, "Lord Guan Xiao, could you please prepare some food for us? If you and Lord Qimen go to the Vermilion Bird Palace on official business, we can't wait for you to return hungry! Prepare some food for us, and we can cook for ourselves without troubling your people! Also, could you please find us a doctor who can prescribe herbal medicine or use folk remedies? Feihua's condition is stable now, but we're afraid she might relapse. It's better to be prepared early than to be caught off guard!"
Guan Xiao looked at Su Yuyao with slight surprise, then smiled and replied, "Okay, I'll arrange for someone to take care of it right away! Any other requirements?"
"Um... no more for now. I'll contact you again when I think of something!" Su Yuyao said, curtsying.
"Hahahaha! Excellent!" Guan Xiao laughed. "Lord Qimen! Miss Yao'er is truly a precocious child! No wonder Xuanfeng likes her!"
Qi Men smiled slightly, but Guan Yue looked at Su Yuyao with disdain, calling her a dirty girl!
As the sun set and the stars filled the sky, a chill settled in the mountains, but nothing could dampen Su Yuyao's enthusiasm for grilled fish...
"Su Yuyao! The fish is ready. Father asked me to tell you!" Guan Yue's voice still betrayed his reluctance.
Su Yuyao had just finished showering and replied anxiously, "Okay! We'll be right there!"
Without waiting for Bai Er to comb her hair, she ran out of the room wearing a light blue and white long dress, a wide-sleeved long shirt, and with her hair half-gathered.
"Feihua! Ruixue! Let's go! Let's go eat grilled fish!" Su Yuyao shouted excitedly.
"Miss! Please slow down!" Bai Er followed behind Su Yuyao helplessly.
"Eat grilled fish! Eat grilled fish!" Fei Hua clapped her hands and shouted, imitating Su Yuyao.
"Hahahaha!" Su Yuyao laughed as she looked at Feihua. "Feihua, let's go eat grilled fish. You have to eat more, okay?"
"Yes! Eat more!" Fei Hua nodded and said.
"Ruixue! Hurry up and keep up!" Su Yuyao pulled Bai Er, called out to Ruixue, and led Feihua in a grand procession past Guan Yue, heading towards Guan Xiao's courtyard.
Guan Yue stepped aside with a look of disgust. "You crazy girl, you're so annoying!"
In the courtyard, a bonfire roared, and several plump fish were skewered on tree branches, crackling against the fire.
Su Yuyao divided the fish among Feihua and Ruixue, and picked out the fattest and biggest one for herself. She and Bai'er then ate it together, taking turns eating it.
"It smells so good! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, fresh, fragrant and smooth!" Su Yuyao exclaimed as she ate, "Guan Yue! The fish you raise are really good! No wonder you didn't want others to catch them. Such delicious fish is truly rare!"
Guan Yue frowned as he looked at Su Yuyao, who was illuminated by the firelight. Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks were round and rosy, her small mouth revealed pearly teeth, and her long, flowing hair made her skin appear even more delicate and pink...
Su Yuyao noticed that Guan Yue was staring at her, so she held up the grilled fish in her hand and said, "Here, have some!"
Guan Yue dodged away in disgust.
Su Yuyao said with a grin, "You're still complaining about me? I've taken a shower and changed my clothes! Besides, this fish smells so good, don't you want a bite?"
Guan Yue glanced at Su Yuyao, then silently walked to the side.
Seeing that Guan Yue still disliked her, Su Yuyao stopped insisting and continued eating with Bai Er.
The grilled fish were quickly devoured, and the children smacked their lips, still wanting more.
Su Yuyao gazed at the leaping flames and muttered, "If only there were meat, we could grill some!"
Upon hearing this, Fei Hua clapped her hands and shouted, "Roast meat! Roast meat!"
"Fairy! Keep your voice down!" Fangchun awkwardly covered Feihua's mouth.
Su Yuyao smiled and called into the house, "Lord Guan Xiao! Feihua wants to eat roast meat, do you have any?"
"Of course! Yue'er, send someone to prepare!"
"Yes, Father!" Guan Yue replied, bowing his head.
Before long, Guan Yue and several people brought up a large piece of wild boar meat.
Su Yuyao looked at the wild boar meat with shining eyes and said, "Bai Er, go get my crescent blade!"
"Yes, Miss!"
"Ruixue! I'll cut it, and you roast it! Let them taste the culinary skills of our wolf clan!"
"Yes, Miss Ningbao!"
Sitting inside the house, Qi Men and Guan Xiao watched the children laughing and joking as they roasted meat in the yard, and smiled with satisfaction.
"Lord Qimen, are Lord Xuanfeng and Miss Yao'er really..." Guan Xiao couldn't help but ask.
"Lord Guan Xiao, Yao'er is now Lord Xuan Feng's darling, and no one can touch her!" Qi Men said with a smile.
"Ah... what a pity, Miss Yao'er is a perfect match for Yue'er in both age and appearance..."
"Hahahaha!" Qi Men laughed and said, "Lord Guan Xiao, you have no idea how mischievous Yao'er can be! Only Lord Xuan Feng can keep her in check!"
"Oh? Really?! Hahahaha..."
The campfire had been burning for a long time, and Su Yuyao's forehead was slightly damp with sweat. She blinked her moist eyes, patted her bulging belly, smacked her lips, and said, "If only we had some osmanthus wine!"
Guan Yue rolled his eyes at Su Yuyao, then turned and left.
Su Yuyao looked at Feihua, who was lost in thought, and asked, "Feihua! Do you want to drink?"
"No!" Fei Hua shook her head and said.
"Feihua, you want to drink! Tell me, you want to drink!" Su Yuyao gently instructed Feihua.
"Miss Yao'er!" Fangchun said, protecting Feihua, "Don't corrupt our fairies!"
"She's just like me in every way, except she can't lie..." Su Yuyao muttered, turning around to look at Guan Xiao and Qi Men sitting in the room, clinking glasses. After thinking for a moment, she ran into the room. "Uncle! Feihua wants to drink! Can we drink?"
Qi Men looked at Fei Hua, who was staring blankly at the campfire in the courtyard, smiled, and said, "How about this, I'll ask Lord Xuan Feng for permission. If he agrees, I'll prepare it for you. What do you say?"
"Huh?" Upon hearing this, Su Yuyao quickly waved her hand and retreated into the courtyard, saying, "No need! No need! No need to ask Xuanfeng! We won't drink anymore!"
Su Yuyao sat dejectedly by the campfire, looking at Bai Er and Rui Xue exchanging loving glances. "Xuan Feng, where are you? I miss you!"
"Give!"
"Hmm?" Su Yuyao turned her head and saw a small, dark wine jar in front of her.
She looked up at the wine jar and saw Guan Yue!
"What...is this?" Su Yuyao asked softly.
"Plum wine, drink it or don't, it's up to you!" Guan Yue's patience was never very strong.
"Drink!" Su Yuyao took the small wine jar, somewhat flattered. This deadpan guy actually gave me wine? Did he drug me? Never mind, I'll take a sip first!
She opened the cork, took a sniff, and found the wine to be rich in aroma, with a hint of fruitiness!
Guan Yue rolled his eyes and handed over the wine glass, only to watch as Su Yuyao picked up the wine jar and gulped it down.
Su Yuyao took a few big gulps. A sweet and sour fruity aroma, amplified by the alcohol, filled her nostrils and warmed her heart. The taste was crisp and refreshing, appetizing and delightful! And there was even a slightly cool aftertaste…
"Wow! This is delicious!" She turned to Guan Yue and asked, "Did you brew this wine?"
Seeing that Su Yuyao had already used the wine jar, Guan Yue put away his wine cup and casually asked, "How did you know?"
"Because the wine has your scent!" Su Yuyao said, tilting her head back as she felt the plum wine gradually gain strength. "I smelled this scent in your bubbles!"
"You...you can smell my scent?" Guan Yue was quite surprised.
"Yes! I think it's the scent emanating from your Qi, a refreshing scent!" Su Yuyao took a few more sips, savoring the taste. "That's right, it's your scent!"
Guan Yue was very surprised, "You can see Qi, and you can even smell Qi?"
Su Yuyao was completely absorbed in the aroma of the wine and did not notice Guan Yue's surprise.
She glanced at Ruixue and Baier, who were snuggled together, and then at Feihua, who was lost in thought, and Fangchun, who was wary of her. No one could drink with me; how boring it was to drink alone!
She looked up at Guan Yue standing beside her and said, "Brother Yue'er, let's have a drink together!"
"What?!" Guan Yue looked at Su Yuyao, whose cheeks were flushed and eyes were somewhat glazed, and said impatiently, "Su Yuyao! You've had too much to drink!"
Su Yuyao grabbed Guan Yue's hand and pulled him hard, causing Guan Yue to stagger and sit down next to her.
"Su Yuyao!" Guan Yue roared, his eyes wide.
"Shh!" Su Yuyao put a finger to Guan Yue's lips and said slurredly, "Don't talk... drink!"
After saying that, she forcefully shoved the wine jar she had just drunk from towards Guan Yue's mouth, "Drink!"
Guan Yue was completely enraged by Su Yuyao. He shoved her away, stood up, and kept wiping his mouth, yelling, "Disgusting!"
"What's so dirty about me?" Su Yuyao, feeling the effects of the alcohol, grabbed Guan Yue's clothes and swayed as he stood up. "What makes you so great!... You're even looking down on me!"
"Miss!" Bai Er noticed that something was wrong with Su Yuyao and quickly helped her up. "Young Master Guan Yue! Our young lady is...drunk?!"
"Drink! Drink!" Fei Hua shouted, mimicking Su Yuyao's tone.
"Yao'er! You've been drinking?!" Qi Men came out and asked, looking at the swaying Su Yuyao.
"Uh, I drank it! Yue'er gave me plum wine! It was so delicious! But..." Su Yuyao covered her head and swayed, blinking hard as she said, "Why am I so... dizzy..."
"Ah! Miss! Miss!" Su Yuyao fainted in Bai Er's arms...
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