Turn the tables
That's interesting. It's surprising that someone with such a dark and shady personality isn't good at drinking...
Xiao Chengyan replied calmly, "It's alright. Since you're not a good drinker, tea will do instead of wine to warm you up."
"Yes, thank you for your consideration, Your Highness." Gu Jinghong replied softly, picked up the celadon teapot that was warming on the small stove, and poured clear tea into the empty cup in front of him.
Then, after hesitating for a moment, he said, "Your Highness, it's freezing cold, and drinking alcohol is bad for your health. You should... drink less."
Xiao Chengyan's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Gu Jinghong: "Okay."
A single, simple word left Changfeng somewhat bewildered.
The atmosphere in the small kitchen became somewhat subtle because of this little incident.
Xiao Chengyan and Changfeng sat facing each other, their white jade wine cups gently clinking together, producing a crisp, soft sound. A clear and unique aroma of wine instantly spread as the cups touched, carrying a cool yet rich fragrance that quickly overwhelmed the aroma of the food and the smell of firewood.
Gu Jinghong held a warm teacup, sipping the tea slowly, shrinking herself even deeper into the dimly lit corner, like a faint shadow blending into the background.
Xiao Chengyan drank the fine wine in his cup, feeling a warm sensation mixed with a strange chill slide down his throat, eventually turning into a warm current in his stomach, dispelling the chill from his limbs and bones.
His slender fingers toyed with the smooth, white jade wine cup in his hand, his gaze falling on the amber-like liquid rippling slightly within. It was like a late-night chat, yet with a deliberate interest fueled by the alcohol. He spoke slowly, his voice exceptionally clear in the silence.
"This 'Jade Moon Nectar' comes from Zhuoyue Tower and is indeed a rare and exquisite wine. It requires water from the cold pool in the far north, dew from the midnight of midsummer, and the buds of the first frost of late autumn as its base, and is brewed using a secret method. None of these can be omitted. Therefore, only a few jars are produced each year, and it is priceless."
He paused, his fingertips tracing the smooth rim of the cup, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the shadows in the corner. "Of course, such a gift from heaven has its own intricacies to be observed when drinking it."
Changfeng listened intently, and at the right moment refilled Xiao Chengyan's wine, his eyes filled with pure curiosity and admiration for the prince's profound knowledge.
Xiao Chengyan's tone remained unhurried, as if he were recounting an ancient and elegant ceremony.
"Firstly, this wine is extremely cold in nature, with a sharp edge hidden within. It must be served in a specially made jade cup. Only the warm and mellow nature of jade can neutralize its biting coldness, making the wine smooth and lingering on the palate, without harming the spleen and stomach." His slender fingers gently stroked the white jade cup in his hand, which shimmered with a warm luster under the candlelight, his movements elegant.
The moment the words "Jade Cup" were uttered, Gu Jinghong, who had been keeping her head down, stiffened almost imperceptibly. Almost instinctively, she abruptly raised her head, her gaze fixed precisely on Xiao Chengyan, only to meet his unfathomable phoenix eyes, which seemed to have been waiting there all along!
My heart sank suddenly!
Gu Jinghong thought to himself, "This is bad." Almost on her own instincts, before the look of astonishment could fully appear, she abruptly and swiftly lowered her head again. Her thick eyelashes trembled violently a few times, concealing the turbulent emotions surging in her eyes.
Too fast! Her fingertips went cold with regret; her reaction just now had been far too abrupt!
The Qiongyuejiang from Zhuoyuelou is so clear and pure that it must be served in a top-grade white jade cup that is free of any impurities and is completely white, in order to perfectly reflect its clarity and flawlessness. The color of green jade would instead taint the wine and ruin its "moonlight" charm, which is a big no-no! This is a detail that only those who truly love and understand Qiongyuejiang can know.
But what kind of mind does Xiao Chengyan possess? How could he not know such a simple and straightforward mistake?
The only explanation... he did it on purpose!
He was casting bait, testing the waters. My overly quick reaction just now had probably already been seen by him without missing a single detail!
A chill suddenly rose from the soles of Gu Jinghong's feet and spread to every part of her body.
Just as she was deeply shaken and almost couldn't help but look up again to confirm the deep meaning in Xiao Chengyan's eyes, Xiao Chengyan seemed oblivious and continued to speak—
"Secondly, after opening, it needs to be placed in an ice chest for half a moment to allow its coldness to accumulate and its sharpness to be fully revealed. Only then can one feel the bone-chilling coolness when drinking it, and the spirit will be refreshed."
"As for the third point, before drinking, one must hold the cup and gently shake it three times, no more and no less. This shaking is to awaken the soul of the wine, allowing its aroma to be released layer by layer, like the flowing moonlight, hence the name 'Jade Moon Nectar'."
Changfeng nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining with a sense of learning, and exclaimed in amazement, "So that's how it is! There are so many intricacies! Your Highness is so knowledgeable; I have truly broadened my horizons today!"
After speaking, Xiao Chengyan's calm gaze settled steadily on Gu Jinghong's face.
He had put down his wine glass without him noticing, and through the flickering candlelight and the rising steam of wine and tea, he simply watched her quietly.
Gu Jinghong forcibly suppressed all her surging emotions, and when she looked up again, a light and appropriate smile was on her face. That smile was like newly melted snow water, carrying a hint of coolness, yet strangely brightening her eyebrows and eyes, especially the small red mole at the end of her eyebrow, which, under the candlelight, revealed a breathtakingly beautiful elegance.
"Your Highness just said that this priceless 'Jade Moon Elixir' comes from... Zhuoyue Tower?"
Xiao Chengyan's gaze suddenly deepened, and he slowly nodded: "Yes."
Gu Jinghong's smile deepened slightly, her eyes sparkling as she met Xiao Chengyan's probing gaze. Her eyes were clear and open, as if her earlier lapse in composure had never happened.
"Such rare treasures are truly something to yearn for. If there is an opportunity, I would be grateful if Your Highness could grant me the favor of taking Jinghong to the Zhuoyue Tower to broaden my horizons. It would also allow me to see what kind of celestial abode this place, capable of brewing such exquisite nectar, truly is."
Upon hearing this, not only Changfeng stared in astonishment, but even Xiao Chengyan paused for a moment.
Inside the kitchen, the warm, cozy air seemed to freeze instantly.
As Xiao Chengyan looked at Gu Jinghong's face, which was strikingly beautiful in the candlelight yet also carried a desperate, reckless edge, a bright, deep interest, like discovering a priceless treasure, suddenly ignited in his deep eyes.
Ha... Turning the tables? Little Sparrow is unhappy and actually took the initiative to lead the battle to Zhuoyue Tower?
What a brilliant move – using offense as a form of defense!
Gu Jinghong also lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea, concealing the scheming in her eyes—this was the first time with Xiao Chengyan.
...
Two days later
Inside Chen'an Residence, the charcoal fire burned brightly, its warmth dispelling the winter chill seeping in through the windows.
Xiao Chengyan had changed into a dark green brocade robe with gold embroidery and cloud patterns, which made him look even more upright and composed.
He stood by the window, hands behind his back, gazing at the snow in the courtyard that had not yet completely melted, sunlight dancing on the snow.
"Jinghong, the weather is fine today. Get ready, I'll take you to Zhuoyue Tower." He didn't turn around, and gave the order in a calm voice.
The room was completely silent, with only the occasional soft crackling of the charcoal fire.
Xiao Chengyan frowned slightly and turned to look at Gu Jinghong, who was standing to his side.
Today, she was wearing a light purple padded jacket from the Prince's residence. She stood there with her head bowed and her hands folded in front of her, seemingly oblivious to what Xiao Chengyan had just said.
"Gu Jinghong?" Xiao Chengyan looked at her and called her name again.
"Ah?...Yes, this servant obeys!" Gu Jinghong seemed to be startled awake, and suddenly raised her head. A trace of confusion and exhaustion flashed across her eyes, which she could not completely hide, but was quickly replaced by obedience.
This subtle anomaly naturally did not escape Xiao Chengyan's notice.
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, especially on the dark circles under her eyes that even makeup couldn't completely conceal. That weariness wasn't something that appeared overnight; it was the result of days of accumulated fatigue.
Gu Jinghong took the silver fox fur coat from the sandalwood clothes rack, put it on Xiao Chengyan, and then tied a knot in the silk ribbon at the front of the coat.
Xiao Chengyan looked down at Gu Jinghong's excessively delicate white hands, then at the fatigue that her deliberate attempt to hide couldn't conceal: "You... seem to be lacking energy? Didn't you sleep well last night?"
Xiao Chengyan was actually not wrong.
For days, Gu Jinghong had to play the role of a proper maid during the day and handle the affairs of her own Zhuangmu Pavilion at night. Occasionally, when Xiao Chengyan stayed up late, she would bring him a heater. After several days, she was indeed exhausted.
But she quickly composed herself, her voice soft and gentle, tinged with a hint of unspoken distress: "Your Highness, Jinghong did not mean to be negligent. It's just... it's just that Your Highness seems to be sleeping poorly at night lately..."
She paused at just the right moment, glanced quickly at Xiao Chengyan with her eyelids, then lowered them again, her voice so soft it was almost a sigh: "Your Highness... sometimes murmurs in his sleep, always calling... calling 'A-Ning'? Jinghong listened, feeling worried, but dared not disturb Your Highness, so... she couldn't sleep soundly."
"A Ning"
Xiao Chengyan's aura suddenly froze, and his tall body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
Then came silence.
A moment later, Xiao Chengyan very slowly raised his hand and adjusted the collar of the fox fur coat that Gu Jinghong had draped over him: "I... will take care. If you are not feeling well today, we can go to Zhuoyue Tower another day."
Gu Jinghong shook her head: "Jinghong is very good, and also very eager to see what this renowned Zhuoyue Tower is like."
...
The carriage wound its way through the bustling streets before finally stopping in front of the magnificent vermilion gates of the "Zhuoyue Tower." Gu Jinghong followed Xiao Chengyan alighting from the carriage. The winter sun shone on the snow-covered eaves of the tower, reflecting a dazzling light.
Since Gu Jinghong came to Zhuoyue Tower at the age of ten, this was almost the first time she had entered the tower as a guest. The tower was still as prosperous as ever, with its carved beams and painted rafters and a constant stream of guests. It was so familiar, yet it seemed somewhat strange.
Those areas that were originally for public use have truly become places for people to relax and have fun, which is probably one of the reasons why Zhuoyuelou is so prosperous.
Xiao Chengyan's expression remained unchanged, even carrying a hint of languor and leisure as he recovered from his illness.
Inside the "Listening to Snow Pavilion" on the second floor, facing the street, Gongsun Jinyao, the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, was listening with a smile to the gossip of her close friends, her fingertips gracefully brushing the rim of her celadon teacup.
Just then, her gaze inadvertently swept downstairs. When that tall, pine-like figure, dressed in a black cloak, stepped out of the carriage first, Gongsun Jingyao's fingers, which were gripping the teacup, tightened suddenly. The scalding tea spilled over the rim of the cup, splashing onto the back of her fair hand.
"Hiss..." She gasped, and the back of her hand instantly turned red.
"Oh! Sister Jinyao, what's wrong?" Miss Zhou, a noblewoman in a rose-red brocade jacket, immediately leaned over with concern.
"Did you burn yourself? Quickly wipe it off!" Another girl in pink, Miss Li, hurriedly handed over a silk handkerchief.
Gongsun Jingyao forced herself to remain calm, patted the back of her hand with a silk handkerchief, and managed a weak smile: "It's alright, my hand slipped." But her gaze was fixed on the downstairs, as if she were nailed to it.
Miss Zhou and Miss Li followed her gaze with curiosity, and their eyes were instantly drawn to the extraordinary figure downstairs.
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