Chapter 174 — Drinking

Ji Yong was already in a foul mood, and when he heard that Cai Guyuan—the man who was forever giving him sidelong looks—would be there too, his interest sparked at once. Without ceremony he climbed into the carriage. "Then I shall impose on you."

What He Yu admired most about Ji Yong was exactly this unruly, unconventionally brilliant air. He laughed heartily, made room for him, and rode with Ji Yong to the Drunken Immortal Tavern.

When Ji Yong turned venomous, there were precious few who could hold their ground against him.

Before the wine was even finished, Cai Guyuan's face had turned the color of iron.

Xu Zhiji and Yang Yunxiao barely managed to stifle their laughter.

Chen Zexi saw that this was getting out of hand and shot He Yu a look, signaling that he and Ji Yong should take their leave first.

He Yu, finding Cai Guyuan thoroughly tiresome, had no mind to keep up appearances any longer either. He murmured a few words to Ji Yong, and after they drained the cups of wine before them, the two rose to take their leave.

As they passed through the corridor, he could not help complaining, "Wasn't he supposed to be a man of vast learning? Frankly, I don't think much of him..."

Before he could finish, someone burst out of a private room beside them and nearly collided with He Yu.

He Yu instinctively shoved the man back.

The man, who had drunk a fair amount, staggered and nearly fell. In an instant he was furious with embarrassment and bellowed, "Are you fucking blind when you walk?"

He Yu would not stand for such talk. At once he seized the man by the collar and cursed back, "Who the hell are you talking about? Say that again if you've got the guts! If I don't beat you till your teeth litter the floor, my name isn't He!"

But the man gave a startled "Eh?" and a fawning smile spread across his drunken face. "My Lord Ji, I never expected to run into you here!"

Ji Yong, having just vented his spleen, was in high spirits and thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, only to have the greeting directed at him. He blinked in slight surprise. "And who might you be?"

The man straightened up with alacrity and smiled. "This humble one is Zheng Zhaokun, a secretary in the Waterways Bureau of the Ministry of Works. When Your Lordship placed third in the imperial examination, I called at your residence to offer congratulations and had the honor of seeing you once."

Ji Yong had no memory of him at all.

He reflected that his uncle was a Vice Minister of Works, and that this man had most likely come bearing gifts to curry favor with his uncle through the occasion of his examination success.

He said only, "Oh."

He Yu could hardly settle accounts with him now. Displeased, he said, "Fine. Apologize to me, and we'll let the matter drop!"

Zheng Zhaokun promptly bowed and scraped in apology, then warmly extended an invitation: "Young Master He, My Lord Ji, a chance meeting beats a formal invitation—do give me the opportunity to toast you both."

This drew a laugh from He Yu, who looked him up and down. "I wouldn't have guessed it—you're a quick-witted fellow after all."

Hardly had the words left his mouth when the doors of the private room behind Zheng Zhaokun swung open, and a strain of string and pipe music mingled with women's laughter drifted out.

Someone came out, calling "Zheng Zhaokun" at the top of his voice. Catching sight of him nearby, the man clapped him hard on the shoulder and, thick with drink, demanded, "Did you fucking fall into a latrine?"

Ji Yong and He Yu could not help glancing toward the private room.

There they saw, seated in the place of honor, a youth more delicate and lovely than any young girl.

Beside him sat two seductively postured women—one pouring wine for the youth, the other bantering with a man of twenty-odd who sat next to the youth, a man with swordlike brows and starry eyes, handsome and upright.

That man seemed ill at ease in such surroundings, a trace of awkward reluctance between his brows.

Sensing someone looking, the youth raised his head and threw them a glance that was half smile, half sneer, carrying a touch of roguish swagger.

He Yu frowned and said in a low voice to Ji Yong, "It's Gu Yu."

The young tyrant of the capital, nephew of Empress Wan, eldest legitimate grandson of Gu Quanfang, the Count of Yunyang.

Ji Yong had heard of him too.

But his gaze had fallen upon the handsome man beside Gu Yu, and a blade's edge of cold light flashed suddenly through his eyes.

"Secretary Zheng is so kind as to invite us—it would be too rude to His Honor if we didn't go have a couple of drinks," Ji Yong said lightly, and stepped into the private room.

He Yu was dumbfounded.

He had no choice but to follow him in.

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Sisters, brothers, today's update.

o(n_n)o~

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