Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 75 : Night Ride

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Yu Xiaozai held the hem of his robe up and was about to squat down when Xiao Chiye let his wine cup drop. Han Cheng, being near, ended up having his robe dirtied. Yu Xiaozai left the cards and went to get a handkerchief for Han Cheng to clean himself. Cen Yu was still squinting at his cards when the wine splashed him. He hastily tried to dodge it too, making Kong Qiu laugh loudly. 

Han Cheng tugged at his robe and said to Xiao Chiye, “Your Lordship, you’ve had too much to drink; even your hands are unsteady now!” 

Xiao Chiye raised his hand in apology and said, “Apologies, I’ll get someone to send you a replacement tomorrow as compensation.” 

“There’s no need. Just how much is a set of robes worth?” How could Han Cheng really let Xiao Chiye compensate him? He did not even dare to pull a long face as he said with a smile, “We’ll treat this cup as a toast from Your Lordship!”

Shen Zechuan had already withdrawn his foot. He leaned over and picked up the card from the floor. As he placed it on the table, he heard Xiao Chiye laughing. The lingering warmth on his ankle where Xiao Chiye had squeezed grew hotter amidst the laughter. 

Kong Qiu was already drunk. He looked completely opposite of how he usually did when he was in court as he struck a porcelain cup with his chopsticks and sang out incomprehensible lyrics alone in the chaotic atmosphere.

Cen Yu, seeing Kong Qiu stir up such an improper and unsightly ruckus, tugged on his sleeve and said, “Boran! Stop singing. Let’s go home and sleep! You still need to sit in Xi Hongxuan’s trial the day after tomorrow!”

Kong Qiu held up his cup, struck it with increasing glee, and said, “I remember that. I’m investigating him!”

Cen Yu could not keep a hold of him and said, “Thankfully, I was the one who invited you to the feast today, or else you would be impeached for sure for behaving in such an audacious, unrestrained manner.” 

“Okay then, let them impeach!” Kong Qiu said, “Let them impeach! Imperial censors ought to have the courage to speak.”

“Right, well said!” Han Cheng also laughed, “Before spring, we were saddled with such a massive pile of work that we could scarcely breathe. How many times could we enjoy ourselves to the greatest? Let him enjoy himself to his heart’s content!”

“It’s almost time to wind down. If we make a ruckus too late into the night, the Secretariat Elder won’t be happy with us.” Xiao Chiye got to his feet and called to Chen Yang, “Send His Excellency Kong back in my horse carriage!”

The attendants swarmed all around, and Chen Yang helped Kong Qiu out the door. Cen Yu wiped away his hot sweat and said to the remaining men, “You don’t know this, but Boran was also once an unconventional and uninhibited person, but because Secretariat Elder is particularly set on self-restraint and observance of proprieties, he put him in order and whipped him into shape. It’s not advisable to drink too much of this wine. Why doesn’t everyone wait for a moment while I’ll tell the cook to boil some soups to sober you up? Drink it up before you leave!”

“I was just thinking about your residence’s dough drop and assorted vegetable soup!” Han Cheng forwent the formalities. “Add some vinegar to mine. I’ll drink it before leaving.”

Shen Zechuan bowed and said, “The imperial prison still has urgent cases to be processed tomorrow morning, so I won’t stay. Everyone, please enjoy your meal. If time permits in the future, I’ll invite everyone for another round.”