Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 77 : Dispute

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Pan Xiangjie was suspended from his post as he awaited impeachment. Having also received a flogging, he sighed and moaned as he lay on his stomach back at home to nurse his injuries. His son, Pan Lin, was also implicated and had to endure the rebukes of the imperial censors every day during court sessions. A few days later, he was also suspended from his post to be detained and confined at home.

Xiao Chiye, having received a raise in rank, organized a banquet and specifically invited the Marquis of Helian. The Marquis of Helian was too embarrassed to appear before Xiao Chiye because of the matchmaking attempt for Commandery Princess Zhaoyue the last time. He was also worried that this tyrant would be so proud of his success that he would humiliate him and make things hard for him before the others. So, after thinking it through, he got his son to attend the banquet on his behalf. 

Marquis Junior was called Fei Shi. He was also a well-known figure on Donglong Street. He had once gone drinking with Xiao Chiye in the past, but none of them lesser-tyrants were as domineering as mega-tyrant Xiao Chiye. What’s more, he feared the Xiao Clan, so he no longer went out for entertainment with Xiao Chiye and would make a big detour whenever he saw Xiao Chiye and Li Jianheng. Now that he had to attend Xiao Chiye’s banquet, he first wilted by half, then changed direction and headed to the Pan’s Residence to ask Pan Lin to go together with him. 

“Go with me. We’ll treat it as relieving our boredom!” Fei Shi held up his robe and urged him on. “The banquet this time is on Kailing River. There’ll be many people there.” 

Pan Lin’s son was just a month old. He teased the baby for a moment before saying, “Not going. I’ve been feeling vexed these few days.” 

“What fun is there in playing with a baby?” Fei Shi squeezed in to intercept the nanny and said, “I can’t skip it this time. My father has specifically made his instructions clear. Go have some fun and make friends with him. I heard that he is friends with the Left Censor-in-chief of the Chief Surveillance Bureau, Cen Yu. If he steps forth and intercedes for you, then you wouldn’t have to endure as many rebukes.” 

“Seriously.” Pan Lin tossed aside the handkerchief. “Cen Xunyi’s the one who’s the most brutal in reprimanding me! Xiao the Second only advanced in rank this time owing to his friendship with His Majesty. Just how much can he convince Cen Yu? I’m not going. I don’t want to embarrass myself!”
 
“Look at you. How are you this inflexible?!” Fei Shi was truly racking his brains to coax him out of the door. “He has a prior friendship with His Majesty. If he can put in a few good words for the Pan Clan before His Majesty, would you still need to be aggrieved to such an extent? Come on, let’s go. I had a drink with him before. I’ll introduce you!” 

Unable to dissuade Fei Shi, Pan Lin was dragged out of the house and onto the horse carriage, which headed right for Kailing River. 

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With Xiao Chiye hosting a banquet this night, all the gaily-painted pleasure boats on Kailing River were full. He was now famous, and all the brothels and taverns along the riverbanks benefited from association, having gotten a piece of the action. Money was being splashed around on the outside like water. He did not even have to open his mouth; flocking all around him were people trying every means to give him money. 

But there’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world. If he accepted their money, he would have to do them favors. If he did not do it today, then there would be plenty of pretexts for them to get him to do it in the future. Xiao Chiye knew this all too well, so he did not accept a single coin. This was such a grand occasion, and he paid for it all out of his own pocket.