Tled by Serena Love

Unedited

Chapter 32: Foods and Drinks at the Banquet

Soon after Jiang Shuyao entered the mansion, a eunuch sent by Princess Changle found her and led her directly to skip the queue, saving her from all sorts of complicated etiquettes.

Jiang Shuyao is now married. As a married woman, she should join Xu-shi and other married women to see the princess, but Princess Changle didn't care about these rules.

Even so, she arrived at the princess' banquet pavilion a little later than Xie Xun.

The eldest princess liked Xie Xun very much. He was good-looking, talented, and outstanding, but for some reason, he lacked popularity.

She sneered in her heart that it was because of his cold and immortal look that made the noble ladies in Beijing tremble.

Xie Xun respectfully greeted the princess, and the two of them had a very pleasant chat with each other.

On the other hand, Jiang Shuyao was not the only one who jumped the queue. Prime Minister Ge's daughter, Ge Qingshu, also jumped the line. Her family had a high position, and the queen mother loved her. Technically, considering family relationships multiple times removed, she was also a thirteenth cousin of the eldest princess' late consort.

[T/N: The eldest princess is the emperor's eldest sister, and Princess Changle is her daughter.]

The eldest princess was slandering Xie Xun's temperament, and a fairy-looking lady dressed in moonlight-color dress floated leisurely into the room. She was elegant and well-mannered, and the princess could not see any mistakes in her every move.

Thanks to the Emperor Taizu, the separation between men and women was not strict at this time. Therefore, when Ge Qingshu saw Xie Xun, she just bowed her head slightly to greet him.

When Xie Xun heard the eunuch's report, he knew that someone had come in. He didn't pay attention and only moved aside.

The eldest princess looked at these two people's actions, and she thought it was such a coincidence. One was the first talented woman in Beijing, and the other is the first talented man in Beijing. Both looked like immortal and fluttering masters.

But when she took a closer look, she felt that they looked weird when they stood together. One was like frosty ice; the other was like snow plums. When they were just by themselves, it was okay, but it seemed too much when they were standing together--like a Taoist priest and a nun.

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She nodded to Xie Xun, indicating that he could retreat, when the eunuch's sharp voice suddenly sounded, "Mrs. Xie, Jiang Shuyao, the third lady of Duke Xie's mansion--"

Before she finished speaking, Princess Changle clapped her hands and said excitedly, "Is she here? Let her come in!"

The maid lifted the curtains, and Jiang Shuyao walked in. Her bright red dress instantly brightened the room.

The eldest princess, who was used to see beautiful people, was also amazed. Amongst the women she had met in her life, the only person who looked great in red dress and gold ornaments, except for Imperial Concubine Lin, was only Jiang Shuyao.

Xie Xun turned his head without hesitation when he heard the sound of rustling cloth.

Jiang Shuyao saw him, and he immediately moved aside to make space.

Jiang Shuyao sighed. Xie Xun was still angry.

The princess looked at the two standing together. One was gorgeous and charming, the other was cold and arrogant, and she wanted to clap her hands.

That's right, Taoist priest should match a demoness.

Countless dramas flashed in her mind, scholars and spirits, immortals and demons...

Her eyes brightened, but she saw all their subtle actions.

'Interesting, it seems that this little Taoist has broken the precepts and moved his heart, but the fairy does not understand human love.'

She couldn't wait to call the drama troupe to arrange a play immediately. She gritted her teeth and held herself back, and had to let them go after saying a few words.

As soon as Jiang Shuyao walked out of the room, she was intercepted by Princess Changle and was taken away.

Xie Xun stood there and looked at their disappearing backs in the distance, and started to worry.

In the past, the county princess Changle used to take Jiang-shi to see beautiful boys. But now that Jiang Shuyao is married, the princess would not be fooling around anymore, right?

He was worried, his face became colder. The palace ladies who were still peeking at him were so scared that they bowed their heads immediately.

After the banquet, Jiang Shuyao sat next to the county princess the whole time, arousing the envy of a group of noble ladies. However, thinking that she would be as ruthless as before, they waited patiently for a play.

The opportunity they were waiting for soon arrived. After they withdrew to their seats, Princess Changle suggested, "The mansion has made several canals recently. Why don't we move over there and learn from the scholars? However, the rules have changed. Let's play with some wine. If the wine glass stops in front of you, you should say some poems. Whoever can't do it will have to drink."

Jiang Shuyao was dizzy when she listened, and quietly pulled Princess Changle's sleeve, "County Princess, my stomach has no ink in it."

The county princess still had a dignified smile on her face. She gritted her teeth and replied, "Do you think I would have an idea to play like this? It's all my mother. She said that I'm at the age of looking at marriage, I can't be fooling around anymore. So she told me to be so literary, so I have a better reputation."

Jiang Shuyao was silent.

Princess Changle squeezed her wrist and cheered her up, "Don't you just drink when you can't say anything? Why are you so afraid? Let's just drink until we are drunk."

Jiang Shuyao can't laugh or cry. There was no need to talk so arrogantly when they were going to lose.

So the two untalented people gathered together and chose a place that was the least likely for wine glasses to stop.

It's a pity that the fortunes were bad. The wine glass stopped in front of Jiang Shuyao immediately.

Everyone immediately looked at her in unison.

Although she had been prepared, she felt very embarrassed at this moment. As if she was called up by the teacher to answer questions among a group of academic masters.

She laughed stiffly, covered her face neatly, and drank a glass of wine.

Jiang Shuyao was born bright and beautiful, and the appearance of drinking with her sleeves made her looked enchanting and spicy. Many princes and noble sons couldn't help but cast their eyes on her.

Xie Xun saw this scene, and the aura from his body almost froze the water in the canal.

The wine game continued again.

After three rounds, the glass stopped in front of Jiang Shuyao again. Jiang Shuyao cursed inwardly and drank it again.

Xie Xun looked anxiously. He winked at her frequently and motioned Jiang Shuyao to sit next to him.

After receiving Xie Xun's gaze, Jiang Shuyao shrank quietly when she saw his coffin face looked frighteningly cold.

Was he so embarrassed that she lost? He was angry like this.

Seeing the wine glass stopped again in front of Jiang Shuyao, Xie Xun suddenly stood up and picked it up for her.

Then, under the stunned gaze of everyone, he walked to Jiang Shuyao and sat next to her.

"What's the rule? Can you take it for others?" Someone complained.

Xie Xun's face didn't even change. "Husband and wife are one body, why not?"

Whether it was the noble ladies who looked down on Jiang Shuyao, the noblemen who admired Xie Xun's talent, or Jiang Shuyao herself, everyone was dumbfounded.

Everyone fell into a strange silence.

Xie Xun pretended not to realize the awkwardness. He took the wine glass in Jiang Shuyao's hand, put it on the surface of the canal, and gently pushed it, "Go on."

Some people were watching the show. Some who were jealous of Jiang Shuyao went mad. Some were heartbroken... All kinds of eyes were cast on Jiang Shuyao, making her felt restless.

She whispered to Xie Xun, "What are you doing?"

Xie Xun glanced at her. Hating iron for not becoming steel, and said, "Why didn't you sit next to me in the first place? Will I make you lose and have to drink alcohol?"

Jiang Shuyao was stunned. She blinked and looked at him: 'Is this angry or not?'

Xie Xun let out a "hum," looked away. He slightly turned sideways to cover Jiang Shuyao and blocked everyone's gaze on her.

Jiang Shuyao said after a while, "Uh...I'm not afraid of drinking. I can drink it quite well."

Xie Xun turned his head. He frowned and looked at her coldly. Jiang Shuyao shrank obediently and decided to hug the thigh of this straight-A student.

[T/N: Not literally, it's just a metaphor for relying on him.]

After a while, it became boring. Princess Changle simply let those who were unable to tell poems to move aside, and the one who stayed until the end would be the winner.

Then everyone was eliminated one by one. Gradually only Xie Xun and Ge Qingshu were left.

It was too embarrassing. As a person holding Xie Xun's thigh, Jiang Shuyao wanted to raise her hand and quit.

Xie Xun was originally didn't care to fight for the top spot. After all, victory was not important to him. But Jiang Shuyao was sitting next to him, so he can't lose in front of her.

But if he insisted on not letting go, would he look competitive? Would Jiang Shuyao felt displeased?

He was thinking about it subconsciously.

Ge Qingshu answered quickly, and he also responded quickly. After more than a dozen rounds, Ge Qingshu's answer became slower and slower. Finally, she was unable to answer and drank a glass of wine to sign out.

Everyone felt like they had watched a good show and glanced at Xie Xun's face.

Xie Xun was still struggling inwardly, but he suddenly won. He looked at Jiang Shuyao nervously.

Jiang Shuyao did not look at him. Instead, she took the wine glass that floated over again, took a sip, and saluted to Ge Qingshu, "Miss Ge is so talented." After all, Xie Xun studied for the imperial examination since he was a child. Ge Qingshu can persist until now. It was very good.

Ge Qing saluted back coldly and said softly, "Absurd praise."

The ladies who were waiting for a good show just now became excited.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Shuyao didn't say much. She just smiled at Ge Qingshu, and Ge Qingshu just nodded to her.

Before the stage was set up, the drama had ended.

After finally finished this game, Princess Changle quickly sent her younger brother to let him take away these young talents. Then, she called the ladies to play throwing the pot.

[T/N: Throwing a pot is a game that was popular in the ancient times for the upper class, where people throw arrow shafts, without arrowhead, into a special pot. Please see picture at the top. It can be seen that throwing the pot is really an abbreviation of "throwing arrows into the pot."]

Jiang Shuyao didn't have any literary talent, and she couldn't play throwing the pot, so she refused decisively.

Princess Changle wondered. "Didn't you like to throw the pot the most before?"

Jiang Shuyao lied. "I'm not feeling well. I'll just sit here. The scenery is beautiful."

Princess Changle was nervous during this big banquet. Her little "sister" had changed her soul, and she didn't find out, let alone discovering Jiang Shuyao had lied about this little thing.

She led a large number of people away, and some remaining ladies and Jiang Shuyao, who didn't like to throw the pot, stayed here.

They gathered around in a group to talk, and didn't give Jiang Shuyao a look at all. So she could only sit alone in the corner... and drinking.

The fruit wine in the Princess Palace was so delicious.

The wine was purplish-red in color and rich in sweetness, suppressing the astringency of the wine. It had a refreshing acidity and a long aftertaste.

Let's talk about peach wine. If you drank it all in one sip, there would be a clear fresh peach flavor in your mouth. It would be slightly sour, sweet, and pure, with a mellow peach aroma.

There was also kumquat wine, the surface was pure and clear, but you can taste the fine fruit at the bottom. The fruity aroma was refined, elegant, and sweet. The fragrance was light, not much like wine, but fresh with a slightly astringent taste, like a freshly squeezed orange juice.

Jiang Shuyao didn't like the food at the banquet. She drank too much, and her stomach felt uncomfortable. She touched inside her sleeve and found an oil paper bag.

Yesterday, Xie Xun told her about that business proposal, and she was so excited that she almost didn't fall asleep all night. She wanted to make a dish that was easy to carry and spent time in the kitchen for a long time.

Because of the founding emperor's road construction, merchants had a much easier journey than before, but they often took a long time when they were on the road. If there was no tea stall on the street, they would have to cook hot water by themselves. So at this time, people like to bring some dry food in advance and boil it in hot water on the road. It could barely be eaten.

The reason why people wouldn't buy meat buns or dumplings was because they were not tasty when they were cold. Because of the insufficient processing technology of food, the skin would be unpalatable and cold meat would also smell fishy.

Thinking of this, Jiang Shuyao thought about how to improve food, and finally, she thought of hamburgers.

Although burgers would taste best when it was hot, when it's cold, it would not be too unpalatable. Moreover, the meat inside was handled in a special way, which can avoid the fishy smell when it was cold.

Thinking of this, Jiang Shuyao made two hamburgers last night and brought them here today to see if they were unpalatable or inconvenient.

The weather was currently quite hot at this time, so the hamburger that she placed in her cuff was not cold. It was room temperature and could barely be considered warm.

She opened the oil paper bag and bit it down.

Well, the bread was still fluffy, fragrant, and soft. It was baked just right. The dough was full of fragrance and had its own sweetness.

When she made burgers last night, she subconsciously picked two of the most popular burgers. One was Orleans Roasted Chicken, and the other was Spicy Fried Chicken, both with lettuce and salad dressing. The taste should not be too bad.

[T/N: Both are chicken burgers flavors in Chinese KFC.]

After she finished cooking, she only realized that the cost of chicken was higher than the price of pork. She should have tested pork first, such as black pepper pork chop burger, teriyaki pork burger, and so on.

She squeezed the oiled paper wrapping and took a bite of the spicy fried chicken, which was wrapped in breadcrumbs, and the skin was crispy.

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The savory aroma was mainly from on the outer skin, but the inside was more fresh, with extremely faint spicy flavor. It was enough to get rid of the fishy smell of the chicken. It was tender and juicy after biting, and she can taste the fried chicken flavor in her mouth through the bread and crisp lettuce taste.

Salad dressing was sweet and sour, made of egg yolk and oil. It had the unique mellow flavor of egg yolk, which enriches the experience.

The oily aroma of the fried food and the tenderness of the chicken were well combined. With the finely baked bread, the refreshing lettuce, and the salty salad dressing, she can't help but take a second bite after the first bite was in.

She was eating happily when suddenly she saw from the corners of her eyes a white moonlight robe with some shadowy embroidered pattern appeared in front of her.

Jiang Shuyao looked up from the robe and saw Ge Qingshu's face that looked like she was never touched by dust.

"What is this?" Her expression was still cold, but her tone was extremely light, which was very contradictory.

Jiang Shuyao was stunned. A big mouthful of hamburger was still in her mouth, so she could not answer for a while.

Ge Qingshu sat down in front of her dignifiedly and gracefully. Jiang Shuyao's etiquette was not good at all, but her tone was gentle, "I saw you sitting here alone, so I came over. I didn't intend to disturb you eating, sorry."

Then the fairy lady who was not stained with dust smiled slightly. Although she was very stiff because of her awkwardness, the smile still added a bit of freshness to her cold face.

She stared at the hamburger and said to Jiang Shuyao, "It looks so delicious."

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