Chapter 339
**Chapter 337: This Wine is Truly Sour**
“Aren’t you mistaken, my lord? This is clearly top-quality Meihua wine, with an exquisite flavor,” a minister from Da Qing retorted loudly.
The envoy from Nan Chu raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at the host, Shen Wei. “How curious, then, that my cup is sour and foul. It seems the actions of Da Qing’s noble consort are not without their flaws.”
Shen Wei arched her delicate brows.
She couldn’t help but scrutinize the envoy from Nan Chu, who was in his thirties. He was tall and robust, but his plain appearance belied the sharpness of his words.
It was clear he was deliberately targeting Shen Wei.
In most situations, the best way to handle such an unexpected crisis would be to have the Nan Chu envoy’s wine replaced. However, if Shen Wei sent someone to change the wine, it would indirectly imply that there was something wrong with the current bottle. Moreover, in the verbal sparring between Nan Chu and Da Qing, Da Qing would be at a disadvantage, which would tarnish the nation’s prestige.
Li Yuanjing furrowed his brows, about to speak, when Shen Wei subtly pressed down on his hand.
Their eyes met.
Li Yuanjing smiled; he knew Shen Wei had a way to handle this minor friction.
“Your Highness, should we replace that envoy’s wine?” Cai Lian whispered.
Shen Wei shook her head.
Setting down her teacup, she casually asked Liu Ruyan, “Mei Consort, what do you think of the Nan Chu envoy’s claim that Meihua wine tastes like dishwater?”
Liu Ruyan was a seasoned connoisseur of Meihua wine. She loved to wear garments the color of white plum blossoms, adorned with plum blossom hairpins, and painted on plum blossom paper. She also enjoyed drinking Meihua wine, though her tolerance was poor; just a cup or two would send her reeling.
Upon hearing Shen Wei’s question, Liu Ruyan pressed her fingers to her forehead, her muddled mind grasping the key phrase—“the envoy said Meihua wine tastes like dishwater.”
A cold smile crept onto Liu Ruyan’s face as she lifted her clear, bright eyes to scrutinize the Nan Chu envoy, as if assessing something beneath contempt.
“Meihua wine is made from the white plum blossoms that bloom in the cold winter, fermented for three years to yield a single vat. Nan Chu has no cold plums in winter, and you come from a remote place, yet you dare to slander this rare fine wine.”
The hall fell silent.
No one expected Mei Consort to openly mock the Nan Chu envoy for his lack of discernment.
However, the satisfaction of delivering such a rebuke was undeniable.
The Nan Chu envoy rested his chin on his hand, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, as if amused. “But the wine I’m drinking is indeed sour and foul—”
Liu Ruyan, already tipsy, could not tolerate anyone disparaging her beloved Meihua wine. She retorted coldly, “The reeds on the wall are top-heavy and shallow-rooted; the bamboo shoots in the mountains are sharp-tongued, thick-skinned, and hollow inside. Frogs and rats, occasionally tasting fine wine, offer their opinions without understanding its depth.”
Nan Chu envoy: ...
Liu Ruyan continued to scrutinize the envoy’s unremarkable face. “A rat may have skin, but a person without grace is lacking. In my view, the wine is sweet and mellow; it’s your foul mouth that makes it taste sour.”
Nan Chu envoy: ...
Zhang Miaoyu, seated among the ladies, couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.
The onlooking Nan Chu envoys wore displeased expressions. Shen Wei seized the moment to speak, “Mei Consort has had too much to drink; those under the influence often speak truths that are inappropriate. Someone, take Mei Consort back to Yuxiu Palace to sober up.”
A palace maid stepped forward to assist the tipsy Liu Ruyan away.
Even in her drunken state, Liu Ruyan didn’t forget to tell Shen Wei, “Consort Chen, Meihua wine is precious; you shouldn’t let those who lack appreciation drink it. It would be a waste.”
Shen Wei covered her mouth with a handkerchief, feigning seriousness. “Take Mei Consort away.”
After a pause, Shen Wei turned to the insulted Nan Chu envoy with a bright smile. “Mei Consort has a low tolerance for alcohol, and since Nan Chu is a land of propriety, this envoy must be a broad-minded person who wouldn’t hold a grudge against a woman from the harem.”
The Nan Chu envoy regarded Shen Wei with a deep gaze.
Her words were clever; if Nan Chu were to hold a grudge against Mei Consort, it would only make the envoy seem petty.
He curled his lips into a slight smile, his plain face revealing no anger or joy, and set down his wine cup. “It seems I am clumsy with words; I cannot appreciate fine wine and have wronged the noble consort of Da Qing. I apologize.”
He clasped his hands in a gesture of apology.
The minor uproar subsided, and dishes began to be served one after another, with music and dance filling the air. After a few rounds of wine, Li Yuanjing clapped his hands, and two armored Tiger Guards entered the hall.
In the center of the hall, a target was set up, and the two Tiger Guards demonstrated their marksmanship, one wielding a modified firearm and the other a modified crossbow, showcasing their skills to the Nan Chu envoy.
The envoy’s expression darkened; he understood this was Da Qing’s way of flaunting its military strength, warning the Nan Chu delegation not to harbor any ill intentions.
As the banquet continued, everyone harbored their own thoughts.
At the men’s table, the Nan Chu envoy, who had been mocked by Liu Ruyan, drank and ate as if nothing had happened. He held a delicate white jade wine cup, and during a moment of raising it to drink, his gaze swept toward Li Yuanjing and Shen Wei, hidden behind the pearl curtains of the main seat.
The Emperor of Da Qing, clad in black and gold imperial robes, exuded an air of authority and handsomeness;
The noble consort, in a resplendent golden-red gown, radiated elegance and grace.
The two shared a close bond, occasionally leaning their heads together, whispering sweet nothings meant only for their ears.
It was well-known throughout Da Qing that Emperor Li Yuanjing now favored Consort Chen, Shen Wei. She came from humble beginnings, yet held her high position without arrogance, caring for the people and showing compassion to the other consorts in the harem, earning her a reputation as a virtuous consort.
The Nan Chu envoy took another sip of the rich Meihua wine and clicked his tongue. “This wine is truly sour.”
...
...
As the welcoming banquet concluded, Shen Wei found herself compelled to drink a couple more cups of Meihua wine. Her tolerance was never great, and the effects of the alcohol were beginning to take hold, though her mind remained relatively clear.
Finally, as the banquet came to an end, the ministers rose to bow and began to leave in succession. Li Yuanjing instructed the palace maids to escort Shen Wei back to Yongning Palace while he summoned officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War to reconfirm the arrangements for the Nan Chu delegation.
On a cool spring night, palace lanterns lit up along the pathways. Shen Wei sat in the swaying palanquin, feeling a wave of nausea wash over her, reminiscent of motion sickness. She signaled for the palanquin to stop, deciding to walk back to the palace.
After taking just a few steps, her nausea intensified, and she stumbled to the edge of a flowerbed to vomit. Cai Lian, startled, hurriedly patted Shen Wei’s back gently. “Your Highness, Jixiang has already run back to fetch some sobering soup; please wait a moment.”
Shen Wei replied, “I’m fine—achoo—”
The fragrant scent of the flowers in the flowerbed wafted around her, and Shen Wei couldn’t help but sneeze several times. Her eyes itched, her nose tingled, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.
The sneezing continued, making her feel utterly miserable.
Shen Wei truly wished she could uproot all the flowers in the harem.
Wiping away the tears caused by her sneezing, Shen Wei breathed in the cool spring breeze of the garden, and the heavy intoxication began to lift a little.
“Oh dear, what’s wrong with the noble consort? Throwing up and crying, how pitiful,” a curious voice chimed in.
Shen Wei turned her head.
There stood the plain-looking Nan Chu envoy.
He strolled out from the vibrant flowers, his deep purple robe billowing in the wind, the moonlight casting a glow on him, as if he had emerged from the depths of darkness like a strange specter.
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