Chapter 323: The Most Romantic Man in the World

There was singing and dancing inside the Golden Tower, and people gathered outside the Golden Tower.

More ink stone lamps rose into the sky, and the blazing white light shone through the purple, blue, red, or yellow envelopes, turning into a river of light that connected from the ground to the sky, illuminating the area within a few miles.

More than a dozen temporary stoves were built on the ground. Each of the fat and big-eared food cultivators could hold a large copper-mouthed pot that could hold a calf. They held the handle of the pot and shook it hard.

Fresh and fragrant ingredients fly in the air, blending with spices such as star anise and laurel leaves.

The boiling flames were accompanied by the cheers of the crowd, and the hot, bright red peppers wafted their fragrance far into the night.

The three provinces of Taihang are cloudy and rainy, the climate is hot and humid, and there are many coolies, so the food they eat is very spicy and salty.

The banquet was like a long dragon, with people in thin shirts and short jackets pouring in from all directions.

Since the Duke of Zhou said that he wanted to share happiness with the people, and since they had already decided to please him in this matter, the people under them naturally tried their best.

As the ingredients were a little scarce and the quota was insufficient, they brought in pigs, sheep and cattle from various wealthy households and slaughtered and cleaned them in public, which was even more feasting than on New Year's Day.

The common people who were dining at the banquet only then heard that this banquet was hosted for Zhou Tieyi, the Marquis of Shengshi, and everyone also had their first intuitive impression of the Marquis of Shengshi.

The people’s thinking is simple: whoever gives food is a good person.

So Shengshihou is a good person.

The banquet was in full swing when they suddenly saw a row of knights galloping from a distance. The horses were exotic beasts with jet-black hair and muscles covered with a layer of shiny scales, and they were raising dust like a dragon.

They held high the command flags with colorful auspicious clouds on them, representing the urgent orders of the Emperor of Great Xia. Wherever they passed, there would be no obstruction.

hold head high!
The loud neighing of horses rang out in front of the banquet, like thunder, temporarily suppressing the laughter of the festive crowd.

The leading knight stopped his horse, put on the snow lion armor, dismounted, and gathered his blood and energy.

"The Imperial decree, urgent, please ask Lord Zhou to go out and receive it!"

Inside the Golden Building, the officials from the Shantong Mansion who were serving Zhou Tieyi were in confusion.

This shouldn't be the case. Even if Tianjing knew about this, the emperor's edict to reprimand should not arrive until tomorrow at least. Could it be that he really asked a third-rank cultivator to personally deliver the edict?
That's a big problem.

As the saying goes, a guilty conscience always keeps the thief in mind, so even if good things happen, they are still worried.

What's more, Zhou Tieyi originally came to Shantong Mansion to investigate a case. With such a grand fanfare and lavish banquet, Zhou Tieyi, a drinker, was not afraid, but those who hosted the banquet were afraid.

The decadent joy of the feast was brought to an abrupt end by the powerful shouts of the knights, which pierced like a spear.

Eyes were focused on the first seat at the banquet. Zhou Tieyi held up the wine jar, with a smile on his face. He stood up calmly, straightened his robe, and said with a smile, "Since it is a sacred decree, please follow me to receive it."

Seeing the calm and unchanging smile on Zhou Tieyi's face, the officials of Shantong Prefecture felt a little relieved.

They walked down from the eight-story Golden Building and out the door, and saw a team of knights with their heads held high and smiles on their faces.

Seeing this, the surrounding officials also understood that this was not a reprimand.

When Zhou Tieyi came up to him, the knight's smile faded and he spoke in a solemn voice.

"Shengshi Hou Zhou Tieyi has made great contributions by offering two strategies. He is a capable minister who can govern the country. Although he is thousands of miles away from the capital, he must be rewarded. I have specially given you a golden cup of imperial wine, and I hope you will drink with me. I hope you will encourage me."

The emperor's will to bestow gifts such as wine, clothes, etc. is usually conveyed in the form of oral instructions instead of a formal imperial edict, in order to avoid the trouble of receiving the order and to express the emperor's closeness.

After the knight finished reading, the attendant beside him immediately presented a tray with a five-color brocade bottom. On the tray was a painted gold cup with a double dragon playing with a pearl and a pot of fine wine in a sky-blue jade bottle.

After hearing the imperial edict, Zhou Tieyi was slightly stunned, and then he bowed in the direction of Tianjing, "I thank the Lord for his grace."

The officials of Shantong Prefecture all looked at the golden cup on the five-colored brocade with burning eyes. They held their heads high and puffed out their chests, in stark contrast to their cowardly behavior just now!
Because they made the right bet, even after leaving Tianjing, Zhou Tieyi was still in the emperor's heart.

Giving wine from a thousand miles away and favoring life are just like this!

Next to Zhou Tieyi, the legalist Cui Wanxia's expression changed slightly, and she couldn't help but turn her head to look at Zhou Tieyi from the direction of the golden cup.

He personally experienced the incident of Zhou Tieyi leaving behind two memorials. At first, he thought that the two memorials left by Zhou Tieyi were petitions or self-appeals, preparing to deal with party disputes, but now it seems that the facts are completely beyond his expectations.

These two memorials should be policy essays!

But this policy proposal had a miraculous effect at today's small court meeting. It not only suppressed the Confucian backlash, but also made the emperor give wine from a thousand miles away.

What is written in his policy paper?
After her eyes fell on Zhou Tieyi, Cui Wanxia subconsciously looked at Deng Zhenquan beside Zhou Tieyi, but Deng Zhenquan had a blank expression and a gloomy face.

Cui Wanxia finally came back to his senses from the shock. The Deng Zhen in front of him was transformed by the art of paper cutting. He collected his thoughts and looked at Zhou Tieyi who was standing there after thanking him for the gift.

Zhou Tieyi looked at the golden cup of imperial wine in front of him, his gaze paused for three breaths, and he seemed to be slightly distracted by this reward.

Afterwards, Zhou Tieyi took the tray himself, raised it with one hand, and asked the people around him, "Where is the manager of the Golden Building?"

At the end of the many officials, a middle-aged man dressed in gorgeous clothes, with a stout build and a simple face came forward and said with a pleasing smile, "What do you want, Lord Zhou?"

Zhou Tieyi glanced at the golden cup of imperial wine in his left hand again and said with a smile, "Go get your large wine jar."

The manager of the Golden Building immediately asked someone to do it.

Half a cup of tea later, two people came carrying a large black jar half a person's height.

Zhou Tieyi took a look at the large black jar and the three words "Zhuangyuanhong" on it, and realized that this should be the top-quality wine from Shantong Mansion. Although he said to take a large wine jar, the manager of the restaurant still had to strike a balance between the good wine and the large wine jar.

Zhou Tieyi waved his hand and said, "Not enough, not enough, this wine jar is too small, how can we drink with everyone, go get more."

Zhou Tieyi pointed his finger at the people around him who still had curious expressions on their faces.

The manager of the Golden Building understood instantly and gave his subordinates another order.

This time it took longer.

After a cup of tea, four martial arts warriors, with their blood and energy trained together, came carrying a huge jar. The jar was ten feet high, dark and rough all over. Although the aroma of the aged beer was not clear, it was extremely rich, just like the fragrance of osmanthus.

The strong men flexed their muscles, lowered their shoulders, and slowly placed the giant jar on the ground with a slightly dull sound.

The manager of the Golden Tower smiled proudly and said, "Lord Zhou, this wine jar contains 100,000 catties of wine. Is it enough for us to drink?"

Zhou Tieyi took a step forward, supported the bottom of the giant jar, and exerted a little force with his arms. He was able to lift the giant jar that required four strong men to lift. He shook the jar, and the heavy wine made a whimpering sound like wind passing through the rocks.

"That's enough to drink with everyone."

Zhou Tieyi laughed loudly, and then he exerted force with his right palm. With a click, the huge wine jar shattered in his hand, revealing the slightly turbid beer inside. The strange thing was that the beer on Zhou Tieyi's right palm seemed to be restrained by an invisible wine jar, and not a single drop spilled out.

In the night, colorful lights passed through the translucent wine, slightly twisting and turning, gathering the light, making Zhou Tieyi look as if he was holding a bright pearl of the night in his hand.

Then Zhou Tieyi used his left hand to pick up the jade-pot wine on the other side of the tray and drop it into the turbid beer in his hand. Everyone could easily see that the clear jade-pot wine was completely poured into the turbid beer in just a moment.

Zhou Tieyi then spoke loudly, "When my grandfather fought for the country, the emperor rewarded him with a glass of wine. He did not dare to drink it privately, so he poured it into the river and drank with the soldiers. Today, the emperor rewarded me with a pot of wine. I also do not dare to drink it privately. I will drink it with the people of Shantong Prefecture to show the grace of heaven! Everyone, is there anyone willing to raise a cup and drink with me?"

The common people who were just watching the show froze when they heard these words. They looked at the young man in the center of the venue, surrounded by officials, holding a pearl in his hand and wearing a python robe. An indescribable feeling lingered in their hearts.

The simple thought that Shengshi Hou was a good man that had just arisen in his mind changed drastically, and then turned into a sigh.

Shengshi Hou is one of us.

There are many people dressed in silk and satin, but few of them drink with the common people!

"In the prosperous age, Hou Dayi, a certain family is willing to come forward and drink with us!"

A strong man stood out from the crowd. He was nearly eight feet tall, a full head taller than Zhou Tieyi, with a round lion nose and extremely thick beard, which made him look intimidating even without him being angry. He wore a short coat and a bamboo hat, with a tiger-head sword across his waist.

The cup in his hand looked like a toy in a child's hand.

Zhou Tieyi smiled and said to the manager of the Golden Tower, "Go get some wine."

The manager of the Golden Building brought the wine can, and the sturdy man took it heroically, clasped his fists towards Zhou Tieyi and said, "I came to the Shantong Mansion today to see if Lord Zhou is as described in The World Affairs, an unrivaled jester."

Zhou Tieyi burst out laughing. Although his "Tianjing News" was promoted very quickly, in the whole world, the vast majority of people knew the most about the novelist's "World Affairs".

Naturally, in their hearts, he was also what Confucianists called a peerless jester.

"how?"

The sturdy man's eyes fell on Zhou Tieyi's still smiling face, and in front of so many Confucian officials, he also laughed and said, "The words of the sour Confucian are so annoying!"

After saying that, he took a big step forward, scooped up the wine from the wine jar, took a big sip, and then praised, "Good wine! This is the best wine I've ever drunk in my life!"

With the strong man taking the lead, the people also plucked up their courage and came forward one by one with their glasses raised, asking for wine from Zhou Tieyi.

No matter how great the emperor's grace is, even if it were 100,000 kilograms, it would not be enough for the people of the world to drink!
We drink from the golden cup together, but we will not spare each other with the white sword.

We should carry the will of the whole world and point our sword at the holy heart.

Today I, Zhou Tieyi, drink this wine with people all over the world, to see how Your Majesty will deal with this sword in my body!

After the 100,000 kilograms of fine wine were distributed, Zhou Tieyi was still not satisfied. He looked at the manager of the Golden Building and asked in front of everyone, "Who will pay for the wine at my Marquis' banquet?"

The manager of the Golden Building didn't know what to say for a moment and looked to the He family for help.

He Qigong stepped forward, clasped his hands and said, "Zhou Hou has made contributions to his country, so we, the Shantongfu family, should pay for this banquet."

Zhou Tieyi waved his hand and said, "Not appropriate."

He looked at Cui Wanxia next to him and said, "Isn't this a bribe?"

After saying this, he pushed the remaining golden cup on the tray forward and said, "I came to Shantong Mansion with nothing. Fortunately, the emperor gave me this golden cup. I will use it as wine money to have fun with the people."

Zhou Tieyi's actions once again shocked many officials of Shantong Prefecture.

The manager of the Golden Building was trembling with fear and quickly knelt on the ground, "Lord Zhou is trying to embarrass me!"

Is the golden cup given by His Majesty enough to pay for the wine?

Of course it’s enough!
Whether in terms of actual value or the carrying capacity, it is enough, but Zhou Hou dared to exchange it for wine, so how could he dare to accept it?
The officials of the surrounding Shantong Prefecture laughed and said, "Marquis Zhou is drunk, why don't you help him up to rest!"

The attendants on both sides stepped forward, and Zhou Tieyi smiled and looked at Cui Wanxia who was silent, "Is it a crime of disrespect to exchange this golden cup for wine money, so that the emperor can bless the people and enjoy the happiness with the people?"

This really stumped Cui Wanxia, ​​the legalist minister.

He thought and thought carefully.

Is this considered a crime of disrespect?

How to answer?
The people around were a little drunk, with the brilliance of the bustling night reflected in their eyes. They also looked at Cui Wanxia curiously. They also wanted to know whether this was a crime of disrespect.

Zhou Tieyi did not continue to embarrass Cui Wanxia, ​​and said with a smile, "Bring a large paper and pen."

This time, the manager of the Golden Building, who was already sweating profusely, hurriedly fetched a large piece of paper and a pen.

Zhou Tieyi picked up the golden cup in his hand, poured a glass of wine from the common people's wine pot on the banquet, took a sip, then picked up the brush and wrapped it with thick ink.

Don't you see the water of the Yellow River coming up from the sky, rushing to the sea never to return.

Don't you see Gaotangmingjing's sad white hair, the morning is like a blue silk and snow is at dusk.

Life is full of joy, so that the gold is empty for the moon.

I am born to be useful, and come back when my wealth is gone.

Cooking sheep and slaughtering cows is fun, and you will have to drink three hundred cups.

Master Deng, Mr. Wan Xia, let’s drink, don’t stop.

A song with Junge, please listen to me.

Bells, drums, and jade are not expensive, but I hope I won’t wake up after being drunk.

In ancient times, the saints and sages were lonely, and only the drinkers kept their names.

In the past, King Ning held a banquet in Pingle, and he drank ten thousand cups of wine and had a lot of fun.

What is the master's word for less money, you have to sell to the king.

A white dragon robe, a cup worth a thousand gold, I will call my son to exchange them for good wine, so that we can share our eternal sorrow.

He drank and wrote, and wrote and sang.

The writing moves like a dragon and the singing sounds like a phoenix.

His face was flushed, and he was drunk even without drinking!
The sound was like a loud bell, spreading over ten miles.

After finishing the last stroke, Zhou Tieyi smiled as he untied his python robe and placed it on the ground, exposing his upper body. He smiled and said to everyone, "I have always been carefree since I was a child. Today I feel like buying wine with this cup. If anyone wants to sue me for disrespect, I will put on this robe again and say nothing more!"

He bowed to the people around him and said, "Please be my witnesses."

After saying that, he ignored the people around him who were still in a daze, laughed and went upstairs alone.

He left alone, like a white crane spreading its wings and leaping into the sky, leaving behind all the people in this prosperous world in shock.

A true gentleman is naturally elegant.

After a while, everyone gradually came to their senses.

Cui Wanxia sighed softly, "He is a capable minister in the court and an unrivaled poet in the wild. The world is lucky to have a son like you!"

Duke Zhou bought wine at the Golden Tower, the most romantic man in the history!
(End of this chapter)