Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 193 "The Night Banquet of Scholar Song" [Seeking monthly votes!]

Lu Beigu subconsciously glanced at Lü Huiqing and Wang Shao, who were also standing solemnly beside him.

Lu Huiqing lowered his eyelids slightly, but his taut jaw and tightly pursed lips revealed his extreme resentment and restraint.

Wang Shao stood ramrod straight, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his expression calm, but Lu Beigu could sense that he was like a sharp blade sheathed.

Lu Beigu withdrew his gaze and tried his best to be a qualified "clay puppet".

After Song Qi entered, his gaze swept over everyone in the banquet hall, and he suddenly stopped in front of them.

Wang Kui was somewhat confused and had no choice but to stop as well.

At this moment, the usual, somewhat aloof smile on Song Qi's lips became more genuine, even showing a hint of interest.

"Who are these?"

Wang Kui's mind raced, and he quickly put on a smile, introducing, "Scholar, you have a discerning eye. These are scholars who are passing through Jiangling on their way to the capital for the imperial examinations. I thought that we needed some young talents to liven up the banquet, so I invited them all."

After listening, Song Qi's gaze fell solely on Lu Beigu, and he sighed softly, "A fine young man, with outstanding bearing. This young man is so handsome. It inevitably reminds me of my own youth."

His sigh was very soft, carrying a hint of reminiscence, as if he saw through the seventeen-year-old boy in the prime of his life that he himself had once possessed—a youth full of vigor and high spirits.

Song Qi snapped out of his brief daze and asked again, "What's your name?"

Lu Beigu felt a slight chill and replied, "This student, Lu Beigu, a candidate for the imperial examination from Luzhou, greets Scholar Song."

Song Qi nodded and didn't say anything more.

Seeing this, Wang Kui quickly spoke up, drawing Song Qi's attention back on track: "Scholar, please take a seat! Wine and dishes have been prepared to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey!"

Song Qi resumed his dashing and nonchalant demeanor, and laughed heartily: "Very well, very well! Prefect Wang's hospitality is too kind of me to refuse!"

Having said that, he walked forward with leisurely steps, guided by Wang Kui's eagerness.

After the two guests of honor were seated, the banquet officially began.

"Have a banquet!"

The melodious sounds of string and bamboo instruments rose up, not the decadent music of an ordinary banquet, but the elegant and clear ancient music played by a well-known local ensemble. It was they who had just been tuning and playing the instruments.

At the same time, several graceful dancers entered to the music. They wore brightly colored gauze dresses, their movements light and graceful, their sleeves fluttering as they danced in time with the music.

The songstress stood in the middle of the hall and began to sing along with the music.

"I remember the plum blossoms on the west bank of the river, and I sent a plum blossom to the north bank of the river."

A single apricot-red shirt, temples the color of a raven's tail.

Where is Xizhou? At the bridgehead of Liangjiu Bridge.

The shrike flies at dusk, the wind blows through the tallow tree.

Although Lu Beigu couldn't quite understand the singer's Chu dialect, he could still confirm, through some of the words he could make out, that she was playing "Xizhou Qu," one of the representative works of folk songs from the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

People often say that the Northern Dynasties had "The Ballad of Mulan" and the Southern Dynasties had "The Song of Xizhou". This folk song first appeared in "New Songs from the Jade Terrace" compiled by Xu Ling. From the Tang to the Song Dynasty, it was always regarded as "the ultimate love song".

This style of music clearly suited Song Qi's tastes, since as a master of the Xikun style, Song Qi loved to write poems about joyous gatherings with wine and poetry.

"Judging from this detail, Wang Kui really went to great lengths to please Song Qi."

Lu Beigu couldn't help but sigh. Although Wang Kui was a notorious ruthless official known for extorting money from the people, he was indeed a master at social etiquette and interpersonal relationships in official circles. Accompanied by music, maids moved about like flowing water, bringing out delicacies to the table.

However, the first thing to be solemnly presented was the "market analysis".

Among them is the "Crystal Swallow Cake," made by steaming wheat starch. It is crystal clear on the outside and the filling of red bean paste or candied fruit can be vaguely seen inside. The swallow's eyes are decorated with goji berries. There is also the "Entwined Flower Dream Meat," which is made by carefully rolling extremely thin slices of fish into the shape of flowers. The veins of the petals are dyed with sauce, resembling a blooming peony. Then there is the "Candied Fruit Mountain," which is made by stacking various candied fruits such as plum blossoms, kumquat cakes, candied dates, and candied bayberries on a winter melon base carved into the shape of a rockery.

These "appetizers," shimmering under the candlelight, instantly elevate the luxurious atmosphere of the banquet. They are not meant to be eaten before the meal, but rather to showcase the host's wealth, taste, and hospitality.

Then another group of maids poured in, this time carrying appetizers and drinks that were actually meant to be eaten and drunk.

The side dishes included "Honey-Fried Carved Kumquats" carved into the shape of chrysanthemums and soaked in thick honey syrup; "Ginger and Vinegar Spicy Snail Slices" made with minced ginger, balsamic vinegar, and spicy mustard, with the snail meat removed and sliced ​​into thin pieces; and "Jade Dust Paste," a dessert made with rice flour, sugar frosting, and spices, which was cut into neat squares and as white as jade.

The drinks were chilled plum drink made with dried plums, licorice, and sugar, as well as the famous Jinghu wine "Jinliantang". They were served in different ice chests, which were double-layered copper pots with ice inside.

Song Qi nodded with a smile, picked up the ivory chopsticks, took a few bites, and praised, "Good! The sweet and sour taste is refreshing and instantly relieves the heat. Prefect Wang is very thoughtful."

Upon hearing this, Wang Kui's smile widened even more.

He raised his wine cup and said in a booming voice, "It is truly an honor for Jiangling that Scholar Song is passing through our humble abode today! Your writings are unparalleled in the world, and your character is pure and noble, making you a model for us scholars. I have prepared a small feast to express my respect and to welcome you back. Please drink this cup to the brim!"

"Prefect Wang, you flatter me." Song Qi smiled and raised his cup with composure. "How dare I accept such a kind invitation? It is Prefect Wang who is stationed in Jiangling, a strategic and important place with convenient transportation. The government is efficient and the people are harmonious, and all industries are thriving. He is truly a pillar of the court. This cup of wine is to toast Prefect Wang for his effective governance."

For a moment, no one knew whether Song Qi was just saying polite words or subtly criticizing Wang Kui.

However, Wang Kui didn't care; he just took it as polite talk.

"Haha, Your Excellency flatters me! I am unworthy of such praise! Please!"

Then, Wang Kui raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Everyone raised their glasses in agreement, and the atmosphere became even more lively with the clinking of glasses.

Lu Beigu observed coldly and realized that his previous judgment was not wrong.

The smiles of the local gentry were mostly stiff, and their gestures of raising their glasses were perfunctory. Clearly, they did not have much genuine respect for this cruel prefect, but only came because of his official power.

Wang Kui was well aware of this, which is why he needed Song Qi's approval not to slightly cleanse his tarnished reputation, but to send a signal to the outside world.

—Wang Kui was not alone and helpless.

As for whether borrowing someone else's coattails would be of any use, Wang Kui, now at his wit's end, no longer cared.

As the main courses were served one after another, and the wine flowed freely, Song Qi's face also showed signs of intoxication.

Wang Kui's shrewd eyes swept over the music, dance, and delicacies filling the hall, as well as the genuine or feigned smiles of the people at the table. Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, the idea that had been brewing in his mind for a long time finally surfaced.

He put down his wine cup, cleared his throat, and deliberately raised his voice a few decibels, drowning out the lingering notes of the music: "Scholar!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall turned their attention back to the person in the main seat.

Wang Kui put on a fawning smile that was a mixture of admiration and flattery, and said to Song Qi, "Today's grand gathering is filled with distinguished guests, and the presence of such a renowned literary figure as the scholar is truly a once-in-a-century event for the Jiangling government. I feel that an ordinary banquet would not be enough to show even a fraction of the significance of this gathering, and I fear that in the future, when we look back, we will only have regrets."

"Just now, seeing this hall filled with elegance, the melodious music, the graceful dance, and the scholar's extraordinary demeanor, as if he were a celestial being, I suddenly had an idea. Why not follow the example of the past dynasties and ask a skilled painter to capture the grandeur of today and the scholar's charm in a painting, in the style of the 'Night Banquet of Han Xizai'? In this way, we can not only leave a beautiful story for the scholar's trip, but also ensure that this scene is passed down to future generations for people to admire!"

Is this a painting titled "The Night Banquet of Scholar Song"?
Upon hearing this, the last remaining pleasant atmosphere in the hall vanished instantly.

The smiles on the faces of the local gentry froze completely, their eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment.

—Has Wang Kui gone mad? How dare he compare to tonight's banquet with the banquet depicted in the painting "The Night Banquet of Han Xizai"?
(End of this chapter)