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The luncheon was held in a side hall on the east side of the Zichen Hall.

Two long tables were arranged in rows, leaving an aisle in the middle, with red silk hanging from the beams. On the tables were silver wine pots and delicate porcelain bowls and plates, with sliced ​​pork arranged on celadon plates, and a dish of ginger and vinegar beside them. Hot dishes were served one after another: steamed fish, braised pork hock, and stir-fried seasonal vegetables. Each dish was carved with flowers, and a "double happiness" character carved from a radish was inlaid next to the fish.

The officials took their seats according to rank, their robes spread out on the chairs. Prince An sat in the first seat on the left, with Li Chong, Duan Heng, and Helian Mu sitting below him in order. Zhao Yan sat in the main seat, with Lin Yanzhou to his right.

After everyone was seated, eunuchs filed in carrying trays. Each tray held a delicate white porcelain cup, the tea inside a clear, brownish-red hue, its steam fine and lingering, its rich, aged aroma wafting from afar. Prince An picked up his cup, first bringing it to his nose to smell: "This is old-tree tea from Yunnan. I had it collected when I was in my fiefdom, and it's been stored for three years. I brought it here for you all to try; it's more mellow than some of the teas commonly drunk in the capital, and it's gentler on the stomach." He set down his cup, his gaze naturally shifting from Zhao Yan to his right, where the Imperial Son-in-Law Lin Yanzhou stood. "Tea must be drunk while it's hot; the taste changes when it cools down."

Zhao Yan picked up his teacup and took a sip. Lin Yanzhou also picked up his teacup, paused for a moment when the rim touched his lips, as if the hot tea had burned his tongue, and then put it down, the bottom of the cup making a short, soft sound as it hit the table.

The officials began to drink one after another. After finishing his first cup, the Vice Minister of Works licked his upper lip and said, "This tea is indeed excellent, much more fragrant than the tea from the capital." The people next to him nodded in agreement and poured another cup. Several older officials drank slowly, but they also kept refilling their cups.

Prince An took a sip himself, and as he placed the cup back on the table, his gaze slowly swept across the entire side hall through the thin mist rising from the teacup, as if silently counting to make sure everyone had drunk their tea. He thought to himself: "You won't say it's good soon. To avoid arousing the Emperor's suspicion, we've taken the antidote beforehand and will drink it with you."

Zhao Yan put down his teacup, turned to the side, and slightly raised his hand in the direction of Prince An: "Uncle, you have a few new faces with you this time. Dongli, Nanyue, and Xiqiang are separated from Xuanshuo by several mountains and didn't have much contact with them before. The fact that they came from afar this time shows that they did it because of you, Uncle."

Prince An raised his cup in return, saying, "The three kingdoms border my fiefdom, and we often have business dealings with each other, so we've become familiar over time. This time, upon hearing of the joyous occasion in the capital, they offered to come and offer their congratulations. I thought it wouldn't be impolite, so I brought them along." He slowed his speech, his gaze shifting from Zhao Yan to Lin Yanzhou, "This must be the Imperial Preceptor Your Majesty often mentions."

Zhao Yan took a sip from his cup: "Indeed. Since you came to Xuanshuo, many important things have happened. I'm sure you've heard some of them from your fiefdom, Uncle." He turned his gaze to Prince An and casually chatted about everyday matters.

After listening, Prince An turned his gaze to Lin Yanzhou, scrutinizing him from head to toe. His gaze lingered on Lin for a moment longer than it had on Zhao Yan: "I've heard people in the Southwest say that the Imperial Preceptor, though he hasn't been in Xuan Shuo for long, has accomplished a great deal. May I ask where the Imperial Preceptor previously held office?"

Lin Yanzhou met his gaze: "I've traveled to many places, but I can't say I've held a high position. I can't compare to the Imperial Uncle's long-standing foundation in the Southwest."

Prince An didn't respond to that question, instead lightly tracing the rim of his wine cup with his finger: "Traveled a lot? Has the Imperial Preceptor ever been to the Southwest?"

"No. But I've heard that the southwest is a strategically important and easily defended region, a place that's good for people."

Prince An smiled, but the smile quickly faded. "Easy to defend and difficult to attack is both a good thing and a bad thing. If we hold out for too long, the things in the mountains won't be able to get out. What does the Grand Preceptor think?"

Lin Yanzhou chuckled, "Whether the things in the mountains can get out depends on whether the people outside are willing to wait. Don't you think so?"

Prince An's gaze lingered on Lin Yanzhou's face for a moment, then shifted back to the cup of tea in front of him, which had already been refilled twice. "The Imperial Advisor's words are interesting. I've been in the Southwest for a long time, and it's rare to encounter someone who speaks so effortlessly." He picked up his teacup and said meaningfully, "Then, Imperial Advisor, what do you think of the taste of this tea?"

Lin Yanzhou glanced down at the barely touched cup of tea in front of him: "It's good tea. But I drink tea slowly, please don't mind, Uncle."

Prince An glanced at him, put down his teacup, and turned his gaze to Zhao Yan: "Your Majesty is indeed blessed to have someone like the Imperial Advisor by your side."

Zhao Yan turned his head and lowered his voice: "How is your alcohol tolerance, sir?" His tone was half a degree more relaxed than before.

"The liquor here has no alcohol content, I'm fine."

"Then when the officials offer toasts later, you don't need to accept them all, just show your appreciation." Zhao Yan withdrew his gaze and gestured for the eunuch to add more wine.

The luncheon lasted for most of the hour. By the time the last soup was served, some people were already flushed and speaking in slightly louder voices than before. Prince An sat on the left, his cup of wine never diminished; he too was worried that the young emperor might have poisoned him.

Duan Heng sat to his left and winked slightly in Prince An's direction from an angle where no one was watching, the movement being very subtle, as if confirming that something had progressed to a predetermined point. Helian Mu was eating with his head down, one bite after another, as if the plate of boiled pork was the only thing he was interested in at the banquet.

An elderly minister with gray hair put down his chopsticks, supported himself on the edge of the table with both hands, and slowly stood up—his movements were a beat slower than usual: "Your Majesty... I suddenly feel unwell, probably because I can't hold my liquor. I would like to take my leave now, and I'm afraid that would be impolite."

Before he could finish speaking, someone next to him put down their chopsticks. A physician from the Ministry of Rites pressed his forehead, beads of sweat sliding down his temples: "Your Majesty... I feel a little dizzy." Two officials from the Ministry of Personnel exchanged glances, one of them lightly pressing on the table, using all his strength to resist a persistent feeling of falling.

More people began to put down their chopsticks; some pressed their foreheads, while others slowly sat back down in their chairs.

Zhao Yan's gaze swept over the set-down chopsticks and the knuckles pressing against his forehead before turning to Lin Yanzhou: "Sir, it seems the banquet should end today." His voice was not loud; he was the host who was naturally bringing a luncheon to a close.

Lin Yanzhou put down his wine cup and stood up: "Then let's call it a day."

Prince An also stood up, while several senior officials remained seated. Some propped themselves up on the table with their hands, while others leaned back in their chairs with their eyes closed. Their breathing was uneven, and the air was filled with the lingering aroma of Yunnan black tea.

After he finished speaking, the side hall fell silent for a moment.

Then the first person collapsed. It was the Vice Minister of Revenue who had been the first to stand up and take his leave. He was holding onto the edge of the table, but his arm could no longer support his weight. His hand slid off the table, and he slumped to one side, crashing into the chair next to him with a dull thud.

The person next to him reached out to help him up, but as soon as he stood up, he stumbled forward, his knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground. The teacup rolled away from his hand, circled the blue brick floor twice, and stopped next to the table leg, with a thin layer of light brown tea remaining at the bottom.

The side hall was filled with collapsed figures. Some were slumped over tables, some leaned against chairs, and some lay directly in the middle of the aisle.

Lin Yanzhou was a few steps away in the shadows. The entire side hall was being divided into two areas in his view—on one side were officials who were falling down, their robes loose and their breathing weak; on the other side were a few people who were still sitting steadily.