Water Margin: Gao Yanei is actually a Gal Genius

On the island in the middle of the lake in the West Garden of the Cai Mansion, Gao Jin was looking at the Hanbi Building in front of him.

On the island in the middle of the lake, strange rocks are piled up, resembling jackals baring their teeth. In the center, a three-story pavilion is built entirely of cedar wood. From a distance, it appears emerald green and cold, like the head of a blue dragon emerging from the bottom of the lake. The plaque is inscribed with the two characters "Hanbi" in the slender gold script.

Gao Jin strode into Hanbi Building, only to be met with a wave of heat. The building was much warmer than outside, and there were no open flames or braziers in sight; he wondered where the heat came from.

The first floor is spacious, with the floor paved with a single piece of glazed glass. There is an underground channel that draws water from the lake, and koi fish swim under the glass, their shadows indistinct.

A group of maids stood on both sides. Gao Jin felt so hot that he was sweating, so he took off his outer robe and handed it to the maid next to him. The maid took the robe and placed it on a clothes rack, then led Gao Jin upstairs.

I slowly ascended to the second floor, where there were carved windows on all four sides. The patterns on the window frames were neither flowers nor animals, but upon closer inspection, they were all excerpts from the Analects and Mencius, carved into the surface. A group of sons of officials were chatting and drinking there, making quite a lively scene.

After the maid led Gao Jin to an empty seat, she curtsied and turned to walk downstairs.

Gao Jin wasn't surprised that he didn't see Cai Xiu; usually, at such banquets, the host would only come out after everyone had arrived.

We can't just add a set of bowls and chopsticks for every guest.

The many playboys already present were chatting with their attendants, their eyes occasionally glancing at Gao Jin. Suddenly, a burst of laughter would come from the crowd, but they didn't come up to say anything.

I have no idea what they're having fun about.

Gao Jin disagreed. His predecessor, Gao Yanei, had never been able to get into this circle. One reason was Gao Yanei's eccentric hobby, and another was his cheap old man.

Scholars looked down on those who were favored by the powerful, and so did powerful officials. Even eunuchs, who were theoretically of the same kind as those who were favored by the powerful, chose to associate with scholars and powerful officials, and together they looked down on those who were favored by the powerful.

What do military generals think?

Sorry, at least Gao Qiu can still sit at the table, but the military generals of the Song Dynasty cannot.

Gao Jin was happy to be free, so he poured himself a drink. Before he had even drunk two cups, Fatty Li Kuo came up to him, plopped down, and brought up a huge gust of wind.

Gao Jin's face visibly darkened, not because he disliked the fat man. He was genuinely afraid that Li Kuo would sit so hard that he would create a hole in the second floor, and then he would inevitably be caught in the crossfire.

[Li Kuo's favorability rating: 20.]

Li Kuo raised his wine glass, winked at Gao Jin, and said, "Brother Tuizhi, you're in for a treat tonight!"

When did I become so close to this fat guy?

Gao Jin looked at Li Kuo as he sat down in the creaking rosewood chair and couldn't help but feel sorry for Cai Xiu. It was the first time he had ever heard of someone ruining their chair when inviting someone to dinner.

"What good fortune could I possibly have? Brother Ren is the one who's truly blessed..." Gao Jin said with a forced smile.

Li Kuo said mysteriously, "Brother Ren is naturally very lucky, after all, I heard that the Emperor is about to bestow a marriage upon him... However, speaking of which, Brother Ren has also prepared a surprise for Brother Tuizhi tonight."

Knowing he was about to be humiliated, Gao Jin thought darkly, 'Could it be that Cai Xiu is impotent and wants me, this great man, to sow his seed?'

"What surprise? Brother Rong Chuan, you'd better tell me all about it," Gao Jin asked calmly.

"The Buddha said, it cannot be spoken." Li Kuo tilted his head back and drank the wine, the cup in his hand like a baby's toy. As he tilted his head back to drink, his small eyes on his large face even winked mischievously at Gao Jin.

Gao Jin's fists hardened as he watched.

Did people working under eunuchs have to live such a perverse life?

In Gao Yanei's memory, when Li Kuo was first adopted by Li Yan as his godson, he was a handsome young man with fair skin and rosy lips. How did he end up looking so fat and bloated now?

"I won't keep Brother Tuizhi any longer. Please look forward to the surprise tonight." After having two maids help him up, Li Kuo patted Gao Jin on the shoulder and left.

Li Kuo, that scoundrel, had been holding something in his hand, and when he slapped it, he left a handprint on Gao Jin's shoulder, a greasy, semi-solidified lard-like mark.

Gao Jin hadn't even met the person in question yet, but he was already burning with anger.

Upon seeing this, the maid standing nearby came to Gao Jin's side to take him to change his clothes.

Gao Jin shook his head and refused to leave, so the maid had no choice but to take out her handkerchief to wipe him clean. It took her a long time to remove the thing.

Not long after I finished cleaning the stains on my shoulder, the previously noisy second-floor hall suddenly fell silent, followed by a clamor of voices: "Brother Ren is here!"

"Princess Maode has arrived too!"

"We have met Princess Maode!"

"..."

The young men of the yamen surrounded the main gate, their flattery and sycophancy filling the air.

Gao Jin knew it was his turn to step up. He had to apologize properly, so he sat alone in the corner. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was there to cause trouble.

Taking a deep breath, Gao Jin cheered himself up, picked up two glasses of wine, and squeezed into the crowd.

Gao Jin, relying on his physique, easily squeezed past the group of weak young masters and arrived at the inner circle, where he indeed saw Cai Xiu and Princess Maode.

Cai Xiu had fair skin and a slightly plump figure, but with his brocade robe and jade belt, he exuded an air of nobility that looked down on all living beings, and there was a hint of youthful arrogance between his brows.

Princess Maode wore a crown embroidered with gold and jade, a bright red brocade robe with gold-embroidered peonies, an outer robe with gold-embroidered cloud and crane patterns, a belt with two dragons playing with a pearl around her waist, and a skirt adorned with a hundred birds and flowers. As she moved, her jade pendants tinkled, like a fairy maiden walking on the moon.

Gao Jin took a closer look at his face, and it was even more extraordinary.

Her face was as bright as the moon in spring, her eyes shimmering with autumn light. Her eyebrows were naturally dark, like distant mountains shrouded in mist. Her lips were naturally red, like cherries just beginning to bloom.

Her black hair was tied into a cloud-like bun, with a gold and kingfisher feather phoenix hairpin inserted at an angle, and bright moon earrings hanging by her ears, shimmering with light as she moved.

Her slender, jade-like fingers were adorned with a cat's-eye stone ring. Her silk stockings glided on the water, revealing glimpses of the embroidered mandarin duck shoes.

Both she and the Chen family girl have their own merits, but they're nothing special.

Gao Jin clicked his tongue and composed himself. He took a wine cup and approached Cai Xiu, bending down to offer him the wine. "Brother Renzhi is here. Gao Jin apologizes to you."

As soon as he said those words, Gao Jin felt as if all the burdens on his body had disappeared.

Cai Xiu raised his hand, and the previously noisy young masters fell silent.

Cai Xiu's favorability rating: 10.

With a half-smile on his face, he said, "Brother Tuizhi, what were you saying just now? It was a bit noisy, I didn't quite hear you."

Gao Jin's heart skipped a beat. He gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, bent down to offer the wine, and said loudly, "Gao Jin apologizes to his brother here!"

The group of young masters burst into laughter, but Cai Xiu waved his hand again to stop the laughter.

"Brother Tuizhi, what nonsense are you spouting? You must have drunk too much. Quickly take your seats and don't let Princess Maode see the Grand Commandant's family make a fool of themselves."

After Cai Xiu finished speaking, he did not accept the wine, but led Princess Maode past Gao Jin and walked straight towards the main seat in the hall.

Zhao Fujin looked at Gao Jin, who was bowing, with curiosity. After a moment's thought, he suddenly realized what was going on and followed Cai Xiu.