Water Margin: Gao Yanei is actually a Gal Genius

As September approaches, the temperature in Tokyo drops rapidly after nightfall.

Outside the Xiefang Pavilion in the Yanfu Palace of the Imperial Palace, only nine palace lanterns were lit tonight, their shades painted with the story of the "Banquet at Yaochi". Under the flickering candlelight, the cloud sleeves of the Queen Mother of the West in the story seemed to be about to float out of the silk.

Gao Qiu, accompanied by Gao Jin, arrived at the palace gate at three quarters past 5 PM.

Instead of his official robes, he changed into a dark brocade robe with subtle patterns bestowed upon him by the emperor, with a jade belt around his waist and a worn-out sable cloak over it.

This was a gift Gao Qiu received when he was at the Prince Duan's residence. The Emperor will surely remember it when he sees it.

As for Gao Jin, he was a robust young man who, no matter how he dressed, would look like a magnificent husband, so we won't go into details.

The two followed the eunuch from the Inner Palace and soon arrived at the Xiefang Pavilion.

The beaded curtain was lifted with a 'whoosh,' and the father and son stepped inside.

Gao Jin followed behind Lao Deng and saw that Zhao Guanjia was sitting alone at the north end, wearing a casual ochre-yellow round-necked shirt, and was sketching on a piece of plain silk.

[Zhao Ji's favorability rating: 46.] Why does it seem to have increased again?

When Zhao Ji saw the two enter, he paused for a moment and said, "Minister Gao has arrived? Please have a seat."

A seat was set up on each side of the lower seat.

Gao Qiu bowed to express his gratitude and took his seat, while Gao Jin stood with his head bowed behind the old man.

"Tuizhi, please sit down..." Zhao Ji suddenly raised his eyes, "Today is a family banquet, there is no distinction between ruler and subject."

Gao Jin glanced at Lao Deng, and Gao Qiu nodded slightly.

Gao Jin clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Your Majesty, this humble subject thanks you!" Gao Jin then sat down at another table.

Upon seeing the Gao family father and son take their seats, Zhao Ji waved his hand. The eunuchs who were standing by stepped forward and took away the silk and writing implements from the imperial desk.

Another young eunuch shouted in a shrill voice from outside the beaded curtain, "Serve the meal!"

The eunuchs and palace maids who had been waiting filed in, bringing in dishes and wine.

Before long, all the dishes for this family dinner were served.

Gao Jin glanced at the three people's tables; the dishes were all the same.

The dishes were extremely simple: a pot of "Snowy Clouds Soup", a dish of "Crab Stuffed Orange", a plate of "Lotus Pod Fish Dumplings", and a pot of wine.

Gao Qiu raised his cup to Emperor Huizong, who waved to Gao Jin and said, "It's just a family banquet, no need for formalities. I haven't seen Tuizhi for several years, and now that I see him, I'm increasingly pleased with him."

[Zhao Ji's favorability rating: 48.] Zhao Ji's favorability rating has increased by two points.

Gao Jin pursed his lips, secretly praying that this official wasn't a stranger, but rather someone who had come to deliver his daughter, just as Old Deng had said.

This is terrifying. Did he transmigrate from the Water Margin or from a female-oriented online novel?

"Tuizhi..." The official put down his spoon. "...Try this soup. Use snow water from Zhongnan Mountain that hasn't yet reached the ground to boil a three-year-old female duck from Taihu Lake. Skim off the surface oil and keep only the clear broth. Add tender tofu, fresh bamboo fungus, and winter bamboo shoots, and simmer over low heat for six hours."

"Absolutely delicious, you have to try it."

Gao Jin rose to express his gratitude and scooped up a spoonful of the soup. The soup was indeed incredibly delicious.

"How is it?" Zhao Ji asked.

Gao Jin replied, "Delicious!"

He glanced at Gao Qiu, whose face was grim, and added, "Extremely delicious!"

Emperor Huizong slapped his thigh with one hand, pointed at Gao Jin with the other, swayed back and forth, and grinned broadly. "You little rascal, you're really something!"

[Zhao Ji's favorability rating: 49.] Gao Jin looked at the favorability rating, which had increased slightly, and felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

After laughing for a while, Zhao Ji asked Gao Qiu, "Gao Qing, would you like to try some?"

Gao Qiu also took a spoonful, closed his eyes to savor it, and only opened them after a long while.

"How is it?" Zhao Ji asked again.

"Your Majesty..." Gao Qiu put down the silver spoon, a look of reminiscence on his face, "I recall that in the third year of Yuanfu, when Your Majesty was still in the Prince Duan's residence, there was a snowy winter night, and Your Majesty and I were sitting around the stove roasting taro. Your Majesty said..."

"It is said that 'when one is rich and powerful, one should always think of the times when one was poor and lowly.'" Zhao Ji interjected, his gaze lingering on the sable cloak, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. "You remember it quite well."

"Your Majesty's grace is something this old servant will never forget for a moment..."

The master and servant then started chatting about old stories.

Gao Jin glanced at the soup on Lao Deng's table, then looked at the soup on his table.

With a furrowed brow, could it be that Old Deng's portion was different from his?

Can it make people eat until they feel like a revolving lantern?

After pondering for a moment, Gao Jin turned his gaze to Zhao Ji, who was chatting happily with Gao Qiu, but this...

[Zhao Ji's favorability rating: 50.]

Why did drinking soup increase Old Deng's favorability towards him?

Gao Jin's chrysanthemum tightened, and he quickly lowered his head, silently enjoying his food, not daring to attract the attention of the two old men.

After several rounds of drinks, Zhao Ji put down his chopsticks.

"What are your thoughts on the matter concerning Cai Xiu, the seventh son of Prime Minister Cai, these past few days?"

Gao Qiu put down his wine cup. "Your subject... dares not speak presumptuously."

"I'm asking you to discuss this," Zhao Ji said in a calm voice. "You understand the intricacies of this matter. Back in the Duan Prince's residence, you often boasted to me about the gossip circulating in the streets."

A bead of sweat appeared on Gao Qiu's forehead. "Your Majesty still remembers such old matters..."

"I remember a lot of things. Alright, quickly tell me the key points."

Gao Qiu, unaware of the true situation, fabricated a story.

"It is likely that Prime Minister Cai, in his efforts to serve the country, offended many treacherous individuals. Not daring to harm any high-ranking officials, they secretly murdered a young and promising talent like Cai Xiu..."

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) interrupted Gao Qiu's narration with a long, mournful sigh. "I am truly heartbroken. Firstly, a pillar of our Great Song Dynasty has been destroyed for no reason; secondly, my precious son, Fu Jin Hai, had only completed half of the six rites... when this calamity struck. How painful and regrettable!"

Gao Qiu rose from his seat, then prostrated himself on the ground, pleading, "Your Majesty, please grant me permission, for the sake of this old servant's unwavering loyalty, to allow my son to marry Princess Maode..."

Zhao Ji's face darkened. "What are you saying, Minister Gao? My son is still engaged... Please rise!"

"Your Majesty, I am deeply humbled." Gao Qiu rose and returned to his seat with a composed expression. He had to make three requests to demonstrate the Emperor's reluctance; there was a lot more to it than that!

Gao Jin breathed a sigh of relief; he was in for trouble tonight. It wasn't to deliver his daughter!

"Enough, enough... These past few days, the disappearance of Cai Xiu has kept my son up at night. I've heard that this boy, Tuizhi, is skilled in the Hu Xuan dance?"

Hearing the official call his name, Gao Jin was startled.

Having mastered martial arts, Gao Jin's confidence soared, especially since he had indeed listened to some theoretical explanations beforehand.

As long as the spinning is beautiful, that's all that matters in the Hu Xuan dance.

Thinking of this, Gao Jin confidently made a hand gesture.

"This humble servant knows a little bit!"

"Good! Someone, come here!" Zhao Ji suddenly clapped his hands. "Go and fetch Princess Maode. Tell her that the Grand Commandant's son is willing to dance for her to amuse her and relieve her worries."

The young eunuch received his orders and left the palace. As soon as he left, he led Princess Maode back.

Gao Jin glanced at Zhao Ji, who was grinning from ear to ear. He was just simple-minded, not stupid. Was he trying to fool someone by coming and going so quickly?

[Zhao Ji's favorability rating: 52.]

Gao Jin breathed a sigh of relief. It really was for his daughter.

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) wasn't content with just giving the princess away; her engagement to Cai Xiu was still pending. Before the engagement was finalized, he still had a chance to escape.

It's safe tonight.

The beaded curtain rustled as Zhao Fujin entered.

Today she wore a light purple brocade jacket and skirt, with a silver fur vest over it. Her hair was neatly styled and adorned with a red gold and kingfisher feather hairpin.

With a light dusting of powder on her face and rouge on her lips, she looked like an exquisite porcelain doll at first glance.

Only those eyes were frighteningly empty.

She went straight to Zhao Ji's side, bowed to the person below her, and sat down beside him.

The music of the Hu Xuan dance, in the style of the Western Regions, came from the attic.

Zhao Ji spoke,

"Let's retreat and dance a song!"