Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 211: Drinking and Singing with Distinguished Guests

Before Yang Yuan's carriage arrived at the gate of the "Shuiyunjian" restaurant, he could see from afar the magnificent scene created by thousands of bright lights.

Lights, flowers and trees under the lights...

Pavilion, a dancing woman in the pavilion...

The lake, the blurry and changing reflections in the lake...

All of this makes the "Between Water and Clouds" look like a heavenly palace descending from the sky.

Yang Yuan smiled.

He just casually described to Dan Niang a few words about the light shows of some venues and buildings in later generations. He didn't expect that Dan Niang could use the current conditions to create such an effect.

It’s true...my wife is teachable!

Leng Yuchan was, after all, a girl of eighteen or nineteen years old. When she saw this dreamlike scene, she was already intoxicated by it.

Ever since the car turned into this dimly lit area, her eyes have never left the indescribable night view.

I don’t know how many onlookers came to watch the “Water and Clouds” light show nearby.

Many of them were not invited and could not enter "Shuiyunjian" today, so they walked around and enjoyed the surrounding area, while some went to other restaurants nearby.

Yang Yuan's car drove to the gate of "Shuiyunjian".

There was a beautiful woman in front of the door, with a fallen horse bun, a pearl and jade hairpin, a red ribbon in her hair, a long skirt with narrow sleeves that dragged on the ground, a narrow shawl around her shoulders, bracelets on her wrists, dazzling jewelry, a ring and pendant around her waist, and something hanging from her waist that prohibited her from walking.

As graceful as a fairy.

The car stopped under a big peach tree. A shop assistant came over and politely put down the pedal, led the customer out of the car, and then guided the car to stop nearby.

Yang Yuan stepped out of the car, turned around and stretched out his arm.

Leng Yuchan looked at him in surprise.
Even though she was sure that he was only pretending to be polite to his female companion in front of others, Leng Yuchan couldn't help but feel flattered.

I have been hit by him time and time again, and it is rare to see him being so considerate.

Yang Yuan let Leng Yuchan hold his arm, and he held up her long skirt with one hand and slowly dropped it to the ground. Then he withdrew his hand very gentlemanly and took her to the door of "Shuiyunjian".

The one standing at the door to welcome the distinguished guests was Dan Niang.

Dan Niang wore a narrow-sleeved jacket with purple-grey gauze trims and a swirling skirt of mud-gold printed silk. When she lifted it up, it seemed as if she wasn't there, and when she cut it into clothes, it looked like smoke.

In fact, Leng Yuchan was not the only one who liked plain makeup. Most people in the Song Dynasty liked plain makeup, which was related to the mainstream aesthetic of the people in the Song Dynasty.

Therefore, although Dan Niang's makeup is exquisite, it is very difficult to tell that she has done any makeup. It is a bit like what later generations described as "scheming bare face".

She simply decorated her eyebrows with a plum petal ornament, which instantly made her plain eyebrows and eyes come alive.

"Mr. Yang!"

Dan Niang saw Yang Yuan, looked at him deeply, and then bowed.

There were still guests coming, but she couldn't express much to Yang Yuan at this time.

Yang Yuan stopped and glanced at Dan Niang.

She wore a tube top with hibiscus, camellia and plum blossom patterns and a spiral skirt. Her waist was already slender, and the skirt was tied extra tight, making her charming body curves look like a queen bee in human form.

No matter how plain her makeup is, it can't hide her strong charm.

Therefore, Yang Yuan calmly asked, "Have the four brothers Yu, Fan, Yang, and Lu arrived?"

When asking the question, he glared at her without leaving any trace, and then his eyes dropped to her chest.

What Yang Yuan meant was, "My lady, it's too late. You're dressed so seductively. What do you want to do?"

Dan Niang smiled sweetly: "The four scholars have not arrived yet, sir, you can go sit in the hall first. I have prepared the best tea."

Dan Niang felt a little proud, and the master was a little jealous.

If I don't show my abilities, won't the master be ignoring me?
The flirting between the two was not obvious at all.

However, Leng Yuchan had met Dan Niang at Song Family Flavor Restaurant.

The more serious the two men acted, the more Leng Yuchan felt that something was wrong.

Humph, why are you pretending in front of me? You two must be having problems.

Yang Yuan nodded to Dan Niang, "You little bitch, I'll deal with you later." He turned around and held out his hand to Leng Yuchan, "Walk slowly, there are stairs."

When Leng Yuchan saw two scholars approaching, she smiled gently at Yang Yuan and extended her hand.

When we arrived in the hall, the "little guest master" Qingtang came to greet us.

When she saw that it was her master, aunt, godfather, sister, and boss who had come, she hurriedly and attentively came forward and led the two of them to a seat at the top.

Leng Yuchan sat down gracefully, but before she even settled down, Yang Yuan said to her, "There are dried fruits, candied fruits, tea, and melon seeds on the table. Eat some first. I'll go to the kitchen to check."

What are you looking at in the kitchen?
See that little cook?
Leng Yuchan wiped the tip of her nose with the back of her finger and pretended to be nonchalant as she grabbed a handful of watermelon seeds.

Pick up a seed and bring it to your mouth. Lightly crack it with your upper and lower teeth and then with the tip of your tongue, the melon seed kernel will be rolled into your mouth.

With another flick of the tongue, the melon seed shell fell silently on the table.

The whole process happened so quickly that no trace could be seen. Others could only see the dimples on her cheeks slightly appearing and disappearing.

The melon seeds are crispy, but it’s a pity that they are not roasted with salt, so they are a little lacking.

Leng Yuchan thought sourly, but it did not stop her from continuing to kowtow.

As they ate and drank, the melon seed shells soon piled up on the table. The pair of dimples on Leng Yuchan's cheeks appeared and disappeared at a frequency that never slowed down.

……

Lu You, Fan Chengda, Yang Wanli and Yu Yunwen rode in a chariot with oil-painted patterns on it, walking slowly along the Imperial Street. This chariot with oil-painted patterns was a type of inter-city bus that had been popular since the Tang Dynasty.

During the Tang Dynasty, carriages were usually pulled by several horses and could carry many people.

Some car dealerships will convert it into a large vehicle that can accommodate six to ten people.

However, the car that Lu You and his three companions were riding in was of high-end style, with wide seats and a long table in the middle, so it could only accommodate four to six people at most.

The four of them leaned lazily in their seats, and the curtains hanging on the car windows fluttered gently in the evening breeze.

Don't think they're fine after the list is released.

First attend the Deer Singing Banquet held by the imperial court, then go to pay homage to the master, and then pay homage to each other in the same year.

Friends who have passed the exam take turns to treat us, and friends who have not passed the exam also come to treat us. Close friends can treat us, and those who you have made friends with should also be treated.

They drank from meal to meal, and even drank for a midnight snack. Except for the morning meal, they were in a daze all day. At this moment, they really felt hollowed out.

Yu Yunwen placed one hand on the window sill, letting the evening breeze blow, and tore open his clothes a little more, only then did he feel refreshed.

It took more than a month for the court to mark the papers, give scores and post the results.

As for the evaluation of those who passed the exam and the selection of officials, it is even more complicated and will take at least three to five months.

Therefore, many successful candidates can use this period to return home in glory, and there is definitely enough time.

However, at the banquet today, Yu Yunwen heard from a fellow uncle who was an official in the court that his future was already decided.

It is said that someone informed the Ministry of Personnel and Yu Yunwen would be appointed as the Tongpan of Pengzhou.

The Tongpan of Pengzhou was of course also a high-ranking official.

But Yu Yunwen was a second-class Jinshi. According to the rules, he should be appointed as an official and serve as the chief official in a place.

As a Tongpan, isn't he still subject to the control of the prefect?

Yu Yunwen didn't expect that Qin Changjiao would be so shameless. At this moment, he felt so angry that he couldn't express it in words.

Lu You burped and noticed that Yu Yunwen was not in high spirits, so he said, "Brother Binfu, if the news is true, don't be discouraged. With your talent, you will always have a chance to shine."

The Tongpan was the second in command of a state, and he also had the power to supervise the prefect, which was not a bad position.

However, only the provincial magistrate of a Zhili prefecture had the official ranks of the fifth and sixth rank.

The highest rank of a Tongpan in a Sanzhou is usually the seventh rank, and those who have just taken up the position have to start from the eighth rank.

Yu Yunwen, the magistrate of Pengzhou, had to start from the eighth rank.

This is almost the same as the small official rank he obtained before without any imperial examination but through the system of hereditary titles. How can he not be depressed?

Yu Yunwen laughed and said, "Brother Wuguan, there is no need to persuade me. I am already this old, there is nothing I can't get over.

But, because I am already this old, if I go to a scattered state and start as a judge, I will never be able to make a name for myself.”

Yu Yunwen couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

He is forty-four years old this year.

In some families, forty-four is already the age for a grandfather.

He still had to start from the eighth rank as a minor official? Would he still have a future in officialdom in this life?
Yu Yunwen smiled bitterly and shook his head.

Lu You said: "Although you are already forty-four, there are some people who are older than you. You may as well be patient for a while..."

Yang Wanli understood that Lu You was hinting that Qin Changjiao was even older and would not live long. So if he could tolerate him for a few more years, there might be a turn for the better.

Yang Wanli looked ahead sensitively. Although he didn't think a coachman could understand Lu You's words, he still pulled the curtains tighter.

Yu Yunwen laughed to the sky, patted Lu You on the shoulder and said, "It is precisely because some people are already in their twilight years and have only a few years left to live that I don't have to tolerate them.

Wait, wait, if that fellow does something wrong and really appoints me as a judge, I will refuse to obey his orders, damn him!"

Yu Yunwen cursed and sneered, "When the time comes, I will travel around, visit friends, and enjoy myself for a few years. Then I'll see what happens next!"

Lu You, Yang Wanli and Fan Chengda all smiled bitterly. This man's character is too strong. Doesn't he know how to behave under someone else's roof?
Never mind, never mind. He is angry now, so let him vent. We can try to persuade him later.

In the distance, there are lights, like a fairyland.

We arrived at the restaurant, which was right on the bank of West Lake, between the water and the clouds.

……

"Goose, goose, goose, goose, I bet that this Thousand Lanterns Burning Tail Banquet must have been Erlang's idea for that Miss Danniang."

"Geese, geese, geese. This kid has so many tricks. Geese, geese..."

Prince Enping Zhao Ju stood on his flashy royal pleasure boat, which was sailing slowly over the West Lake under the moonlight and the calm waves.

Seeing the scene of thousands of bright lights on the shore, Zhao Qu couldn't help but laugh.

Today he went to the "Burning Tail Banquet" in casual clothes. If he brought ten concubines with him, it would have overshadowed the host, so he only brought Handan.

Miss Handan stood beside Zhao Yu and said with a smile: "From what the king said, could it be that the second son of the Yang family has some interest in Dan Niang from the Shuiyunjian Restaurant?"

"Ok?"

Zhao Qu looked at Handan, then touched the scarf on his head and said, "Why are you asking him? What's the matter? Little Handan wants to do something special to the top of my head?"

Handan patted him lightly and said coquettishly, "Your Majesty, you are teasing me again. I heard from Miss Xue that Miss Leng is following Yang Erlang now, and I am worried that Miss Leng will fall in love with him and break the rules, so I am curious and ask about his situation."

Zhao Yu sighed and said, "You guys, I don't know where you got these twisted ideas from. I'm an experienced person. In my opinion, over time, it may not necessarily lead to love, but it will definitely be tiring!"

(End of this chapter)