Gongsun Meng saw Li Zhaowen’s lips curve into a smile and leaned forward to take a look.
She saw a group of young men with military merit facing off against a group of noble sons from civil servant families. She was confused for a moment before Li Zhaowen, with a smile, said, "It seems I’ll have to stay a while longer today. I’ve seen this gentleman before at the Taoist Temple east of the city. I’ve been busy visiting people everywhere for several days and haven’t seen him again."
"I didn’t expect to see him here."
"I didn’t expect that this gentleman, who doesn’t wear jade, comes from no mean background."
"Miss Meng truly has unparalleled charm."
Gongsun Meng was surprised; she blinked and caught sight of the most distinctive among the group of young men with military merit. He was clad in a crimson robe with a round collar, his waist circled by a white jade belt, exuding an air of both valor and nobility. At this moment, the young men of military merit and the sons of civil servant families were getting heated with each other.
Yan Daiqing, with a few words, infuriated Zhou Liuying, who was gnashing his teeth but couldn’t utter a word. He looked towards Li Guanyi and said in a mocking tone, "Why isn’t the esteemed military advisor speaking?"
Li Guanyi was slowly sipping the fine wine here.
At his age during this era, he was permitted to drink, and the wine was a rich yellow wine, mellow in taste and not very strong. Just as Li Guanyi was realizing that sitting down to drink here required fifty taels of silver, he couldn’t help but feel that the owner behind this establishment was truly a profiteer.
He was no longer in poverty at this moment, but his mindset was still that of his past eleven years.
He had to drink more wine, and he could also watch the drama.
Yan Daiqing was provoking him; Li Guanyi thought for a moment, looked towards Zhou Liuying, and said, "This is..."
Before Zhou Liuying could respond, Yan Daiqing indifferently said, "My father is a Vice Minister." Li Guanyi did not fully understand official rankings, but he knew that this position was known as Huangmen Vice Minister five hundred years ago, owing its name to the bright yellow palace doors.
They were part of the court’s clean stream, with the privilege of free access to the Imperial Palace and close to the Emperor, holding the status within the clean stream.
Li Guanyi asked, "Which rank?"
Zhou Liuying replied, "Fourth rank."
Li Guanyi nodded, and Yan Daiqing shouted, "Why do you ask? Do you mean to say that we, too, should make use of our father’s renown?!"
Li Guanyi took a sip of wine and casually said, "No, it is just that your father is merely wearing a crimson robe and a rhino horn belt." Yan Daiqing was taken aback, looking at the young man of military merit before him, who brushed the hem of his robe to reveal a crimson robe and a white jade waist belt.
The statement was subtle. When faced with someone flaunting a civil servant’s prestige, Li Guanyi countered with magic of his own.
I, too, wear a crimson robe.
Just like your father.
Every noble son understood this veiled response. Zhou Liuying laughed out loud, "Hahaha, yes, your father wears a crimson robe, and so do my brothers. You keep calling out for your father; civil servants of the clean stream, your father and my brothers all wear crimson robes, and they never appear at the same time. Why don’t you call out ’father’ once?"
The sons of military merit burst into laughter.
Yan Daiqing’s face turned ashen, "You!"
Li Guanyi casually replied, "My crimson robe and jade belt were personally bestowed by the Emperor. Are you suggesting the Emperor lacks discernment?"
Yan Daiqing’s expression stiffened, and he rebuked, "You! Sharp-tongued, and besides, do you really think you can come and play the lute for the Meng Courtesan just because you have money?"
Li Guanyi replied indifferently, "I wear a crimson robe."
Yan Daiqing felt a surge of frustration pressing against his chest, his hand holding the fan turning white.
"I was personally praised by the Emperor for my talents, and I studied under a great Confucian. I started reading at three, and composed poetry at seven; only those talented in Confucianism can enter the Central State Academy!"
Li Guanyi again replied calmly, "I wear a crimson robe."
Zhou Liuying was about to laugh himself mad, while Yan Daiqing, driven mad by anger and provoked by that one sentence, shouted, "This is Changfeng Building, where talent is valued, talent, not the color of an official robe, even if the future Emperor were here, it would still come down to skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"
The mood of the crowd came to a halt, and only after finishing this statement did Yan Daiqing feel a fearful regret.
But the Crown Prince was not here.
Aside from a few rich and noble family’s sons, there were only these flashy sons of military merit.
However, after that statement, there was no way to continue the conversation. Li Zhaowen frowned; she was no longer interested in watching the drama and decided to have the Meng Courtesan take away those civil servant sons, so she could meet the Pharmacist brother.
The Oiran stepped out and directed a smile towards Zhou Liuying and the others, "Your affection for me is appreciated, but although I am but a performer, I also understand the principle of first come, first served. These gentlemen arrived first, so I must first accompany them with my lute, only then can I accompany you gentlemen, and as apology, I shall drink three cups as punishment."
"I hope for your kind understanding."
Zhou Liuying had gained an advantage, and having frustrated Yan Daiqing, he readily agreed.
But Yan Daiqing was relentless. In his agitation from speaking rashly, and feeling increasingly desperate to do something to compensate and prove himself right, the young man, being unable to stay calm, said, "No, let the lady play the lute right here!"
Clutching his folding fan, he declared, "Humph, I am not one of those overbearing martial artists."
"Beyond relying on family background, they know nothing but to wield swords and spears, and they lack the grace of Chen Country."
"I’m here to match you in poetry and wine!"
Zhou Liuying, in great anger, "Why don’t you compare swordplay with us!"
However, he lacked the will, as Yan Daiqing looked at him askance and taunted, "Scared?"
The sons of military merit started to make a noisy fuss, while Ye Buyi sat upright next to Li Guanyi, apologetically saying, "They’re always , unwilling to lose face. They can lose, but they must never retreat. Sometimes, retreating a step or two would mean losing the martial artist’s boldness."
Li Guanyi replied, "My own brothers, what’s there to say?"
Ye Buyi’s expression relaxed, and he nodded. The others around them, the rich merchants and people from the Western Regions and Ying Country, rarely saw such high-standing Chen Country youth clash this fiercely; they were caught up in the excitement, as if watching dramas and hearing secrets was a common trait among people.