Chapter 103: The New Drunken Eight Immortals (Part Two)

“Xiaochun!”

“Ah,” Xiaochun responded promptly, rushing in and pushing the door open. “What orders does the princess have?”

The princess returned and sank into her chair, looking utterly exhausted.

“Please pour me a cup of tea. After listening to Master Song chatter all day again, my head feels like it’s about to explode!”

Upon hearing this, Xiaochun smiled and poured the tea, slowly handing the bamboo cup to the princess.

“Princess, you won’t believe it—two rare guests arrived at the residence today!”

Gulping down the tea, the princess’s tense nerves finally relaxed. She looked at Xiaochun with curiosity. “Rare guests? Who are they?”

“Prince Ruyang Li Jin, and the Imperial Scholar Li Bai!” Xiaochun said cheerfully, taking back the bamboo cup from the princess.

“Prince Ruyang? Let me think... He’s from the Sixteenth Prince’s household, but I don’t know him well, no real connection. Li Bai’s visit I can understand, but what brings these two together to the princess’s residence? Two Lis?” A spark of insight flashed through her lazy eyes. She suddenly slammed the chair. “Oh no, my winery!”

“Miss, actually, that...” Wuyue Ling sprang up and hurried toward the door. “Xiaochun, go fetch the princess’s guards immediately. They must be ruining my winery!”

Xiaochun, clutching the bamboo cup obediently, froze for a moment and hurried to respond. After chasing outside, she found no sign of the princess and wasn’t sure if she had heard the warning. The situation was exactly as Miss feared—no matter what, the two shameless men barged straight into the winery.

Bursting into the winery, they found the two men sprawled carelessly on wooden planks, fast asleep, snoring thunderously. Nearby stood porcelain jars of strong liquor, their mouths still dripping with a bit of the spirit.

Seeing the two clutching the wine urns, Wuyue Ling felt tricked. Even Master Du was drunk, leaving the winery in utter chaos. There was no choice but to have the princess’s guards, who had just arrived, carry the two off to the Heavenly Gift Pavilion and arrange guest rooms for them.

That night, once they awoke, the two would be invited for dinner.

Li Jin awoke and immediately wanted to ask where the wine was. This was the princess’s residence, not Prince Ruyang’s palace, but his temper was still a little impatient.

“You must be the Protector Princess! I am Prince Ruyang. Pleased to meet you. May I ask where your famous throat-burning strong liquor is?”

“Strong liquor? What strong liquor? I don’t understand!” Wuyue Ling feigned ignorance, thinking to herself, if you want baijiu, you’re out of luck! Who told you to storm into my cellar without notice?

Li Jin exchanged a glance with Li Bai and sighed, staring at the spread of stir-fried dishes on the table. One hand felt empty, missing a wine cup, yet he refused to give up, growing quite irritable.

“Princess, I’m a straightforward man. Good wine without good food won’t do, and good food without good wine is even worse! If anyone dares claim the title of wine immortal, it’s me, Prince Ruyang!”

Li Bai picked up a mouthful of food without ceremony and ate heartily. Normally, he wouldn’t even cook such dishes at home; the best stir-fry he knew was at the Journey to the West Inn, but the princess’s cooking was even more authentic! He liked it! Like Li Jin, he felt that without wine, something was missing—both the flavor and the joy.

“You are a wine immortal, and so is Taibai. Then I’m the chief wine immortal! You wine immortals should come to me for your drinks—don’t you agree?” Wuyue Ling put down her chopsticks and began to argue with Li Jin at the table.

“Well, Princess, Taibai is a straightforward man, too. He’s craving a few cups of strong liquor and hopes the princess will oblige!” Li Bai put down his chopsticks, smiled, and respectfully cupped his hands, letting go of his usual airs.

Heh, Wuyue Ling noticed that Li Taibai was quite relaxed. Since he said that, “Xiaochun, bring a jar of medicinal wine from my room. Today, we’ll properly entertain our great poet, Brother Taibai!”

“All right! Xiaochun will go at once!” Xiaochun happily bounced out of the courtyard.

Listening to the princess, Li Jin thought carefully and sensed something was amiss. He straightened his back quickly.

“Princess, what about mine?”

“You? You don’t have any. Just watch me toast with Brother Taibai! I don’t mind if you drool!” She took a bite, enjoying the delicious food, teasing the blue-robed, handsome man.

“That won’t do, Princess. I’m willing to trade my thousand-gold fur coat and luminous pearls for some wine. Please grant me a drink!” Li Jin said firmly. He wanted to get drunk—the most comfortable moment in life was to live drunkenly and dreamily. Strong liquor was the true cure for worries.

“Really?” Wuyue Ling raised an eyebrow and put on a show.

“Of course, once I say it, there’s no turning back!”

At this point, Wuyue Ling stopped joking, hoping they wouldn’t take it seriously. She poured the medicinal wine from the jar, giving each a bowl. They clinked their cups and drank.

Li Jin and Li Bai truly emptied their bowls in one go. Wuyue Ling sipped slowly, and seeing them cough and choke, she had to explain and personally teach them how to drink baijiu.

After three bowls, they were happily sprawled over the table, unable to rise.

That night, Wuyue Ling ordered the craftsmen to begin making eight grand official chairs, each engraved with another name: Eight Immortals’ Chairs.

She strolled by the lake, watching the half-bridge beside her, where lotus leaves spread wide—lush and round. Even at night, under the dim glow of lanterns, the dewdrops in the center of the leaves shimmered with a crystal-clear, colorless light. The moment of tranquility was broken by a few frog croaks. The leaves on the water stirred without wind, and droplets fell into the lake, creating ripples.

A dark figure appeared behind Wuyue Ling—it was Zhang Heng, who had come upon receiving the message.

“Chang’an City is unusually lively, yet the princess is in such a good mood, wandering at night with a lantern to admire the lotus leaves—so tranquil and far-reaching. Quite rare!” Zhang Heng’s words carried a hint of sarcasm.

“I sought you out to discuss the city’s liveliness. I have a plan halfway implemented and hope you outlaws can help spread the word!” Wuyue Ling showed no anger at Zhang Heng’s biting tone and straightforwardly revealed her intention.

“Oh? What could make Chang’an livelier?” Zhang Heng was intrigued. The young princess was surprisingly shrewd. He wondered if previous information had angered her. It was best to secure a few allies. Who was really behind the Manichaeism’s schemes?

“I’m setting up eight Eight Immortals’ Chairs around the Qujiang Pool and building an Eight Immortals’ Bridge. Anyone who can cross the bridge after three bowls of strong liquor will be honored as a guest of the Eight Immortals, enjoying eight days of fine food and drink. If they wish, they can even become a guest official of the princess’s residence.”

Wuyue Ling sat by the bridge, scooping clear water from the lake and sprinkling it on the lotus leaves as she continued.

“Elder He is the chief of the Eight Immortals, I am the youngest, and Taibai is in the middle. Five more immortals are still missing. So the princess’s residence will hold a grand feast in half a month to welcome the Eight Immortals!”

Watching the princess casually playing with the water droplets on the lotus leaves, Zhang Heng’s confusion turned into shock and admiration. She had already devised a countermeasure. In the face of malicious slander, the drunken Eight Immortals might be the best way to clear their name! It seemed his earlier words had some use. He would need to keep a closer eye on the princess and the Manichaeism, hoping to stir conflict between them.

“All right! The outlaws can agree. After all, we take money to solve problems. We can’t do this favor for nothing!”

“Deal!”

Wuyue Ling answered without hesitation.