Chapter 405: Spring Feast Throughout the Hall

"Master Tao, you've finally returned!" At the entrance of the guest lodge, Tao Gu had just stepped down from his carriage when the clerk who had been waiting long rushed forward to greet him.

Tao Gu, who had been cooped up in the lonely lodge for quite some time, ultimately couldn't hold back. The envoy's words from yesterday had reminded him that besides the Southern Tang court, he should also pay more attention to the streets and common folk—there might be unexpected discoveries.

So, during this daylight hours, Tao Gu went wandering through the city's markets and streets to observe. Jinling was a place where talent gathered, with many lyric workshops and painting studios, filled with gifted women and beauties. Governor Tao was one who "delighted in the hunt," and having seen the sights and shown off a bit, his mood immediately improved.

"What is it?" Tao Gu adjusted his sleeve and said coolly.

"Chancellor Feng Yansi has sent someone to invite Master Tao to his residence for a talk, saying a banquet has already been prepared! Here is the invitation!"

Tao Gu took the invitation, let his gaze linger for a moment on the exquisitely designed cover with its gilded gold edges, flipped it open to scan the contents, and his eyes rolled thoughtfully. He glanced at the sky—it was nearly dusk—then tucked the invitation away and instructed: "No need to put away the carriage. Once I've tidied myself up a bit, I'll head to the Feng residence."

Before nightfall, the Feng residence had already made all preparations to receive guests. For the Southern Tang's high officials and ministers, gathering for drinks and banquets was a common affair, and the household staff, being experienced, arranged everything smoothly.

Wine and delicacies, beautiful maidservants, singing girls and dancers, actors and musicians—all were ready, presenting a scene of festive luxury. The grandeur of a bell-ringing, tripod-feasting household was nothing more than this.

In the hall, several "Feng faction" officials had also been invited. There weren't many, with Remonstrance Grand Master Wei Cen holding the highest rank. Wei Cen belonged to Song Qiqiu, a founding minister of the Southern Tang, but in the Southern Tang, the Song and Feng factions were one.

"This Han envoy is far too arrogant! What status does the Chancellor hold? He sets up a banquet to invite him, personally waits for him, and still the man keeps us waiting this long! Why not just start the feast without him?" Wei Cen, skilled in flattery, began voicing dissatisfaction on Feng Yansi's behalf.

Feng Yansi likewise had a literatus's pride and felt somewhat displeased inside, but priding himself on his self-restraint, he gave a faint smile: "The chief guest has not yet arrived. As the host, I ought to have some patience. Besides, this is by His Majesty's instruction..."

Hearing Feng Yansi say this, Wei Cen immediately declared that Lord Feng was magnanimous, with a chest as vast as the sea, embracing all rivers...

Shifting his thoughts, Wei Cen asked for guidance: "Chancellor, regarding Hunan—is our court truly going to send troops?"

"Hm?" Feng Yansi turned his head, his brows knitting: "What, do you also harbor doubts?"

Feng Yansi's look made Wei Cen's heart tighten, and he hurriedly said: "This subordinate merely feels that in recent years, our court's campaigns to pacify Min and resist Wuyue have both failed to achieve success, depleting much of our troops, funds, and grain..."

"Precisely because of that, we must strongly advocate annexing the Hunan region!" Feng Yansi cut him off, saying: "Back then, the recommendation to send troops during the Chen Min rebellion was ours, but poor handling of battlefield changes and improper aftermath management led to disappointing results. In the Fuzhou campaign, you were also the army supervisor—the generals fought over credit, operations went poorly, and instead the Wuyue people got the advantage!"

"Though His Majesty is cultured and generous, he also has ambitions to expand the realm. Several failed campaigns have indeed disappointed His Majesty in us. Otherwise, how could men like Han Xizai and those northerners have risen again these past two years!"

"This time, the Ma Chu is our chance to turn the court situation around!"

Hearing this, Wei Cen immediately said: "The Chancellor's foresight is profound—this subordinate admires it!"

"However, though fighting in the south doesn't require excessive fear of the Northern Han, we still need to figure out what schemes they harbor and what intentions they hold!" Feng Yansi said: "Otherwise, His Majesty will hardly be at ease!"

"Then that depends on that Tao Gu!" Wei Cen replied with a clever smile.

Feng Yansi wasn't kept waiting long. The gatekeeper reported that Tao Gu had arrived. As the guest entered the residence, music immediately struck up. Feng Yansi displayed tremendous enthusiasm, personally welcoming him and guiding him to his seat.

Lavish music lingered in the ears, beautiful singing voices were intoxicating, but most alluring of all were the beauties displaying their dancing skills in the hall—thin gauze draped over their bodies, myriad seductive charms, alluring postures, and graceful figures. The Southern Tang's lord and ministers truly knew how to enjoy themselves...

Tao Gu enjoyed the warmest hospitality, with beautiful maidservants in thin garments and short skirts attending at his side, pouring wine and serving dishes, their red lips breathing fragrance, lovely and moving.

The hall full of rosy-cheeked temptresses truly made it hard for Tao Gu to hold his Dao-heart. His face was flushed red—whether from wine or from the heart, who could say. And led by Feng Yansi, all the guests at the banquet deliberately or inadvertently flattered and praised Tao Gu, marveling at his literary talent, nearly proclaiming him the foremost lyricist of the north, a titan of the literary world...

Caught up in the revelry, amid the guests' urging, Tao Gu gleefully composed a lyric on the spot: "Spring Feast Throughout the Hall." Its gorgeous words stirred heartstrings and provoked desire...

"Governor Tao's literary brilliance is truly remarkable!" Feng Yansi's old face rippled with smiles, and he too let loose: "Feng here is truly ashamed of his own inadequacy!"

Enticed by this "Spring Feast Throughout the Hall," Tao Gu's hands had long since grown unruly, roaming over the body of the maidservant attending him. Hearing this, he paused his movements and lazily clasped his hands toward Feng Yansi: "Lord Feng is too modest—in all the Jianghuai region, who doesn't know that Lord Feng's lyrics can open a new era of style..."

This mutual back-scratching brought the two men's relationship considerably closer in an instant.

Seeing that Tao Gu's spirits were fully roused, Feng Yansi pointed at the singing girls who had already danced several pieces, panting softly, charming and alluring, and said with a smile: "Governor Tao, what do you think of these concubines and maids here?"

Tao Gu's hazy gaze drifted toward the hall below, looking at those young and beautiful dancers, and he praised with a full mouth: "All are fine ladies, gathering the very spiritual essence of Jiangnan!"

"Haha!" Feng Yansi was delighted and introduced: "They were all carefully selected by me and raised from childhood; the eldest is no more than seventeen. If the Governor has interest, I'll gift you two to attend at your desk—how about it?"

"Truly?" Tao Gu's eyes lit up.

"Truly!" Feng Yansi affirmed.

Letting the maidservant beside him pour another mouthful of wine down his throat, Tao Gu's heart itched, and he clasped his hands toward Feng Yansi: "Lord Feng treats me so generously—I know not how I can ever repay this!"

Tao Gu was already thoroughly drunk and tipsy, and only then did Feng Yansi seem to say casually: "Ah, lately regarding the Hunan matter, this old man has been advocating joining with the Great Han to scheme great things together, but I wonder why the Great Han suddenly raised this proposal?"

The moment Feng Yansi asked this, the corner of Tao Gu's eye twitched. With a face full of drunkenness, he embraced the maidservant, inhaling her fragrance, and said to Feng Yansi: "Lord Feng, some words I dare not speak recklessly! For if they were to spread..."

Seeing this, Feng Yansi perked up and immediately instructed Wei Cen: "Grand Master Wei, you take over hosting for me!"

"Yes!" Wei Cen obeyed, and soon the hall grew even livelier, to the point of noisy clamor.

Feng Yansi, condescending, came down from his host's seat, waved away the serving maids to make room, and sat down himself.

Gone was the delicate softness of beautiful maids—replaced by Feng Yansi, an old man, which rather spoiled the mood. However, Tao Gu looked at Feng Yansi and said in a drunken voice: "Enough, to repay Lord Feng's generous treatment, I'll chat a few words..."

The reek of alcohol on Tao Gu's breath was heavy, a nauseating stench, but Feng Yansi could only endure it, leaning in cooperatively, and heard Tao Gu say: "My advice to your noble state—do not miss this golden opportunity!"

"What does that mean?" Feng Yansi's eyes lit up.

Tao Gu belched and said haltingly: "The Son of Heaven of the Great Han is young, and youth brings hot blood. Since ascending the throne, he has been suppressed by the old ministers at court, and he desires the achievement of expanding the realm to suppress the old officials and veteran generals."

Hearing this, Feng Yansi's interest grew even higher, feeling he had gained much—this was secret intelligence on the Northern Han court's current state! He continued to listen with rapt attention.

"The Ma Chu rebellion showed the Son of Heaven an opportunity. That Ma Xi'e defied the court's will and raised troops in rebellion—the Son of Heaven cannot tolerate that either. Old ministers like myself all advised His Majesty that Hunan is a detached territory; seizing its land would be impossible to hold, wouldn't that just be making a wedding dress for your Tang state for nothing? But he wouldn't listen, obstinately going his own way. Last winter, he forcibly sent two thousand troops to garrison Lizhou, to spy on Hunan. Just wait, when..."

As he spoke, Tao Gu suddenly seemed to sober up, his expression turning alarmed, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "Lord Feng, what I just said was all reckless rambling—do not take it seriously, do not spread it..."

Feng Yansi inwardly mulled it over, also feigning drunkenness, and mumbled: "It's truly noisy here—what did Governor Tao say?"

Turning to look, he saw Tao Gu holding a cup to his lips, his lecherous eyes fixed on the dancers resting below the hall.

With a hint of disdain, Feng Yansi immediately said cheerfully: "Governor Tao, it's getting late—why not rest at my residence tonight!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Tao Gu didn't move his gaze, agreeing perfunctorily.

"Someone! Why aren't you attending Governor Tao to bathe and retire?" Feng Yansi casually summoned two beautiful young women and instructed: "Attend him well!"

Drunk as he was, Tao Gu remained insatiably lustful, embracing the two beauties and nearly floating on his feet as he withdrew from the hall.

Watching his retreating back, Feng Yansi composed his expression, ordered the banquet cleared away, and chuckled softly.

"Has the Chancellor gained something?" Wei Cen sidled up and asked.

"We can now report back to His Majesty!" Feng Yansi said only this.

On Tao Gu's side, inhaling the fragrance of the two young women, he slowly, completely sank into intoxication.