Chapter 484: Spring Breeze in High Spirits, Horses Gallop Swiftly

When everyone has arrived, it's only natural to start the meal.

The group hurried to take their seats, and Du Gou's lady arranged for maids and servants to bring out delicacies and fine wine.

To Chen Yan's surprise, besides Ma Zhou, Li Yifu and others, Xu Lianyue was also summoned.

But thinking that Du Gou seemed to have called only his colleagues from the county office, he didn't dwell on it further.

"Sir, let me first toast you. If it weren't for you, I might still be stuck in some corner of Chang'an, feeling frustrated," Li Yifu restrained his usual smile, solemnly raised his cup, and drank it down in one gulp.

Chen Yan twitched the corner of his mouth; in fact, he really wanted to say it wasn't necessary.

However, Li Yifu had already taken the drink, and with the atmosphere already at this point, he couldn't refuse; he had to raise his cup and drink as well.

The good news was that Du Gou had prepared those tiny cups, about a sip's worth.

The bad news was that Du Gou was serving high‑proof liquor!

"Sir, I…" Zhang Wenguan tried to follow suit, but Chen Yan reached out to stop him, clearing his throat, "Actually, you don't need to do that. Each of you is already very capable; even without me, I believe you'll all rise in the future. I'm merely giving you a chance to showcase your abilities."

"Besides, I've only just had one cup; I should at least get a couple bites of food," Chen Yan joked.

Everyone heard that and burst into laughter at once.

Du Gou smiled broadly, "You all don't know yet, do you? Sir has a famous reputation in the Chang'an circles. Trying to get him to drink would be very difficult."

Chen Yan blinked; how could he not know he had some sort of title?

Could it be that the nickname 'Kidney‑Weak Young Master' has spread?

Just then, Fang Yizhi, breaking his usual seriousness, asked curiously, "Brother Du, how come I don't know what famous title Brother Chen has in Chang'an? Could you tell us about it?"

"You haven't had many drinks with Brother Chen, so of course you don't know," Du Gou said, stifling a laugh. "According to Cheng Chu Mo and the others, Brother Chen has a nickname: 'One Cup Undrunk Chen the Young Master!'"

Everyone looked at each other, not understanding what the nickname actually meant.

They had only heard of 'a thousand cups without drunkenness', and had never heard of 'one cup without drunkenness'.

Li Yifu: "Sir Du, what does 'one cup without drunkenness' mean?"

Chen Yan immediately sensed trouble and tried to stop Du Gou from continuing, but it was already too late; Du Gou had already begun speaking:

"You may not know, but 'one cup without drunkenness' means that Brother Chen, wherever he goes, only drinks one cup, because he always finds a way to avoid the rest of the wine, so he only drinks one cup."

"Then how does that one cup get him drunk?"

"Isn't it exactly 'one cup without drunkenness'?"

Chen Yan: "......"

As Du Gou's words fell, the others' expressions subtly shifted; one cup without drunkenness… so that's what it really meant?

Well, that's really… eye‑opening.

Only Xu Lianyue seemed to have anticipated this, showing no surprised expression.

But the slight upturn of her mouth revealed she was suppressing a laugh.

Chen Yan sensed the aura of a social death; the last time he felt this was when, in front of Du Gou and the others, he opened a folding fan that Gao Yang had tampered with!

"...... Nonsense!" Chen Yan strained his neck and said, "Defamation, they are pure defamation! Cheng Chu Mo that scoundrel is slandering me!"

"As everyone knows, I, Chen Yan, have always been the most straightforward when drinking; I've never been known to dodge a drink!"

"I, a Tang Dynasty man, with a blade across my neck, only wine flows out; how could I possibly dodge a drink?"

"Is that so?" Du Gou looked around meaningfully, "Did I hear wrong? Misunderstand Brother Chen?"

"Absolutely, we have misunderstood Brother Chen!" Fang Yizhi's expression grew serious as he lifted his cup, "To apologize, Brother Chen, let's drink this cup!"

"I'll drink first in respect!"

Saying that, Fang Yizhi didn't hesitate and drank, then stared straight at Chen Yan.

Oh no! Got tricked!

Chen Yan immediately sensed something was off; facing everyone's half‑smile, half‑serious gaze, he forced himself to say, "Brother Fang is so straightforward, I cannot fall behind!"

He lifted the cup that Du Gou had just filled, pursed his lips, and downed it in one gulp!

"Hahaha— indeed we misunderstood Brother Chen!" Du Gou was overjoyed!

Back when Chen Yan was arranging his marriage, he was looking for ways to avoid drinking; that group had been rubbing their fists in vain, and today they must bring him down!

"Come, eat, eat, eat; after finishing, we'll keep drinking!"

Du Gou quickly urged everyone to eat the dishes.

The others also understood Du Gou's intention, looking eager to try.

Only Chen Yan felt a bitter taste in his heart.

He didn't expect that there would still be a day when he would be set up.

But seeing these colleagues who had struggled for a long time in Weinan County, always laboring and bearing grievances while listening to his directions, Chen Yan let out a slight sigh and once again showed a smile.

He had previously avoided drinking because he kept too many secrets in his heart and also feared that if he drank too much he would say the wrong thing, so he didn't want to get drunk.

But now the atmosphere had reached this point, so he decided to get thoroughly drunk and let loose!

"Everyone!"

"I believe you have all heard to some extent; in a few months, Du Gou and I will be leaving, and from then on, Weinan County will need you all to worry more!"

Chen Yan cheerfully raised his cup, "I trust you all understand that doing well in Weinan County won't hurt your future. We'll go ahead first and wait for you in Chang'an!"

"Waiting for you, with spring wind in your stride and swift horses, to behold all the blossoms of Chang'an in a single day!"

When those words were spoken, Li Yifu, Dai Zhide, and Zhang Wenguan felt a surge of hot blood throughout their bodies!

"What a splendid spring wind…" Dai Zhide felt a youthful vigor rise within him, imagining himself as the poem describes, full of high spirits.

"Sir Chen, these words should be made widely known!"

Chen Yan raised his cup with a smile, and the others followed suit.

The cups clinked, the clear sound reflecting the lantern light and smiles.

Xu Lianyue silently stared at the boy in the center, her eyes slightly flushed yet restrained, her thoughts unknown.

"Right, Sir Chen Yan, does Sir Ma Zhou also want to go to Chang'an with you?" In the midst of exchanging cups, Li Yifu suddenly asked.

Du Gou and Fang Yizhi left with Chen Yan; they were not surprised, as their backgrounds were quite extraordinary, making their departure inevitable.

Ma Zhou, however, was somewhat uncertain.

As Li Yifu's question fell, Ma Zhou seemed somewhat nervous and somewhat hopeful as he looked at Chen Yan, fearing he might hear bad news.

"Ma Zhou......" Chen Yan noticed Ma Zhou's expression, deliberately drew out his voice, built up the other's emotions, and only then said:

"Ma Zhou certainly has to leave with us; he is someone His Majesty values highly, and before coming to Weinan County he once had a heart-to-heart talk with His Majesty!"

"He indeed needs to leave together with us."

Ma Zhou was completely stunned.

Although he heard the long-awaited answer, he was not as ecstatic as he had imagined; instead, a sour feeling welled up from his heart, almost bringing tears to his eyes.

This person, who had wandered in Chang'an for years, enduring cold stares and ridicule, now felt his throat choke with pain, unable to utter a word.

Ma Zhou tilted his head back, hastily covered his eyes with his palm, his shoulder trembled imperceptibly, then, as if startled, he hurriedly lifted the wine cup before him:

"Tha...... thank you, Sir Chen Yan!"

"I, I offer you a cup!"

"......"