Chapter 525

Chen Wuji and Yang Gong talked as they walked, taking it easy, and entered Dingqing Lou again.

As the true Lord of Hezhou now, Chen Wuji's face in Hezhou City was virtually known to everyone; before his foot even crossed the threshold of Dingqing Lou, the Shopkeeper had already hurriedly arranged a superb private room and was waiting personally at the door.

Master Chen, the private room is ready; would you like to soak in the hot spring first or have a meal right away?" the round‑faced Shopkeeper, whose smile was especially affable, half‑bowed and asked with a hint of obsequiousness.

Chen Wuji said, "Eat first, then soak after."

Sure!

After the Shopkeeper left, Chen Wuji briefly introduced to Yang Gong, "Yang Gong, this Dingqing Lou is a fairly famous tavern in Hezhou City; they have a hot spring pool in the back yard. After we finish eating, I'll accompany you for a soak to relax our travel‑wearied bones."

That couldn't be better." Yang Gong readily agreed, then added with a hint of sentiment, "Back when I was in the Capital, I also enjoyed this. During my leaves of absence, I would invite a few close friends, bring fine wine, go to the mountains to soak in a pool, drink and make merry; now thinking back, I really miss it.

After losing that move, ending up in San Guan Jun, this old bone of mine has truly become nothing but an old bone; saying I'm a savage wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Chen Wuji feigned anger and joked, "Yang Gong, saying that makes me a bit unhappy; you compare yourself to a savage, then I, a native born and raised in Hezhou, am I not the savage himself?"

Yang Gong exclaimed, clapped his hands, and said, "It's my fault; I'll punish myself with three drinks later."

……

Chen Wuji and Yang Gong enjoyed this meal quite smoothly, host and guest both pleased.

They drank until evening, then soaked in a hot spring pool, ending their stay at Dingqing Lou. Leaving the tavern, Chen Wuji didn't even ask Yang Gong's opinion and directly took this old master to Taohuayuan.

Having come all this way, we must arrange everything perfectly.

I'm old and can't endure such turmoil; Chen XiaoYou, just arrange a place for me to stay—why go to such expense?" Yang Gong entered Taohua Yuan, discovered it was a brothel, and muttered this.

Chen Wuji advised, "Yang Gong, you're in the prime of youth and strength; how can you speak of old age so lightly? Here, sleep is comfortable, you can listen to a little tune, have someone give you a massage, and it can relieve the fatigue from travel."

Yang Gong laughed and said, "In that case, I won't refuse."

"Sleep is secondary; the wine hasn't been drunk to satisfaction yet. Chen XiaoYou, would you accompany me for a few more cups?"

Chen Wuji startled, "Not again, still drinking?"

After drinking nearly an entire afternoon, his walk was almost like a crab's stance.

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Wuji helplessly said, "Since Yang Gong hasn't had his fill, I'll risk my life to keep him company and drink a bit more with him."

"Excellent, let's go, go, go!"

Upon lifting the wine, Yang Gong instantly became energetic.

That appearance was far more eager than seeing a brothel.

Under the maid's arrangement, Chen Wuji and Yang Gong took their seats in a private room full of poetic charm, ordered a few simple side dishes, and then had more drinks served.

"Chen XiaoYou, I have something I've hesitated to say for a long time; now, emboldened by the wine, I ask—if it displeases you, just consider it my drunken babble." Yang Gong raised his wine cup; his demeanor showed no trace of drunkenness, instead gaining solemnity and dignity.

Chen Wuji feigned casualness and said, "Yang Gong, just ask whatever you want; why be so stern? Though we've only met once, I admire your character."

"To be honest, I can't reach your level, but I sincerely admire you."

Looking across the entire Lingnan Six Commanderies, I'm not clear about the prefects and assistant magistrates below, but among the strategists, Yang Gong can be called the last strategist of the Six Commanderies.

He embodied the loyalty, righteousness, and responsibility of the Six Commanderies' strategist.

Yang Gong clinked his cup with Chen Wuji's and said, "My character isn't great, but since there are people worse than me, I manage to pass as decent."

"I don't know where Chen XiaoYou plans to go next."

He asked that, and Chen Wuji wasn't the least bit surprised.

What surprised him was that he would actually endure until now before asking.

"Frankly, I don't know." Chen Wuji said bluntly.

"I come from the Chen clan; I'm sure Yang Gong is aware of the Chen clan's relationship with the Dayu Dynasty. I don't wish to rebel, but I won't hand over the place I've painstakingly built to some official sent by the court."

"If someone shows me respect of a foot, I return tenfold; but if anyone offends me, I also have a precious sword, a family heirloom. My course isn't determined solely by my own will; I must also look to the north."

Although he now considers himself a rebel in his heart.

But he cannot actively block his own path.

Still, the matter needs to be spoken openly to lay some groundwork for what comes later.

For instance, right now he invited Yang Gong to Taohua Yuan, not merely to drink flower wine.

Without beautiful attendants, the wine here is no different from that at Dingqing Lou.

He was merely curious about how the true owner behind Taohua Yuan would react upon seeing Yang Gong mingling with him.

If, because of this, Yang Gong were to be rebuked, or even dismissed from office.

Then he could figure out exactly what attitude the young emperor holds toward him.

This will certainly be genuine, without pretense.

"Chen XiaoYou considers things very practically; I'm no match!" Yang Gong exclaimed with feeling.

Chen Wuji filled his cup and said, "Yang Gong, please stop praising me to death; I can't take it. If you keep heaping on more compliments, I might just jump into the river to cool off."

Yang Gong laughed heartily and said, "Then let's drink; let's talk about the tyrants of Hezhou."

"If we're going to discuss that topic, we need to boil the wine!"

"Why boil the wine?"

"Boiling wine to discuss heroes is a classic allusion."

Yang Gong laughed heartily and said, "Then let's not boil it; these people in the Lingnan Six Commanderies are all worthless curs, none worthy of being called heroes. In these chaotic times, true heroes have yet to appear—wait, I misspoke. Right now, the only true hero to have emerged in the Lingnan Six Commanderies is Chen XiaoYou alone."

Chen Wuji: ……

"Yang Gong, I think we might not be able to finish this wine; look, you're pouring again."

"These words are truly from the heart!" Yang Gong shook his head, his attitude especially resolute.

As for those people in the Lingnan Six Commanderies, he can say he understands everything that needs to be understood.

Among them, the only one who catches his eye and can truly be called a hero is Chen Wuji.

This is neither flattery nor over‑praise.

"Yang Gong, I think we should just call the maidens in to play a drinking game or something; just drink." Chen Wuji said helplessly, and if he kept talking like that, he felt he might actually float away.

This old man's habit of over-the-top flattery has reached the point of spring wind turning to rain, moistening things silently.