Chapter 5: Audience with Prime Minister He

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, Steward Zhang, and Lord Tu rode in sedan chairs to Chengxi, stopping before the gate tower of a magnificent, bustling tavern.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu looked up at the plaque hanging above the gate tower; written in flowing, immortal-style running script were the three characters "Zui Zui Baxian," with the inscription "Presented by Taiji Bai Xi" in the lower left corner!

As soon as the three entered the main hall, Old Li, the elderly Shopkeeper, immediately recognized Zhang the Steward and Lord Tu as frequent patrons of the establishment! Daring not to show any disrespect, he quickly ordered someone to attend to them.

Old Li was well acquainted with both Steward Zhang and Lord Tu.

After a round of polite greetings, the three followed the waiter's lead and left the front dining hall.

During this movement from the front shop to the rear, Jiang Jiang Mingyu once again had his eyes opened! Over the past half-month, he had visited many restaurants and wine shops, but none of their scales compared to the opulent grandeur and elegant luxury of Zui Zui Baxian!

Just the courtyard separating the front and rear buildings featured carved railings and jade-like stonework, filled with the colors of spring; its layout was so superior that it led the industry by several grades!

Compared to Zui Zui Baxian, the restaurants and wine shops Jiang Jiang Mingyu had visited in the past simply could not stand alongside it; only now did he realize the shallowness of his own knowledge and that the grandeur of Jingcheng's luxurious entertainment far exceeded his imagination.

On this visit, Jiang Jiang Mingyu had truly witnessed the highest realm of Jingcheng's wine shops, and an indescribable joy and excitement arose in his heart.

After winding their way through various passages, the three arrived on the second floor of the rear building; once seated in the private room, several beauties immediately entered to attend them, each as lovely as a celestial maiden and possessing extraordinary grace!

A team of servants entered in sequence to serve dishes; within moments, the eight-immortal table in the private room was filled with various chilled teas, fine wines, and hot and cold delicacies.

Upon reaching the private room, they found beauties as numerous as clouds, alongside fragrant tea and exquisite dishes.

This Eight Immortals Tower truly lived up to its reputation, exhausting all possibilities of luxury; it opened Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes so wide that he found it hard to imagine a wine shop could achieve such magnificence.

"Why aren't you quickly attending to Scholar Jiang's drinking yet..." Lord Tu instructed the beauties on either side of Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

The beauties on both sides elegantly filled the wine cups, presented them before Jiang Jiang Mingyu, then poured themselves a cup and drained it first as a sign of respect.

Before Jiang Jiang Mingyu could even react, Lord Tu, sitting across the table, had already begun flirting with the beauties beside him, embracing them left and right while drinking wine and eating meat!

The graceful, multi-postured dancing girls and the peerlessly beautiful singing courtesans made Jiang Jiang Mingyu's blood surge, making it impossible for him to look away.

"You probably aren't hungry yet, are you?" asked Steward Zhang, sitting next to him, holding a tea bowl and sipping as he spoke.

"This humble student... am I not hungry yet?" At this moment, Jiang Jiang Mingyu's lunch was still in his stomach, not yet fully digested.

Steward Zhang turned to glance out the window and said, "We did arrive a bit early; the sun hasn't even set yet..."

"Why are we eating dinner so early today?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked.

"Who told you this is dinner?" Lord Tu added, "This is just a snack; the real main meal will be eaten later!"

"Then what is the purpose of our coming here now?" Jiang Jiang Mingyu asked, frowning in confusion.

Steward Zhang replied, "To bring you to see the world and make friends..."

Half an hour later, a waiter entered to relay a message, subsequently leading away the beauties who had been attending them! Before Jiang Jiang Mingyu could even sort out his thoughts, two more people entered one after another!

The first to enter was a woman dressed in gorgeous attire, heavily made up, with her head adorned with various hair ornaments, her appearance extremely flashy and flamboyant.

The one who entered afterward wore leg wraps and wrist bindings; though dressed as a martial artist, she had a delicate face, was androgynous in appearance, lacked a beard, was not tall, and possessed a stable lower stance characteristic of a Wu Zhiren.

After the five people in the room exchanged bows, Steward Zhang began the introductions. He first introduced the elaborately dressed woman, saying, "This is the madam of Zui Zui Baxian..."

Before he could finish, the woman coughed dryly twice! Steward Zhang quickly corrected himself, saying, "Uh, no... she is the owner of Zui Zui Baxian, Huo Mingshuang."

"Greetings to the three my lords..." Owner Huo clasped her fists and bowed, greeting them politely.

Steward Zhang lightly slapped his own cheeks twice, exclaiming, "My apologies, my tongue slipped; I shall punish myself with two cups! Hahaha..." Upon finishing, he drained two cups of wine.

"Serves you right, Old Zhang!" Lord Tu added, "Owner Huo is one of the most prominent, renowned figures in the markets and streets of Jingcheng; known in the martial world as 'Tie Zhang Ba Ji,' she is none other than Owner Huo herself!"

Upon hearing the four words "Tie Zhang Ba Ji," Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately realized!

For over the past half-month, the title of Tie Zhang Ba Ji had been mentioned frequently; he had long heard of her deeds, and now to have the fortune of meeting her filled him with immense honor!

Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately stood up and offered a toast first.

"And this one is..." Steward Zhang continued introducing the other person, saying, "The Chief Escort of the Lu Family Escort Agency, and also the eldest young lady of the Lu family, 'Lu Lu Xiongying,' the great hero Lu!"

Upon hearing of the Lu Family Escort Agency, famous throughout the Four Seas and shaking the martial world, Jiang Jiang Mingyu was already filled with awe; upon hearing she was the Chief Escort and the Eldest Young Lady, he quickly stood again to bow and, just as before, drained his cup first as a sign of respect.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu examined Lu Lu Xiongying more closely, and only then did sudden understanding dawn; no wonder he had found her androgynous upon first seeing her; the reason lay here.

Amidst the five of them drinking and conversing, after several rounds of greetings and chatter, they considered themselves friends.

Only now did Jiang Jiang Mingyu realize that Steward Zhang, Lord Tu, Tie Zhang Ba Ji, and Lu Lu Xiongying were all friends who had known each other for many years!

He also learned from their conversation that Steward Zhang had once served as an official in the imperial court, rising to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel; later, due to some offense, he had narrowly escaped execution!

During the period he bore guilt, he had received assistance from Tie Zhang Ba Ji and Lu Lu Xiongying, which allowed him to escape disaster.

"When will Prime Minister He arrive?" Tie Zhang Ba Ji asked.

Steward Zhang replied, "At the third quarter of the You hour."

Tie Zhang Ba Ji looked out the window; at this moment, the setting sun had just dipped below the horizon, and night was slowly descending, with a wisp of gray-blue skylight enveloping the entire earth.

"Your people... should be arriving soon, right?" Tie Zhang Ba Ji turned to ask Lu Lu Xiongying.

Lu Lu Xiongying stood up, walked to the western windowsill, and looked down. She said, "They have arrived!"

Moments later, a waiter reported that the Prime Minister had arrived! Thus, the three left the private room on the second floor of the rear building and moved to another location.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu had no idea where he was being taken, nor did he dare to ask too many questions!

Relying entirely on his trust in Steward Zhang and Lord Tu, he simply followed them muddily downstairs, out of the hall, and into a southern-style garden!

Inside this garden were waterside pavilions, grotesque and jagged rocks, red flowers and green willows, and shimmering ripples on the water.

A nine-turn bridge floated upon the mirror-like surface of the pond; lanterns stood upon the bridge, linked in a line, resembling a small dragon! Following their steps, Jiang Jiang Mingyu crossed the nine-turn bridge and arrived at a pavilion in the center of the pond.

Inside the pavilion, a full banquet table was already set, but there were no beauties and no servants; only an elderly man dressed as a Daoist Priest, wearing purple robes and a purple crown, with white eyebrows and a long beard, sat alone within, sipping drink; behind him stood two sword-wielding guards, protecting him.

At a single glance, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt this old man possessed immense spirit, with flowing white eyebrows and an imposing, awe-inspiring dignity.

The two guards behind him were even more expressionless, standing alertly on either side; the sword hilts beneath their palms seemed to radiate a palpable killing intent.

Upon glancing at the plain black round-collared robes worn by the guards, Jiang Jiang Mingyu spotted embroidered deer-head totems and immediately recognized them as escorts from the Lu Family Escort Agency!

No wonder Tie Zhang Ba Ji had asked Lu Lu Xiongying earlier if her people had arrived. Jiang Jiang Mingyu thought to himself: Could it be... that this Daoist Priest protected by the Lu Family escorts is the current Grand Councilor, Prime Minister He, Lord Weng?

The magnificence of the southern garden complemented Lord Weng's demeanor, reflecting glory upon one another; this was likely the style of Lord Weng, the head of the Bureau of Military Affairs who wielded immense power in Jingcheng at the time.

Although Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt somewhat nervous internally, he also felt deeply honored to behold Lord Weng's true countenance, an opportunity that would never arise in ordinary days.

The five people exchanged bows in sequence and then took their seats one after another.

After taking his seat, Jiang Jiang Mingyu finally had the chance to carefully observe the exquisite dishes on the table.

The table was filled with countless delicacies, a dazzling array that nearly covered the entire Eight Immortals table.

The roasted suckling pig was particularly eye-catching, its surface revealing an enticing golden-brown crust while emitting waves of aroma that whetted the appetite.

The fine quality of the suckling pig had been cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender within, radiating a natural meaty fragrance that made one unable to resist devouring it heartily.

On the table were also various pastries and snacks, delicately shaped and colorful.

The soups and stews were equally enticing; each bowl simmered with a rich fragrance that held the gaze captive.

A wide variety of chickens, ducks, fish, and crabs were present, prepared by roasting, grilling, smoking, and stewing, with every method represented.

This banquet was not only diverse in variety but also refined and meticulous; its opulent presentation matched the status and position of Lord Weng.

It was hardly imaginable that one could experience such a luxurious feast in this very setting.

Once the five individuals were seated, the attendants began pouring wine and serving the dishes.

Gazing at the dazzling array of delicacies, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt overwhelmed, a surge of uncontrollable joy rising in his heart.

Introduced by Steward Zhang, Jiang Jiang Mingyu finally confirmed that the Daoist before him was indeed Prime Minister He himself!

Indeed, the identity of this elder was truly extraordinary.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu could not help but feel a sense of reverence.

Seated upright in the pavilion, he exuded an aura of authority; beneath those white eyebrows, his eyes were as sharp and cold as an eagle's. Under such a gaze, Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt there was nowhere to hide; this was the imposing presence of Lord Weng, inspiring awe.

The magnificence of the southern garden complemented Lord Weng's demeanor, enhancing each other; this was likely the bearing of Prime Minister He, Lord Weng, who once held supreme power in Jingcheng.

Although Jiang Jiang Mingyu felt somewhat nervous inwardly, he also felt deeply honored to behold the true countenance of Prime Minister He, an opportunity that would never arise in ordinary times.

Prime Minister He treated Jiang Jiang Mingyu with great courtesy; throughout the meal, he repeatedly inquired about Jiang Jiang Mingyu's recent circumstances, family, background, interests, hobbies, educational journey, and where he had studied. Jiang Jiang Mingyu, being very astute, answered every question and spoke truthfully.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, Prime Minister He had gained a deeper understanding of Jiang Jiang Mingyu and formed a very favorable impression, thus deciding to recruit him into the He Faction for his own use.

"Young Master Jiang has only recently arrived in the capital; many rules and customs are still unknown to you. With the city full of high officials and people from all walks of life, you cannot master them all in a short moment..."

Prime Minister He first looked at Jiang Jiang Mingyu, then glanced at Steward Zhang, before continuing, "From now on, Mr. Zhang shall accompany you as your advisor; what do you think?"

Upon hearing the word 'advisor,' Jiang Jiang Mingyu immediately rose to bow in thanks, hurriedly expressing his gratitude, yet declining, "This humble student is terrified; I fear... I cannot afford to hire Mr. Zhang!"

In ancient times, an advisor was equivalent to a secretary, not a position within the official establishment; therefore, such aides were generally hired privately by officials at their own expense.

"Hahaha..." After laughing heartily, Prime Minister He explained, "Young Master Jiang is mistaken; do not worry about the remuneration, I have made arrangements. Moreover, Mr. Zhang is not entirely for your sake, but for the Crown Prince!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu then understood that the true intention behind Prime Minister He assigning Steward Zhang to assist him was actually for the sake of the Crown Prince!

Upon learning that he did not need to pay Mr. Zhang's salary out of his own pocket, Jiang Jiang Mingyu ceased his refusal and hurriedly bowed to thank Prime Minister He for providing such a capable companion.

It was also this night that Jiang Jiang Mingyu learned that Steward Zhang's surname was Zhang, his given name County Magistrate, and his courtesy name Gongchang. It was said that by splitting the character 'Zhang' apart, one obtains the two characters 'Gong' and 'Chang,' hence people called him "Steward Zhang."

After personally interviewing Jiang Jiang Mingyu, inducting him into the He Faction, and arranging for Steward Zhang to serve as his aide for assistance, Prime Minister He took his leave, citing busy official duties.

Escorted by the Lu family bodyguards, Prime Minister He and his party crossed the Nine-Turn Bridge, disappearing amidst the garden landscape of chaotic rocks and artificial hills.

The remaining five people stayed in the pavilion, continuing to enjoy the delicacies...