diskusbooks Chapter 366 Wine and Food
Chapter 366 Wine and Food
Hu Qing unfolded the yellowed, old wine list and ran his fingertips over the faded ink on it.
Among Master Xin's flamboyant handwriting, the words "Baoyue Tower Burning in the Snow" are particularly eye-catching, and a small wine glass mark is drawn next to it.
"Hello, we want to buy some wine, but we can't find the place here. Can you tell us where Baoyue Tower is now?" Gu Yang stopped an armored guard and asked.
The guard took the wine list and examined it carefully. Suddenly, he looked troubled. "Masters, this Baoyue Tower... was destroyed by lightning and fire three hundred years ago."
He pointed to the names of other wineries on the list and said, "Look at Zuixianju and Qingyun Pavilion. They have now been converted into silk and satin shops and money houses."
Hu Qing was stunned when he heard this, and then it suddenly dawned on him - the years that Master Xin had been isolated in the Central Region had actually spanned such a long river of time.
Those delicious drinks that he longed for have probably long since disappeared into the mist of history with the passage of time.
"But there are also many good wines in the imperial city nowadays."
The guard tactfully handed over a brand new sheepskin map with cinnabar markings of famous wineries. "Drunken Immortal House's 'Fire Clouds' and Liuxia Pavilion's 'Thousand Years of Drunk' are both renowned fine wines."
Following the instructions on the map, the two brought Xiao Zi to Suzaku Street, the most prosperous street in the city.
From a distance, you can see a five-story vermilion-painted pavilion with red lanterns hanging from its eaves. On a gold-painted plaque, the three large characters "Zuixianlou" are written in bold and vigorous strokes.
Several young servants in blue were enthusiastically soliciting customers at the door. Seeing that Hu Qing and his group had an extraordinary demeanor, they immediately came forward to greet them attentively.
"Master, please come in!" The leading servant bowed. "The Western Region wine just arrived today and is waiting for your esteemed guests to taste it!"
As soon as you step over the threshold, the rich aroma of wine hits you in the face.
Dozens of ebony wooden tables are arranged in an orderly manner in the lobby, and wine poems written by famous writers are hung on the walls.
A shopkeeper with a goatee came in quickly. His eyes lingered on Hu Qing and the others for a moment. Then, seeing Xiao Zi following behind like a dragon, his smile widened.
"Oh, I was wondering why the magpie at the door kept chirping today. It turns out it's your Majesty's distinguished guest! Please take your seat!"
The private room on the third floor is located by the window, from which you can have a panoramic view of half of the imperial city.
The shopkeeper personally brought over a dozen small jade cups, each filled with wine of a different color.
"This is our signature 'Fire Cloud'."
He pointed at a glass of amber wine, which actually had red clouds flowing in it. "It's brewed with Tianshan Snow Lotus and volcanic spirit. One cup is equivalent to several days of practice."
Gu Yang couldn't wait to take a sip, and immediately choked so hard that his face turned red, but he couldn't help but take a second sip: "It's strong! Master Xin will definitely like it!"
Hu Qing was attracted by a glass of azure wine.
There were tiny ice crystals floating on the surface of the wine, and when it was shaken gently, starlight twinkled.
"This is 'Galaxy Drunk,' brewed with ten-thousand-year-old black ice from the far north," the shopkeeper said, his voice lowered mysteriously. "It's said to make you dream of what you desire."
Half an hour later, Hu Qing, with a drunken face, took out an empty ten-cubic storage ring from the storage ring - this was a gift from Master Xin before leaving.
The shopkeeper instructed his staff to load hundreds of jars of fine wine: the thirty-year-old "Fire Clouds," the ice-generating "Starry River Drunk," tribute wine from the Western Regions, and the southern Xinjiang specialty "Gu Chong Shao"...
Finally, a set of luxurious wine utensils was thoughtfully given as a gift, filling the storage ring to the brim.
"My lords, a total of 3,600 low-grade spirit stones." The shopkeeper adjusted his abacus. "I'll round off the zero, so 3,500 will do."
As the night deepened, the lights in the imperial city lit up one after another, illuminating the streets like daylight.
After Gu Yang paid for the drinks, the three of them stood at the door of Zuixianlou, and the night wind blew with a bit of coolness.
Hu Qing circulated his spiritual power, and a faint light appeared around his body. The smell of alcohol immediately turned into wisps of white mist and dissipated from his fingertips.
Xiao Zi followed suit, and after forcing out the smell of alcohol, the whole dragon became more energetic.
Gu Yang rubbed Xiao Zi's dragon head. It was becoming increasingly difficult to teach him a lesson. He had just secretly drunk a jar of "Fire Cloud".
"Let's go to Liuxia Pavilion and prepare some wine for Master Xin." Hu Qing unfolded the sheepskin map and slid his fingertips along the route marked with cinnabar. "It's on Qifeng Street in the east of the city."
Liuxia Pavilion is more elegant than Zuixian Tower. It is a three-story waterside pavilion built in the center of an artificial lake.
They walked along the Nine-Curve Bridge, and the wind chimes hanging under the eaves tinkled in the night wind.
The shopkeeper here is a middle-aged woman with considerable charm. Not only was she not afraid of Xiao Zi, she even touched its dragon horns affectionately.
"My Lords, please try our signature dish 'Millennium'."
She took out a set of jade wine glasses. When the amber wine was poured into the cup, a layer of gorgeous rosy light formed on the surface. "This wine has a special feature—"
She suddenly tipped the glass over, but the wine strangely floated in the air, forming a small rainbow.
Gu Yang was stunned, and even Xiao Zi stretched out his claws to touch the rainbow of wine out of curiosity.
………………
Another half hour later, the three of them walked out of Liuxia Pavilion with a storage ring full of "Thousand Years of Drunk".
Hu Qing's storage ring also contained several jars of special "Hundred Flowers Wine"——
This was specially recommended by the shopkeeper after he heard that they were going to give it as a gift. It is said to be good for the body and is brewed from the flowers of precious spiritual herbs.
"Gurgle--" Gu Yang's stomach suddenly growled.
Only then did they remember that they had not had a proper meal for a long time. They had been practicing and had no time to eat.
Although it is said that monks will not starve to death even if they don't eat, there is an old saying: Now that you are here...
There happened to be a restaurant called "Baiweixuan" across the street. Steam was rising from the steamer at the door, and the aroma of food filled the entire street.
The restaurant was bustling with people, and the waiter, with a white towel draped over his shoulder, was moving nimbly between the tables and chairs.
Hu Qing ordered several signature dishes: crystal fish, eight-treasure spiritual beast meat, steamed white jade pork... and a pot of health-preserving soup made with spiritual medicine.
Xiao Zi also got a specially roasted whole lamb, and was using her sharp teeth to chew the lamb into minced meat, her mouth full of oil.
"I'll order some more and take some back to Senior Sword God."
Gu Yang asked the waiter to pack up a few light dishes, especially the basket of crystal clear shrimp dumplings. "He always seems to be out of touch with the world."
After eating and drinking, they followed the map and came to Moxiang Pavilion in the south of the city.
Unlike the bustling restaurants, it is so quiet here that you can hear the sound of pages turning.
Pushing open the carved wooden door, you are greeted by the scent of aged ink and sandalwood.
On the bookshelves that stretch from the walls to the ceiling, bamboo slips, silk books, and paper volumes are arranged in different categories.
"Strange Stories of Dongzhou?" The white-haired old shopkeeper pushed his crystal glasses and brought out a rosewood box from the inner room. "There are only these three fragmented volumes left, and it's a unique piece."
Gu Yang was wandering among the bookshelves when he suddenly discovered a hidden corner filled with storybooks.
He pulled out a gold-stamped copy of "The Romantic Records of the Sword Immortal" and opened it, immediately laughing—
Isn’t this exactly the kind of illustrated legend that Master Xin loves?
He stuffed a dozen books into his arms with a sly smile...