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墨書 Inktalez
After spending a night in the Mansion, the Dance Troupe received an invitation from Feng Linghou the next day.
Of course, "invitation" sounds nice; in reality, it was just someone hosting a gathering and asking them to perform.
San Chun was quite curious about this legendary Feng Lingjun. He was said to be someone who truly enjoyed life, the typical kind of Lord Jun who indulged in food, drink, and entertainment. Although he was the brother of the King of Chu, he showed no interest in politics. In winter, he played the flute while enjoying plum blossoms; in summer, he rowed on the lake while watching beautiful women dance; in autumn, he hunted with falcons and dogs; and in spring, he played cuju (a traditional Chinese ball game) and held flower-viewing banquets. He lived a carefree and extravagant life. However, because of this, he became the most favored brother of the King of Chu.
It was said that some of the best games played by royal families were created by him. He was skilled in gourmet food and brewing wine, with more cooks at home than warriors.
However... there were also rumors that this Feng Lingjun was wealthy yet miserly. He ate only plain meals daily and would haggle endlessly over a pair of boots for his servants. But no one ever believed such tales.
A nobleman who knew how to enjoy life would surely host a banquet filled with mountains of delicacies and clouds of beautiful women. Any man would want to be invited to such a feast; even being a guard and sneaking a drink would be worthwhile.
The banquet at Fengling Jun's Residence was set up in the courtyard of his estate, surrounded by trees with many tables arranged beneath their shade. Sitting there offered protection from the sun, and a gentle breeze provided some coolness. At this time, flowers were blooming everywhere, allowing guests to enjoy various exotic plants while listening to birds chirping and insects buzzing.
San Chun and Qing found a corner position to stand in. This spot had an excellent view of the courtyard while being hard to notice—perfect for observing others while also allowing for some laziness.
Looking around, there were many figures moving about. In the center stood a high platform made of marble with three elegantly dressed women standing on it. The woman on the left was playing an ancient zither while singing softly. Surrounding them were tables filled with men dressed in luxurious robes, exuding wealth. Beside each man knelt a young girl who occasionally was pulled into their embrace for some attention.
San Chun couldn't help but feel that if the warriors on the battlefield fought as passionately against their enemies as these men did here, this country would have a bright future.
Turning his gaze away, he noticed exquisite dishes laid out on several tables that instantly stimulated his appetite, causing his stomach to rumble and saliva to gather at the corners of his mouth.
Qing Su knew her temperament well and stepped forward to block her view, fearing she might rush over recklessly to grab some food.
Fengling Duke's Residence had its own guards; swordsmen like them could only watch from afar, making it difficult to get closer.
Just then, they saw Feng Lingjun approaching with a Red-Dressed Woman by his side. The woman was delicate and beautiful, leaning against him while frequently flirting; she resembled someone from the Shang Family.
This was the first time San Chun met Feng Lingjun. Although he did not possess the extraordinary beauty described in legends, he had a dignified figure and handsome appearance. From the perspective of the Shang Family, the man she chose should not be too bad.
Feng Lingjun was assisted by the Shang Family to take his seat, and then he signaled for everyone to drink freely. Sitting next to him were nobles from various countries attending the banquet, including those from Zhao and Qin State. These were all nations that had always maintained good relations with Chu.
In recent years, Zhao and Qin State had frequently sent envoys to various countries, intending to forge alliances and strike against others. It seemed that this was indeed true. A great nation like Chu would naturally want to form alliances; however, it was unclear who they intended to strike against.
From a distance, it was difficult to see the faces of those people clearly, but one young man dressed entirely in white left a deep impression. San Chun felt as if she had seen him somewhere before and couldn't help but feel frustrated, wishing she could get closer to take a better look.
Unfortunately, there were too many people, and the crowd obstructed her view. Even standing on tiptoe would not allow her to see clearly. They decided not to waste their eyes on that and turned their attention elsewhere. To their surprise, they stumbled upon a rare sight.
San Chun had seen certain nobles host "Flowing Wine Banquets" in their residences, where dozens of female slaves dressed in thin garments knelt on the ground, each holding a split bamboo tube. The bamboo tubes were connected together like a long dragon, with someone pouring wine at the head of the dragon, allowing it to flow down to the tail. Guests could drink from the bamboo tubes, which were said to impart a more fragrant taste due to the bamboo's aroma. This setup allowed for both indulgence in fine wine and appreciation of the naked bodies of beautiful women. If one felt unable to resist touching, there were willing bodies available.
He had witnessed a nobleman lewdly groping a female slave's chest and then squeezing hard, enjoying her trembling expression. If the female slaves could not endure the pain and moved slightly, the bamboo tubes would tilt, causing the entire long dragon to collapse instantly, spilling wine everywhere.
If the host's banquet was ruined, punishment awaited the female slaves—either whipping or amputation of limbs—while the offending noble would only watch them suffer with laughter.
He had once discussed this with San Chun; at that time, she gritted her teeth in anger and asked, "Who is such a shameless person?"
He could only smile bitterly without answering. Who else could it be but his most hated older brother?
Those past events flashed through his mind, intensifying his resentment...
Due to the excessive luxury and inhumanity of such flowing wine banquets, many countries had already explicitly banned them. However, many nobles disregarded these prohibitions because hosting such banquets was quite impressive. Yet Feng Lingjun did not follow this trend; his banquet was uniquely arranged and caught everyone's attention.
A group of beautiful women raised their long sleeves gracefully as they danced. They wore fitted waists and long skirts with diagonal hems tied at the waist with wide belts that draped down. Each held a delicate green wine cup in either hand while dancing elegantly and vivaciously.
A dozen beauties knelt on the green grass, all dressed in light, thin garments, their arms exposed, and their full breasts swaying enticingly with their movements.
In front of them were various fine wines. When someone approached, they would smile sweetly at the guests and then skillfully begin to stack triangular wine cups. These were made from fresh Lotus Leaves, identical to those held by the dancing girls. They stacked them with great precision, and the Lotus Wine Cups had a charming quality. When a cup was filled and offered forward, one could faintly catch a whiff of the delicate scent of Lotus Leaves, making for a truly unique experience.
In no time, many people gathered around the beauties, eager to taste this distinctive lotus-scented wine.
San Chun watched curiously and couldn't help but walk over. She smiled at a round-faced girl who looked quite cute and then raised an eyebrow, "Could you get me a cup?"
The girl stared blankly at her for a moment before coming to her senses. It seemed she was so captivated by San Chun's gaze that she couldn't even begin to figure out who she was.
San Chun cheerfully took two filled Lotus Leaf cups and walked away, hearing several girls whispering behind her, "Do you know which noble family that young man belongs to?"
"I've never seen him before."
"Well... he's just too handsome." The girls exclaimed excitedly together.
San Chun felt immensely pleased upon hearing this. Although she thought that beauty alone lacked substance, it was still a form of admiration.
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