Chapter 73 - 72: Fine Grape Wine in Luminous Cups

Chapter 73: Chapter 72: Fine Grape Wine in Luminous Cups

In the main hall of the Governor’s Mansion, Qin Wanyue’s voice rang out slowly.

"The Six Arts of the Gentleman are rites, music, archery, chariotry, calligraphy, and mathematics. If you wish to break through to the Fifth Grade, Quan Fu, you naturally cannot neglect these Six Arts."

Although Qin Wanyue was the only daughter of Dean Qin, she never spoke in a condescending, lecturing tone. Instead, her words were like a gentle spring breeze and rain, slowly nourishing his mind.

Unknowingly, Zeng Anmin had become the one asking for guidance. In a daze, he seemed to see Zhang Lun’s shadow in Qin Wanyue.

"The core cultivation of the Sixth Grade Gentleman Realm relies on these Six Arts. The moment you achieve an epiphany in any one of them, you will naturally break through to the Fifth Grade, but the remaining five arts cannot be neglected either..." Qin Wanyue’s eyes were always filled with a smile, and she would occasionally joke with Zeng Anmin as she spoke. "Just like a person—if one leg is too long and the other too short, wouldn’t they walk with a limp?"

"Haha!" Finding it amusing, Zeng Anmin absentmindedly replied, "Sometimes, there’s even a third leg."

Qin Wanyue looked blank. She had no idea what Zeng Anmin meant. Blinking in confusion, she asked gently, "A... third leg?"

Uh.

Zeng Anmin’s face stiffened. The main issue was that Qin Wanyue felt too much like Zhang Lun to him, so he had subconsciously treated her like one of his guy friends...

"Well..." Zeng Anmin racked his brains and simply changed the subject, looking at her with feigned curiosity. "I wonder which of the Six Arts you major in, Ms. Qin?"

Qin Wanyue covered her mouth and smiled. Exceptionally intelligent, she naturally sensed that Zeng Anmin was changing the subject. However, she had a non-confrontational and easygoing nature, never forcing the issue. She answered earnestly, "Between rites and music, I major in the path of music. In my early years, I studied the ancient zither deeply. Later, I happened to meet a pipa master and became deeply intoxicated by its sound, so I decided to study the pipa as well."

When she said this, her expression was completely natural; she didn’t feel the slightest bit embarrassed about the pipa being considered a vulgar instrument.

A pipa? Zeng Anmin was a little surprised. Although he didn’t understand music deeply, he had heard a thing or two. Compared to the Ten-stringed Zither that Confucian Scholars usually majored in, an instrument like the pipa was somewhat unpresentable on grand stages.

"The fact that you do not despise its humble origins, Ms. Qin, is enough to show your noble character." Zeng Anmin said this with utmost sincerity.

This was the first time Qin Wanyue had heard someone praise her decision to practice the pipa with such genuine sincerity. Her eyes lit up as she looked at him. "You don’t disdain the pipa, Quan Fu?"

"There are tens of thousands of skills in the world. How can one be considered superior or inferior to another? In my opinion, it doesn’t matter if it’s a black cat or a white cat—as long as it catches mice, it’s a good cat!" Zeng Anmin didn’t have the prejudiced lenses of a feudal era, so he spoke without the slightest hint of abnormality.

Qin Wanyue could feel the genuine sincerity in his words. Her eyes shone even brighter. She felt a wondrous sensation—as if the young man before her was another version of herself.

"Young Master, Shen Jun had someone deliver some thank-you gifts for you." A voice interrupted them. It was a servant, respectfully holding a delicate wooden box.

"Shen Jun?" Only then did Zeng Anmin remember that he hadn’t seen the current shopkeeper of Jin Taiping in a long time.

He wondered, "It’s not a holiday or a festival. Why is he sending gifts?" He subconsciously glanced at Qin Wanyue, thinking, "Would it be inappropriate to accept a bribe right in front of her?"

Qin Wanyue was perceptive and instantly understood his gaze. She chuckled softly. "The case of Shen Jun murdering his aunt caused an uproar in Liangjiang Commandery a few days ago. You helped clear his suspicion and restored his innocence, so it’s only right for him to send some gifts. You might as well accept them; otherwise, wouldn’t he unjustly earn a reputation for being ungrateful?"

Speaking of this, the brightness in Qin Wanyue’s eyes deepened. The more she understood Zeng Anmin, the more she was amazed by his brilliance. From the case of the lost Dragon Inspection Map to rescuing his father from the Water Prison. Rapidly pinpointing the killer in Zhang Lun’s case. Following the clues to crack Shen Jun’s case so flawlessly. He had even pieced together every single clue of King Jiang’s rebellion step by step...

Especially that day when King Jiang’s subordinate, Xu Tong, slaughtered his way into the Observation Department—Zeng Anmin had stepped forward in a moment of extreme crisis. That courage alone demonstrated this young man’s extraordinary spirit!

"Hehe, then let’s open it and take a look." Zeng Anmin didn’t say much else. He simply accepted the wooden box with a smile and reached out. With a CLICK, the delicate lid popped open.

Inside the box quietly lay a porcelain bottle. Next to it were four exquisitely crafted jade-green cups.

"What is this?" Out of curiosity, Zeng Anmin picked up the porcelain bottle and gently shook it, feeling the liquid inside.

"West Flowing Wine." Catching sight of the bottle, a flash of amazement crossed Qin Wanyue’s eyes. She patiently explained to Zeng Anmin, "The West River Region is located to the west of the Holy Dynasty. The grapes there grow exceptionally well, and the locals are skilled at brewing wine from them. It’s said that the craftsmanship for top-tier fine wine is extremely complex, and the yield is so low that its price is comparable to gold.

"Even the reigning Emperor only receives ten bottles as tribute each year.

"This Shen Jun is quite thoughtful."

"Oh?" Zeng Anmin placed the porcelain bottle on the table and waved his hand dismissively. "This is indeed my first time hearing about it." However, when he met Qin Wanyue’s sparkling eyes, realization dawned on him, and he chuckled, touching his forehead. "Since it’s already here, why don’t we taste it together, Ms. Qin?"

"This..." Qin Wanyue hesitated, lowering her head bashfully. "That might be inappropriate." She wondered, "Who drinks with someone they’ve only met a few times??"

"It’s fine, it’s fine. We’re just tasting the wine," Zeng Anmin said as he uncorked the porcelain bottle and set the cups from the box onto the table.

SPLASH~

The sound of fine wine pouring into the cups.

"It smells so good..." The moment the wine was poured, a rich and fragrant aroma wafted into the air.

"Please!" Zeng Anmin didn’t hesitate at all. He hadn’t bought it with his own money, so naturally, he didn’t feel the pinch.

Driven by curiosity and unable to refuse his warm hospitality, Qin Wanyue kept her head lowered and gave a soft "Mm." Her pale fingers pinched the exquisitely beautiful emerald cup.

"Rumor has it that once this wine enters the stomach, the lingering aroma in the cup will remain for three days without dispersing," Qin Wanyue explained in detail as she picked up her cup.

Zeng Anmin felt that his horizons had indeed been broadened. He gently raised his cup and took a sip.

He thought, "Hmm... It’s pretty good—kind of feels like a Right Bank Bordeaux." As an outstanding youth in his previous life, Zeng Anmin had naturally drunk his fair share of red wine.

"AHH." Zeng Anmin closed his eyes, feeling as if he had returned to his past life, freely navigating the business world. He opened his eyes, smiled at Qin Wanyue, and said, "The texture is smooth, the flavor is rich, and it has a hint of red berries and plums."

Qin Wanyue had only taken a tiny sip at that moment. Hearing his words, her eyes sparkled even more. It wasn’t until now, emboldened by the wine, that she revealed the true purpose of her visit.

"That day, in front of the Observation Department, the half-poem you recited so casually has remained deeply engraved in my heart, Quan Fu. I have studied it in my boudoir every day and could no longer bear the anticipation in my heart. Therefore, I came this time to ask..." Her eyes were filled with immense eagerness. "Is there a remaining half to that poem?"

A poem?

Zeng Anmin suddenly realized what she meant; he remembered it clearly. At the time, he had been prepared to reveal his identity as a Black Cat Martial Artist and fight Xu Tong to the death. Not knowing if he would survive that battle, he had spontaneously recited a line: "Laugh not if I fall drunk on the sandy battlefield; since ancient times, how many have ever returned from war?"

Although it didn’t perfectly fit the scenery, it truly expressed his uncertainty about life and death at that moment.

Uh...

Zeng Anmin blinked. He looked at the emerald-green cup in his hand, and then at the fine wine inside it. A strange expression crept onto his face.

He thought, "Wait... could it really be this much of a coincidence??"