Chapter 22: The Banquet of Bliss

At the far end of the square city stood a magnificent gate, its entrance adorned with intricately carved flowers that shone with a luxurious glow, as if infused with gold and jade. Compared to the door at the main entrance, these carvings were even more exquisite. As someone approached the gate, it swung open, and the lively, unrestrained music burst forth. Shenfu and Chu Baige exchanged a glance and walked toward the gate, drawn in by the vibrant sounds.

Above the gate, a plaque depicted dragons and phoenixes dancing together, bearing the inscription “Hall of Bliss.” The red-faced, black-clothed man guarding the door greeted them enthusiastically, “Are the two of you here to attend the Banquet of Bliss?” Shenfu’s eyes narrowed slightly as she asked, “The Banquet of Bliss?” It seemed they had stumbled upon this gathering by chance. The guard’s mouth twitched, and she pushed the door open with a flourish, allowing the lively music to spill out. “Welcome to join the feast of bliss, indulge in fun with new friends!” he exclaimed.

As they stepped inside, they were met with a scene that surpassed their expectations. Shen Fu and Chu Baige had thought the exterior was already impressive, but the interior of the Hall of Bliss was truly breathtaking. The main hall featured four high platforms, each showcasing dancers who moved with reckless abandon, their sweat-glistened bodies swaying to the cheerful music as if they were tireless. The hall was filled with tables laden with wine and delicacies, and beautiful maidens in thin skirts navigated the crowd with ease, deftly removing used dishes and replacing them with fresh ingredients.

The atmosphere was one of unbridled joy, with everyone laughing and talking loudly, all etiquette and restraint cast aside. Chu Baige’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he dove into the crowd, eager to experience the revelry. He soon found himself chatting and laughing with the others, his wine glass in hand. His hat was long gone, and only the lower half of his mask remained, still clinging to his face. Meanwhile, Shenfu and Shen Fu found a corner table and sat down, observing the scene before them with a detached air.

The atmosphere was like a ridiculous farce, and it was hard to imagine such a spectacle existing in the world. Before long, a maiden with a bright smile approached their table, filling Shenfu’s glass and noticing her unsmiling face, which seemed out of place amidst the excitement. She reached out to remove Shenfu’s veil, asking, “Why are you, our guest, so indifferent? Aren’t the singing and dancing in the Hall of Bliss enough to bring you joy?” Shen Fu raised her hand to block the maiden’s, but she dodged and stepped over the table, falling into Shen Fu’s arms.

Shen Fu pressed her back, preventing her from getting too close, and the maiden sat on her lap, placing a hand on her arm and gently brushing her face with her hat. “Isn’t our humble abode beautiful, guest?” she asked, her voice husky. Shenfu chuckled and replied, “If you weren’t beautiful, it would be hard to find a more lovely woman in the world.” The maiden’s hand trailed along Shen Fu’s arm, and Shen Fu lightly shook her off, using an ingenious force to remove the woman from her lap. “If you have something to discuss, please speak plainly,” Shen Fu said, her eyes glinting with amusement.

The next morning, Chu Baige woke up with a start, rubbing his head. “Where am I?” he wondered, looking around at the unfamiliar room. He stumbled out of bed, tore off the clothes hanging on the bedside screen, and put them on hastily. Opening the door, he walked out into the courtyard, where he saw Shen Fu practicing with a knife, her movements fluid and precise. Chu Baige’s eyes widened as he approached her, “You, you brute, go and seduce the little girl again!” Shen Fu stopped, raised an eyebrow, and said, “I thought you’d abandoned your mind while drunk!”

Chu Baige defended himself, “Do you think I’m you? I just talked to the girl, but I gathered a lot of great news. If the wine hadn’t been too strong, I could have asked more. Say, how did I get back last night?” Shen Fu replied, “It wasn’t last night; it was the night before. You slept for a day and a night. If the doctor said you were drunk too much, I thought you were going to drink yourself to death! I don’t know how other people went home, but you and I both returned in the same way – in a coffin.” Chu Baige smacked his lips, savoring the aftertaste, “This feast of bliss is truly blissful, and the wine used is extraordinary.

Shen Fu said, “I asked about the wine used in the feast of bliss; it’s called bliss drink, and a bottle costs a gold coin.” Chu Baige shuddered, “Forget it…” He expressed regret again, “I don’t know if there will be wine as good to drink next time the feast of bliss is held as I wish…” Shen Fu advised, “If you still want to drink, then I advise you not to know what the wine is made from.” Chu Baige’s eyes lit up, “Could it be that you’ve analyzed the prescription?” Shen Fu smiled wryly, “If I had that ability, I would have opened a tavern to make wine myself.”

She looked at Chu Baige with an unkind smile, “It’s the master of Xiuchundao. After smelling your clothes soaked in wine, I guessed that there should be purple river cart and poppy in it.” Chu Baige’s face changed drastically. “Purple River… isn’t that just a baby placenta?” He had been savoring the delicious wine, but now his expression turned grim. Shen Fu continued, “In fact, the purple river cart is nothing; the important thing is the poppy. This Chinese medicine is relatively rare in Zhao Guo, but more common in Baiyue. It’s said that long-term use can change a person’s mind and turn them into someone else’s slave… If you don’t want to be someone else’s dog, next time, control your mouth and eat less of things you shouldn’t touch.”

Chu Baige’s face paled, “I, I know…” He must have learned a lesson this time. When he came back, he had vomited once, and there was nothing in his stomach. Now, he was holding the tree, retching, and his bile was being vomited out. It took a long time for him to recover. Seeing that he was really pitiful, Shen Fu said, “Okay, there’s hot water on the stove; go wash up and come eat.” Chu Baige spent half an hour brushing his teeth and washing his face, and by the way, he washed his whole body. After removing the smell of his suit, he went to the lobby wearing the new clothes Shen Fu had prepared for him.

The table was already filled with breakfast – steamed buns, fried dough, soy milk, steamed dumplings, and wontons. Chu Baige dug in, eating like a starving ghost reborn. Whoever saw him now would be unable to guess that this person was a prince from a noble family; some people might even think he came from a disaster area. Shenfu had been prepared for a long time and ate her share calmly. After hearing Chu Baige’s long hiccup, she rubbed her stomach and said uncomfortably, “Hold it…” Shen Fu smiled, “Deserve it.”

Chu Baige suddenly screamed, “Hey, you’re ashamed to say it, but did you just change the subject? The eldest brother of Xiuchundao is there, or not; I want to report that this woman is hooking up with a pretty girl in a happy way.” Shen Fu picked up a steamed dumpling and threw it into her mouth accurately, “Just you talk a lot.” Chu Baige seemed to have grasped some leverage and said triumphantly, “Be scared; just listen to me honestly when you know it, and you’ll recognize me as the eldest brother…” Shen Fu said, “I don’t look beautiful; I think it’s pretty beautiful. Okay, I don’t bother to talk with you; that woman was here to inquire about our intelligence, and we were just discussing it, innocent. It’s you – what news did you find out?”

Chu Baige obediently closed his mouth and began to speak honestly. “Okay, okay, you can’t just do it…” He had indeed gained a lot at the Banquet of Bliss. At such a gathering, everyone indulged in drinks, dared to say anything, and avoided nothing. “The blissful gathering is held every three months, and the feast of bliss and the gathering will be held at the same time.” Chu Baige shared his newfound knowledge. Shenfu thought about the information he had obtained, which was indeed unknown to Xiu Chun Dao before.

Chu Baige continued, “Then you certainly don’t know; besides the invitation, there’s another way to enter, right?” Shenfu asked, “What is it?” Chu Baige replied, “It’s an invitation. Anyone who has an order downstairs in Shunxin will have an invitation.” Shenfu pondered the information, realizing that this was a crucial detail. Chu Baige sang, “Why do you think that only those who have played orders downstairs in Shunxin have an invitation quota…” Shenfu said to herself, “Only by being accomplices with each other is the best means of keeping secrets.”