Chapter 4: The Drunken Immortal Pavilion and a Test of Pride

They indeed skipped their afternoon lessons. The group of young men collectively played truant, scaling the wall to escape.

They hadn’t even eaten lunch yet.

Their destination was the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the most renowned restaurant in the capital. It boasted a full array of delicacies from land and sea, prepared by master chefs handpicked from across the land. Everything was exquisite, and naturally, the prices were exorbitant. A single table of dishes could easily cost a commoner several years of income.

Consequently, it was an exclusive haunt for high-ranking officials and nobles; ordinary people simply couldn’t afford it.

However, these young men hailed from extraordinary backgrounds—the legitimate grandson of the Grand Secretary, the son of a general, the son of the Vice Minister of Personnel, among others. They frequented such establishments with effortless ease, as if returning to their own homes.

The manager himself emerged to attend to these esteemed young masters with utmost care, fearing any slight that might displease one of them.

Having attained the position of manager, he naturally possessed keen discernment and was well-informed, understanding each of their identities. The Young Lord was the highest-ranking among them, and everything should revolve around him.

At least, that was how it should have been.

Yet, during his first time hosting this group of young masters, the manager made a rare and significant blunder. He had based his service primarily on the Young Lord and Meng Yuanzhou, the Grand Secretary’s grandson, while merely accommodating the other young masters.

By his experience, this approach should have been foolproof. But to his astonishment, the young master of the imperial merchant family, whom he deemed of the lowest status and requiring little attention, turned out to be the invisible core of the group.

When Su Zhuozhi spoke, the manager’s attitude was dismissive, paying him no heed and instead fawning over Meng Yuanzhou.

The Young Lord’s expression instantly darkened. He smashed a teacup, erupting in anger. “Are you deaf? Can’t you hear people speaking?”

The manager was startled, his heart seized with panic, unsure of what he had done wrong.

Meng Yuanzhou, whom the manager had been flattering, also looked thoroughly displeased. He directly delivered a kick, sending the manager tumbling clumsily to the ground. The manager didn’t dare to get up, instead hastily kneeling to beg for forgiveness.

“You lowly commoner, how dare you look down on my friend? Working at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, do you truly think yourself someone important? If I want you dead, let’s see who dares to save you!” Meng Yuanzhou scoffed with disdain.

“This lowly one was wrong, this lowly one deserves death! It was this lowly one’s ignorance, failing to recognize a true dignitary and slighting an honored guest. I beg the young master to spare this lowly one this once!” The manager finally understood, realizing his misjudgment. He quickly bowed repeatedly towards Su Zhuozhi, pleading for him to intercede.

Su Zhuozhi was indeed displeased by the manager’s preferential treatment, but before he could even express his anger, his friends had already vented it for him. Thus, his mood wasn’t particularly foul.

However, to simply let the man off the hook? He wasn’t that good-tempered.

“Alright, as a mere merchant’s son, how could I possibly be worthy of your ‘dignitary’?” Su Zhuozhi, seated at the table, uttered a single, light remark that instantly paled the manager’s face. He had clearly provoked someone he shouldn’t have.

The high-born scions chimed in, one after another, all agreeing that the manager was blind and brainless, deserving of a lesson, and his position should be filled by someone else.

Just as the manager despaired, believing his career was over, Su Zhuozhi casually picked up a piece of venison for Jiang Yangyu, changing the subject. “This venison today is wonderfully tender,” he remarked.

The young men’s attention quickly shifted. They, too, picked up venison to taste, some even grumbling about how Su Zhuozhi could be so partial, only serving Jiang Yangyu.

They laughed and bantered, completely forgetting the manager’s existence, leaving him to kneel there, terrified and enduring immense agony.

After a long moment, Su Zhuozhi decided the man had been sufficiently frightened. He turned his head and said, “Manager, in your eyes, is a guest like me unworthy of your service?”

The manager vigorously shook his head, cold sweat beading on his forehead, which he dared not wipe. He replied with an ingratiating expression, “Of course not! You are worthy, most worthy! To serve you is this lowly one’s fortune and honor, cultivated over eight lifetimes!”

Jiang Yangyu scoffed. “Now you’ve found your voice, speaking like a human.”

Su Zhuozhi tugged his arm. Jiang Yangyu grunted softly, turning his head away without another word.

Su Zhuozhi then addressed the manager, “Then I hope you’ll keep your word. From now on, sincerely treat all guests. Don’t look down on one and favor another.”

The manager listened, discerning a glimmer of hope. His eyes lit up, and he nodded like a pecking chicken. “Naturally, naturally! This lowly one will obey all the young master’s commands!”

Su Zhuozhi waved his hand. “You may leave.”

The manager assented, scrambling to his feet and bowing deeply as he retreated from the private room, terrified that if he delayed, the young master might regret his decision and decide to have him killed after all.

“No way? You’re just letting him go like that?” Several young men exclaimed, sounding indignant.

Su Zhuozhi poked a meatball into his mouth and nodded. “Yes, I am.”

“Zhuozhi, you’re too easily appeased! That commoner just spouted a few compliments, and you’re not pursuing it? You’ll be bullied to death like this! Yangyu, aren’t you going to say something to him? Don’t you consider yourself his elder brother? Aren’t you going to protect your little brother?”

Jiang Yangyu was about to speak but was immediately silenced by Su Zhuozhi, who stuffed a grilled shrimp into his mouth.

Su Zhuozhi swept his gaze over them, speechless. “I did want to teach him a lesson, but before I even had the chance, one of you kicked him and another cursed him. You did everything I intended to do, so what else was there for me to do?”

His vivid expression made all the young men at the table burst into laughter. They leaned in, each hooking an arm around Su Zhuozhi’s shoulders. “Who told you that you’re the youngest among us? As older brothers, we have to protect you more. Come on, call us ‘ge’ and let’s hear it.”

Su Zhuozhi’s shoulders and head were covered with arms. He grumbled irritably, “Get lost! You’re messing up my hair. You call me ‘father’ first, then I’ll consider it.”

“Oh, calling yourself ‘father’? You’re quite arrogant, aren’t you?”

The young men descended into playful chaos, their clear, boisterous laughter filled with vibrant, unbridled youthful energy.

After that incident, the manager no longer dared to slight Su Zhuozhi. Each time they visited, he practically treated Su Zhuozhi like an ancestor, serving him with meticulous care, even more so than the Young Lord. The uninformed waiters, observing this, even assumed Su Zhuozhi was a little prince who had snuck out of the palace to play, serving him with even greater trepidation.

Young men loved to play. After lunch, the group also started a game of ‘pitch-pot’.

Su Zhuozhi was enthusiastic, his eyes sparkling with a subtle gleam. He smiled and said, “Adding some stakes makes it more fun.”

“Right, that’s the only way to truly enjoy it!” Jiang Yangyu’s eyes lit up. He was the first to remove the jade pendant tied to his waist and place it on the table. Its lustrous, flawless sheen immediately revealed it to be a top-grade item.

Su Zhuozhi also declared, “Then I’ll put forth my beloved jade fan. All the stakes go to the winner; the losers get nothing.” The jade fan he spoke of was the very one he had used for many days that summer—intricately carved, exquisite, and elegant. Holding it and swaying it gently, he truly looked like a dashing young gentleman. Not only did he adore it, but the others also coveted it.

“You’re that generous? Just giving it to me?” Ye Huahui, the general’s son, dangled his legs, resting his foot on a nearby stool, teasing with a playful grin.

“Ye Huahui, it hasn’t even started yet, don’t be so arrogant! Be careful, you might end up losing the most spectacularly.”

“Everyone, bring out your best treasures! Don’t hold back. Let’s see who the ultimate winner is today!”

The young men’s competitive spirit was instantly ignited. They eagerly placed their cherished possessions on the table. For items not on hand, they made a note to deliver them to the winner’s manor later.

Soon, the table was laden with numerous precious objects, causing the attending waiter to gape in astonishment. He thought, ‘I must watch these carefully; if even one goes missing, my life wouldn’t be enough to compensate.’

Just as the game was about to begin, another person approached and placed a jade girdle ornament on the table.

Su Zhuozhi happened to be instructing Xie Jue at that moment. “Pour me some wine.”

Once inside the restaurant, there was no need for many servants; one per person was sufficient. Su Zhuozhi hadn’t brought Qingping, who usually attended him, but had opted for Xie Jue instead, precisely to continue tormenting him.

However, at this moment, he unexpectedly discovered an advantage. If Qingping were present, he would surely be lectured about being too young to drink. Xie Jue, on the other hand, silently obeyed and poured the wine directly.

‘This is much better,’ he thought. ‘How am I young? I’ll be coming of age in two years. What’s wrong with drinking a little beforehand?’

Normally restricted by his parents and elder brothers at home, now out in the open, he could drink freely and to his heart’s content.

Su Zhuozhi lowered his head, took a sip, and savored the rich aroma, certain it would taste wonderful… ‘So spicy!’ His throat felt like it was on fire!

Never having tasted alcohol before, Su Zhuozhi was caught completely off guard. His face changed instantly, and he coughed violently. ‘Which scoundrel said wine was heavenly dew and a delicacy on earth?’

He turned his head, covering his mouth, coughing severely, and couldn’t help but glare at Xie Jue. ‘This clumsy dog, doesn’t he know to pat my back to help me recover? So unintelligent!’

Xie Jue stood behind the young master. Initially, seeing his nonchalant attitude as he ordered wine, Xie Jue assumed he was a regular drinker. Yet, after just one sip, he was done for—quite surprising. To try Jiuyun Spring without ever having drunk before.

His sleeve was suddenly tugged. Xie Jue saw fine, pale fingertips creating slight wrinkles in the fabric. The proud and noble young master was bent over, coughing, his eyes reddened at the corners, his long lashes damp. He looked both disheveled and pitiful.

Xie Jue lowered his gaze, watching him cough for a moment before seemingly comprehending his master’s unspoken request. He placed his large hand on the young man’s slender back, patted it awkwardly twice, and then was met with a kick.

Wet eyes glared at him in displeasure. No words were spoken, but it was easy to discern that the young master found his pats too forceful.

Xie Jue narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling it troublesome, but still softened his touch as instructed, patting him gently, one stroke after another.

Soon, Su Zhuozhi recovered. He waved his hand and said hoarsely, “That’s enough.”

Xie Jue then lowered his hand, his fingertips brushing against Su Zhuozhi’s lower back almost imperceptibly.

Jiang Yangyu, seated nearby, naturally witnessed Su Zhuozhi’s coughing and teased him, “Can’t drink? Should I ask the waiter to get you some milk tea instead?”

Su Zhuozhi’s face tightened. “Who are you looking down on? Of course I can drink!”

With that, he took a very grand… small sip.

It was still spicy, but this time he didn’t cough. That was close.

‘Drinking isn’t that hard after all,’ he thought.

Su Zhuozhi’s lips curved, a hint of pride in his expression. He looked up, only to meet the gazes of Xie Jue and Jiang Yangyu staring at him. He couldn’t shake the feeling they were mocking him.

Su Zhuozhi lifted his chin, raised an eyebrow, and said provocatively, “What are you looking at?”

Jiang Yangyu suppressed a laugh and averted his gaze.

Su Zhuozhi opened his mouth to say something more but then noticed the person standing by the table. He couldn’t help but frown. “Why is he here?”

Across the table was a familiar, unwelcome face.

Kong Zhonglin, the legitimate son of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, appeared easy to get along with, but Su Zhuozhi always felt that when Kong Zhonglin spoke to him, his words were ‘needles hidden in cotton’—a smile on his lips but a hint of disdain in his eyes, which made him uncomfortable.

Naturally, Su Zhuozhi disliked him.

Jiang Yangyu said casually, “Gong Cheng probably brought him. Recently, Kong Zhonglin’s elder sister gained favor in the palace, rising to the rank of Zhaoyi, and might even become a new concubine in another two months. How could he not come out and socialize more?”

“Oh,” Su Zhuozhi replied perfunctorily, showing no intention of interacting with someone currently enjoying such high favor.

“You don’t want to play with him? I can find a reason for him to leave.”

What did it matter if his family had a favored concubine? Young Lord Jiang Yangyu couldn’t care less; there were few people in the capital he needed to fear.

“No need. It’s not like I’m afraid of him. Let’s see who’s truly displeased later,” Su Zhuozhi said, his lips curling with a proud, somewhat unruly arrogance typical of a spoiled young master.

Jiang Yangyu chuckled, feeling quite proud. ‘Just as I thought, he’s like my little brother. He’s the one who bullies others; no one gets to bully him.’

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