Chapter 52: Pouring the Wine (II)

The banquet hosted by the Lady of Guo State was naturally of a higher standard than those for ordinary officials. Although Li Kuo and the others were honored guests invited by the Lady of Guo State, the gatekeepers, who judged people by their rank, naturally paid no attention to such low-ranking military officers of the seventh or eighth rank. Forced by protocol, they led the young men through the main gate, after which the young servant in green who had received the invitation simply said, “Do as you please,” and left them aside.
“What kind of attitude is that?”
Zhang Yanji felt a surge of anger and stepped forward angrily, ready to argue with the servant.
“Why bother arguing with a servant?”
Li Kuo grabbed his friend’s sleeve, offering a wry smile to comfort him. “These gatekeepers only care about the color of official robes. It’s no wonder we, as low-ranking officials, are ignored.”
“But Brother Kuo… he, uh!”
Zhang Yanji reluctantly shook off his sleeve and sighed deeply.
“You insist I’m stupid, yet you don’t believe it. The Lady of Guo State has invited so many guests. We just need to follow the crowd—why do we need someone to lead us? Mortals, nothing but mortals!”
Zhou Wucui had deliberately changed into a moon-white robe today, tying a square scarf casually around his head. He was now fanning himself ostentatiously to show off his elegance.
“You fat idiot, who do you think is stupid?”
Zhang Xiaolangjun was not one to back down easily. He stepped forward, determined to argue with Zhou Wucui and settle the matter.
“Mortals, nothing but mortals!”
Zhou Wucui sighed seriously, his tone perfectly pitched.
“Alright, alright. Stop talking!”
Li Kuo stepped in at just the right time to act as a peacemaker. “The invitation says the lady will host the banquet at her residence at the hour of You. It’s already three periods past the hour of Shen. If we want to save money on a meal, let’s hurry and follow!”
The two glanced at the sky and, reluctantly, grunted softly before following Li Kuo with the crowd.
The residence of the Lady of Guo State was originally the old home of the Wei family of Jingzhao. After Empress Wei disrupted governance, the house was confiscated and turned into an official residence. After the change of dynasty, the wise Emperor Li Sanlang bestowed this house upon the Lady of Guo State as a sign of favor. The Wei family was originally a prominent clan in the capital region, so their residence was naturally grand and spacious. The Lady of Guo State, being generous, spent a fortune ordering craftsmen to renovate it according to the design of Princess Taiping’s former residence. At that time, among the residences in Chang’an, none could compare in luxury except perhaps the Prime Minister’s mansion.
However, compared to many other complexes with intricate layouts, this residence was much simpler. Without the complicated multi-level structures, with the front part for receiving guests and the back yard for resting, simplicity sometimes made it feel more intimate.

This time, the Lady of Guo State arranged the banquet in the back courtyard, filling all the guests with anticipation. You see, in Chang’an, aside from the emperor himself, only the Lady of Guo State could bring “a river of water” into her mansion. The Lady loved incense, especially sandalwood, which is why this “river” was named “Sandalwood River.” It is said that she ordered the maids and servants in her household to pick flower petals every morning, mix them with sandalwood slices, grind them into powder, and add it to the sandalwood incense. Thus, those who were fortunate enough to visit her mansion were always in awe of the pervasive scent of sandalwood. After passing through several thresholds and corridors, the young men finally saw the famous “Sandalwood River” of Chang’an—a stream brought in from the south, flowing down from a height, winding around several walls, and then heading toward the “Bohuang Pavilion” in the north.

“Bohuang, Bohuang—what a wonderful name!”
Zhang Yanji nodded lightly, marveling continuously.
“Hurry up and take your seats!”
Li Kuo tugged at his friend’s sleeve, reminding him.

Since this was a private banquet hosted by the Lady of Guo State, it wasn’t as rigidly governed by etiquette as official banquets. Yet, even on matters like seating arrangements that greatly reflected officials’ status, she didn’t take them lightly. The servants skillfully divided the area into several zones according to the guests’ ranks, maintaining proper boundaries among the high-ranking officials. Officials of rank four and above sat on a raised slope adjacent to the “Bohuang Pavilion.” The slope was covered with maple trees, hence it was called Maple Forest Crossing. As dinner arrived, the blood-red maple leaves swayed in the wind, rustling softly, creating a truly delightful atmosphere. Officials of ranks four to seven sat on a gentler slope below, covered with daisies, known as Regeneration Plain. Having daisies as companions helped them cultivate their minds and spirits. With a chance to enjoy a peaceful moment in life, why not act like a scholar and use this garden as a retreat to rid oneself of worldly distractions? As for lower-ranking officials below rank seven, if they were lucky enough to be favored by the lady and invited to the banquet, they could only sit on the outermost hill. Though it was just a patch of green grass, it still matched the beauty of the surroundings.

Naturally, Li Kuo and his group had to sit at the back. However, thanks to the meandering “Sandalwood River,” the view from the hill toward the “Bohuang Pavilion” didn’t seem too far. Each person had a Persian carpet under their seat, with an ebony square table on top. But since they had to kneel while dining, this minor inconvenience really annoyed the high-ranking officials. With wine and drinks, along with beautiful scenery and romantic ambiance, what more could one ask for in life?

What they desired was the renowned Lady of Guo State, the enchanting Yang Huahua. No one is perfect—how could anyone be free from desires? Moreover, it was the famous Lady of Guo State who would appear before them, a beauty so exquisite that even the Empress Consort paled in comparison. Even those high-ranking officials who usually debated state affairs passionately in the court now pretended to be modest, gathering together to whisper about the sensational stories circulating about Lady of Guo State in Chang’an.

Finally, after much anticipation, the star of the banquet arrived at the “Bohuang Pavilion,” surrounded by numerous maids. That day, she wore a goose-yellow imperial robe and skirt, with a translucent magenta corset draped over her striking breasts. From afar, one could faintly glimpse the hint of beauty between them. Since it was a private banquet, she did not wear her usual elaborate hairstyle but simply used a jade hairpin to tie back her black hair. Without makeup or adornments, she nodded lazily at everyone with a faint smile on her lips.

“I’ve kept you all waiting so long. Please accept my apologies,” she said.

Lady of Guo State bowed deeply to them.

But the others dared not accept such a formal bow and quickly stood up, saying she need not worry about such trivial matters. Yang Huahua, who had only been there for show, saw their understanding and, with a laugh, said, “Please, take your seats.”

“Amazing! Truly amazing!” Zhang Yanji exclaimed, staring in awe.

Li Kuo was also shocked. He had heard of Lady of Guo State’s fame before and thought the rumors were exaggerated. But seeing her in person, he realized the rumors were not only true but also understated her extraordinary beauty. During a polo match in the palace earlier, Li Xiaoqi had glimpsed the Empress Consort from afar. At that time, Li Kuo had been stunned by her elegance and beauty, thinking her a goddess. Now, comparing her to Lady of Guo State, he marveled at how Lady of Guo State was even more radiant. To put it bluntly, she exuded the charm of a mature woman. She knew how to capture men’s hearts and make them bow at her feet.

“She’s a woman who can drive men mad!” Li Xiaoqi thought to himself.

“I am truly delighted that you all have come here at my invitation today. My cousin has been promoted to Censor, and Hui is about to experience great joy as well—truly a double celebration for the Yang family. Tonight, I shall get drunk with you all by this Tan River. With the wine cups floating along the winding water, it’s pure paradise on earth. If anyone can’t compose a poem, I won’t punish them.” (Note 3)
Yang Huahua raised her delicate eyebrows slightly and curved her lips in a playful smile. With just a few words, she softened the hearts of all the nobles present, capturing their mortal desires.
Note 1: Gengsheng is another name for chrysanthemums.
Note 2: It should be said that in the early Tang Dynasty, the dining customs of the Wei and Jin dynasties were still fully followed, with everyone sitting in a kneeling position. Of course, by this time it was the height of the Tang Dynasty, and due to cultural influences from the barbarians, ordinary households already had barbarian-style stools. Yet in the residences of the nobles, formal banquets still followed the tradition of sitting in a kneeling position while eating separately. But this doesn’t mean they liked to suffer needlessly. You can try it yourself: sit on your living room carpet for an hour while eating—won’t your calves ache terribly? Nobles also used barbarian-style stools during family meals, but to maintain their dignity, they endured the discomfort in formal occasions.
Note 3: The Lady of Guo State had a son named Pei Hui, who married Princess Gao of the Tang Dynasty.
“Wine cups floating along the winding water”: This is a custom that originated during the Shangsi Festival, originally meant to ward off disasters and bring blessings, but later evolved into an activity for scholars. It involved digging a small river in the courtyard and having servants float wine cups on the water. When a cup floated to someone’s side, that person had to compose a poem. If they couldn’t, they had to drink wine.