Xuanqing Guard-Chapter 55: Gongmo

Shen Hao put down his wine cup, smiling as he said to Gan and Zhang, "I heard that you two gentlemen and Households Commander Jiang used to be brothers-in-arms sharing the same pot. I wonder if you could do me a favor and put in a word for me?"

"Oh?"

"I hope you gentlemen will be generous with your help." As Shen Hao spoke, he pulled out two silver notes from his chest and placed them in front of Gan and Zhang. Each note was for fifty thousand taels, and issued by Fengri City’s money shop, which saved the hassle of making large deposits—a thoughtful gesture indeed.

There are "public" and "private" introductions. Publicly, Shen Hao is Jiang Cheng’s subordinate, and needs no one to introduce him. But if he wants to side with Jiang Cheng, it has to be through "private connections," and Gan and Zhang were precisely his stepping stones.

Don’t think it’s unnecessary—in fact, this is an essential threshold.

If you can’t even get across the threshold, what talk is there of joining a faction?

Seeing the silver notes’ value, both Gan and Zhang twitched at the corners of their eyes, secretly thinking: It’s always said the Xuanqing Guard is the juiciest post, and now it’s clearly true—a mere Trial Hundred Households rank Flag Officer can casually pull out a hundred thousand in silver, tsk tsk.

Gan Lin glanced at Zhang Qian beside him, the two exchanged a look and chuckled, but still didn’t touch the silver notes on the table,

"Shen Zongqi, Households Commander Jiang is busy with official business most days. While we’ve braved death together, we don’t gather that often. Besides, we’re now military and Households Commander Jiang is Xuanqing Guard—we’re walking two lines now. Can’t promise you anything, Shen Zongqi."

"Hahaha, Lord Zhang, you’re joking. I, Shen Mou, am not new to the scene. I know the rules. I’ll still have to trouble you both to help with the introduction, but whether it works out or not, I absolutely wouldn’t bear any grudge."

In other words, you two just make the introduction; everything after is my own problem, don’t worry yourselves.

Hearing this from Shen Hao, Gan and Zhang finally picked up the silver notes and tucked them away. For them, it was a small thing to introduce Shen Hao; Jiang Cheng would give them that courtesy. As for success or not, that’d depend on Shen Hao’s own ability.

With money received, the matter could be considered temporarily settled. Now it was up to Gan and Zhang when to bring Shen Hao in for the meeting.

"Haha, Households Commander Zhang, Households Commander Gan, come, bottoms up!"

The half-pint horn cup was emptied by Shen Hao in one gulp. The crowd cheered, and Gan and Zhang weren’t to be outdone, raising their cups and downing them all at once as well—full of boisterous spirit.

But poor Wang Jian got the worst of it; his pathetic tolerance was a joke in this setting. After half a jin of wine, he was already dizzy. A Songstress by his side quickly grabbed some greens and fed him, barely suppressing his queasy stomach—otherwise, it would have been quite the spectacle.

This one-gulp horn cup was the boldest, most face-giving way to drink in the military, and Gan and Zhang were naturally familiar with it, ready to compete with Shen Hao relying on their own confidence.

Little did they know, to someone like Shen Hao, who was used to downing Erguotou and Old Bai Gan, this wine held zero danger of actually getting him drunk—at worst, it’d just bloat his stomach a bit.

After a whole jar each, Wang Jian dropped out of the group chat. The two Songstresses beside him supported him onto a recliner, feeding him honey water, washing his face with hot towels, even giving him massages now and then—serving him thoroughly and without the slightest complaint about looking after a drunk.

Gan and Zhang held their liquor well too. A jar only made their faces a shade redder—they weren’t close to drunk. Each picked up another jar, tossing one to Shen Hao, ready for round two.

"Haha, Shen Zongqi, you’ve got some drinking chops! My brother and I enjoy this sort of drinking. Shall we have ourselves a contest tonight?"

"Heh, gentlemen, what harm in a contest? Though it might be best saved for another day—Songstress Wen Xiuyun is coming to perform later, and perhaps you wouldn’t want to overdo things in front of a beauty?"

With this reminder, Shen Hao put a lid on their drinking itch; both men laughed and agreed to drink another time. Compared to booze, the allure of a Fifth Grade Songstress was much stronger.

After a few more idle exchanges, the door to the suite was knocked again.

"Gentlemen, our Miss Xiuyun has arrived."

With the madam’s triumphant announcement, a slender figure glided in from outside—a long blue skirt, a curvaceous figure swaying bewitchingly with every step.

Especially that pretty face, a hint of seduction in her handsomeness, her eyes as if speaking—a gaze hard to look away from.

Shen Hao was momentarily stunned. In his heart, he yelled: Damn! This is the bearing of a Fifth Grade Songstress?

But the True Qi churning in his body sobered him up quickly. Impressive, he thought. He’d heard that High Grade Songstresses were never just ordinary girls; all were cultivators of Side Path Charm Skill—the art of seduction was truly their signature talent.

Though called Charm Skill, it rarely had any offensive use—at least not this Fifth Grade Songstress. With Shen Hao’s Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivation, slipping free of her effect was child’s play.

But escaping the effect of her art didn’t mean he was immune to the strange, supernatural charisma she’d honed over years of practice—something non-practitioners could never possess.

He glanced at Gan and Zhang beside him; these old hands at pleasure clearly showed no True Qi fluctuations at all, deliberately letting themselves wallow in the intoxicating haze brought by Charm Skill.

This reminded Shen Hao of those smokers on earth.

"This humble woman, Wen Xiuyun, pays her respects to you four gentlemen."

"Hahaha, no need for all that courtesy, Miss Xiuyun, please rise!"

"Yes, yes, Miss Xiuyun, do have a seat. Thirsty? Would you like a little wine?"

Shen Hao was the only one at the table who could keep his cool. He didn’t like to put himself in any kind of danger, so he resisted the effect of her charms. In his eyes, Wen Xiuyun was indeed a beauty, but nothing to lose control over.

But truth be told, Shen Hao was the oddball—coming to the Flower House to drink with a High Grade Songstress yet forcibly suppressing her allure with True Qi; it was like going to the bathhouse and refusing to take your clothes off—crazy.

Wen Xiuyun’s every movement flawless, every curve shown off to perfection—a three hundred sixty degree display of "beauty." Shen Hao could only marvel in his heart.

"Xiuyun would love to propose a toast to each of you gentlemen, but this horn cup you men use... Xiuyun can’t handle it—just two cups and I’d be out cold, how embarrassing that would be."

Zhang Qian wasted no time ordering the servant outside for a small cup, then grinning as he poured Wen Xiuyun a drink himself.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang. Xiuyun toasts all you gentlemen."

Her rosy lips parted, tongue flicking teasingly around the rim of the cup—such a simple gesture, but it still sent a wave of heat through Shen Hao’s chest.

Even for Shen Hao, who’d resisted the charm, the mere sight was enough; Wang Jian, Zhang Qian, and Gan Lin beside him were all wide-eyed, their gazes flushed red with excitement.

Seeing the men reach the edge of their self-control, Wen Xiuyun set down her cup, spun gracefully, and stepped briskly up to the little stage set with instruments at the far end of the room.

"Gentlemen, please enjoy your drinks while Xiuyun plays and sings a piece to brighten the mood."