noffsinger Chapter 153 Wine Heart
Chapter 153 Wine Heart
Inside the Golden Throne Hall of the Joseon Dynasty's royal palace, Emperor Bae Seong-deok sat on his supreme throne, listening to reports from his subordinates.
Pei Shengde was over sixty years old, with a dignified face and sharp eyes like a hawk. Every gesture he made exuded the majesty and domineering aura of an emperor.
The magnificent dragon robe he wore seemed to make him one with the Golden Palace, as if the entire Korean Empire was under his control.
At this moment, an official in his robes hurriedly entered the hall, looking flustered and speaking with a hint of anxiety.
"Your Majesty, the Ling Kingdom is facing an unprecedented crisis. The Gu Xuan Dynasty and the Qin Kingdom have joined forces to launch an attack against it, and the situation is extremely critical!"
Upon hearing this, Pei Shengde merely frowned slightly, a barely perceptible ripple flashing in his eyes.
Then, the usual calm returned, and he snorted coldly, saying, "The chaos in the Spirit Kingdom? Hmph, it's just a minor disturbance in the Nine Domains. What direct interest does it have in my Xian Dynasty?"
Upon hearing the emperor's words, the official looked surprised and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, if Ling Kingdom is truly annexed, the situation in the Nine Regions will undergo earth-shattering changes. This will likely bring many uncertainties to our Xian Dynasty as well."
Pei Shengde curled his lip in disdain, his tone revealing indifference and arrogance.
"However the situation in the Nine Regions changes, what does it have to do with my Dynasty? What I care about is how to consolidate the Dynasty's rule and prevent internal rebellions. As for everything else, they are all trivial matters."
Seeing this, the official lowered his head helplessly, knowing full well that once Pei Shengde made a decision, no one could change it.
So he silently bowed and withdrew from the Golden Palace, leaving Pei Shengde alone on the cold throne, his gaze deep and indifferent, as if nothing in the world could touch his cold heart.
Thus, the two great powers, the Western Regions and the Korean Empire, held significant influence in the Nine Regions.
They chose to ignore the crisis facing the Ling Kingdom, focusing solely on their own stability and development, and unwilling to get involved in what they considered pointless conflicts.
The situation was quite different during the Xia Dynasty.
Upon hearing the report from officials about the perilous situation in the Ling Kingdom, Emperor Wu Yufei of the Xia Dynasty immediately summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures.
He knew that the situation in the Nine Regions was constantly changing, and any slight disturbance could affect the safety of the Xia Dynasty.
"My lords, Ling Kingdom is being attacked from both sides by Gu Xuan Dynasty and Qin Kingdom. What are your thoughts on this?"
Wu Yufei's sharp gaze swept over the assembled officials.
A minister stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe this is a good opportunity for our Xia Dynasty to send troops to attack the Qin State."
Of the nine regions, the Qin state is currently the most powerful. If it is allowed to continue to grow stronger, it will inevitably pose a threat to our Xia Dynasty.
"Taking this opportunity, our Xia Dynasty should send troops to Qin to weaken its power."
This statement immediately garnered the support of many ministers.
They all expressed that the Qin state was ambitious and that if it was not suppressed in time, it would threaten the safety of the Xia Dynasty.
Upon hearing this, Wu Yufei frowned.
Going to war with the Qin state was no easy task for the Xia Dynasty; it required careful consideration.
He also understood that if the Xia Dynasty wanted to establish itself in these nine regions, it had to take action. After careful consideration, he...
He spoke slowly: "What you all say is very true. But we must proceed with caution and not act rashly."
I have decided to first send envoys to Qin to ascertain their strength and weaknesses. If an opportunity arises, we will then launch a military campaign.”
Upon hearing this, all the ministers nodded in agreement.
A discussion about the crisis in Ling Kingdom was temporarily brought to a close thanks to Wu Yufei's wise decision.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the Abyss, Lin Yundan was excitedly holding a bamboo tube in her hand, moving lightly among the lush vegetation.
Sunlight filtered through the treetops, dappling her body and adding a touch of life to the quiet valley.
The bamboo tube was filled with the aroma of wine, a fine brew she had finally succeeded in making after countless attempts.
With a joyful expression, she walked towards a simple thatched house, her heart filled with pride in her achievement and anticipation for Leng Xiyue.
Inside the thatched hut, Leng Xiyue was keeping vigil beside an unconscious old man.
The old man lay peacefully on the bed, motionless, but his pulse beat steadily and strongly, showing the tenacity of life.
Leng Xiyue's gaze was gentle and focused. He would occasionally wipe the old man's body and adjust his posture.
Over the past few years, the old man has been cared for by Leng Xiyue without complaint.
"Uncle Leng, come and see! I really succeeded in making wine this time."
Lin Yundan pushed open the door, her voice filled with pride and anticipation. Her voice echoed in the room, breaking the silence.
Leng Xiyue looked up at her, a hint of anticipation and curiosity flashing in her eyes.
He smiled slightly, as if he had already anticipated this good news.
He stood up, walked to Lin Yundan's side, took the bamboo tube from her hand, and gently sniffed it.
"Hmm, the aroma of this wine is indeed rich. It seems you really put in the effort this time."
Leng Xiyue smiled and nodded, handing the bamboo tube back to Lin Yundan.
His eyes gleamed with admiration, as if he could see the infinite possibilities of Lin Yundan's future.
Lin Yundan took the bamboo tube, a satisfied smile on her face.
"Right, I only found the key to making wine by recalling the steps involved."
My previous failures were because I overlooked many details, and I only recently realized the problem after reflecting on them.
She paused, then continued, "Moreover, I just tasted it, and it's mellow and rich; it's definitely a good wine."
With this success, I guarantee that no one in the world can surpass my wine.
Hearing Yun Dan's confident words, Leng Xiyue's lips curled up, her eyes full of laughter and doting, but she deliberately put on a stern face and scolded him with a smile.
"Look at you, girl, you're practically wagging your tail! The wine has only just been brewed, and you're already bragging like this. You need to change this habit."
Upon hearing this, Yun Dan crossed her arms and pretended to be angry, saying, "Oh dear, Uncle Leng, I've had a lot of trouble brewing this wine, and I finally succeeded."
I just couldn't resist showing off a little, indulging in a bit of bragging rights—it wouldn't do any harm. But you had to undermine me; couldn't you just let me have a moment of joy?
After Yun Dan finished speaking, she poured the wine from the bamboo tube in her hand and slowly poured the mellow wine into the cup.
"Uncle Leng, please try it and see how my cooking is."
Lin Yundan's voice was full of sincerity and expectation.
Leng Xiyue accepted the wine. As soon as the wine entered her mouth, it slid down her throat like a warm current, bringing a mellow and rich taste.
It spreads slowly on the tip of the tongue, like a blooming flower, releasing layers of fragrance.
Every flavor is just right, blending together yet remaining distinct, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
As the wine gradually flows into the stomach, a warm feeling spreads, as if it can touch the softest corner of one's heart.
Leng Xiyue closed her eyes, quietly savoring the wonderful taste and the fluctuations in her emotions.
After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, smiled at Xiao Yundan beside him, and said softly.
"Hmm... This wine is truly a superb brew! It has a mellow taste and a long finish, making it a rare and exquisite wine."
"Little Yundan, you are truly remarkable! You possess such superb brewing skills, capable of producing such delicious wine."
After he finished speaking, he raised his glass again and began to savor it.
This time, he seemed even more absorbed in it, his breathing becoming soft and slow, as if afraid of disturbing this wonderful enjoyment.
After a long while, he put down his wine glass and licked his lips with lingering satisfaction.
He then exclaimed in admiration, "If this wine were sold outside, I dare say that even the tribute wine offered to the emperor would be inferior by a third."
Leng Xiyue's words were full of sincere praise and expectations.
He patted Lin Yundan on the shoulder, as if to convey his trust and expectations to her.
Hearing Leng Xiyue's high praise, Lin Yundan's face blossomed into a radiant smile, as bright as a spring flower.
"Really? Uncle Leng, you're not just trying to make me happy, are you? Is this wine really that good?"
She pressed on with a mixture of surprise and delight, her tone revealing both barely suppressed joy and a hint of disbelief and doubt.
Seeing this, Leng Xiyue laughed heartily, her eyes full of praise and affirmation, as if she could see Lin Yundan's indomitable spirit and talent for brewing wine.
"Why would I lie to you? This wine is truly extraordinary; both its aroma and taste are exceptional."
"Little Yundan, you've truly impressed Uncle Leng! I never imagined you could make such fine wine."
Leng Xiyue's words were full of sincere admiration.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yundan's joy surged like a bursting dam, and she was so excited that she almost jumped for joy.
But after a brief moment of excitement, she suddenly remembered the strong liquor from her past life and couldn't help but ponder it to herself.
"If we could replicate the alcohol-making techniques from my past life, wouldn't everyone here be astonished?"
So she poured herself a small glass of wine, took a small sip, and savored it.
The wine did have a very strong aroma, but the taste was relatively mild, without the intense burning sensation she had imagined.