Chapter 33: Zhu Di, I Want to Be Your Brother-in-law

"This is clearly nothing but horse piss, isn't it?"

Zhu Xiongying made no attempt to hide his disdain, belittling the drink right in front of the assembled officials.

"Horse..."

The officials drew a sharp breath. In the eyes of the Imperial Grandson, everything they had just been drinking was horse piss? Wasn't this just a roundabout way of insulting them? If this were their own child, they would have given him a sound thrashing by now; anything less would be a failure of discipline!

"Big Nephew, I’m afraid that’s not a very polite way to speak," came a young, steady voice from the crowd.

It was the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, Zhu Xiongying’s nominal fourth uncle. He had been out inspecting the camps beyond the city walls for the past few days and had only returned to the palace this afternoon. He was already deeply dissatisfied with the "niubie" (cow bile) hotpot incident from earlier, and he hadn't expected another scene like this. Since his elder brother, Zhu Biao, was not present, and the Old Man doted on this boy so much, he would have to be the one to teach him a lesson.

"The tribute wine is supplied by the Lin family distillery in Yingtian Prefecture, the finest in all of the Great Ming! Even the most prized spirits from the Mongol steppes cannot compare to it. How can you, my nephew, call it horse piss? Could it be that you have tasted something better?"

Zhu Di’s swarthy face was filled with sternness.

"I haven't!" Zhu Xiongying shook his head without a second thought. Having transmigrated only a few days ago, this was indeed his first time drinking in this era, and he certainly hadn't tasted anything better here. But in his previous life, any bottle grabbed from a supermarket shelf would be far superior to this swill.

The civil and military officials felt a sense of secret satisfaction upon seeing this. Finally, someone had stepped up to put this kid in his place!

"But I do have something better than this," the little boy said leisurely.

"Hahaha! How is that possible? The Lin family distillery produces the best wine in all of Great Ming; no other distillery dares to challenge them!"

"Exactly! If there were anything better, they would have long since moved to seize the title of tribute wine!"

"True! Just look at the profits the name 'Tribute Wine' has brought to the Lin family...!"

The officials chimed in, refusing to believe a word Zhu Xiongying said.

Zhu Di was the same. "Heh, if you truly have something better, nephew, bring it out and let us see it. I, your fourth uncle, will immediately apologize for what I just said!"

"No need for apologies. Just become my brothers-in-law, and that will be enough!"

"Pfft... Hahaha!"

As soon as the little boy’s words fell, the officials burst into laughter.

"What did His Highness the Grandson say? He wants to be brothers-in-law with the Prince of Yan?"

"Doesn't the Prince of Yan’s wife come from the Duke of Wei’s house? Is the Grandson planning to marry the second daughter, Xu Miaoqing?"

"Hahaha, the Grandson is only seven years old. Does he even know what being brothers-in-law means?"

"Whether or not he understands is irrelevant. The point is that it is impossible for any wine to exist that is better than the tribute wine!"

"Right...!"

The officials had finished their meal and began setting down their chopsticks, eager to watch the show between uncle and nephew.

Zhu Yuanzhang, sitting above, frowned upon hearing this. It seemed the boy was truly set on marrying the youngest daughter of the Xu family, Xu Miaojin! After scheming against him, he was now moving on to the fourth son. Could it be... could he really produce a wine better than the tribute?

Xu Da’s expression mirrored that of the Emperor. Why did it feel like this little grandson wasn't joking?

"Fine! If you can truly produce a wine better than this tribute, forget about being brothers-in-law, I’ll even call you 'Fourth Uncle' myself...!" To dampen the boy’s arrogance and ensure he behaved himself in the future, Zhu Di narrowed his eyes and added, "But if you cannot, you will apologize to all the officials here, and from now on, you will stay in the Eastern Palace to study obediently, and stop causing trouble!"

At these words, the corners of Zhu Xiongying’s mouth curled up. He cursed the man’s cunning in his heart. The man’s ambition was already visible even at this stage; he was constantly looking for opportunities to buy people’s hearts!

"Deal!" Zhu Xiongying offered a crafty smile and took Shunzi with him to retrieve the item. The Wuliangye had been rewarded by the system just moments ago and was stored in the system space. He had to go get it himself!

A quarter of an hour later, he returned.

"Shunzi, pour the wine for everyone!"

"Yes!"

Shunzi followed orders, pouring the liquid from the jar in his arms into the wine vessels to serve the officials.

"Splash..."

A cup was poured into the vessel of Feng Sheng, the Duke of Song. Feng Sheng squinted into his cup. It looked empty, and he asked suspiciously, "Has it been poured?"

"Returning to Your Grace, it has been filled!"

"What? Filled?"

Feng Sheng lifted the cup and held it up to his eyes. It was indeed full. However, it was so clear that it had made him think it hadn't been poured at all.

"This... is this wine?"

"It certainly is!" the little boy replied with certainty.

Wuliangye was a product of the future. The quality was unquestionable; there wasn't a hint of impurity. Unlike the wine of this era, which was murky and cloudy, much like rice porridge!

The other officials, hearing this, checked their own cups.

"Hey! It really is as clear as water!"

"So bland-looking, I imagine it tastes like spring water!"

"Exactly! I suspect it must be sweet, hahaha...!"

The officials broke into laughter again. Zhu Xiongying wasn't in a hurry to explain. He would wait and see their faces change in a moment!

Once all the wine was poured, a smile hung on Zhu Di’s lips. "Hahaha! My nephew, I have to say, this water of yours really does look a bit like wine!"

"Why don't you try it, Fourth Uncle?" Zhu Xiongying found a chair, sat down, and swung his legs, waiting to see the man make a fool of himself.

"Haha! Very well!"

Zhu Di took the cup with confidence, and without a second thought, downed it in one gulp.

"Hm?"

However, the moment the liquid hit his tongue, his brow knitted tightly together.

"Pfft..."

Unable to help himself, he spat it out.

"Haha! I told you! This definitely isn't wine, otherwise, the Prince of Yan wouldn't have spat it out!"

"Right! What kind of wine could be that clear?"

"It looks like His Highness the Grandson will be returning to the Eastern Palace to study. We won't be seeing him for a long time!"

The officials muttered to one another.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Having spat out the wine, Zhu Di’s face turned bright red, and he began to cough violently, unable to utter a single word.

"Duke of Song, won't you try it?" Having received the reaction he wanted, Zhu Xiongying turned his gaze to Feng Sheng. Didn't this guy just doubt his wine was water? He would let him experience the power of 52-percent alcohol!

"Haha! Then this old soldier shall have a taste!"

He wanted to see just how terrible this wine was, to make the Prince of Yan lose his composure in public. Of course, he only thought the latter half to himself!

He pinched the cup and slowly brought it to his nose. A rich, fragrant aroma of wine surged straight into his nostrils.

"Hm?"

The smile on Feng Sheng’s face vanished instantly. He felt that the fragrance of this wine was even more intense than that of the Lin family distillery!

He took a sip, and his weathered face turned red immediately!

"Old Feng! How is the wine?"

"Hey? Old Feng, why aren't you saying anything...?"