Chapter Thirty-Four: Uncle Four, Let’s Keep Our Own Forms of Address

As the fiery spirit hit his throat, it felt as if thousands of tiny blades were raking against Feng Sheng’s windpipe. It burned like a wildfire, searing all the way down his gullet and into his gut! He had never tasted such potent liquor before; for a moment, he was choked so badly he couldn't even speak.

The Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, was still coughing. The other officials, unable to suppress their curiosity, took a sip as well. In an instant, the entire Huayang Hall erupted into a scene of chaotic activity.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for shocking Zhu Di with strong liquor. Strength +50!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for shocking the court officials. Agility +10!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for shocking the court officials. Longevity rewarded by three months, two months, two months...]

As the officials finished their drinks, Zhu Xiongying began receiving rewards from the system. He suddenly realized that it wasn't just through mischief that he could earn rewards; startling the court officials had the exact same effect! Wouldn't it be much easier to grind for rewards from now on?

"Cough, cough... This... this... why is it so fierce?"
"My heavens, good thing I only drank a little, or this old man would have choked to death!"
"I truly never imagined this was actually wine, and so pure at that...!"

The expressions of the officials varied, all of them thoroughly stunned. Zhu Yuanzhang, seeing this, didn't dare to down the whole cup at once, choosing to take only a small sip instead. His narrow, long eyes immediately widened.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for shocking Zhu Yuanzhang with strong liquor. Reward: Master-level Calligraphy!]

"My dear grandson, where did this wine come from? Why is it so pure, without a trace of impurities?"
"It was brewed using the methods my master taught me, of course!" Zhu Xiongying lied without a blush or a racing heart.

Behind him, Shunzi scratched his head, feeling puzzled. When had His Highness the Grandson brewed this? Why hadn't he known?

"So it was a method passed down by the Old Immortal; no wonder!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in realization. Under the guidance of an immortal, the boy could even purify coarse salt—why would liquor be any different?

"This wine is clear and transparent, like dew from the mountains; it is truly marvelous!"
"Indeed! I’ve been soaked in wine vats since I was a child and have never been drunk! Today, this wine nearly knocked me over!"
"That’s right! Just one cup has my face flushed and my heart racing! Any more, and I’d have to trouble the guards to carry me back to my estate!"
"Though the entry is fierce, the aftertaste is fragrant and rich. It is truly excellent wine...!"

The officials, having recovered from the initial shock, began to heap praise upon the drink.

Zhu Xiongying sat with his legs crossed, watching their miserable state with a triumphant smile. "This kind of strong liquor must be savored slowly, little by little!" He then turned his gaze to Feng Sheng. "Duke of Song, is this water or wine?"

"Wine... wine... it is indeed wine! Excellent wine!" Feng Sheng had downed a large mouthful, his throat now almost hoarse from the burn.

"Fourth Uncle? How does this compare to that rubbish from the Lin family?" In truth, Zhu Xiongying didn't need to ask; he had already received the answer through his system rewards. Zhu Di was not only shocked but had also triggered a 50-point strength bonus. With this, his current strength stat reached 130—30 points higher than the average adult. He was no longer the sickly weakling who spent his days bedridden. If that old man Zhu Biao ever tried to beat him with a shoe sole again, he would finally be able to put up a fight!

"This wine..." Zhu Di pulled a bitter face; he simply couldn't bring himself to admit defeat.

"Fourth Uncle, in ancient times, ritual and propriety came first. I won't force you to call me uncle, as long as you don't oppose me marrying Xu Miaoqing! As for our relationship..." The little boy grinned. "Let’s just treat each other as equals!"

Zhu Di’s chest heaved noticeably faster than before. He was likely holding back a torrent of fury, but the facts were laid out before him; he had no choice but to accept it. Finally, gritting his teeth, he relented, "Marriage of children is, of course, a matter for the parents to decide and the matchmakers to arrange! My nephew may marry whomever he pleases; I shall not interfere."

"Hehe! Then I thank you, Fourth Uncle!" He wasn't the type to press his advantage unfairly; once his goal was met, he knew when to stop. Besides, a few pounds of liquor had earned him quite a bit of extra lifespan. This trade was definitely worth it!

"Um... Your Highness, could you pour us a bit more? Look, it's all gone!"
"That's right! I gulped it all down just now without truly savoring it!"
"Yes, yes! More! Just a little bit more...!"

With the wager finished, Feng Sheng, Li Shanchang, and Lan Yu shamelessly crowded around Zhu Xiongying to beg for more.

"Shunzi, pour them each half a cup! Send the rest back," the boy said generously.
"As you command!" Shunzi took the wine pot and immediately set to work.
"Remember, only half a cup!"
"Rest assured, Your Highness!"

Shunzi went about his task with a beaming face.

"Pour! Pour! Pour! A little more!"
"Hey! That was just one gulp, it was gone before I could taste it!"
"Shunzi, give me a little extra, just a drop more...!"

To get more wine, the officials had to go through Shunzi. A few cunning ones even secretly slipped him a piece of broken silver just for an extra pour. There were no measuring tools, and a slight shake of the hand could mean a little more wine. No one would ever notice!

[Ding! System task: Own a house of your own within three days. Reward: 100 cases of instant noodles!]

Just as Zhu Xiongying was happily enjoying his hotpot, the system suddenly issued a task. A house of his own within three days? The task seemed simple, but completing it wouldn't be easy! He was an Imperial Grandson living in the Eastern Palace; while he had his own courtyard, it wasn't truly his own. He had money, and buying a house outside the palace wouldn't be difficult, but the key was that he had to be able to leave! According to the original owner's memories, he hadn't stepped outside the palace gates once in seven years, let alone bought property. Old Zhu and his son would never agree to it!

"This wine enters with a fierce kick but feels smooth in the throat—a perfect balance of strength and gentleness. Truly excellent wine!"
"Indeed! One swallow and my blood is boiling!"
"Yes! The highlands are cold; if we had this strong liquor, our soldiers wouldn't lose their combat effectiveness due to the freezing temperatures...!"

As Feng Sheng, Lan Yu, and the others praised the drink, their thoughts naturally turned to the battlefield. Generals always thought about practical applications for new things! Zhu Yuanzhang, himself a bellicose man, felt his eyes light up at the suggestion. "Grandson, can this wine be mass-produced?"

"Of course!" The boy found a thin twig and began picking his teeth while he answered. It was nothing more than distillation; why wouldn't it be possible?

"Wonderful...!" The answer made Zhu Yuanzhang slap his thigh in delight. "My dear grandson, this wine could save hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the suffering of the bitter cold. Can you write down the method so that I can have it produced in large quantities?"