Xu Yi laughed heartily. "There'll be plenty of chances. When the time comes, I hope you won't mind the trouble, old brother."
Liu Zhenlin pointed at Xu Yi and laughed. "You and your fake politeness—you'll never change."
Chatting and laughing, the two passed through layer upon layer of flower fields and skirted a patch of woods. A magnificent palace towered atop a handsome mountain peak, as if it had risen from the depths of the clouds.
Liu Zhenlin led Xu Yi into the hall, then waved away the kneeling menial workers and maids. "Let's wait here in the hall, brother."
With that, he clapped his hands and called, "Come, serve the banquet!"
At once, two lines of lovely maids in colorful robes filed into the hall. They fluttered their sleeves and straightened their collars, and before long, a sumptuous and elegant feast had been laid out.
The maids did not withdraw. Instead, they took their places in the hall and began to perform song and dance.
Though he had something on his mind, Xu Yi's appetite was undiminished by the feast spread before him. He smiled. "Brother Liu, you know me. I'm a born glutton. With all this delicious food in front of me, adding these beauties really muddles my thoughts. Why not send them away? We brothers can just drink together, say whatever we like, and eat however we please."
Liu Zhenlin laughed. "My fault, my fault. I forgot what a man of refined taste you are, little brother. The way I arranged things was downright vulgar, wasn't it?"
He promptly dismissed the dancers and attendants, and the two began drinking together across the table.
The banquet was halfway through when a lovely maid in green approached, carrying a jade-green bottle.
Liu Zhenlin was delighted to see her. Pointing