With Wei and Zhang gone, Li Jin remained alone aboard the painted boat.
The Palace Attendants in the cabin kept their eyes lowered as they cleared away the scattered cups.
The Painted-Boat Singer who had performed earlier saw Li Jin sitting upright in silence.
She stepped forward of her own accord, bearing a pot to pour him wine.
The spout had barely tilted, before any wine could flow, when Li Jin's expression changed...
"Pouring what?!"
With a crash, Li Jin kicked over the small table before him.
Cups and dishes tumbled down, wine splashing everywhere.
It soaked the brocade bedding and stained the embroidered screen.
The singer holding the pot stumbled back several steps in fright. The wine pot fell from her hands with a clang, sending shards of porcelain flying.
Behind the embroidered screen, every singer in the cabin dropped to her knees.
Their foreheads pressed against the floorboards. None dared raise her head or make a sound, afraid even a hurried breath might provoke the furious man.
"I asked you!" Li Jin stared at the Painted-Boat Singer and barked in a shrill, piercing voice.
"Pouring what?!"
"Is this the wine I wished to drink?"
His words carried a double meaning. No one dared answer.
Outside the cabin, the river was chill and the moon cold. A lone streak of light slipped through the curtain, falling directly upon the scattered cups and dishes.
The singers gave no answer, leaving his anger nowhere to vent.
Li Jin stood before the desk and lowered his head to study the wine left in the cups.
Wei Zi's cup had been drained. Its bottom lay bare, with only loneliness remaining.
Zhang Zai's cup had merely touched his lips. Its clear contents were still almost full, scarcely tasted.
As for the mild wine