Chapter 73: A Shoe Within a Shoe (Part Two) (This chapter is free)
From Huan Wen down through the Sima, Military Advisers, Chief Clerks, and Records Clerks, everyone felt a solemn respect for Zhu Yingtai's pure Luoyang Standard Pronunciation.
A lavish banquet was then laid out. Seeing that Chen Caozhi neither touched a drop of wine nor lifted his chopsticks, Huan Wen asked why. Upon learning that he was mourning Ge Zhichuan, he sighed. "Clerk Chen is truly a refined gentleman. Twenty years ago, I had the good fortune to meet Baopuzi once, and greatly admired his learning and insight. Baopuzi lived past eighty and shed his mortal form to ascend among the immortals. This is no ordinary bereavement; Clerk Chen need not grieve." He ordered the kitchen to prepare delicate vegetarian dishes especially for Chen Caozhi.
After three rounds of wine, the Western Headquarters officials in the hall all fell quiet. Everyone kept glancing at Hao Long, Military Adviser of the Man Headquarters, waiting to see him pose three challenges to Zhu Yingtai. Yet, to their surprise, Hao Long merely poured his own wine and drank, seemingly having no intention of letting Zhu Yingtai experience the military headquarters' customary practice.
Noticing everyone repeatedly looking his way, Hao Long drained a cup and said, "What are you all looking at me for? Don't you know that even customary practices can be changed?"
But then Zhu Yingtai said, "I was just about to observe the customary practice, only to find it suddenly changed. What am I to do?"
Everyone's spirits immediately lifted. This newly arrived Clerk Zhu was about to challenge Military Adviser Hao.