Chapter Fifty-One: Love Poems

In the afternoon, Li Yi returned to his small courtyard to embark on another invention. The Commercial Alliance was about to be established, and he needed several trump cards to ensure a spectacular debut. Moreover, this invention would be used the day after tomorrow to pull a prank on those pampered sons of nobility.

He entered a room specially set up for this purpose—the distillation chamber. Indeed, Li Yi was preparing to make distilled spirits. The necessary apparatus had already been crafted by Old Tie and Uncle Lin: bamboo pipes for the conduits, other parts fashioned from wood and iron, cobbled together to form a simple distillation room.

"Bingyu, is the encyclopedia ready?"

Bingyu raised her hand in assurance. "Young Master, you can rest easy! What are you planning this time?"

"Haha! This time, it's something wonderful—fine grape wine in luminous cups, with the sound of the pipa urging us to drink!"

"Oh! Young Master, you really do compose poetry!"

"You silly girl, how many times have I told you? Your Young Master is both charming and talented, a man who can command the court and cook in the kitchen, yet you still don't believe me!"

"Young Master, you're being narcissistic again!"

"You rascal, hurry and bring the wine, or I'll lose my temper!"

"Tch! Young Master only knows how to threaten people!" Bingyu rolled her eyes at Li Yi and went off to fetch the wine.

Before long, under Bingyu’s direction, a group of servants brought in nearly a hundred pounds of wine.

"Good heavens, Xiao Yu! You bring so much wine, are you trying to work me to death in this distillery?"

Bingyu giggled. "Young Master, you're truly silly! Why not teach others how to distill wine? Surely you don't intend to brew it yourself forever!"

Li Yi slapped his forehead. Of course! How could he make such a rookie mistake? This girl had exasperated him; her tongue grew sharper by the day, he wondered where she learned it.

Li Yi took two jars of wine, poured them into the distillation pot, and lit the fire. He carefully explained the principles and process of wine-making to Qian Zhong. Qian Zhong, the son of Steward Qian, had grown up in the Li household. Nineteen years old, lively and sensible, he never spoke unnecessarily and was reliable in his duties. Loyalty was not a concern, so Li Yi felt at ease teaching him the distillation secret.

After some time, the two jars of wine were distilled down to half a jar, clear as water and fragrant beyond compare. The aroma intoxicated everyone present. However, the alcohol content was too high and needed to be diluted.

After further experimentation, Li Yi determined the proper proportions. A small sip yielded a spirit of about fifty degrees; the wine burned like a fire line straight to the stomach, warming and mellow.

"Young Master! Is it good?" Qian Zhong watched Li Yi’s rapt expression, nearly drooling himself. Raised in a military family, he was but a servant, yet his love of wine was unmatched.

"Hehe! This jar is yours, enjoy it slowly. But you must help me brew all these low-degree spirits, and keep it going without pause!"

Qian Zhong clutched the wine, grinning ear to ear. "Young Master, rest assured, from now on I’ll live in the distillery! I guarantee completion."

"Hehe! No need for that, just do your best!"

---

"Heh, you little rascals, the day after tomorrow you'll learn what Li Wenyong's revenge truly means!"

"Young Master, your smile is so sly!"

"Girl, do you know what Li Wenyong’s revenge is?"

"Young Master, it’s time for lunch!"

"Is that so? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Let’s go, I’m starving!"

Training, training, and more training! Ever since the day Li Yi finished distilling the wine, he stayed at the Jiang residence. Hell Week was nearly over, and the little recruits had developed a solid foundation. Now, standing in formation, give them rifles and they’d resemble the Liberation Army—military posture, orderly ranks, swift movements, all matching newly enlisted soldiers after basic training. Their rapid progress was owed to two factors: first, their natural ability—they were already standouts from various military camps, merely unfamiliar with new methods. Li Yi’s corrections were sufficient to shape them. Second, Li Yi’s strict regimen—their training was intense, with little rest. Training became their habit, as natural as breathing. Once it reached that level, they were ready to graduate.

Tomorrow was Purgatory Week. Li Yi planned to begin teaching them special operations—individual combat, teamwork, terminology usage, specialized expressions, and a host of foundational skills.

But today, Li Yi had a major task ahead.

Seventh day of Hell Week, around ten o’clock, at the Li residence.

"Bingyu, is everything prepared?" Li Yi, dressed in his finest, wore his most handsome attire. Today was his day of vengeance; he needed to be in top form.

"Young Master, don’t worry! Your reputation will remain intact!"

"Good! Revenge is revenge, but hospitality must not be neglected!"

"Young Master, how do you plan to exact revenge?" Bingyu’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Li Yi lifted his head, nostrils flared. "Heh, Bingyu, do you know how I survived these past years? It was soaked in wine."

"Wine? Weren’t you a Daoist, Young Master?"

"You troublemaker, always exposing my faults! I’m a Daoist, not a monk; Daoists don’t abstain from wine!"

"Oh! But Young Master, there are so many of them. Are you sure you can manage?"

"Girl, there’s a word—outsmart!"

"Well, I hope you remember to bring your intelligence along!"

Li Yi grinned. "Heavens, Xiao Yu! Are you perhaps from another era?"

"From another era? What does that mean?"

---

"Truly not? Heavens, is her wit innate? What sort of maid did I end up with?"

...

"Young Master! They’ve arrived. They’ve already paid respects to the master and are heading this way!" Li Yi and Bingyu were bantering when a medium-built, slender servant with sharp eyes and a lively air ran over. His name was Sanzi, chosen by Bingyu. Li Yi had noticed Bingyu struggling to relay messages, so he found a quick-witted servant to run errands.

"Sanzi! Don’t rush, tell me—who’s here?" Li Yi, holding a bronze mirror, leisurely combed his hair. Heavens, even if they’ve arrived, they must wait for me!

Sanzi took a deep breath and began to list names. If Sanzi had one virtue, it was his memory and rapid speech. "Young Master, among those arrived are His Highness Li Ke, Prince of Shu; Li Xuan, eldest son of the Rencheng royal family; Li Chongyi, eldest son of Li Xiaogong, Prince of Jiangxia. From the Cheng family: Cheng Chumo, Cheng Chuliang, Cheng Chubi; from the Yuchi family: Yuchi Baolin and Yuchi Baoqing; from the Changsun family: Changsun Chong, eldest son; from the Fang family: Fang Yiai, second son; from the Wei family: Wei Shuyu, eldest son; from the Qin family: Qin Huaiyu, eldest son; from the Li family: Li Zhen, eldest son; from the Duan family: Duan Gui, second son. Also present are Princess Changle, Princess Yuzhang, and Lady Li Xueyan of Rencheng..."

"Wait, who did you say? Xueyan is here? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Heavens, Sanzi, you’ve doomed me!" Before Li Yi finished speaking, he was already gone, leaving a stunned Sanzi, a helpless Bingyu, and a shattered bronze mirror abandoned by its master.

Li Yi jogged to the front courtyard and immediately spotted Li Xueyan, looking somewhat impatient among the crowd. Without a word, he strode straight to her side, disregarding the surprised glances of others. Taking Li Xueyan’s hand, he recited with heartfelt passion:

"You, standing apart from the world, ethereal as a fairy.
You, of beauty that can topple nations, a rare orchid in a secluded valley.
You, with delicate brows like autumn waters, your gaze radiant.
You, jade skin caressed by the breeze, alluring and graceful.
Bright as light clouds veiling the moon,
Drifting like wind-blown snow.
I, will accompany you for life, never leaving or forsaking.
I, will protect you forever, until my last breath.
In heaven, may we soar as birds together; on earth, may we entwine as branches.
My robe grows loose, yet I do not regret it; for you, I am willing to waste away!"