***
After entering the top-floor room of Seokhoru, I couldn't help but let my jaw drop.
'What a view...'
Could there be more? Upon entering, what greeted me was the lofty scenery looking down over Xihu from afar, and the long path of light drawn by the crimson sunset reflected upon the lake. There, the various pavilions and hills situated around Xihu became ornaments, embroidering the window; truly, this was exactly the moment for which the phrase *like a living scroll painting* was meant.
I stood there frozen, mouth agape and refusing to close. The crimson light surging in from Xihu seemed to dye even my very pupils.
What broke my reverie was a familiar voice—the voice of Seok Duwon, the Master of Seokga Manor. He turned slightly, looked at me as if amused, and flashed a broad grin.
Only then.
"P-please excuse me. As this is my first time in Hangzhou, I listened to the housekeeper's explanations along the way and was delayed."
Realizing I was late, I immediately offered my apology. This time as well, I greeted everyone in a manner slightly different from the Central Plains fashion—a bartender's manner.
"The meal has not yet begun, so please, sit. You may take that empty seat over there."
Any worry that this might go against etiquette was brief; seeing my appearance, Seok Duwon smiled brightly once again. Without making any additional remark about my tardiness, he simply guided me to a seat.
The room was filled with people sitting in rows centered around him, much like a banquet. Though there were empty seats here and there, the absence of place settings suggested that several places had been left vacant by design.
Once I took my seat, the faces of those around me came into view. Beside me sat a beauty with her long hair let down, and a stout scholar who was constantly streaming with sweat.
*These must be the first and second guests.*
Across from me sat Chief Manager Gong Seokyong, who had come to fetch me, along with other men of considerable age. They appeared to be retainers holding important positions in Seokga Manor.
"Now then, I believe we may begin. It seems all who are coming have arrived. I arranged this gathering in the hope that everyone might become better acquainted. You guests have likely seen those seated here coming and going at least once. They are excellent individuals who support our Seokga Manor."
As soon as I sat down, Seok Duwon naturally took the lead. The first order of business was to introduce the retainers.
"I am Chief Manager Gong Seokyong. I oversee the internal affairs and external matters of the main house. Though everyone knows me by sight, this seems to be the first time we have shared a gathering such as this. It is an honor."
After this grand introduction, Chief Manager Gong rose from his seat, cupped his hands in greeting, and bowed to the guests. That white-haired old man was the one who had come to the hut to fetch me previously. An inexplicable, chilly aura still enveloped him.
When he finished and sat down, the retainers at his side rose one by one.
The introductions of the retainers continued.
"I am Gu Donghae, the chief in charge of the merchant group. All commerce and supplies are handled by me. If there is anything you wish to bring in from elsewhere, please do not hesitate to speak to me anytime."
"I am Yeom Hang, the chief in charge of accounts. I also oversee the finances of Seokga Manor. Pleased to meet you."
"I am Jang Chorim, the chief who manages affairs at the escort agency. The chief of the escort troupe is absent, so I am attending in his stead."
"I am Son Mokgeon, the chief who manages the shipping group. If you require passage by boat, please speak without reserve."
"The workshop..."
"Managing the marketplace shops..."
"The guard unit..."
The retainers' introductions continued for quite some time before finally drawing to an end. Each of them possessed discipline and lively eyes—truly, they were figures befitting the name of Seokga Manor.
"There are some absent today, but you will be able to meet them in due time, so do not be disappointed. Now then, shall I introduce the talents that Seokga Manor has gone to great lengths to host?"
When the retainers' introductions ended, Seok Duwon swept his long robe and pointed to the opposite side. Then, as if on cue, the stout-built scholar rose from his seat and began to introduce himself.
"This lowly scholar is Du Yeonghae, a student from Hunan. By a stroke of fortune, I have come to stay at Seokga Manor, which is renowned even in Hangzhou. It is an honor to meet you heroes."
"Scholar Du's fame is illustrious even among the students of Hangzhou, so I personally invited him to Seokga Manor. It would be good for everyone to interact and share knowledge."
As Seok Duwon's supplementary words finished, the elegant woman seated beside the scholar took up the conversation.
"This young woman is Mae Chohyeon, who plays the zither in Beijing. I perform at a small tavern called Geumhyangru in Beijing. Through a chance connection with Master Seok, I have come to stay here. I ask for your kindness."
"Surely, if it is Geumhyangru...?"
"Haha. It is indeed that Geumhyangru which Chief Manager Gong is thinking of. The very place where even the Imperial Palace sends people every year to request the music of the seven-stringed zither. Through a connection I made in Beijing during my wandering days, I am hosting Miss Mae while she stays in Hangzhou. I ask everyone to please extend her every convenience."
The answer came not from Mae Chohyeon, but from Seok Duwon. His voice was laden with force as he unspooled Mae Chohyeon's background.
Taking someone with an outstanding background as a guest seemed to be, in itself, a matter of pride for the master.
"Now then, everyone here will likely be meeting this person for the first time. The young noble who has been staying at Seokga Manor for the past week. Young Master Lee Jeonghwan."
After the excited reactions regarding Mae Chohyeon had come and gone, Seok Duwon's words turned toward me. Though the introduction began somewhat modestly, I carefully rose and offered my greetings to those around me.
"I am Lee Jeonghwan. Through a chance connection, I have come to stay at Seokga Manor. I ask for your kindness."
What more could I possibly add? With nothing impressive to attach to my name yet, I simply tossed it out and sat back down. Eyes that seemed to ask, *Is that all?* turned toward me at once. Compared to Mae Chohyeon's background, my introduction was not merely modest—it was pathetic.
"Ahem. It seems Young Master Lee is being excessively modest, so this old man wishes to add a few words. Young Master Lee Jeonghwan here is the one who helped resolve the counterfeit liquor incident some time ago."
!
He had probably planned this all along. The reason he had not given the full introduction from the start was for this very moment.
Seok Duwon began to unravel our prior connection, adding it to my pathetic introduction.
Since the retainers were all aware of the incident that had occurred not long ago, their surprised expressions were a sight to behold.
"Are you saying that this is that noble person who saved someone dying from counterfeit liquor at the inn and instantly recognized the fake liquor?"
"Indeed."
"Hoh. You were indeed a man of excessive modesty. Hoho. As the chief managing the marketplace shops, I express my gratitude for that matter. Hoho."
The reactions varied. Some were busy recalling and reviewing the incident from that time, while others stepped forward as if they had known all along and expressed their thanks.
Seok Duwon smiled, seemingly satisfied by this reaction, and looked at me warmly. Looking at that gaze, I felt as though my stay as a guest had been extended by about a month.
At the end of that warm look, Seok Duwon added a gaze that seemed to ask something further. A look as if seeking my permission. I had an inkling of what it was, so I nodded.
"That is not all. This young master here is a talent who has even traveled to the Western Regions and Wa, or so I have heard."
!
"T-the Western Regions and Wa, you say?"
"Hoh."
He was absolutely thrilled. That was precisely the expression of someone boasting a prized collectible. This was one of the purposes for which the heads of households gathered guests.
Amidst the many reactions, one retainer in particular stared holes through me.
The chief in charge of the merchant group, Gu Donghae, was the owner of that gaze.
"Hoho. A young noble who has returned from the Western Regions?"
His eyes shone far sharper than those of the other chiefs as he nodded. For some reason, his laughter from up ahead had sounded like mockery.
"Is that not remarkable in itself? Hahaha! The Western Regions! A place even this old Gu, who has been in the merchant group for over twenty years, has never visited! Truly remarkable!"
In an instant, his expression snapped into a wide grin, and his voice rose. The sly edge from moments before vanished, and he was now looking at my face with a friendly gaze. With an excited expression, he even puffed out his breath slightly; to anyone watching, he looked like a man with a burning interest in the Western Regions.
"Then, does Young Master Lee know how to speak the tongue of the Western Regions? The language of Wa as well?"
"The Western Regions are vast. I can speak the language of the area where I stayed. Of course, the language of Wa is also possible."
"Hoho. You are indeed excessively modest! The Western Regions and the Land of Wa. This old Gu has a deep interest in both. I am constantly thinking of how to expand commerce further. If you have any profound insights, please share them anytime."
Now he even leaned his body toward me and began firing off words. To anyone looking, he was pulling himself so close that one might think only he and I existed in this place.
"Now, now, Chief Gu. Let us stop here for today. Heh. This young master will be staying at Seokga Manor for quite some time, so wouldn't it be fine to seek him out separately later and ask to learn from him? There are others here today, so let us take things slowly."
"Ahem. I have shown an unsightly side. I got carried away at the mention of the Western Regions and Wa..."
"Hehe. There is no one who does not know of Chief Gu's deep interest in the Western Regions. Master, Young Master Lee, please look upon him with forbearance."
Fortunately, Seok Duwon and Chief Manager Gong intervened and cut him off before the atmosphere could deepen any further.
Today, at least, this was a gathering where I was not the protagonist. Chief Gu Donghae showed some disappointment and made a promise for another day.
"Now then, everyone, let us raise our cups. First, a toast, and then we shall speak more. Yes?"
"Yes, Master."
At Seok Duwon's order to fill the cups, they quickly took on color. What filled them was a yellow wine with a somewhat deep brown hue.
Yellow wine usually has a light brown color; such a deep brown meant that the wine had been aged for a long time and properly matured.
It was clearly liquor aged at least ten years.
*So Seokga Manor really is famous for its yellow wine...*
Seokga Manor was a place more famous for yellow wine than for white spirit. Though I had not been without some expectation of strong white spirit upon coming to an expensive tavern, Seokga Manor's Stone Yellow Wine was liquor more than enough to satisfy a throat left dry for three months.
"Is there anyone here who cannot drink? Scholar Du, are you alright?"
Once everyone's cups were filled, Seok Duwon raised his high and looked toward the side where the guests sat.
The stout-built scholar Du Yeonghae, whose eyes had briefly met his, hurriedly raised his cup in kind and opened his mouth.
"Does not the old saying say that clear wine is like a worthy man and turbid wine is like a sage? As a scholar is one who reads books to become both a worthy man and a sage, how could I refuse a cup? Hahaha. Drink."
Du Yeonghae, true to a scholar's nature, raised the mood by quoting an old saying. However, his words sounded slightly different to me.
Because the old saying he quoted was one I knew as well.
*Isn't it the other way around...?*
As far as I knew, clear wine was the sage and turbid wine was the worthy. This was the old allusion known as the Clear Sage and the Turbid Worthy, a tale that anyone who dealt in liquor would have heard at least once.
Students would not be unaware of this saying either, so if he were truly a scholar, he could not possibly confuse it.
As I tilted my head at that thought, I caught Seok Duwon's expression changing rapidly.
He quickly fixed his face and,
"Hm. What of Miss Mae?"
moved past it.
For some reason, he seemed to let it go even though he knew Du Yeonghae was wrong.
"It is said that originally, a musician cuts all strings after one cup of wine and from the second cup onward connects one string at a time. This young woman still lacks skill and does not know how to play a zither with missing strings, so today I shall try to connect all the strings. Master, please do not be angered by this sight."
"Hahaha! How could I be angry at Miss Mae? I only hope that all the strings are connected so that I may hear your performance. Hehehe."
His shifting expression quickly brightened at Mae Chohyeon's words. I wondered what this was about, but it was a common sight in the Central Plains.
In the Central Plains, they always exchanged words akin to opening verses before a drinking gathering to raise the atmosphere.
This role was mainly the guests' duty.
"Then, what of Young Master Lee?"
As expected. Next came my turn. But I had no worries. If this had been another place, perhaps, but we were in the middle of a drinking gathering. How could a bartender be weak at a drinking table? This place was practically home turf to me.
I arranged my breath lightly and immediately opened my mouth.