In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 1141 - 1053: Fine Wine

Chapter 1141: Chapter 1053: Fine Wine

"Have Big Brother and the others all gone back?"

Qin Yi, carrying a chill, extended his hand to undo his cloak and casually started speaking. He then proceeded to take off his thick-soled boots and washed his hands with the assistance of Eunuch An.

"Indeed, everyone has returned."

Su Pan’er replied offhandedly and, after thinking for a moment, couldn’t resist talking about today’s events, "Right now, isn’t it New Year’s? Plus, you promised Little Yanyan that you’d take her out of the palace to see the festival market again, and she’s been making a fuss these past couple of days. Today, I thought I would invite everyone to the palace to gather and, incidentally, cheer up Yanyan a bit."

Qin Yi, who was drying his hands with a handkerchief, paused and suddenly slapped his forehead in annoyance, "Look at me, these past few days I’ve been so busy dealing with affairs, I totally forgot about that. How was it, she’s not angry with me, is she?"

"What kind of temperament does your daughter have, are you not aware?"

Su Pan’er suddenly started laughing, "This morning she still had a face full of grievances. But as soon as Shuang’er and the others arrived, in the blink of an eye, she’s like a different person. Especially after seeing Big Brother Lui’s Brother Jing, she clung to him non-stop, and her little mouth! Chattering away without a moment’s rest. Just before they were about to leave the palace, she still didn’t want to let him go. Fortunately, they are all family, if outsiders were to see this, who knows what they would say about her!"

Her words carried the tone of one who fears her daughter may not turn out successful!

"My First Princess, what is there that she can’t have?"

Qin Yi spoke with boundless pride, casually passing the handkerchief to Eunuch An before sitting down next to Su Pan’er, "It’s just a matter of Brother Jing keeping her company for a while, we can have him stay in the palace for a short period."

"That may be so, but Brother Jing is still a boy, after all."

Brother Jing, though only virtually five years old, was still a boy. To have him stay in the palace without proper reasons wasn’t sound, to say nothing of the boy’s own inclinations, which seemed against staying. That’s why she had to harden her heart, ignoring Little Yanyan’s requests and insisting that Brother Jing leave the palace.

Since entering the palace, fulfilling all of Little Yanyan’s demands had led to her developing a character where she feels she must get whatever she wants. Now, it seemed good to temper her character a bit.

"Indeed..."

Qin Yi seemed to think of something and did not dwell too much on this topic, "I heard that Ke’er didn’t come with you to the palace?"

"Yes, he didn’t come out during New Year either, saying that he needs to commit fully to preparing for the Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination and secure a good result."

Mentioning Su Ke, Su Pan’er’s face couldn’t help but show a bit more pride.

Her brother striving so ambitiously was indeed bringing her honor!

What could be more pleasing than that?

But at the same time, she also felt quite distressed. Ke’er, staying at home alone going over his studies during the New Year’s celebration and focusing entirely on preparing for the exam, was really too strenuous!

The conflicted look of pride and distress on her face made Qin Yi laugh outright, "You needn’t feel sorry for him. Ke’er is young, and it’s the perfect time for him to give his all. Working hard now will make things easier for him later in life. Even though he has the status of Uncle-in-law, that’s only a nominal title. In the Capital City, where one can throw a tile randomly and hit an official, that truly isn’t significant. If he himself doesn’t put in the effort, even if I wanted to promote him, I would need to carefully consider it. After all, there are countless eyes from Civil and Military officials of the Imperial Court watching."

He could make exceptions once, twice, thrice, but could he keep making exceptions every single time?

What would become of the Imperial Court’s legal system then?

With that said, Su Pan’er burst into laughter as well.

"That’s true. I just hope Ke’er can rank high in this Spring Imperial Civil Service Examination. I won’t ask for top results, I’ll be satisfied as long as he makes it onto the Secondary List."

"Because this examination is a Beneficent Examination, there are originally two hundred more talents to be selected than in previous years. If he still can’t pass under these circumstances, he will just have to wait another three years."

Qin Yi said decisively, then after thinking it over, he changed his tone, "However, since last year’s Autumn Imperial Civil Service Examination had the cheating scandal as a precedent, this Spring’s examination will be even stricter. I cannot say more. It all depends on his own abilities now."

Not being able to cheat is great!

If nobody can cheat, then the truest results will surely emerge.

If he still fails to pass the examination under these conditions, then it serves him right to study a few more years!

As they were speaking, Eunuch An had already silently ordered the meal to be served, laying out a table next to the small one in the Warm Pavilion.

"Haven’t you eaten yet? Have something to warm yourself up first. Look at the ice in your hair; how far must you have walked outside to have so much accumulate?"

Su Pan’er felt somewhat distressed as she helped him clear the ice fragments from his hair. Although he had washed his face, the droplets of water and pieces of ice in his hair were clearly visible, indicating how long he must have stood in the snow.

"It’s nothing. I merely took a walk around the Canal Wharf."

While talking, Qin Yi sat down at the small table and started to eat voraciously. He was really starving. These past two days, he had been running around for the sake of raising funds, and today, on a sudden impulse, he had gone to the dock. Only when he realized it was getting dark did he rush back to the palace without a moment’s rest.

Now that he smelled the fragrance of the food, he realized just how hungry he was.

"Even in raising funds, there is no need for such haste. That mausoleum isn’t going to be completed quickly; why not even have time for a sip of water?"

Su Pan’er was extremely concerned and dismissed the eunuchs and palace maids at hand. She stepped forward and personally poured a cup of wine for Qin Yi, "Here, drink some wine to warm up your body... Speaking of wine, when my brother, sister-in-law, and parents came over last time, I specifically brought out the grape wine that Big Brother Lui had sent us. I even saved a jar for you, would you like to try some?"

Qin Yi ate elegantly yet swiftly, and soon the bowl of rice was emptied.

Although fine dining etiquette in noble houses often emphasized silence during meals and required the young masters and ladies attired in fine silks to eat no more than seventy percent full.

However, for an emperor like Qin Yi who had emerged from the battlefield, even seventy percent full did not equate to just one bowl of rice.

After one bowl of rice, with something in his stomach, he slowed down the pace of eating while waiting for more rice to be served. He was quite interested in the mentioned grape wine.

"Is it produced by the workshop itself? Well, then I must give it a proper taste!"

The Qin and Lui Families had cooperated early on to start a workshop specializing in Bamboo Leaf Green Wine. Later, as the scale expanded, they added several varieties. By the time Qin Yi secured the dragon throne, the small workshop and today’s large distillery were simply incomparable. They had almost monopolized the sales of all types of wine in Luoyan Village.

"Yes, it’s indeed from that distillery,"

Su Pan’er had someone fetch the grape wine, personally broke the seal, and then poured out the fine wine from within.

The sparkling translucent colored glaze cups reflected dazzling light in the candlelight, making Qin Yi’s eyes light up as he watched Su Pan’er’s movements intently.