Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 131
Chapter 131 – Nu’er Hong (Daughter Red)
After Shen Yu saw off Bian Shisi, he tidied up the side hall so meticulously that it looked as if no one had ever lived there. Then, he left the palace and headed to the residence of the Chief Commander…
“Yu’er, why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I could have gone to pick you up.”
Song Qing was overjoyed as he welcomed Shen Yu, who was carrying a small jar of wine, into the house…
“I was bored, so I came to have a drink with you all.”
After Shen Yu finished speaking, Song Qing looked at him in surprise. “Don’t you dislike drinking?”
Shen Yu shook the wine jar in his hand. The red paper label was already faded, but the words “Nu’er Hong” were still faintly visible…
“Alright, I’ll have someone make some appetizers for you. You shouldn’t drink too much.”
Song Qing’s cook had been replaced by Hong Lian, and now there was a top Shandong cuisine chef from Zuixian Restaurant, all to satisfy his cravings…
Soon, the table was filled with dishes like sweet and sour carp, pearl meatballs, Jiuzhuan large intestine, and steamed tofu…
As soon as the jar of Nu’er Hong was opened, the aroma of aged wine filled the air. Hong Lian leaned in, took a deep breath, and smacked his lips…
“Hmm… At least fifteen-year-old Nu’er Hong, good wine, good wine!”
Hong Lian looked at the small wine cup in front of him, tossed it aside, and replaced it with a large porcelain bowl, filling three bowls to the brim…
“What are you doing? Yu’er can’t drink as much as you, you drunkard. Pour less.”
Song Qing frowned seriously and reached to pull Hong Lian’s hand, but Hong Lian stubbornly shook him off…
“Master Song, drink today and be merry today. Your Yu’er came specifically to drink with me, don’t ruin our fun. Ever since I left Qinhuai Brothel, I haven’t had a proper drink. You always control me, let me indulge just this once…”
Hong Lian hadn’t even drunk yet but was already showing signs of intoxication, his eyes hazy and cunning, exuding endless charm like a fox in human form…
Shen Yu clinked bowls with Hong Lian, took a gulp, and immediately started coughing from the strong Nu’er Hong, his throat burning and eyes watering, but he was smiling and thoroughly enjoying himself…
Song Qing walked over worriedly, patted his back, and glared at Hong Lian…
“You know he can’t drink, stop egging him on,” Song Qing scolded.
Shen Yu waved his hand to show he was fine. Song Qing helplessly placed a piece of carp in his bowl…
“Eat something first to fill your stomach, be careful not to hurt yourself.”
After just one sip, Shen Yu felt a warmth rising to his eyes. His vision of Song Qing became a bit blurred…
“Look, even little Yu’er is drinking. Master Song, if you’re a man, drink a bowl with me!”
Shen Yu looked at the still sober but starting to act wildly Hong Lian and couldn’t help but laugh, then tilted his head to look at Song Qing.
Song Qing’s face showed difficulty as he stood still, glancing at Hong Lian with displeasure…
Hong Lian chuckled, stood up, wrapped himself around Song Qing, then sat on his lap, holding the bowl of wine to Song Qing’s lips…
“Master Song, you’ve never drunk with a courtesan before, have you?” Hong Lian batted his eyes flirtatiously. “This is a toast from the top courtesan of Qinhuai Brothel, you have to give me some face, right?”
Song Qing’s face turned red as he was held by the neck…
“I’ll drink one bowl, but you can’t make me drink more.”
“Once you’ve had the first bowl, how can you refuse the second?”
Hong Lian giggled as he watched Song Qing gulp it down in one go, his eyes sparkling. Suddenly, Hong Lian kissed him on the cheek…
Song Qing’s eyes widened, almost throwing Hong Lian off him…
Seeing his stunned expression, Hong Lian laughed, “Song fool!”
Song Qing’s face turned beet red, either from the alcohol or embarrassment…
“People are watching, stop it!” Song Qing stammered, trying to push away Hong Lian’s wandering hands…
Hong Lian’s breath, fragrant as orchids, tickled Song Qing’s ear…
“Master Song means that if no one’s watching, I can do whatever I want?”
Song Qing was speechless, feeling uneasy…
Taking advantage of the moment, Shen Yu signed, “Brother Song, I toast to you. Thank you for always taking care of me. If not for you, I might not be alive now.”
Since Shen Yu had already drunk, Song Qing couldn’t refuse and drank a second bowl…
Nu’er Hong is a festive wine buried underground when a daughter is born and opened when she marries to entertain guests, symbolizing joy…
Hong Lian, being a natural drinker, got thoroughly drunk and kept pouring more for Song Qing. Shen Yu drank the least…
Before long, Hong Lian’s clothes were in disarray, behaving wantonly, holding Song Qing’s head and kissing him. Song Qing, usually disciplined, was also quite drunk this time, trying to sit upright, but the blush on his face gave him away…
Hong Lian, sprawled on Song Qing, babbled, “Master Song, Song fool, do you like me?”
Song Qing nodded, then shook his head vigorously…
“Liar… If you don’t like me, why don’t you let me go back to being a courtesan? So hot…”
Hong Lian peeled off his clothes, revealing a fragrant shoulder. Song Qing, dazed and drunk, swallowed hard.
Seeing this, Shen Yu quietly left the room. Outside, the moon was already high. Although he drank the least, he still stumbled a bit on his way back to the palace…
He had just returned to his sleeping quarters when Prince Zhenbei summoned him.
“Nu’er Hong” (女儿红) translates to “Daughter Red” in English. It’s a type of traditional Chinese rice wine. The name comes from the practice of burying a jar of this wine when a daughter is born, to be dug up and drunk at her wedding, symbolizing joy and celebration. So, “Nu’er Hong” refers to this specific type of celebratory wine.
