Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 257
Yuan Xi and Zhen Mi were talking in a low voice, peeled a taro and handed it to Zhen Mi.

Zhen Mi took it over and said with a smile, "Thank you, Husband."

She whispered: "Husband, guess, I made the dish?"

Yuan Xi looked down at the Yue kiln celadon grid box on the table in front of him, inside each grid was filled with different foods.

This kind of food box is very similar to the buffet plate of later generations, but with more grids, it can hold a variety of food, and it is quite popular in the meeting banquets of the gentry in the land of Wuyue.

After Yuan Xi came to Guangling, he found this thing in the city. It contained more types of food, but the amount was not large, so it was very suitable for family gatherings.

He looked inside the grid. Vegetables included sunflower (winter amaranth), wild rice stem, and taro. The meat included a piece of soft boiled meat soup, and half a piece of Wudi perch sprinkled with sauce. Common people like it very much.

There is also a small half of fruit cheese beside it, which is made of cheese mixed with nuts from the Northland, and it is a dessert made only during festivals.

Finished off with a small bowl of fragrant rice.

Yuan Xi smiled at Zhen Mi: "This is really hard for me."

Looking at Zhen Mi's narrow expression, his heart moved, he pointed at the perch and said, "You did this."

Zhen Mi heard this, with a look of surprise on her face: "How did my husband guess so accurately?"

Looking at Zhen Mi's pale face, Yuan Xi thought that everyone knew that Zhen Mi's illness was not fully recovered, and Cai Zhaoji and the others probably wouldn't make Zhen Mi too tired.

After all the calculations, the rice and vegetables need to be washed, and the meat soup needs to be chopped, that is to say, the fish has been washed in advance and steamed in a pot, and Zhen Mi pours the sauce, which is the most convenient.

He suddenly remembered that the winter in Xuzhou was actually not too cold, and Zhen Mi was still sick, so when he arrived in Youzhou, he might have to pay more attention.

Thinking of this, he said to Zhen Mi: "You are still a little weak, you should rest well these few days, don't be too tired, leave these things to others."

Zhen Mi also knew that she caused trouble when she was sick, so she said softly: "I know, I am indeed feeling a little uncomfortable. I will go back to rest early in a while."

She lowered her voice, "It's not easy for a concubine to serve your husband these days, so you should go to Zhao Ji Cao Xian."

Yuan Xi thought to himself that Cao Xian spent the New Year with his family, so why bother them, Cai Zhaoji has no family, and probably is not in a good mood, so go find her by yourself.

Madam Wu, who was eavesdropping on the side, changed slightly after hearing Zhen Mi's words.

She also thought of it, Yuan Xi is likely to go to Cai Zhaoji tonight, and the token is in Cai Zhaoji's room!

How to do?
After tonight is over, plan again?
Madam Wu's brain was running fast, if she missed tonight, Cai Zhaoji would finish copying all the classics in the next few days, Zhen Mi's illness was almost cured, and Yuan Xi would take his family north to Youzhou at any time.

At that time, I will also be sent to Youzhou, which will be really troublesome!

The night of the Chinese New Year is the most relaxing time in the mansion. If you miss it, you will never find such a good opportunity again!
The token must be stolen!
After drinking for three rounds, Zhen Mi drank some wine and became a little sleepy. When Yuan Xi saw her, she wanted to send Zhen Mi back. Zhen Mi said: "I can just go back by myself, my husband hasn't finished eating yet."

When Madam Wu saw her, she quickly got up and said, "I will send Madam back."

Yuan Xi did not doubt that there was him, so he nodded immediately and said: "There is Mrs. Lao."

Mrs. Wu helped Zhen Mi back to the room, and helped her fall asleep. Zhen Mi couldn't keep her eyes open, so she narrowed her eyes and said, "Please trouble Madam."

"I don't know why, I've already recovered, but I'm a little tired today."

Madam Wu said: "Madam, don't worry, it will be all right in a few days."

Zhen Mi nodded and fell into a deep sleep.

Mrs. Wu got up and walked out of the house, closing the door, feeling a little guilty.

She helped to buy the rice wine for tonight's banquet, and she is the only one who knows that this local wine is not rushing at the beginning, but it has a strong aftertaste, and people who drink it can easily fall asleep .

So Zhen Mi only drank a few cups, and she, who was already a little weak, became extremely sleepy.

She quietly returned to her room and took out a small bottle of rice wine, which she had carefully selected. The taste was as weak as water, but the stamina was still strong.

Now during the Chinese New Year, everyone in the whole government drank alcohol, and at night, it was time to act on their own. The only variable was Yuan Xi who did not drink alcohol.

No matter what, trick him into drinking!
After Mrs. Wu went back, she told Yuan Xi that Zhen Mi had fallen asleep. At this time, Cao Hua was young and drowsy, so Mrs. Huan took her back to the house.

Madam Wu saw that her daughter Ah Xiang was also extremely sleepy, so she took her back to the house and coaxed her to sleep.

When she went back, there were very few people at the banquet, Cao Xian and Cao Hua had already gone back, and there were only a few people left in the banquet, Yuan Xi, Cai Zhaoji.

Seeing Mrs. Wu's return, Yuan Xi said apologetically, "I didn't take a few bites of food for bothering Madam."

Mrs. Wu hurriedly said: "It's okay, my concubine is almost done eating."

She was secretly happy, everyone was almost there, and now she just wanted to find a way to keep Yuan Xi and Cai Zhaoji from going back to the house for a while!

Cai Zhaoji was thinking about the few remaining classics, her face flushed, she got up and said to Yuan Xi, "I'm too drunk, I'll go to the study to sort out the classics first, and I'll be back in about half an hour."

Mrs. Wu saw that Cai Zhaoji's steps were a little unsteady when she went out, and she thought to herself that it's all right now, the wine is getting stronger, let alone half an hour, I'm afraid it will take several hours to sleep.

The current obstacle is only Yuan Xi left!
She had already used her sleeves to cover it up, poured the wine she had brought into the jug, turned to Yuan Xi and said, "I will retire in a while, but I have not formally thanked you for saving my son's life."

After finishing speaking, she picked up the jug, "I know that the young master does not drink, so I only pour a glass of wine for the young master, but the young master does not need to drink."

After she finished speaking, she lifted the jug, filled the wine glass in front of Yuan Xi, and filled another glass for herself.

She picked up the wine glass and said: "The concubine does it first to respect you," she raised her head and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.

Yuan Xi met and said, "Then I'll replace wine with tea."

He lifted the teapot at hand, but found that there was no tea in it.

Mrs. Wu secretly thought that she had already done the calculations, and she only persuaded Yuan Xi to drink because she saw that the teapot in Yuan Xi's hand was empty!
Yuan Xi hesitated for a moment, and found that the taste of the wine in front of him was very weak. He took it to his mouth and smelled it, and asked doubtfully, "This wine seems to have no taste?"

After hearing this, Mrs. Wu said in a low voice: "Could it be that you bought wine mixed with water? I'm going to change it."

Yuan Xi waved his hand and said, "No need, just right."

He took a sip and felt that there was really no taste, so he drank it, pointed the mouth of the empty cup at Mrs. Wu, and said, "If I don't drink it, I will be a little rude."

Mrs. Wu hurriedly bowed down and said: "I am afraid, thank you son for your love."

Seeing that there were not many people at the banquet, Yuan Xi also drank the wine. If the other party was really not able to drink as rumored, then most of the night would be over!
Thinking of this, she got up and said: "It's getting late, Concubine Rong will leave first."

Seeing that everyone at the table had left, Yuan Xi also got up and said, "It's time to go to sleep too, madam be careful."

The two left the hall one after the other. Seeing that Yuan Xi was going to Cai Zhaoji's bedroom, Mrs. Wu said in a hurry: "I saw Mrs. Zhaoji went to the study, and she seems to be feeling a little unwell."

After hearing this, Yuan Xi nodded and said, "Thank you Madam for reminding me." After speaking, he headed towards the study.

Mrs. Wu concealed her inner ecstasy, and the matter was mostly settled!

She returned to her room and stared in the direction of the study. After a full quarter of an hour, no one came out.

Mrs. Wu waited for a while, feeling a little drunk, she quickly drank some water, washed her face again, and regained consciousness.

She thought to herself that the wine was really strong, and that she could drink enough, but she reacted so much, if Yuan Xi really couldn't drink, she might have fallen asleep in the study by now.

Not missing the opportunity, she resolutely left the room and walked lightly to Cai Zhaoji's bedroom.

At this time in the study, Cai Zhaoji was drunk, her eyes were bleary, her head kept shaking, and the pen in her hand fell off. Yuan Xi saw her and said, "You've drunk too much, go back to your room to rest first."

Cai Zhaoji nodded, wanted to stand up, but found that her body was weak, so she simply went to the couch, pulled the quilt and said: "I will take a nap for a while, my son will go back to sleep first, and I will go back when I wake up."

Yuan Xi smiled and said: "Why is it so troublesome, wait until I carry you back."

He stretched out his hand to hug Cai Zhaoji, but found that he became a little dizzy with all the force, and didn't even hug Cai Zhaoji.

At this moment, Cai Zhaoji was already asleep, and Yuan Xi was afraid that it would be bad if the cold wind blows on the way back with her in his arms, so he had to give up.

He stood up staggeringly, feeling drunk, thinking that the glass of wine has so much stamina?
Or is it because I drink too little?
He picked up the teapot on the table and poured three bowls in a row, but he still felt dizzy, so he got up and went out. The severe winter cold outside made his mind clearer.

Yuan Xi looked up at the sky dotted with stars, feeling that the drunkenness was still rising, and secretly scolded himself for being too arrogant, thinking that a glass of wine was fine, but he didn't expect it to be so unbearable.

He staggered and played a few sets of Wu Qin Xi in the yard, but he didn't expect that as soon as he moved his body, his blood accelerated and his drunkenness became stronger.

Yuan Xi gradually began to lose his mind, and wanted to go back to the study, but in a daze, he walked towards Cai Zhaoji's bedroom.

Mrs. Wu was taking advantage of the faint moonlight outside the window to rummage through Cai Zhaoji's house. She found several hidden drawers, but she didn't find the key token.

Feeling the alcohol surge, her body began to heat up, and she began to get anxious. She finally got to this point, how could she give up!

She lifted the mat, touched the cracks of the boards, and moved the cabinet. Time passed by, but still nothing!
At this moment, footsteps came from outside the house, causing her to stop breathing suddenly.

Immediately there was a knock on the door, and Yuan Xi's dizzy voice sounded: "Zhaoji, are you asleep?"

Mrs. Wu wanted to vomit blood immediately, didn't you stay in the study with Cai Zhaoji?How come here?
She turned her head to look at the door latch, and she was even more devastated. She didn't put the door latch on when she came in, and Yuan Xi could come in just by pushing the door!

Yuan Xi's voice said again: "I'm coming in."

Mrs. Wu was very anxious when she heard that, if she was knocked out, it would be over!

She turned her head and looked around, panicked.

Yuan Xi pushed the door open and walked in. Taking advantage of the moonlight, he found a person lying on the couch, covered with a quilt, and a dark coat was thrown beside him.

At this moment, his mind was already confused, and he said with a smile: "So you're back." After speaking, he turned around and closed the door, and hung the latch at the same time.

Madam Wu faced the wooden wall, and when she heard the sound of closing the door, she cried out inwardly.

Just now she was quick to wit, she took off her dark clothes and got under the quilt, trying to confuse her, but she didn't expect that the other party just didn't leave!
Hearing Yuan Xi's footsteps approaching, Mrs. Wu's heart beat rapidly and she could only pretend to be asleep.

But hearing a plop, Yuan Xi lay directly beside Mrs. Wu, dragged half of the quilt by the way, and said in a daze, "You, are you asleep?"

Seeing no response from the people around him, Yuan Xi only felt drowsy and wanted to fall asleep.

Madam Wu breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed that the other party was quite drunk, as long as she fell asleep, she could take the opportunity to escape.

Although the matter of the token is dirty, at least the matter has not been exposed and can be redeemed.

Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly felt a claw sticking out from behind her.

Madam Wu's mind went blank.

(End of this chapter)