novelhk Chapter 975: Envy King Zhou and become King Zhou!
Chapter 975: Envy King Zhou and become King Zhou!
In this era, women were not completely isolated from alcohol, but drinking was mostly limited to specific occasions and status. Women from ordinary families rarely drank, especially at formal banquets, where there were more rules.
Typically, only the mistress of a household or a lady of high rank is entitled to toast superiors or guests. It would be considered disrespectful for a subordinate's wife to offer a toast to her husband's superior. However, in Gaoyao's Southern Territory Palace, he didn't care about these tedious ancient rituals. He believed that at a family dinner, being at ease and having fun was the most important thing.
The wine prepared for the more gentle and docile ladies, such as Lü Su and Yu Shu, was the fruit wine carefully brewed in the mansion. Made from fermented seasonal fruits, it had a very low alcohol content and tasted sweet with a rich fruity aroma, almost without the astringency of ordinary wine, making it more like a delicious beverage.
However, even with such a mild fruit wine, for them who seldom drink alcohol on weekdays, the aftereffects gradually became apparent after a few rounds.
Lu Su was the first to lose her composure, her pretty face flushed. She slumped over the table, her eyes hazy, a sweet smile on her lips, as if lost in a beautiful dream. Yu Su was next. She tried hard to maintain her composure, but her heavy eyelids refused to obey, and she eventually slumped over. Xiao Yue, who had a weaker alcohol tolerance, was already drowsy, leaning against the maid, grinning foolishly. The two Dong sisters cuddled together, also intoxicated, and eventually both collapsed.
Even Lu Zhi, who was usually the most dignified and resilient, was now at the end of her rope. Two clouds of red flew across her fair cheeks. Although she tried to keep her eyes clear, it was difficult for her to focus. She was still thinking about something - she wanted to personally thank Gao Yao for choosing her to take charge of the harem today, and she also wanted to explore the deeper meaning behind his move.
However, while her mind was clear, her body was no longer under her control. She tried to get up, but felt dizzy and her body swayed. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, she burped uncontrollably, and a sweet smell of fruit wine came out. She was suddenly embarrassed, and the little strength she had managed to hold on to dissipated in an instant. She could only let the maid come forward, carefully support her, and half-carry, half-carry her away from the banquet. As she left, there was still a trace of unwillingness and helplessness in her eyes.
In comparison, Qi Ji, Nazha and Natasha are in much better condition.
Qi Ji was a trained dancer, no stranger to alcohol. Although she couldn't drink much, she had a decent tolerance. Her face was flushed, her eyes glittering with allure, like a ripe peach. From time to time, she glanced at Gao Yao with that captivating gaze, the meaning of which was self-evident.
Nazha was born in the Baiyue ethnic group, and her physique was naturally stronger than that of women from the Central Plains. Furthermore, the Baiyue people were relatively open-minded, so it was not uncommon for women to drink. She had a decent alcohol tolerance. Although her cheeks were slightly flushed, she was lucid and her movements were effortless, which only added to her wild beauty.
As for Natasha, a former noble from the Maurya Kingdom, drinking was a natural part of her social life, so she was quite adaptable. Her complexion was just a little rosier than usual, and her blue eyes looked even more profound and captivating under the light.
Gao Yao looked at the crowd in front of him and couldn't help but find it amusing. He laughed heartily and ordered, "Come here, take the queen and all the princesses back home to rest carefully. Take good care of them and prepare some hangover soup."
"Yes!" The eunuchs and palace maids responded in unison, and then stepped forward in an orderly manner, each of them helped up their drunken master, guided him in a soft voice, and slowly left the hall.
In a blink of an eye, the noisy hall became quiet, leaving only Gao Yao, and the three people who were still able to control themselves, Qi Ji, Nazha and Natasha.
Gao Yao looked at the three beauties before him, each with their own distinct appearance, yet each possessing a captivating gaze. The slight weariness of his political career was instantly replaced by a new emotion. He stood up, embracing the delicate and graceful Concubine Qi with one arm and Nazha with the other. He glanced at Natasha and said with a smile, "Come on, accompany me for a bath to soothe my fatigue."
The place he was referring to was the bathhouse within the harem, which he had renovated with immense effort and expense. It was practically the pinnacle of his hedonism. Back in Nanhai Commandery, he had similar facilities, though on a far smaller scale. Perhaps it was a habit ingrained in him as a northerner before his time travel: he always felt uneasy without a bath. Now that he owned the Xianyang Palace, he naturally wanted to elevate this enjoyment to its fullest.
He simply designated an entire side hall and converted it into a vast bathing area. His conception was ingenious, far ahead of its time. Relying solely on constantly adding hot water to maintain the temperature of this small swimming pool would be an extremely extravagant and inefficient undertaking. Gao Yao only needed to share his vision with his skilled craftsmen—who were now accustomed to, and even proud of, the "divine monarch's" endless stream of ingenious ideas—and they would bring it to life.
The bathing pool's base was ingeniously remodeled, incorporating the smoke-exhausting principles of traditional kangs (kangs) in northern China, and a winding ceramic flue was installed. Simply adding firewood to a designated stove outside the hall would draw the hot smoke through the flue, evenly heating the water. This method not only maintained a pleasant water temperature for extended periods, but also significantly reduced labor and fuel consumption, eliminating the frequent and labor-intensive water changes. Daily maintenance required only a few eunuchs to monitor the fire, extinguish it, and arrange for the water to be changed after Gao Yao's use. This was both efficient and practical.
When Gao Yao and the three women entered the misty, spring-warm bathing hall, the air was filled with the faint aroma of geothermal sulfur and spices. The huge bathing pool was made of white marble, and the clear water shimmered under the lights surrounding the hall.
To Gao Yao's slight surprise, Qi Ji, Nazha, and Natasha seemed to have understood the situation well enough, showing none of the shyness or awkwardness typical of women. They smiled at each other and each walked gracefully behind the dressing screens set up by the pool. A moment later, the rustling sound of clothing could be heard.
Gao Yao smiled upon seeing this, and after removing his outer robe and leaving only his underwear, he was the first to step into the warm pool. The perfect temperature instantly enveloped him, dispelling the night's chill and the days' fatigue. He breathed a sigh of relief, leaned against the smooth jade of the pool wall, closed his eyes, and thoroughly savored this moment of relaxation.
Not long after, he heard the faint sound of water. He opened his eyes and saw three graceful bodies, each with their own unique charm, slowly wading towards him.
They were draped only in a thin, cicada-wing-thin veil. The veil, wet as it was, clung to their skin, becoming almost transparent, perfectly outlining their curvaceous, slender figures. Their slender necks, round shoulders, full, proud breasts, slender waists, plump, perky hips, and straight, slender legs... every alluring curve was faintly visible beneath the soaked veil.