fake gentry

That evening, Wang Dun indeed sent someone to invite Xie Hong to a banquet.

The banquet was held in Anle Palace.

Xie Hong appeared with his hair down, looking unkempt after a shower.

He first paid his respects to Wang Dun, then greeted Wen Qiao and the others, and gracefully took his seat.

His seat was arranged to the left of Wang Dun, clearly indicating that he was the guest of honor for the evening.

Nowadays, there are no strict standards for left and right, superior and inferior, but seating arrangements are deliberately made for important occasions.

Important figures care about these pomp and circumstance, mainly in two different settings: banquets and official appointments.

At banquets, the east side is the most honored position. The hierarchy is not determined by left or right, but east is indeed left, so the honored position at a banquet corresponds to the left side.

The official system follows the rule of respecting the right. In the promotion of important officials, the right position is higher than the left position. For example, the Right Attendant is of higher status than the Left Attendant.

Xie Hong's performance in the Taiji Hall during the day was entirely worthy of his position as the guest of honor tonight. Even Wang Han, who harbored hatred towards Xie Hong, and Qian Feng, who was wary of him, showed no dissatisfaction.

As for Wen Qiao, Lu Wan, Shen Chong, Guo Pu, and the others, they naturally had no complaints whatsoever.

They were the chief clerks, military advisors, and other staff members in Wang Dun's office, so naturally they had no reason to have any objections to Xie Hong.

It should be known that the General's three trials have exposed the true colors of countless so-called famous scholars and talents, leaving them in a position of shame. Even renowned scholars like Lu Wan and Wen Qiao could not match Xie Hong's ability to impress the Duke on the spot.

A mere sixteen-year-old boy could command the respect of the entire shogunate; no one else could have done that.

But Xie Hong actually did it.

When Xie Hong paid his respects, he noticed that the person to Wang Dun's right was neither Qian Feng nor Wang Han. The other person was younger than Wang Dun, appearing to be in his forties, with a pale face, a clean chin, and a faint resemblance to Wang Biao. There was also a faint smell of medicine about him.

The other party took the Five-Stone Powder.

Xie Hong couldn't help but glance at the other person a few more times.

This is the first time he has encountered a scholar who has taken Five-Stone Powder since he traveled through time.

Five-Stone Powder was something that ordinary people couldn't afford. It was mostly consumed by high-ranking families and gentry, but many scholars didn't take it. For example, Xi Zhong, Xie Kun, Gu He, and Zhu Faqian were not people who took it.

Zhai Tang probably can't afford it.

Although Ge Hong had come up with his own formula for Five-Stone Powder, he was unsure whether he was truly convinced by Xie Hong.

Because Ge Hong never took any pills in front of him.

Wang Dun introduced Xie Hong to the other party, who was indeed Wang Biao's father, Wang Bin, the governor of Jiangzhou.

"This junior greets Master Shiru."

Xie Hong bowed respectfully to Wang Bin.

Seeing Xie Hong with disheveled hair and wide sleeves, entering as if no one else was around, Wang Bin was also amazed by the young man's demeanor and courage.

He had seen people before who dared to be so presumptuous in front of his elder brother, but they were nothing more than so-called famous scholars who were just pretending to be arrogant. However, this was the first time he had seen a young man like Xie Hong.

"So you are Xie Fengzhi? Why do you address me as a junior?"

"I recently became sworn brothers with Brother Xiuling and Brother Shuhu at Mount Lu."

Wang Bin was taken aback at first, but his expression softened considerably. His laughter was warm as he said, "I had no idea about this. Very good, very good. You may call me uncle."

During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the social interactions of the gentry were governed by strict etiquette. One could only refer to oneself as a junior when facing a friend's father. When speaking to peers or those one was not familiar with, one would use the term "this humble one." When addressing a respected elder, one would use the term "this junior one." Moreover, one could not directly address a friend's father as "uncle."

Unless the other person asks you to call him "uncle," it is considered impolite.

Seeing Xie Hong act arrogantly all day but show such respect to Wang Bin, Wang Dun felt somewhat displeased and said, "Since Fengzhi is treating my Wang family's juniors as friends, she can also call me uncle."

Xie Hong smiled at Wang Dun and said, "Your Excellency's prestige is great in Jiangzuo, I dare not be presumptuous."

A look of embarrassment and frustration flashed across Wang Dun's face. He immediately pointed to the seat and said, "Aren't you going to sit down?"

Xie Hong chuckled inwardly.

Wang Ahei is a very interesting person.

Although he said he killed Dai Yuan and Zhou Yi, it was because he felt that the two men posed a threat to him. He even wanted to kill Tao Kan, but ultimately failed.

Generally speaking, as long as you don't pose a real threat to him, even if you make fun of him or offend him, he will just laugh it off; this is what is known as the demeanor of a gentleman.

Wang Bin once pointed at him and cursed him as a traitor in front of all his subordinates, yet he still managed to make Wang Bin the governor of Jiangzhou.

This guy's personality also includes an arrogant and carefree side, and he even seems not very shrewd.

Since it was a private banquet, there were no formalities, and Xie Hong sat down and the banquet began.

Wang Dun picked up his wine cup, raised it to the crowd, said nothing, and then drank it all in one gulp. Everyone followed suit and drank a cup, and then the music and dance began, quickly enlivening the atmosphere.

Wang Dun sat upright in the main seat, placed the empty wine cup heavily on the table, wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth, and laughed loudly at Xie Hong, "My lord Xie, how does the beautiful concubine taste?"

The others also burst into laughter.

Exchanging beautiful women as gifts among scholars was considered a refined and elegant affair, and was also seen as a way to demonstrate friendship and aesthetic taste within a social circle.

When Shi Chong was hosting a banquet for his aristocratic friends at the Golden Valley Garden, he got drunk and wanted to give his most beloved Green Pearl to Wang Dao, but Wang Dao politely declined, saying that he dared not take what others cherished.

Xie An specially trained a group of exclusive courtesans, known as Dongshan prostitutes, and distributed one to everyone he met, just like handing out business cards.

They also frequently provide various after-sales services and user experiences, so these quirky interests become topics of conversation and amusing anecdotes at banquets.

When Wang Dun asked this question, everyone stared intently at Xie Hong, eager to see him make a fool of himself.

Although scholars of the time were said to be precocious, Xie Hong was only sixteen years old, still a boy. He would certainly feel embarrassed discussing such romantic matters with a group of famous scholars in their forties and fifties.

Xie Hong replied, "My lord, I am still a child."

Wen Qiao was the first to burst out laughing, and Lu Wan and the others laughed even harder.

Wang Dun never expected Xie Hong to say such a thing. He was at a loss for words, feeling as if he had given a gift to the wrong person.

But he can't say something like, "Since you're a child, send him back to me."

Wang Bin arrived in Wuchang that afternoon. He was entrusted by Xie Kun to come specifically to bail out the person.

However, Wang Dun immediately pulled him into the study and talked about Xie Hong's performance in the palace. He also talked about Xie Hong's judgment of the heroes of the world when he discussed the world, which greatly shocked Wang Bin.

He didn't have a good impression of Xie Hong at first, but because of Xie Hong's surprising remarks at the Huangshiyan Gathering, which made Wang Bin dislike him.

Wang Bin is a man of good character and integrity; to put it bluntly, he is a traditional Confucian scholar who despises unorthodox people like Xie Hong.

But he also greatly admired Xie Hong's inner virtue and outward kingship, believing that Xie Hong would surely become a great Confucian scholar and a renowned minister in the future.

When Xie Kun came to him for help, he learned that Xie Hong actually dared to say that his cousin was not a prime minister but a rebel. He was shocked but also felt a strange excitement of sharing the same ideals.

He was the first to point his finger at Wang Dun and curse him; Xie Hong was the second.

So he and Shen Chong arrived in Wuchang one after the other, fearing that if he was late, Xie Hong would lose his head.

He was determined to protect Xie Hong no matter what.

It was not at Xie Kun's request, but for the sake of the Jin dynasty and the world.

Upon hearing Xie Hong's words, Wang Bin couldn't help but laugh so hard that he dropped the wine bottle in his hand.

Whose kind is this?

Has a monstrous demon descended from the heavens?