The State Must Guarantee the Rites of Passage - 3
The emperor's gift wine lived up to its legendary origin story with an extraordinary flavor. So much so that my fleeting thought of saving a bottle as a memento vanished in an instant.
Saving something like this would be tempting fate.
What if I died leaving this wine undrunk? If I ended up in the afterlife, my great-grandfather might sock me right in the face. How could you let something this precious gather dust without even tasting it? I couldn't handle the idea of getting chewed out by the founding emperor himself.
Thanks to that, the bottles brought to the dinner table at Grandfather's suggestion were quickly emptied. Me, Grandfather, Father—even Mother, who rarely drinks—downed the imperial wine without hesitation.
"The aroma is wonderful. If I didn't know it was wine, I'd have mistaken it for a richly scented tea," she said.
Yi Yeon had gone through a strict diet after her qi deviation, and those habits lingered even now that she'd reached the Peak realm. She only sipped a cup or two.
What a shame. This was the emperor's own brew, made to commemorate the unification of the realm—not something even royal families could indulge in freely. Who knew when we'd get another chance like this?
Unable to share the joy fully with my wife... Well, what could I do? Forcing someone who doesn't want it is the height of rudeness. At least she had a couple of sips, so we could still chat about the nuances together.
- Ppiae, Ppiiiak!
"You like it?"
- Ppiae!
Amid all this, Ppiae was slapping the floor with its front flippers, squeaking nonstop. Everyone at the dinner table burst into laughter at the sight.
This guy had been lounging lazily in Giwangjeo's pond just moments ago. But the second we cracked open the imperial wine, it must've caught the scent—it crawled over at a speed no turtle should manage.
Its desperation was too pitiful to ignore.
"Fishermen say that when they catch a turtle at sea, they give it a drink and let it go. If they treat ordinary turtles to liquor, how could we neglect a Millennium Turtle that comes begging? Serve it up properly—no skimping!"
Thankfully, Grandfather—who could outdrink anyone—didn't turn away Ppiae's earnest plea.
Spot on. Even regular turtles get treated like Dragon King's messengers. And here comes what might be a real servant of the dragons, pleading for just one cup. Ignoring it would offend the heavens and the seas alike.
- Ppiiiak!
"My, my, look at you guzzle it! No wonder a sea-dweller like you wound up on land—you must've gotten drunk and staggered ashore!"
- Ppiae!
Ppiae, having received its imperial wine, squeaked joyfully at Grandfather in what was surely a Millennium Turtle's heartfelt thanks.
Kki-ing or Kki-ong licking someone is hailed as a spirit beast's blessing, so even a simple squeak from Ppiae must count as one. With a Millennium Turtle's blessing, Grandfather's lifespan probably just got extended by five years, right?
One cup of wine for five years of life. No hard evidence, but it sounded plausible. When imperial wine meets a spirit beast, that's the least it should do.
"Heh, good thing the little guy's so small. If he were bigger, he'd have polished off the whole bottle himself."
"Size doesn't matter—he drinks like a champ. Stick him in a liquor jar, and he'll drain a 1.5-liter bottle solo."
Grandfather's laughter boomed even louder at that. It sounded like a joke, but it was true. When Ppiae gets serious, a liquor jar is just a oversized pet bottle. Give it time, and it'd empty it no problem. Truly a marvel.
"The kid didn't crawl onto land because it was drunk—it came looking for booze."
"Could be."
I nodded absently at Mother's words. Ppiae's official reason for hitting dry land was chasing Japanese pirates through Goryeo waters, but its behavior screamed booze quest. Otherwise, why be such a lush?
How did a drunkard's soul end up in a turtle body? It could've possessed a land creature, at least.
"Oh, right, Un-a."
"Yes, Grandfather?"
"Jang Sa-seong sent some fascinating gifts. No wonder he didn't show his face until right before the wedding—he must've been scrambling to gather them."
Dong-gu Wang's exotic presents? No clue. As lord of the international trade hub Hangzhou, he could pull in anything from beyond the Central Plains—rare gems, jewelry, even beasts from India or Africa. If this were the Age of Exploration, American goods might've landed in his hands too.
Hangzhou pineapples... I couldn't help picturing pineapples from across the ocean growing in Hangzhou. Or chilies, potatoes—not bad either. Either one would revolutionize Central Plains cuisine.
"He made such a fuss about it too. Said he barely got them amid all the unrest in Persia and India."
"Persia and India?"
"No need to take it seriously. Just him fishing for praise after his 'efforts.' If supplies were really that scarce, would they have made it all the way here?"
Fair point—I nodded. Unrest in Persia or India wouldn't faze Hangzhou. If anything, it drove more merchants there to trade. I'd seen Arab and Indian traders swapping coffee and pepper firsthand.
That region's always chaotic anyway. Plus, the Central Plains, India, Persia, Europe—more noisy eras than peaceful ones in those devilish lands. Not that I, living in one, should say it, but facts are facts.
So, a polite thank-you note to Dong-gu Wang it was. He'd bragged about the hassle—ghosting him would be rude. A sincere reply should satisfy him plenty.
After cracking the imperial wine, I lounged idly at Giwangjeo with no further plans. I'd figured Grandfather's impulsive nature would send us straight to Sichuan, but he had preparations to make. Thus, an unexpected vacation.
Who knew he did 'preparations'? An irreverent thought for a grandson, but it hit me instinctively. Even someone as spontaneous and destructive as Grandfather had plans? He'd scold me silly if he read my mind, but whatever. He badmouths the king behind his back—this was minor.
"You think so too, right?"
- Buoooong~
"Good answer, but keep those feet moving."
- Buoo...
At my firm tone, Buong made a pouty face but resumed circling the garden. Heartbreaking, but necessary. Ryeong-i had supersized Buong into a menace, so for its health, it needed to slim down. Garden laps first. Once accustomed, we'd scale up to circling Kaepyeong.
Sudden intense exercise backfires. Gradual steps. For true health, better take it slow than lose weight and vitality together.
"Buong-ah, three more laps and it's snack time."
- Buooo!
Its sluggish pace picked right up. Diets thrive on carrots over sticks—especially for a young one like Buong.
"Still going?"
"Turned out Buong was hiding a lot of blubber."
I watched contentedly as Yi Yeon sidled up to join me.
"Still, it's shed more than a few days ago. Quick-gained fat comes off easy?"
"Makes sense. Not fully settled in, so easier to shed."
Burning deep fat is tough, but dropping from obese to normal? Piece of cake. Seemed to apply to Buong too.
"By the way, dear. Heard any news from Inspector Jo?"
Yi Yeon's question tilted my head. Jo Wi-cheo had returned home post-wedding. Once I resumed duties as Right Deputy Censor-in-chief, he'd have to tag along anyway, so I told him to rest till then. He should be chilling at the Jo estate—what news?
I hadn't heard squat.
"Wi-cheo? Something up?"
"Well... not bad news, thankfully."
She pulled a letter from her bosom.
"A messenger pigeon arrived right after you and Buong headed out."
Ah. That explained the one fluttering toward my room earlier.
"The inspector's getting married soon too?"
"What?"
An unexpected bombshell.
Marriage?
Sudden. Sure, considering Jo Wi-cheo was older than me, it was overdue—but zero warning?
"He still has someone lined up?"
Harsh, but honest. Jo Wi-cheo was top 1%: inspector rank, Super Peak cultivation, decent looks. Jo clan was vassal-tier to us Giwangs—solid status. On the marriage market, prime catch.
Age was the snag. Even I, mid-20s, was past prime here; Jo Wi-cheo had lapped it.
Would some family marry off their daughter to him...?
Thinking it over, not impossible. Political matches ignore age.
"Jeong clan has someone similar. No personality issues—just a total workaholic, so..."
"I see."
Her explanation clicked instantly. Call it fortunate or not, but two birds of a feather.
They saw their shot.
Picture clear: After years trailing me across the realm, Jo Wi-cheo finally settled in Kaepyeong. Jo clan, fearing he'd bolt again, pushed the wedding. Jeong clan, same boat, grabbed the chance. Similar age and situation—perfect match.
"Guess I'll handle court alone for a bit."
Great news for Jo Wi-cheo. But marrying later than me meant his honeymoon lagged too—solo Dochalwon shifts ahead. Depressing. Could I survive without him?
Woke up, and bam—wedding date set. With a girl from the Jeong clan, one year my junior.
A dream?
My wedding must've left an impression. Dreaming of getting hitched myself?
Dream or not, back to bed. Close eyes, open—poof, this weirdness gone. Had to be.