Chapter 109: The New Eight Drunken Immortals (8)

The Eight Immortals gathered, arranging wine and setting up a banquet.

Wu Yueling opened the box, revealing eight radiant glass wine cups shimmering with splendid light. The gift from the Prime Minister was indeed quite exquisite.

"Could these be specialties from the Western Regions? Entirely crystal-clear, emitting a faint glow—luminous cups?" Cen Shen stared intently at the cups, filled with admiration. His greatest passion was collecting luminous cups, and he already possessed eight of them.

Picking up one particularly special glass cup, he shaded it with his sleeve and examined it closely. It did not emit any light at all. What exactly was this? Just an ordinary glass cup, unfinished?

"That can’t be!" Wu Yueling rotated the glass cup and replied. She also noticed that the cup in her hand was larger and more exquisite than the others, with a gemstone embedded in its base. Could it be that Prime Minister Li knew the leader of the Eight Immortals was Elder He and had specially commissioned this for him? "This most exquisite cup belongs to Elder He, the foremost immortal!"

No one present objected to this; Elder He was the most senior among them.

Afterwards, they placed a glass wine cup at each position around the octagonal table, which had been temporarily crafted for this occasion. Each side seated one immortal.

Since it was summer, no hotpot was served—instead, a spicy stir-fried pork dish was brought out, which they relished greatly, sweating profusely yet unable to put down their chopsticks.

As the revelry reached its peak, Cen Shen took out eight luminous cups and gifted one to each immortal present.

Meanwhile, Du Fu and Gao Shi noticed an elderly man observing the scene from afar. His hair was white and flowing, and he held brush and ink, tirelessly sketching on a drawing board.

"Who is that man?" Though clad in tattered clothes, Gao Shi’s robust chest was visible, and he remained spirited.

"Not sure, but he looks like someone extraordinary!" Du Fu’s interest was piqued, and he stepped forward first.

Seeing their approach, two young attendants silently blocked their way, gesturing for silence without revealing any disdain for their ragged appearance.

Du Fu and Gao Shi smiled and nodded, quietly standing aside while occasionally stealing glances at the drawing board. The more they looked, the more amazed they became. The board held over a dozen scrolls, all depicting the grand occasion of seeking the Eight Immortals.

In the distance, even as the Eight Immortals gathered, the visitors at Qujiang Pool showed no sign of dwindling. Groups of people roamed about, small boats and painted barges came and went on the lake, and some ladies skilled in playing the zither performed beneath the Eight Immortals Bridge, serenading the immortals with songs. The scene was utterly lively!

"Hahaha!" The old man set down his brush, stroked his white beard, and laughed contentedly. The painting of the Eight Immortals gathering to drink at the pavilion was complete.

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"Sir!" Du Fu and Gao Shi clasped their hands and bowed, praising the paintings on the board while inquiring the artist’s name.

"I am Wu Daozi. Thank you both for your compliments! But I wonder why two young talents such as yourselves have fallen on hard times?" Wu Daozi observed their eloquence despite their beggarly appearance. It was clear that although ragged, they were not ordinary vagrants. One was a refined scholar; the other a vigorous warrior.

Having painted for many years, it was not difficult to discern their identities from their faces—Du Fu was the scholarly type, Gao Shi the martial.

"We came from Luoyang, hoping to catch the sage’s conscription, but missed our chance. Now, with the princess hosting the Eight Immortals banquet, we gave it a try—but the strong liquor was truly overwhelming, and we both lost." Du Fu explained shamefully, their lack of status and destitution deeply embarrassing, especially before the renowned painting sage of Chang’an.

"I see! Hold the drawing board for me. I’ll introduce you!" Wu Daozi strode energetically toward Elder He’s pavilion, his dark green robe flowing gracefully.

Du Fu and Gao Shi exchanged a glance, seeing hope reflected in each other’s eyes. They lifted the drawing board and followed Wu Daozi, who loudly proclaimed his arrival.

"Hahaha! Wu Daozi brings the Eight Immortals painting to present to the princess and all the drunken immortals!"

Hearing this, everyone in the pavilion was astonished—the painting sage Wu Daozi had arrived.

The Eight Immortals rose and slowly exited the pavilion according to their ranks.

After a brief conversation, Elder He led the National Protector Princess forward.

Wu Yueling stepped up, clasped her hands in greeting. No wonder there was a familiar scene earlier—it was the old painting sage. "Master Wu!"

"Haha, Princess, long time no see. You look even more radiant! Now the slanders against you should cease! Please, behold today’s paintings!" Wu Daozi said warmly.

Following Wu Daozi’s lead, they viewed the paintings one by one, filled with awe. First came detailed portraits of each immortal stepping off the bridge, then an image of herself drunk, leaning on Wan’er’s shoulder, glancing subtly at a certain place.

The side profile of a drunken Li Bai was also vivid, lifelike, as if he were truly present. His unruly demeanor was perfectly captured.

Turning to another banquet scene, she couldn’t help but marvel. Truly a national treasure-level painting sage—every gesture, every smile of Elder He seemed to come alive before her eyes!

While admiring the scrolls, Wu Yueling noticed two beggars carrying the drawing board. Their tattered clothes hung in shreds, exposing arms and shoulders.

At first, she paid little attention, but then she saw Wu Daozi smiling knowingly. The beggars carrying the painting were laden with meaning.

Rather than simply viewing it that way, the exquisite scrolls contrasted sharply with the beggars’ ragged appearance—this contrast carried a profound message she could not miss. Considering her own status and exchanging a glance with the two beggars, she understood the message Wu Daozi wished to convey.

After all, she was the National Protector Princess. What did it mean to protect the nation? She wondered what her foster father had been thinking when he bestowed this title upon her—it wasn’t merely to protect his life!

The beggars carrying the Eight Immortals painting made everything clear. She nodded to Wu Daozi with a deep smile and gestured him to proceed.

"Please, Master Wu, take a seat!"

Everyone settled down, and the paintings of the Eight Immortals and the gathering were distributed. She kept two scrolls: the banquet scene of the Eight Immortals drinking at the pavilion and the portrait of herself drunk in Wan’er’s embrace.

"Forgive me for speaking plainly, Princess, but where do you intend to sit?" Li Bai, half-drunk, noticed the princess still standing and asked.

"Haha! Since Master Wu has gifted these paintings, why shouldn’t I yield my seat? Besides, Yueling is last among the immortals; it is only proper to show courtesy!" Wu Yueling smiled gracefully as she explained.

Hearing this, all nodded approvingly. The National Protector Princess was truly exceptional—not only talented and mature beyond her years but also capable of downing three cups of strong wine. This was the best proof that she belonged among the Eight Immortals. Though a woman, among the Eight Immortals, status mattered little; friendship was measured by wine! The National Protector Princess was indeed an indispensable member, forging deep bonds of friendship with them.

One immortal was He Zhizhang, Dean of the National Academy, a half-drunk, half-awake white-haired elder; two were Zhang Xu, the Mad Calligrapher, wild-haired and drunken; three was Prime Minister Li Shizhi, who drank countless cups; four was Prince Li Jin of Ruyang, who slept in the wine pavilion and refused to go home; five was Li Hanlin in white robes, who sang wildly after drinking; six was Cui Zongzhi of Qi State, handsome as a peach blossom; seven was Cen Shen with his luminous cups, expertly wielding a spear; eight was Princess Wu Yueling, wielding a green sword and strolling drunk.

The name of the Eight Immortals stirred Chang’an into a frenzy!

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