CH 18

Xie Yilu took an awkward seat in the corner, with Qu Feng on his side, continuously adding food into Xie Yilu’s bowl. “Have some more. Once you finish eating you can leave early.”

Xie Yilu was very embarrassed, “But it’s your father’s banquet. Here I am, just indulging in …”

“You’re not ‘eating’ his money anyway,” when mentioning his father, Qu Feng didn’t show much respect, “the money all came from the ministry.” He tore off a duck leg for Xie Yilu. “Besides, with your meagre salary, how can you survive in Nanjing?”

And he had it right. At home, Xie Yilu only ever had salted fish and pickled vegetables, yet he could enjoy fresh fish and poultry outside. How could he possibly turn down these temptations? As Xie Yilu savoured the food discreetly, Secretary of State Qu1 entered through the gate wearing a grandiose ceremonial robe, smiling as he talked. Judging by his look, he had obviously made meticulous preparations; from his ingratiating attitude, the guest he was welcoming must be someone of high importance.

Xie Yilu didn’t pay much attention. Only when the people at nearby tables laid down their chopsticks and stood up in unison, did he then peek towards the door. The first thing about the guest that entered his sight was a corner of the purplish golden Yesa2, followed by a jade belt encrusted with gold, and a robe fully embroidered with lion patterns. The guest’s gait betrayed his difficulties in walking, and at one glance, Xie Yilu immediately recognised him to be Liao Jixiang.

Among dozens of tables, and out of hundreds of men dressed in similar robes, Liao Jixiang could still spot Xie Yilu with just a single glance. After sharing a brief moment of eye contact, they both tacitly averted their gaze.

Secretary of State Qu was full of smiles as he led Liao Jixiang to the main seat. “Honourable Dugong3, may thy humble servant ask for thy pity! It is this one’s utmost fortune to have thee here. This one should have knelt to welcome thee, but ‘tis true that this one’s ailing legs can bend no more. This one prays for thy mercy, Honourable Dugong!”

Xie Yilu was appalled by his flattery. A proper second-rank official, calling himself a “humble servant”? The contrast between his imposing demeanour when they last met and his ingratiating attitude now was simply too striking.

Qu Feng clearly didn’t expect Liao Jixiang to be the guest his father invited. He kept his head down and couldn’t bring himself to lift it up again. Xie Yilu, after taking a few more insipid bites, nudged Qu Feng’s arm. “I’m more or less done, so I’ll leave first.”

Qu Feng immediately dropped his chopsticks. “I’ll go with you.”

At the head table, Secretary of State Qu saw the two of them the moment he sat down. He spotted Qu Feng first, and incidentally noticed Xie Yilu. As soon as he saw Xie Yilu, his scalp tightened, and promptly observed Liao Jixiang’s expression.

Liao Jixiang didn’t show any displeasure – he was always like this, cold and aloof, not as approachable as Zheng Xian. So Secretary of State Qu waved his hand behind his back, and some servants immediately approached. A few instructions were soon given to have Xie Yilu removed from the venue.

The servant moved inconspicuously by the side of the venue and made way towards Xie Yilu in the corner, leaning down and whispering in his ears. As the two of them were already planning to leave, they immediately stood up. Liao Jixiang, witnessing this at the head table, reacted as if one of his own had been mistreated, or his cherished precious had been looked down upon. Suddenly, he slammed his palm on the table, instantly posing a dead silence across the entire room.

Secretary of State Qu was so frightened that he completely froze with his cup in his hand. Zhang Cai accompanied Liao Jixiang to the banquet today. He came forth, having the long knife ready in his grasp as he studied everyone present. He was about to speak when he spotted Xie Yilu, yet Liao Jixiang spoke first from behind with tender affection, “Since you’re already here, stay.”

Although it was a subtle remark intended for a friend, everyone else regarded it as a threat. Those pitiful and sympathetic looks shot out and pierced Xie Yilu like needles. Yet surprisingly, he didn’t feel any pain at all. All he cared was Liao Jixiang’s words, “Since you’re already here, stay.” It seemed as if those words alone were more than sufficient for him.

The sound of clinking wine cups appeared again. Secretary of State Qu, who was most dreadful of awkward silences, eagerly held his cup and raised it with ten times more enthusiasm than before. “Honourable Dugong, thy humble servant toast to thee!”

However, Liao Jixiang appeared different from before. His face was cold as always, but now the coldness seemed to be freezing into the bones. He didn’t even bother to raise his cup in response.

Secretary of State Qu’s wrinkled face turned stiff and purple. Unable to maintain his composure, he anxiously said, “Honourable Dugong, this one comes with the most sincere and devoted heart. Regarding the troubles among the officials caused by the Yong Society4, this one will most definitely…”

Liao Jixiang truly left him no grace. He didn’t even allow time for Qu to finish talking before standing up and left the banquet.

Everyone was exchanging looks in confusion, except for Xie Yilu, who dropped his chopsticks and dashed outside. He actually didn’t know what he could do by following Liao Jixiang out. With a large entourage surrounding Liao Jixiang, he probably wouldn’t even be able to see his face. Yet being long enchanted by him, Xie Yilu just couldn’t resist.

Qu Feng was unaware of Xie Yilu’s heart, so he chased after him, but Secretary of State Qu stopped him at the door with a growl. “That’s no behaviour befitting my son! You stop right there!”

Qu Feng’s fist clenched and then let go. He didn’t follow Xie Yilu out after all, and watched as Xie Yilu walked further away.

Liao Jixiang left in a sedan chair. As Xie Yilu didn’t dare to openly tail them, he hurried to the other side of the road, and walked abreast with the Weaving and Sewing Bureau, pretending to be walking in the same direction as them.

This street ran alongside the Qinhuai River5, with houses located at the riverfront on both sides. The balconies of the houses were all illuminated by red candles, and at a glance, the shiny pearl curtains on the balconies were extending as far as the eyes could see. The sounds of flutes and drums from the pleasure boats echoed as they travelled to and fro along the waterways. The weather was already getting warmer at this time of year, so the women and young girls, fresh out of the bath, all sat together outside the pavilion. As the river breeze rose, the air was suddenly pervaded with the fragrance of jasmine. Amidst this captivating, enchanting scene, Xie Yilu was led by a merchant carrying a lantern6, walking and stealing glances in Liao Jixiang’s direction.

Liao Jixiang pushed open the sedan chair’s window, and looked back at Xie Yilu. As the sedan chair swayed ever so lightly, so were their hearts, trembling in untold emotions.

The jolly laughter of young girls came jingling from the riverbank. If they listened closely, they could also hear the faint sounds from the girls cracking the melon seeds – the girls should be holding their round fans7 at the moment, their hair loosely tied or elegantly decorated, engaging in playful banter. What a scene that made men enervated in the bones! Xie Yilu could also feel his bones turning weak, although not due to the women, but because of this early summer night, along with some indescribable, ambiguous feelings.

He continued down the road in a daze, approaching the door of the next shop. It was a paper clothing store8. The store probably closed early, so the owner had already gone to sleep. To send off Xie Yilu, the owner had now gotten up again with his robe loosely wrapped around the shoulders, lighting a lantern as he struggled to stay awake. A considerable amount of time had passed, yet the lantern remained unlit. Xie Yilu was anxious, too anxious about losing traces of Liao Jixiang’s sedan chair. The way he scratched his head and cheeks in apprehension was truly comical.

“Halt,” Liao Jixiang instructed from his side of the road. He was afraid as well, afraid that Xie Yilu couldn’t keep up with him.

The sedan chair immediately came to a stop. No one knew why their Dugong halted, nor did they know who he was waiting for. Yet regardless of the reasonings, who wouldn’t want to linger a little longer on this quiet and tender night?

Zhang Cai circled around the sedan chair, and through a small opening in the sedan chair’s window, he caught sight of Liao Jixiang’s eyes — they were so gentle, like the embrace of water. “Grandpa9,” the question came unexpectedly out of his mouth, “what are you looking at?”

Perhaps the night was too gorgeous, or perhaps, Liao Jixiang was too exhausted to wear the mask of the cold and superior Da Dang10, he finally whispered, “The man across the street.”

“What’s so good-looking about him?” Zhang Cai murmured. “You shouldn’t look at him.”

“Why?” Slight laziness and amusement were found in Liao Jixiang’s voice.

“He has died once. Yama11 refused to take him in, so he doesn’t deserve to die now.”

Liao Jixiang was stunned for a moment, but he soon realised that the child had misunderstood him. With a light chuckle, he said, as if he was a big brother teasing his baby brother, “Do I look like I want to kill him again?”

“Why else would you look at him then?” Zhang Cai lowered his head, words came discontinuously out of his mouth in hesitance. “Grandpa, shouldn’t we do more good deeds? Weren’t you always teaching us to worship Buddha and be kind…”

To kill him again? Liao Jixiang frowned. His mood at the moment felt similar to back then, an intense urge of wanting to do something to him. Or… he boldly speculated, does he actually want to do something with him?

Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, the lantern from the paper clothing store was lit. The lantern was plain white12, without a single character written on it. Xie Yilu went on his way, so Liao Jixiang immediately stomped his foot, ordering his men, “Move!”

After the two of them went separate ways, Xie Yilu couldn’t suppress his feelings and wrote a letter for the stone lamp on that very night. Although they were supposed to meet once every three days at Xiaolao Fountain13, his restless soul couldn’t possibly endure the waiting anymore. As usual, the letter mostly contained the trivial matters, but somehow, there were hints of lingering and repressed emotions in between the lines, such as: “I prayed my finished painting grant me everlasting peace like the spirit of bamboo, yet the Lord of Wind and the Commander of Rain attacked and tempted my troubled soul.

Though my emotions are tumultuous as storms, would you care to bring me order?14”

Words such as “tumultuous” and “order” could easily startle anyone reading it. Yet such unconventional words still won Xie Yilu a reply from Liao Jixiang, which were written finely in pine soot ink15:

“Being carefree in the scorching summer months, I shall luxuriate in wine and chess.

The unannounced advent of wind and rain knocked on my door, and left me the clusters of disturbed fresh green.”

Xie Yilu was at a loss, and so was Liao Jixiang. Between the two of them, who was truly the one that disturbed the other? They could no longer tell. Under the full moon, Xie Yilu stood beside Lingfu Temple, next to the white stone lamp and holding the piece of paper perfumed with sandalwood scent. His heart was racing. As he lost track of time standing there, he suddenly recalled his meeting with Qu Feng at midnight, so he tucked the letter roughly in his pocket and rushed towards the Cavalry’s Warehouse, south of the city.

Qu Feng was already waiting for him at Cavalry’s Warehouse, which was three hundred steps south of Xiyuan16. Tonight, Yong Society’s opera show would take place over there.

After meeting each other, the two of them walked towards Xiyuan as they talked. When they reach Xin Bridge17, they noticed a group of men led by Tu Yao, standing near the bridge under the willow branches. Tu Yao was not wearing a Feiyufu18 tonight, instead, he was clad in a set of armour with floral carvings. They were surrounding a lone eunuch in the middle, the slim and elegant figure belonged to none other than Jin Tang.

“Make way!” Jin Tang stood alone but remained dignified.

Perhaps because he was not in his official attire, Tu Yao casually sat on the railing of the bridge and turned a blind eye to his men teasing Jin Tang, like how they would tease a cat. To them, Jin Tang was indeed a cat – a cat standing on two legs, a slightly more noble cat.

“Commander19 Tu,” Jin Tang was well aware that one should avoid getting into troubles with annoying imps. His words were directed to Tu Yao, “Yong society’s ‘play’ is about to start, yet here you are, biting me.”

“Biting” wasn’t a direct insult, but the meaning was clear. Tu Yao chuckled, “The Yong Society needs to be fixed, and so is your Weaving and Sewing Bureau.”

“Then why are you ‘fixing’ me?” Jin Tang joined in the laugh. “What am I? You should go pester our Dugong.” He raises his pretty eyebrows in a provocative manner. “What? Are you afraid?”

Tu Yao was known to be arrogant and conceited, so his expression changed instantly upon hearing these words. He jumped off the bridge railing, saying, “Don’t you assume I, Tu Yao, will show mercy to you!”

Zheng Xian and Liao Jixiang’s relationship had not been the most amicable, but it certainly shouldn’t had been as bad. The situation now was entirely due to the constant skirmishes between their subordinates. Xie Yilu thought to himself, that he needed to intervene. Since Liao Jixiang’s men are in trouble, he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Just as he was about to speak up, Qu Feng unexpectedly stepped forward and shouted, “What are you doing!”

Qu Feng had always been the one to protect his reputation wisely. Xie Yilu stared at Qu Feng’s back in astonishment, watching him as he confronted Tu Yao.

“Uh-oh, Young Master Qu.” Tu Yao addressed him as “Young Master” as sarcasm to mock his negligibly low rank.

Xie Yilu followed Qu Feng to the scene. When he approached, he noticed that Jin Tang appeared somewhat different today. It looked like he had been drinking – his face was not as pale as usual. Under the lantern light, the pink blush on his face brought out his gorgeousness. As there was no scent of alcohol on him, he was probably applying rouge on his cheeks and earlobes.

He immediately thought of Liao Jixiang, of how much prettier he could have been if he had a touch of colour like that.

“Aren’t you scholars the most noble?” Tu Yao eyed Qu Feng and mocked, “Why are you speaking up for a eunuch?”

That’s true. Xie Yilu also turned towards Qu Feng, who remained composed and put on the mask of a young nobleman. His reply was simple, without a trace of reproach, “He is a eunuch. And isn’t your master a eunuch too?”

How should Jin Tang’s expression at that moment be described? It was full of disbelief. He seemed completely astonished from being pampered. Having been ridiculed and insulted way too many times in public and private, no one had ever spoken up for him. Today, Qu Feng did. Even if it was just a few words, Jin Tang was content.

Tu Yao raised his hand abruptly, ready to gesture to his men an order to arrest. Yet in the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Xie Yilu — the admirable figure in his master, Dugong20 Zheng’s eyes. After pondering for a brief moment, he told his men to back off and form a line to march northeast along Xin Bridge. As he brushed past Xie Yilu, Tu Yao left him with a few words, “Yong Society’s ‘play’ isn’t that captivating. If you want to watch some good ‘play’, you know who to look for.”

He was gone. Xie Yilu thought Qu Feng would say something to Jin Tang, but eventually he didn’t. Qu Feng didn’t even spare a glance at him. Instead, he nudged Xie Yilu with his elbow and said in a hurry, “Let’s go.”

After walking for a considerable distance, Xie Yilu looked back – Jin Tang was still there, standing alone on the bridge and motionless, like a silent and awkward stone statue. To say he was made of stone, however, seemed too inaccurate, as he still possessed a faint sense of vitality, which made him appear quite pitiful.

“Hey, did he apply rouge?” Xie Yilu suddenly asked.

Qu Feng’s heart skipped a beat. He replied vaguely. “Ah? Maybe.”

Xie Yilu asked foolishly again, “What kind of rouge? Where do I buy it?”

“Why?” Perhaps out of embarrassment, or perhaps out of guilt, Qu Feng’s voice sounded disturbed. “You won’t look good with it. That’s a waste of money.”

“No, I don…” For a moment, Xie Yilu was stuttering. He cleared his throat and his mind, and then said again, “I’m buying it as a gift.”

Qu Feng turned to look at him. “It’s made from the purple Osmanthus21 blossoms grown in the south. Sold in the rouge shop at the corner of Oil Mill Lane.” He then added, “Oh, and they come in small clam shell containers. They’re twenty-five taels of silver22 each.”

The price was just appalling. Even after entering Xiyuan and settling down among the members of the Yong Society, Xie Yilu was still stunned by the number. Amidst the deafening musical instruments surrounding him, and between the singing of infatuated men and sorrowful women by pretentious young opera singers on stage, Xie Yilu could see several high-ranking officials sitting together, smoking something called “tobacco leaves”. It was said to be extremely precious that was imported from Guangzhou23.

Many of them belonged to the Ministry of War. Xie Yilu spotted Deputy Secretary Ye at one glance, who was holding a young female opera singer with heavy makeup in his arms, drinking and gambling with a group of officials from the Ministry of Revenue.

This is the so-called “untarnished stream”. Xie Yilu complained to Qu Feng, “Just look at how they indulge themselves. Are they any different from the eunuchs?”

“They’re all the same.” Qu Feng greeted a few acquaintances, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea. “Yong Society, the eunuch’s party, they all eat from the same bowl24. So who is more noble than whom?”

He seemed to be long accustomed to the obscene atmosphere, and wasn’t bothered by it. “That’s just how it is in Nanjing.” Qu Feng stretched his body at ease, toying a pair of walnuts in his left hand25. “What matters is that you’re present. Once you’re here, you’re not considered to be on the eunuchs’ side.”

This is a competition that forces people to take sides, and a clash of different parties. Xie Yilu understood it now. Yong Society was not opposing the eunuchs, rather, they were opposing the officials who were not part of their circle. As for the eunuchs, that was just a flag they raised as an excuse to establish a new party.

“Liao Jixiang… it can’t be…”

The moment he heard this name, Xie Yilu’s scalp immediately tightened. He straightened his body slightly and overheard the people behind him whispering, “You know how his leg got broken? His leg was brutally broken by the common folks in Gansu!”

Following those words were the delighted laughter of the crowd, yet Xie Yilu’s hand was clenched tightly on his knee. That group of people were exuberant, talking like one’s irritating, gossiping relatives. “He couldn’t even manage his job in Gansu, so how did he climb up to Nanjing?”

“It’s of course… Someone is backing him…”

The “yee” and “yaa” of the opera lyrics made it difficult for Xie Yilu to make out their words. He leaned back further and accidentally overheard another sentence, “… when he was in the palace, he slept on the Elder Master’s bed every night…”

That was a sensational, unprecedented scandal, so the discussion suddenly intensified, “It can’t be true! How can a eunuch…” At this crucial point, the voices suddenly died down, “Who told you this…”

“I heard it from Guo Xiaozhuo, who heard it from Zheng Xian. How can it possibly be fake?”

Zheng Xian and Liao Jixiang had served in the palace together. If the source was him, it undoubtedly confirmed this scandalous affair.

“You know, that delicate face the size of a palm… surely seduces men to take care…” A wave of vulgar laughter followed. Xie Yilu turned around and saw three men in their forties or fifties, stroking their beards and winking lustfully at each other. “A pity that he’s too old!”

As if the most hidden, most tender piece of his heart was forcibly exposed in the open and ruthlessly trampled upon, Xie Yilu fought hard to endure the spasms of agony in his chest, and closed his burning eyes.

They remained there for an entire night, just to prove that they were not on the eunuchs’ side. When the members parted ways in the early morning, Qu Feng offered to buy Xie Yilu breakfast, which he refused. Following Qu Feng’s description, he went to the rouge shop at the corner of Oil Mill Lane. Perhaps because the summer was near, the price of the purple Osmanthus had increased to twenty-six taels of silver per piece. Xie Yilu gathered small pieces of silver here and there, and finally managed to make the purchase.

With the rouge and the letter with the word “tumultuous” in his pocket, he allowed himself to aimlessly wander the city. As he wandered around, he found himself getting to Xuanzhen Lane, where Liao Jixiang’s private residence was located. Liao Jixiang’s residence was directly opposite the largest Baijiu26 distillery in the city. He tiptoed and tried to peer into the high walls, but of course, he couldn’t see anything.

When Liao Jixiang was a teenager, did he really spend every night in the Elder Master’s bed?

Like a madman, he couldn’t control himself from fantasising that scene, but he couldn’t come up with any details either. Regarding the matters in between the sheets, he had always believed Liao Jixiang to be as naive as a child. Whenever Xie Yilu thought of him smiling lightly with a red fruit in his mouth, or of him shivering in the drizzle, deprived of his dignity, he couldn’t bear to imagine the same Liao Jixiang had once surrendered himself in the arms of an old man. The mere thought of it made his heart and lungs pain and shatter.

“Who’s sneaking around outside!” Ruan Dian happened to come out of the mansion and saw Xie Yilu, who appeared to have lost his soul. He was immediately triggered, so he rolled up his sleeves, grabbed Xie Yilu with his hands and started to beat him.

Coincidentally, Jin Tang was also leaving the mansion. Seeing Ruan Dian hitting someone, he frowned and walked around them – he had no interest in such businesses. Yet within a few steps, Ruan Dian pulled Xie Yilu’s front collar open. A short letter and a clam shell dropped to the ground, tumbling and stopping at Jin Tang’s feet. It only took Jin Tang a quick glance at the paper before he froze. He then hurriedly turned around and shouted, “Ruan Dian, stop!”

The original text here is Qu Shangshu. Qu is the surname of the man. In each ministry, there is one Shangshu, 尚书, which is a second-rank position and the head of the ministry. It is translated to the Secretary of State here. 

Yesa, 曳撒, is a type of Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) in Ming dynasty. Often worn by men as uniforms at work. It is a word derived from Mongolian, so the pronunciation in some texts is Yisan. See a picture of Yesa here. 

Dugong, 督公, a reverent title for powerful eunuchs, such as Liao Jixiang. 

Yong Society, or Yong She, 咏社, is a society established by officials. Note: officials refer to the ‘real men’ working in the ministry. These officials often hate eunuchs and despise them. This society is standing on the opposite end of the eunuch’s party.  

In ancient China, Qinhuai River, Qinhuai He, 秦淮河, was known for having numerous harlot houses and other forms of entertainment. 

This is a rule in the Ming Dynasty, that every store owner needs to light a lantern and escort the officials going home from their dinner parties at night. 

Round fans, or Tuanshan, 团扇, is different from folding fan, often used by females in ancient China.  

A paper clothing store, or Zhiyi Dian. Dian, 店, means shop. Zhiyi, 纸衣, is clothing made up of paper, which can be burnt during Qingming festival. It is believed that by burning, our ancestors can receive real clothes to wear in their world. Now we also burn paper castles, paper limousines, and even paper iPhones (with paper chargers sold separately and are actually more expensive than the paper iPhone lol).  

Grandpa is not literal here. It is a title used by junior eunuchs towards their close superiors. 

Powerful eunuch, Da Dang, 大珰. 珰 originally referred to the jade earrings for females. In the Han Dynasty, eunuchs often wore gold Dang and mink tails as decorations on their hats. Hence, the term Dang was later used as an alternate name for eunuchs. Da, which means big, suggests the power and high position of the eunuchs. Hence, Da Dang means “Powerful Eunuch”, which is also the title of the book. 

Yama, or King Yan, Yanwang, 阎王 is the god of death in Chinese mythology.  

White colour is often used in Chinese funerals and worship rituals for the family ancestors. This shop has white lanterns because it does paper clothing business, which is related to funerals.  

Xiaolao Fountain, 小老泉, is the name of the location for Xie Yilu and Liao Jixiang’s date. 

The poem’s title is《题仿梅道人风雨竹二首》, which means “two poems written on the painting emulating Mei Daoren’s art”. Mei Daoren is a famous Chinese painter in the Yuan Dynasty, and the emulating work is by Xu Ansheng, a female painter and poet in the Ming Dynasty. Liao Jixiang’s reply is the first poem, which describes Xu Ansheng’s joy in summer and her inspiration of the painting – a sudden summer rain that disturbed the bamboo. Xie Yilu’s letter is the second poem, which describes the author’s restless soul even after finishing the bamboo painting (bamboo symbolises reserved, peaceful mind and a gentlemanly conduct). She wrote this poem to her friend, in the hope that he would be able to console her. Unfortunately, people in the past recorded her as being “indecent” because her poems were too “open” and not ladylike.  

The Chinese name of this ink is Songyan Mo, 松烟墨, which is a type of ink stick made from smoke collected from burning pine branches. 

Xiyuan, 西园, literally means “a garden in the west”. 

Xin Bridge, Xin Qiao, 新桥, the name of the bridge. 

Feiyu can be directly translated to “flying fish”, although “flying fish” here refers to the Chinese dragons with four-fingered claws and a fish tail. Feiyufu, 飞鱼服, is a traditional Han clothing rewarded by the emperor to his loyal imperial guards, aka Jinyiwei, 锦衣卫. See a picture of Feiyufu here. 

The original term here is Qianhu, 千户, which literally means the leader of a thousand soldiers. In the Ming Dynasty, Qianhu typically led 1120 people. 

Dugong, 督公, a reverent title for powerful eunuchs, such as Liao Jixiang or Zheng Xian. 

The purple Osmanthus is known as Zigeng, 紫梗, in Chinese.  

As some of the poems mentioned in the book were written in the Wanli Emperor’s reign in the Ming Dynasty, I looked up some information on how much money is one tael of silver during that period of time. One tael of silver could purchase 188.8kg rice in ancient China. 

The “tobacco leaves” is in fact opium. The issue of opium became more serious in the Qing Dynasty, which led to the Opium War.  

It means that everyone, regardless of their party, serves the emperor and earns the salary from the court. 

The walnuts here are known as Wenwan Hetao, 文玩核桃. Only the walnuts with unique patterns and shapes will be selected to undergo a series of processes to become collectible walnuts. Each pair of walnuts should have a similar pattern and shape. It’s common for men to swirl a pair of walnuts in their hands until the walnuts become red and polished. Here’s a video of the walnuts.  

Baijiu, 白酒, is a colourless Chinese liquor typically coming in between 35% and 60% alcohol by volume. Each type of baijiu uses its own type of qū (moulded grains) for fermentation to create a distinct and characteristic flavour profile.