Chapter 10, the disheveled figure in white, a garment worth a thousand gold pieces reduced to dust.

"That was the Chancellor who drove you away..." said the malicious guest, mimicking his tone

This text appears to be incomplete or consists solely of symbols. Please provide a complete sentence or text for translation.

The man of humble origins, known as Mr. Guantao, rose and raised his cup, saying: "Thank you, Chancellor, for your kindness"

Iron Eagle was utterly impressed, bowing down in admiration. Your Highness's acting is truly extraordinary, so genuine and so natural. As you said, it is simply "beyond the level of ordinary skill".

The common man squinted with drunken eyes, silently watching Qin Lei's antics. Qin Lei greeted him, but he merely nodded slightly, acknowledging the greeting, and then embraced the wine jug, ignoring him thereafter

Although Qin Lei had made up his mind to feign ignorance, he could not bear to see his own people being bullied, even though he did not yet know the name of this common man. He slapped his forehead and said to Tie Ying: "Oh, it turns out we still have to pay for our meal. Who was it again? Have we paid?"

The air was stagnant, and everyone was waiting for that person's response, including Qin Lei.

The guests at the adjacent table have been paying close attention to the happenings at this table, and upon hearing the words, they mockingly remarked: "The Autumn Wind guests are always adept at creating a fuss, yet they still indulge in a free meal and meddle so much."

The man who had been drinking suddenly became spirited and began to introduce himself. Until then, he had been drinking, and the dishes on the table remained intact. He pointed to a dish in the center, intricately carved to resemble the scene of "Spring River Flower Moon Night," and said: "This is 'Raw Lamb Slices of King Wucheng of Northern Qi.' It is made from top-quality lamb, finely chopped Yellow River carp, and then paired with golden chestnut flour, all grilled to perfection. It is named after the royal kitchen of King Wucheng of Northern Qi. Don't be foolish; this is the frighteningly large moon." Qin Lei and his companion, with determination, pierced their chopsticks into the dish. As they broke the surface of the moon, a rich and fragrant aroma wafted up. Upon tasting it, they found it tender and refreshing, smooth yet not greasy, leaving an endless aftertaste in their mouths, completely forgetting themselves. They then began to eat rapidly, showcasing the skills they had honed through daily practice.

After finishing a cup, the lofty Prime Minister asked somewhat bitterly: "Sir, can you not change your mind?"

"If the old man were to wait for the virtual right?" The old man speaks in a way that is shocking and relentless. He is the Left Chancellor; what is the virtual right? The Right Chancellor, the Vice Premier of the State Council of the State of Qi, which has sixty million subjects and a territory of twenty thousand miles.

"Of course not, the whole house is filled with freeloaders," Tie Ying said indignantly. The saying goes, 'One who stays near ink will be stained black.' After living with Qin Lei for over a month, Tie Ying had learned many undesirable things.

Prime Minister Shangguan's expression showed no change. After pondering for a moment, he laughed heartily and said: "It seems that the common people of the world are not blessed to benefit from your great talent. After finishing this cup, our fates will be severed." He drank it all in one go

Shangguan Yunhe, seeing Qin Lei so timid and fearful, disregarded his status and sat at the same table as the commoners, feeling a slight disdain. He also no longer mentioned the matter of punishing him with three cups of wine. The guests were puzzled by the Prime Minister's intentions and momentarily paid no attention to Qin Lei.

The iron eagle buzzed in response: "No, but it doesn't matter; the whole room hasn't paid."

Everyone is filled with sighs of lamentation

The banquet at the Prime Minister's residence in the State of Qi ranks among the finest in the region. Qin Lei and Tie Ying, two country bumpkins, had indeed never seen such an array of artistic delicacies. They stared at the dishes, hesitant to pick up their chopsticks, and this time it was not an act.

The State of Qi is located in the eastern part of the Divine Land and has been a pinnacle of prosperity since ancient times. The nation pursues luxury and indulgence, naturally leading to a preference for exquisite food and finely prepared dishes. The people of Qi take pride in their culinary experiences; when they taste any of the eight rare delicacies, they often celebrate with joy, composing verses in praise of the dishes. Moreover, culinary masters, who refer to themselves as gourmets, can be mentioned alongside military strategists like Wu Zhilong and calligraphers like Yan Xingxi, as well as Confucian and Daoist scholars like Kong Jingwen, collectively known as the "Four Unparalleled" in the State of Qi.

... ...

The guests nearby took a while to react, observing the dazed expressions of the master and servant, which were likely words spoken without intent. If they were to confront the matter, it would only reveal their own foolishness; it would be better to feign ignorance, let the matter pass, and begrudgingly accept this silent grievance, convincing themselves not to stoop to the level of the ignorant.

Prime Minister Shangguan cleared his throat, and the noisy hall immediately fell silent. He raised his wine cup and addressed the guest at the end of the table: "Today, as I part ways with Mr. Guantao, I do not know when we shall meet again. I toast to you, my dear sir."

The room is completely silent, and the sound of a falling needle can be heard

That is indeed a situation where you, esteemed Lord Qiufeng, find it difficult to catch the autumn breeze. The guests at that table were quite pleased to have someone to debate with, showcasing their eloquence and quick wit; it would be even better if they were fortunate enough to gain the favor of the Chancellor

Seeing the two of them devouring their food like hungry ghosts, the man also felt his appetite stirred. He reached out with his chopsticks to join in the competition for the food, surprisingly holding his own. In the blink of an eye, the plate was empty. The man picked up a tea cup to rinse his mouth, shook his head in regret, and said: "The chef of the Xiang residence has yet to grasp the true essence of this dish; he has used too many ingredients, wasting many precious ingredients in vain. Does he not know that fish and mutton are best when fresh, and that a dish is like a neighbor's daughter—adding a bit makes it rich, while taking away a bit makes it lean"

The Iron Eagle, filled with indignation, took his seat and exchanged a glance with Qin Lei, quickly averting his gaze. Both displayed a peculiar expression, which, to the onlookers, clearly indicated that the master and servant had become entangled in something unsavory due to the earlier incident

The two servants exchanged knowing glances, and then inquired about the dishes from the commoner. The commoner, seeing that the two were standing up for him, felt a deep sense of gratitude and energetically described various noble dishes such as "The Duke of Yue's Shattered Gold Cauldron," "The Duke of Yu's Wake-up Pickles," "The Duke of Cheng's Hidden Crabs," and "The Marquis of Hanchun's Newly Prepared Moonlight Rice." He elaborated on everything from the ingredients to the cooking methods, from the flavors to the artistic concepts, citing references and letting his imagination run wild. The two listeners were captivated, their eyes sparkling with excitement, and their appetites whetted. Often, after he finished describing a dish, it would take only a few breaths before the three of them had devoured it completely.

At first, Qin Lei thought that Shangguan Laor had been speaking to him. Just as he was about to raise his cup, he realized that the other person was actually addressing the individual beside him. This caused his face to flush with embarrassment, and he awkwardly set down his cup, scratching his head.

One by one, the high-ranking officials and nobles swallowed hard, their jealousy burning as they stared at the fortunate individual, their eyes gleaming with malice, as if they were ready to pounce the moment he nodded in agreement, intending to tear the newly appointed vice-chancellor to shreds

Mr. Guantao swayed slightly, then stopped on the horse, laughing heartily: "If one day Heaven has eyes, the common people will surely erect a monument and establish a record for you, so that the world may know of the Prime Minister's noble intentions". He then drank it all in one go

"Doesn't that mean the whole house is eating for free?" Qin Lei said in panic

"Clearly, it is I who should take my leave first." Qin Lei noticed that the hand holding the chopsticks was trembling slightly

He will never know that the Fifth Prince he admires was not acting just now, but merely made a blunder

The three people ate heartily, and their manner of eating was naturally unrefined. From a distance, Prime Minister Shangguan, seated at the head table, looked on with displeasure. He was unaware of the earlier quarrel between the two tables; the people at that table certainly would not be foolish enough to expose their own embarrassing moments, which allowed Qin Lei to escape a predicament.

Mr. Guantao could no longer maintain his composure. After a long pause, he finally broke the suffocating silence: "I am deeply grateful for the Prime Minister's misplaced affection, but alas, the commoner has grown disheartened. I only wish to forget it all in the rivers and lakes, to immerse myself in the mountains and waters, to admire the beautiful landscapes of the Central Plains, to savor the delicacies of the world, and no longer bow down for mere five pecks of rice."

The common man resolutely shook his head and said, "The intention to leave is firm." However, Qin Lei detected a hint of desolation in his tone

The common man’s face turned bright red as he argued, "How can this be considered a free meal? The Prime Minister said it was to bid me farewell!"

... ...