Chapter 149

The palace banquet was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. This was an outer court banquet attended only by the Emperor and his ministers.

Before entering the hall, eunuchs led attendants carrying trays and collected the swords and weapons worn by the military officials one by one.

It was during her first audience with the Emperor that Fan Changyu had discovered the palace guards only verified official tokens and confiscated visible weapons. They did not conduct body searches. That was why, before leaving today, she had strapped short blades to her legs.

Once hidden beneath her boots, no one could tell.

After all, those attending court or palace banquets were either princes and nobles or high-ranking officials. If every minister had to be searched before entering the hall, it would not only waste time but also damage the dignity of the officials and the relationship between ruler and subject.

The rule forbidding military officers from carrying weapons into the palace hall had existed throughout successive dynasties. On one hand, it prevented disrespect toward the Emperor. On the other, it protected against generals turning their weapons against the throne.

But if someone truly intended rebellion, what could a single blade brought into the hall accomplish?

Anyone bold enough to stage a coup would already have won over the Imperial Guards protecting the palace.

As for ordinary officials, none would dare commit an offense as serious as secretly bringing weapons into the hall.

Thus, the palace had never maintained a tradition of searching ministers. Such treatment was reserved only for servants and eunuchs.

The last time Fan Changyu entered the palace, it had been during daylight hours. Even then, the imperial city had appeared majestic and solemn.

Tonight, snow drifted from the sky while every corner of the palace blazed with light. Hidden within the boundless darkness, the entire complex resembled a colossal beast whose scorched hide had cracked open to reveal glowing red embers beneath.

It was magnificent, yet carried a strangely unsettling sense of awe.

And in the places untouched by the light, endless scars and gloom still lingered.

After entering the Hall of Supreme Harmony, attendants guided the ministers to their assigned seats.

Civil officials sat to the left.

Military officials sat to the right.

The Three Excellencies, Nine Ministers, and members of the imperial clan occupied the foremost positions.

As a third-rank official, Fan Changyu was led to a seat near the middle of the military officials’ section.

In the entire hall, among both civil and military officials, she was the only woman.

The moment she took her seat, countless gazes turned toward her.

Some were curious.

Others were openly appraising.

Although the officials had already seen Fan Changyu once during the court session at the Golden Throne Hall, she had stood beside Tang Peiyi and the others at the front. Those farther back could only glimpse the crimson cloak hanging behind her armor.

Tonight was the first time many of them had truly seen her.

Kneeling gracefully before her redwood table, Fan Changyu remained calm and composed.

The crimson robes of a third-rank military official suited her remarkably well, accentuating her heroic bearing.

Her back was straight as a bamboo stalk growing from rugged cliffs—rooting itself deeper with every passing year while reaching ever higher toward the sky.

Among these veteran statesmen seasoned by decades of political struggle, she displayed not the slightest trace of timidity.

The Emperor had not yet arrived, and the seats of honor among both civil and military officials remained empty.

The atmosphere in the hall was relatively relaxed.

Officials who knew one another chatted in small groups.

Fan Changyu intended to quietly wait for the banquet to begin.

Unexpectedly, a young military officer she did not recognize walked directly to her table.

“I’ve long admired General Fan’s reputation. We only exchanged a glance at the Golden Throne Hall before, but tonight I am fortunate enough to meet you properly. Allow me to offer you a toast!”

Without waiting for a response, he raised his cup with both hands and drained it completely.

Then he inverted the cup and looked directly at Fan Changyu.

The implication was obvious.

If she refused, she would be insulting him.

At the victory banquet in Lucheng, she had been able to decline alcohol because of her injuries.

But tonight’s banquet was different.

Even the lowest-ranking attendees were at least fifth-rank officials. Refusing such a toast would be difficult.

The generals in Lucheng had merely been enthusiastic.

This officer, however, had come seeking a drink before the banquet had even begun.

Even someone as straightforward as Fan Changyu sensed an undercurrent of hostility.

Her eyes swept over the fourth-rank robe he wore.

“You flatter me, General.”

She picked up her own cup and drank it in one swallow.

Then she inverted her cup just as he had.

The officer immediately praised her.

“General Fan truly has an impressive capacity for drink!”

He Xiuyun also sensed that something was amiss.

Fearing more officers would come seeking drinks, he rose with his cup.

“General Song, why not have a drink with me as well?”

Zheng Wenchang stood up too.

“What, looking down on me? During the Chongzhou suppression campaign, I contributed no less than General Fan. General Song, you have to drink with me too!”

With Zheng Wenchang taking the lead, the other generals who had traveled from Jizhou for their honors quickly joined in.

Soon everyone was insisting that General Song drink with them.

The unfortunate officer found himself unable to refuse.

By the time he finally returned to his own seat, he had already been forced to down seven or eight cups of wine.

After witnessing this spectacle, the others who had intended to toast Fan Changyu immediately understood.

Anyone who drank with her would inevitably be dragged into another round by He Xiuyun and the others.

Since the banquet had not yet begun, no one dared become too reckless.

As a result, no one else approached her.

Fan Changyu glanced at Zheng Wenchang in surprise.

She had always thought him overly rigid.

Tonight, however, she discovered that his mind worked quite well.

His imitation of those rough military veterans was surprisingly convincing.

He Xiuyun’s seat was adjacent to hers.

Once things settled down, he lowered his voice.

“The Emperor’s praise for our Jizhou Army at the Golden Throne Hall probably left many generals dissatisfied. They’ll likely try to drink us under the table tonight.”

Only then did Fan Changyu understand the purpose behind the earlier toast.

The toast itself had merely been a pretext.

Their real intention was to take turns drinking with them and establish dominance.

Fortunately, He Xiuyun and Zheng Wenchang had noticed in time and blocked the attempt.

Fan Changyu nodded subtly.

“I understand.”

Her gaze swept across the hall.

Anyone who approached her would likely be someone of equal rank or lower. Officials above her rank would probably be too proud to engage in such tactics.

As long as the Jizhou officers stuck together, they should be able to handle anyone who tried.

Not long afterward, Xie Zheng and Grand Tutor Li arrived one after the other.

Once again, they encountered each other directly at the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Grand Tutor Li remained as refined and gentle as ever.

“Marquis.”

Xie Zheng wore the dark ceremonial robes of the Marquis of Wu’an. Golden and crimson clouds embroidered along the hem shimmered beneath the candlelight, creating a dazzling effect.

His jade-like face carried a trace of indifferent weariness.

Lifting his eyelids lazily, he replied,

“What a coincidence. We meet again, Grand Tutor.”

He shifted slightly aside, though his tone contained not the slightest respect.

“You are a venerable minister who has served three reigns. Please, after you.”

Grand Tutor Li replied,

“The Marquis’ military achievements are unmatched, and your contributions during the recent rebellion were extraordinary. Tonight’s New Year’s banquet is also a victory banquet. The Marquis should go first.”

Compared to Xie Zheng’s arrogance and indifference, Grand Tutor Li’s attitude could only be described as exceedingly courteous.

Many officials behind him looked visibly displeased.

Even Li Yuanting, usually the first to speak out, remained unexpectedly silent.

Xie Zheng’s gaze passed over Grand Tutor Li and settled briefly on Li Yuanting.

Mockery flickered in his eyes.

“Since the Grand Tutor insists, I shall not refuse.”

With that, he strode into the hall.

One of Grand Tutor Li’s followers stepped forward angrily as though about to speak, but Li immediately raised a hand to stop him.

The censor official protested,

“Grand Tutor, will you simply tolerate such arrogance? Even Wei Yan has never behaved so disrespectfully before you.”

The faint bluish-gray tint in Grand Tutor Li’s aged eyes gave him a strangely detached air.

“The young are often hot-blooded. Let him be arrogant for a little while longer. Sooner or later, he’ll stumble.”

Several officials exchanged meaningful looks after hearing his ambiguous words.

As Xie Zheng and Grand Tutor Li took their seats, the previously lively hall immediately fell silent.

Fan Changyu glanced toward Xie Zheng’s position.

Perhaps because she had not seen him for so long, or perhaps because it was the first time she had seen him in ceremonial court robes, she found herself staring for a moment.

She had always believed that the saying “clothes make the man” did not apply to Xie Zheng.

With a face blessed by heaven itself, he would still possess an air of nobility even in a beggar’s rags.

Yet this ceremonial robe suited him astonishingly well.

The golden-red embroidery on the black fabric glimmered beneath the palace lights as though surrounded by a faint halo.

It made his dark eyes seem deeper and his detached expression even colder.

Sensing her gaze, Xie Zheng turned to look at her.

A faint ripple stirred within his eyes.

She probably had no idea how striking she looked in her crimson military robes.

All the handsome young nobles in the capital combined could not compare to the vibrant energy and brightness that seemed to shine from her like the morning sun itself.

The banquet hall was crowded.

Their eyes met only briefly before both looked away.

Yet Fan Changyu still felt her heart skip a beat.

When the Emperor arrived, the ministers rose and performed the customary formalities.

Fan Changyu also noticed something else.

The officials seemed to show more respect toward Xie Zheng and Grand Tutor Li than toward the Emperor himself.

Wei Yan was still supposedly ill and did not attend the banquet.

Grand Tutor Li should have occupied the foremost seat among the civil officials, yet he had ordered his seat moved two feet backward rather than directly taking Wei Yan’s position.

Fan Changyu could not tell whether this was caution or calculated posturing.

After all, it was Grand Tutor Li who had dug the pit that led to Wei Yan’s impeachment.

The position seemed practically within his grasp.

Yet he continued observing protocol meticulously without overstepping even slightly.

It only proved how patient and deeply calculating he truly was.

Perhaps she stared at him for too long.

While slowly eating the soft foods suitable for his age, Grand Tutor Li suddenly glanced toward her.

Fan Changyu did not avoid his gaze.

She met it directly.

One pair of eyes appeared gentle yet unfathomably deep.

The other was pure and steadfast, as though a blazing sun resided within.

In the end, Grand Tutor Li was the first to look away.

His thin fingers picked up a piece of vegetable with his chopsticks as he resumed eating.

Suddenly, the sharp crash of shattering porcelain rang out from the military officials’ side.

A palace attendant pouring wine had accidentally spilled it onto Xie Zheng’s ceremonial robe.

Startled, the attendant dropped the wine flask as well.

The entire hall turned to look.

The servant’s face went deathly pale.

Ignoring the wine pooling on the floor, he repeatedly kowtowed.

“Mercy, Marquis! Mercy, Marquis!”

Seeing this scene, the Emperor’s eyes lit up with barely concealed excitement.

Immediately, he called toward the Imperial Guards outside.

“Men! Drag this servant away and execute him for staining the Marquis of Wu’an’s robe!”

A ripple of unease spread through the hall.

Yet no one dared plead for mercy.

Fan Changyu knew this was likely Xie Zheng’s planned opportunity to leave the banquet.

Just as she frowned, his cold voice sounded calmly.

“It is only spilled wine. This is a New Year’s banquet. It would be best not to shed blood tonight. What does Your Majesty think?”

Qi Sheng had no desire to argue with him over such a matter.

Immediately he said,

“Since the Marquis of Wu’an has chosen to show mercy to this foolish servant, why aren’t you thanking him?”

The attendant kowtowed frantically.

“Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Marquis!”

Suppressing the cruel excitement rising within him, Qi Sheng forced himself to appear normal and instructed the chief eunuch,

“Escort the Marquis away to change his clothing.”

This incident had always been part of Xie Zheng’s plan.

After thanking the Emperor, he followed the eunuch out of the hall.

The moment Xie Zheng departed, Qi Sheng seemed noticeably happier.

In excellent spirits, he raised his wine cup toward the assembled officials.

“Since ascending the throne, Great Yin has faced endless troubles at home and abroad. Fortunately, I have all of you loyal ministers. Because of your efforts, the empire still stands strong today. I have not failed my ancestors’ legacy. Tonight, all of you may drink to your hearts’ content. We shall not leave until thoroughly drunk!”

The sudden speech left the officials no choice but to raise their cups and offer praises.

Grand Tutor Li declared,

“Your Majesty is wise and enlightened. It is our great fortune.”

The ministers immediately echoed him.

“Your Majesty is wise and enlightened!”

Fan Changyu found the words “wise and enlightened” rather ironic when applied to Qi Sheng.

After joining the toast and returning to her seat, she felt her eyelid begin twitching uncontrollably once more.