Undercurrents at the Palace Banquet

Stepping into the "Yaoguang Hall" where the palace banquet was held felt like stepping into another world.

The interior of the hall was extremely luxurious, with carved beams and painted rafters, resplendent in gold and jade. Huge dragon pillars supported the towering dome, which was painted with exquisite murals of flying apsaras. Countless palace lanterns and candlesticks illuminated the entire hall as bright as day, and the air was filled with a rich aroma of wine, food, and precious spices, so warm that it was almost suffocating.

The melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air as dancers in colorful costumes gracefully twirled on a magnificent carpet in the center, their flowing sleeves creating a dreamlike spectacle. Meanwhile, groups of officials and nobles in various robes chatted quietly or laughed loudly, their clinking of cups creating a scene of peace and prosperity.

Yi Xing's arrival didn't attract much attention. He quietly followed half a step behind Ming Shiyin, his eyes lowered, trying to minimize his presence. However, his striking good looks and the unusual way he was being pushed in a wheelchair by a eunuch still drew some curious or inquisitive glances. Those gazes felt like fine needles, pricking him and making him feel slightly uncomfortable. He subconsciously tightened his grip on the porcelain bottle in his sleeve.

Ming Shiyin, however, seemed oblivious. He walked forward with composure, a perfectly measured smile on his face, nodding to familiar officials with an air of elegance and ease. Although he held no real power in the court, his divination skills earned him the Empress's favor, and coupled with his extraordinary demeanor, his position was quite unique.

Soon, they arrived at a seat near the lower part of the throne. This was clearly the seating area for important officials. Ming Shiyin took his seat calmly, while Yi Xing's wheelchair was placed slightly behind him to the side, allowing him to observe the entire room without being too conspicuous.

The eunuchs served fragrant tea and exquisite pastries. Yi Xing did not move; his gaze quietly swept across the entire room, as if examining a chessboard, quickly taking in the "chess pieces" on the field.

He quickly noticed his target.

Not far from them sat a man. He wore a dark scarlet official robe, his face was stern, and his gaze was sharp as a knife. Even in this relaxed banquet setting, his back remained ramrod straight, as if he were ready to preside over a court case at any moment. He did not talk much with anyone, only occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones with a burly man beside him who looked like a general.

It was none other than Di Renjie, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. And the man beside him must be Cheng Yaojin, the General of the Left Valiant Guard.

Di Renjie seemed to sense Yi Xing's gaze, and his sharp eyes suddenly turned towards him. His gaze wasn't fierce, but it possessed a penetrating, analytical power—calm, objective, and devoid of personal emotion. Yi Xing felt a slight chill, but didn't look away. He simply returned the gaze calmly, as if facing a sudden, powerful opponent on a chessboard.

Their gazes met briefly in the air. A faint hint of surprise seemed to flash in Di Renjie's eyes, before he regained his composure. He didn't show much interest in Yi Xing and quickly looked away, returning his gaze to the singing and dancing in the arena. But Yi Xing could sense that the scrutinizing gaze hadn't completely disappeared.

"It seems Lord Di has quite a good impression of you." Ming Shiyin picked up his teacup, gently blew away the foam, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

Yi Xing nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "He is more composed than I imagined." It wasn't aggressive, but rather a profound dignity based on reason and law.

The banquet continued. Singing and dancing filled the air, glasses clinked, and a harmonious atmosphere prevailed. Officials toasted each other, uttering grand and eloquent blessings. Ming Shiyin occasionally stepped away from his seat to exchange pleasantries with several high-ranking officials, his words subtly witty yet perfectly discreet.

Yi Xing remained quietly in place, like a delicate jade sculpture. He rarely touched the wine and food in front of him, only occasionally picking up his teacup to take a sip. Most of the time, he observed. He observed the interaction between Di Renjie and Cheng Yaojin, observed the expressions of the other officials, and listened to the subtle unspoken meanings hidden beneath the laughter and chatter.

He noticed that although Di Renjie seemed to be enjoying the song and dance, his fingers were unconsciously tapping lightly on his knees, as if he were thinking about something. Cheng Yaojin, on the other hand, appeared much more unrestrained, drinking heartily and chatting and laughing with the generals who came to toast him, but when his eyes occasionally swept across the room, there was also a wariness unique to soldiers.

He also noticed that several officials, when toasting Ming Shiyin, had shifty eyes and subtly probing remarks. Ming Shiyin, however, always managed to deftly deflect those probing remarks, and even, conversely, glean certain information from their words.

This was no royal banquet; it was a war without gunfire. Everyone was both a pawn and a player. Words were weapons, and smiles were disguises.

Just then, a slightly hurried sound of footsteps and a soft commotion came from outside the hall. A eunuch hurriedly approached Di Renjie and whispered something to him. Di Renjie's brows furrowed instantly, though he quickly relaxed them, but the fleeting seriousness did not escape Yi Xing's notice.

Cheng Yaojin also put down his wine cup, listened intently, and the relaxed expression on his face disappeared.

Ming Shiyin paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding the wine cup. He did not turn around, but said softly to Yi Xing, "It seems there has been an 'unexpected' move."

As expected, after exchanging a few words in hushed tones with Cheng Yaojin, Di Renjie rose and headed towards the throne to take his leave. Although his movements remained composed, his departing steps clearly carried a hint of urgency.

The singing and dancing inside the hall continued as usual, and most people remained unaware of the minor incident. But Yi Xing knew that something must have happened. Moreover, this matter was likely related to the Dali Temple, or even to Yao Tian.

He looked at Ming Shiyin. Ming Shiyin continued to calmly sip his wine, as if everything was under control. But Yi Xing could sense that the aura around his master, which had been restrained, seemed to have become sharper.

“Master…” Yi Xing called softly.

Ming Shiyin put down his wine cup, his gaze sweeping over the direction Di Renjie had left, a fleeting emotion flashing in his deep eyes.

"It's alright," he said calmly, his voice devoid of any emotion. "Let's see how this game unfolds."

However, his fingers, hidden in his sleeve, twitched slightly, as if he were deducing something. Yi Xing knew that his master's heart was far from as calm as it appeared. This sudden change was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake; the ripples it created might affect the entire city of Chang'an.

The night was still long. But beneath this grand palace feast, the undercurrents were beginning to surge.