Chapter 154 Old Friends in Chang'an
Chang Le Garden is half a day's journey from the imperial city. It was built by the late emperor for Consort He, who was the most beautiful woman in the harem at the time. Although this villa is called a "garden," it can be considered a temporary palace.
It covers an exceptionally large area, almost encompassing the entire mountain. It is luxurious yet elegant, with winding paths leading to secluded spots, lakeside pavilions, and dougong brackets with flying eaves and high-rising ridge beasts, making it a feast for the eyes and inspiring endless admiration.
From the outside, this palace built on the mountain resembles a giant beast perched on a majestic peak.
Qin Shaozong and Nangong Xiong set off together and arrived at Chang Le Yuan on the mountain at the end of the Wei hour.
The attendants from the northern region and Qingzhou dismounted.
The gates of Chang Le Garden were wide open, with guards every three steps and sentries every five steps from the entrance. The guards were fully armed, wearing armor and swords, and archers could be vaguely seen waiting on the high platform in the distance.
Upon seeing this, Qin Shaozong laughed instead, "You've held power for over twenty years, how can you still be so timid and hesitant? What's the difference between your courage and that of a rat?"
Standing to the side, Nangong Xiong was so startled by his arrogance that his brow twitched. "Words can be dangerous; watch your speech!"
"Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise; sometimes misfortune is not necessarily a bad thing." Qin Shaozong's gaze swept over his surroundings, his light brown eyes calm and unwavering.
Nangong Xiong understood the meaning behind his words and inwardly gasped, "There are at least a thousand people stationed in this Chang Le Garden, and we don't know if there are any hidden troops in the mountains. Your family is large and powerful, and your army is strong and well-equipped. I can't compare to you. If you want to start a rebellion at this banquet, you should at least inform me in advance."
Qin Shaozong: "The enemy outnumbers us, so we should avoid their sharp edge."
That means inaction.
Nangong Xiong felt reassured. "I also think it's better to hold back. I've received news that Liu Jingzhou has set off and will arrive in Chang'an soon. This grand show cannot begin until everyone is in place."
As they spoke in hushed tones, the two were led into the main hall by a maid. As soon as they entered, they saw that someone was already seated at a table.
There were three people seated.
One was a man around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. He had fair skin, was slightly thin, and had a refined appearance. He looked more like a scholar than a military general.
Nangong Xiong recognized him; this was Jiang Shi, the governor of Yuzhou.
Beside Master Jiang sat a man with a muscular build and long arms. He was over forty and had a pair of piercing, leopard-like eyes. From the moment Qin Shaozong stepped into the hall, his eyes flashed with a chilling light, as if he wished they could transform into snow blades and sever the neck of the newcomer.
It was Xie Yuanyue, the same Xie Sizhou whose residence had been bombed, just like Nangong Xiong's.
The other man was like an old monk in deep meditation, but his small, beady eyes kept darting around. This man was none other than Li Lishen, Li Xuzhou, who had been holding down the fort in his territory for the past few years.
Qin Shaozong received Xie Yuanyue's angry glare, and replied with a smile, "Isn't this Xie Sizhou? Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want to thank me but are too embarrassed to say it?"
Xie Yuanyue gave a forced smile. "'Xie'? I never imagined that Marquis Wu'an, besides being a skilled warrior, was also an expert at self-aggrandizement."
His tone was unfriendly, suggesting a confrontational stance, and his hostility towards Qin Shaozong was not without reason.
Unfortunately, Xie Yuanyue happened to be strolling in front of the collapsed house at that moment. An explosion occurred in the underground chamber, sending bricks and tiles flying, beams and pillars breaking and collapsing, nearly hitting Xie Yuanyue.
Before he could even figure out what had happened, a voice came from the doorman...
Upon hearing Nangong Xiong's words, Xie Yuanyue was immediately filled with suspicion. It felt as if a piece of his chest had been ripped open, and a cold wind rushed through, making his hair stand on end.
If Qin Shaozong didn't know the details of the house collapse, why did Nangong Xiong say those things? Why did Nangong Xiong change his attitude after they entered and left the mansion together?
Qin Shaozong must know the secret behind this!
The collapse of the houses brought forth the prophecy of the Golden Dragon, which pointed directly to the Commander of the Imperial Guard and the governor of the neighboring state of Chang'an.
His secret thoughts were suddenly exposed, his plans were completely disrupted, alerting all parties and drawing the world's attention; it also made Xie Yuanyue, who had been severely damaged last year and had not yet recovered, extremely frustrated.
How could he not hate that?
Qin Shaozong only picked up on the first half of his sentence, "Last year, your younger brother was unruly and led several thousand men to Yanzhou to bully men and women without saying a word. I couldn't stand it and sent him back to Sizhou. It's been less than a year since then. Xie Sizhou shouldn't be so old that he can't remember things, right? I think he should remember, after all, people call you Xie Sizhou every day, instead of calling you your third brother."
The old governor of Sizhou passed away suddenly, and his three sons vied for power. The second son was the first to lose and flee. The eldest and third sons fought fiercely for power, and in the end, Xie Yuanxiu, with the help of the Qinglian Sect, successfully ascended to the throne. If it weren't for what happened later, the current governor of Sizhou would certainly not be called Xie Yuanyue.
The burly man's eyes widened instantly, like a hissing snake caught in a pinch, unable to utter a sound.
“Prefect Xie was merely expressing doubt; why are you being so aggressive, Marquis Wu’an?” Jiang Shi said.
“It is rare for Prime Minister Dong to host a banquet, so we should all get along peacefully. Marquis Wu’an, please be lenient with us,” Li Lishen said, without mentioning Xie Yuanyue at all.
The states near Chang'an outwardly showed a high degree of obedience to the imperial court.
This kind of solidarity is now on full display.
Qin Shaozong glanced at them and said with a half-smile, "They probably got used to fighting the Northern Kingdom in the past, and the idea that 'if someone offends me, I will offend them in return' is ingrained in their bones."
Nangong Xiongxin said, "It's not just that; you offend people even if they don't offend you."
Master Jiang picked up the white jade and ivory carved fan on the table and gently shook it, smiling warmly. “The past is the past, and the present is the present. How can we generalize? In this world, fortunes change. The powerful rulers who once dominated a region, like the mighty King of Chu, eventually committed suicide by the river. One should not be too complacent.”
Qin Shaozong chuckled, "That's true. Being too proud will attract the jealousy of some petty people who have never been proud before."
Master Jiang paused in his fan-wielding.
Qin Shaozong stopped looking at him and instead looked around. At the head of the hall was a long sandalwood table, with wine vessels all set on it, but it remained empty and no one sat down.
Below, two rows of tables were arranged, and Xie, Jiang, and Li were already seated. They had arrived early and had chosen their seats early as well. Xie Yuanyue sat at the lower left, with Jiang Shi behind him in the same row; Li Lishen sat at the first seat at the lower right.
The first position in both of the lower positions has been taken.
Qin Shaozong walked to the right and sat down in the second seat, lifting his robe. Nangong Xiong followed him and sat on the same side.
The main guest was Qin, Nangong, Xie, Jiang, and Li. The remaining seats were occupied by their attendants.
Dong Zhou arrived late, fifteen minutes after the others had sat down.
The prime minister, who had held power in the court for many years, ate the fattest fat in the Great Yan Dynasty and grew to be ten feet in circumference. He wore a crown of nobility and a long black robe with wide sleeves, embroidered with python patterns. A string of gold and jade pendants hung from his fat waist. When he walked, he looked like a magnificent mountain of flesh moving.
As soon as Dong Zhou entered, the group stood up, cupped their hands, and greeted Prime Minister Dong.
Dong Zhou casually raised his hand and pressed down, "You are all pillars of the state, devoting yourselves to the country. You are no different from me and my own family, so there is no need for formalities. Today, I have invited you all to gather at Chang Le Garden not only to enhance our relationship, but also to make plans for eliminating treacherous officials later."
As he spoke, Dong Zhou's gaze seemed to casually sweep towards the second person on the lower right.
The man was extremely tall, wearing a military cap and a black robe, with a cold and stern face. Although he sat at the lower end, his imposing presence was overwhelming, like a mountain with its majestic weight, or an unfathomable sea, as if no amount of lightning or thunder outside could harm him in the slightest.
Dong Zhou was shocked. After not seeing him for many years, this man surnamed Qin was even more impressive than before.
Xie Yuanyue then chimed in, “The wicked are causing trouble, and the people are having trouble sleeping and eating. We should indeed dig them out of the dark abyss and expose them to the sunlight as soon as possible, so that their souls may be scattered.”
As he said this, he stared intently at Qin Shaozong across from him.
Qin Shaozong laughed and said, "That's how it should be. It seems that Xie Sizhou is very experienced and determined in catching thieves. Perhaps he will be the first to lend a helping hand to Prime Minister Dong later."
Xie Yuanyue's temples swelled twice, and he simply sneered, "That's natural."
The atmosphere was thick with tension shortly after the start.
After a few more polite words, Dong Zhou clapped his hands and said, "Since this is a wine tasting banquet, how can we be without wine? Someone, bring the wine!"
Beautiful maids filed in, each carrying a small wine jar in their hands.
There are many types of Han-style wine, some named after their raw materials, some after their ingredients, and some after their place of origin. Examples include millet wine, Yicheng wine, mare's milk wine, grape wine, chrysanthemum wine, and more.
There were many, some with names and some without. Young women, each holding a wine jar, stood in a line behind the group, ready to pour wine for their distinguished guests at any time.
"All the finest wines of the Great Yan Dynasty are contained here, gentlemen, please!" Dong Zhou raised his glass first.
Everyone drank together.
Since it's a wine tasting banquet, naturally, you won't just drink one type of wine. You'll drink a few cups of this kind and a few cups of that kind, mixing them together, and then making a few serious comments about each type of wine you drink.
After several rounds of drinks, Dong Zhou, who was at the head of the table, said again, "With such fine wine, how can we be without singing and dancing? Let the dancers come in."
A breeze wafted in, adding a fragrance to the hall that was already filled with the aroma of wine.
The clear, melodious sound of silver bells filled the air as graceful dancers entered, their flowing sleeves revealing glimpses of their fair arms and slender waists.
The dancers all wore light veils, their beautiful faces half-hidden, like flowers blooming in the morning mist, captivating the eye.
Among the dancers, the woman in crimson stood out the most. She was tall and slender, with exceptionally beautiful eyes—large, dark, and seemingly expressive. A crimson veil draped over her snow-white skin, and her twirling and leaping movements exuded an indescribable charm.
Many people present were watching her.
Qin Shaozong held a wine cup in one hand and rested the other on the table, tapping his long fingers lightly as if he were looking ahead, or perhaps not.
After the dance ended, Dong Zhou, who was at the head of the table, said, "Don't just stand there, go and pour wine for all the heroes."
A fragrant breeze wafted by, and the ladies who had been in the center of the hall, like blooming petals, fluttered down to the sidelines of the guests seated on either side.
The most eye-catching dancer gracefully floated over, took a wine jar from a maid, and sat down to Qin Shaozong's right.
"My Lord," she called out.
Qin Shaozong didn't react, only noticing the subtle glances coming from the group opposite him.
"Qin Lang," the woman addressed him differently.
This time, the man beside her finally glanced over.
Du Manxiang was thrilled, but when she saw that the brown eyes were expressionless, she realized that the other person might not have recognized her. She immediately pulled off the thin veil on her face and said, "Qin Lang, it's me, please save me."
Qin Shaozong remained expressionless. "Why are you here? Who sent you?"
"This is a long story. After I left the Marquis's residence last year..."
"Marquis Wu'an!" someone suddenly called out from the other side.
The laughter and chatter of the banquet abruptly ceased, and everyone stared at Xie Yuanyue. He grinned and said, "The dancer beside you is quite lovely; may I have her serve me?"
Du Manxiang shuddered in surprise and instinctively tried to shrink into the arms of the person next to her, but was stopped by his long arm, which was holding a wine cup on the table.
"Everyone says that Marquis Wu'an of the North is generous and magnanimous. Could it be that his reputation is undeserved?" Xie Yuanyue asked.
Qin Shaozong remained silent.
Master Jiang then laughed and said, "You Xie Tengyun are really unreasonable. If you want her to come over, wouldn't that leave Marquis Wu'an with an empty side? He will definitely not agree to your request. You should exchange her for the beauty beside you."
“That makes sense. I didn’t think things through just now,” Xie Yuanyue laughed, then pushed the dancer in his arms forward, gesturing for her to come over.
The dancer who was pushed out was very flustered. She first looked back at Xie Yuanyue, but seeing that he didn't even look at her and clearly wouldn't change his mind, she could only walk towards Qin Shaozong.
Nangong Xiong took a sip of wine and enjoyed watching the show.
A mere dancer, if given away casually at a gathering of friends, would be easily given away, but on this occasion, not an inch could be spared.
But...
Nangong Xiong stroked his chin.
He heard that before Qin Changgeng got married last year, he had cleared out the backyard and was living alone with Dai Shi.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Qin Shaozong asked the person next to him, "Prefect Xie wants you to go and serve him, are you willing?"
Du Manxiang lowered her head and shook it, then leaned closer to his side.
Qin Shaozong frowned almost imperceptibly. "Prefect Xie, she's not happy about it. Let's drop this matter."
"What if I insist?" Xie Yuanyue slammed the wine vessel heavily onto the table. The white jade vessel cracked from the bottom and quickly shattered into a pile of broken jade with a "crack".
Dong Zhou, sitting at the head of the table, seemed to only then realize the tense atmosphere and stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Since ancient times, heroes have been paired with beauties. Why don't you and Tengyun settle your differences through martial arts, Wu'an? If Tengyun wins, Wu'an, you can have her serve Tengyun."
"The Prime Minister's suggestion is excellent. Your reputation is renowned far and wide, and I, Xie Yuanyue, have long heard of it. It's a pity I haven't had the chance to discuss it with you before. I hope that will come today." Xie Yuanyue stood up.
He was eight feet tall with a thick neck. When he spoke, the veins on the side of his neck would occasionally bulge. When his hands were clenched into fists, they were as big as buckets, exuding a strong sense of power.
Feng Feng and the others, who were sitting in the lower back row, frowned upon hearing this.
This contest is one we absolutely cannot lose, or it will only embolden our opponents. But winning doesn't seem like such a good thing either…
Qin Shaozong also released his wine cup and slowly stood up. "Fists and feet have no eyes. If I accidentally hurt Xie Sizhou later, I hope you won't complain to Prime Minister Dong."
Author's Note: Here I am! [Hands clasped in prayer]
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