Chapter 77
Under the dark sky, tents stretched out in a row, bonfires were lit, and people came and went, creating a lively scene.
Freshly slaughtered fat sheep were piled on racks, and long tables were set up in the open spaces between camps, piled high with golden flatbreads and fruits. Red silk cloths were tied around the heads of steamed sheep.
The chief, wearing a golden crown, with his braided hair hanging over his shoulders, dressed in a round-necked, finely embroidered brocade robe with short sleeves and a belt around his waist, stepped forward to greet the Western State officials who had come to the banquet, surrounded by his similarly dressed sons.
After exchanging pleasantries, everyone took their seats. The officials sat at the long table, praising the Empress and discussing the current situation, while the young people quietly slipped away to gather around the bonfire, playing pipa and hand drums, singing and dancing.
The chief waved his hand, and several burly men with bare chests walked to the campfire, unbuckled their belts, held the fire in their hands, and began to dance around it.
Ayu and Tongjin stood behind Wei Mingsu, watching the big man dance naked, and asked curiously, "What kind of dance is this? We've never seen it in the Hu Temples in Chang'an and the capital."
Wei Mingsu said, "They are praying for blessings."
After the burly men finished their dance, they fastened their belts, knelt before the campfire, and recited a passage in a melodious, rhythmic Hu language.
Then, the burly men suddenly drew their curved swords and slashed at their bare upper bodies.
The Han people on the long table couldn't understand what they were chanting and were startled, exchanging bewildered glances. The tribespeople, however, smiled and clapped and cheered.
Fan Hui turned his head and glanced at Lu Huaying and Shabona sitting next to him.
The two of them were also invited to a banquet by the Tulun tribe tonight.
Lu Huaying wore a pointed brocade hat, a red robe with a small floral pattern on the collar, a belt around her waist, striped trousers with narrow openings, and soft brocade boots. She looked dashing and radiant.
She sat directly opposite Wei Mingsu. After taking her seat, she glanced at Wei Mingsu through the flickering firelight, but his gaze remained fixed on the group of burly men dancing.
Shabona was talking to a noblewoman from the Tulun tribe who was pouring wine for them. No one knew what he said, but the woman blushed and slapped his hand.
Fan Hui asked Lu Huaying, "Third Sister, what are they singing?"
Neither the Tulun nor the Duosang tribes speak the Heluo language and dislike dealing with officials. They regard Lu Huaying as a friend and have been asking him to keep them company and translate books for them these past few days.
Lu Huaying snapped out of her daze and translated the Hu language spoken by the burly man into Fan Hui's ears, whispering, "Chief Secretary Fan, don't be fooled by their strange-looking dance. It's their blessing ceremony. They undergo special training and won't get hurt."
After listening, Fan Hui exchanged glances with his colleagues, and they all suppressed their surprise and smiled at the Hu man behind the long table, looking on with admiration.
The atmosphere at the banquet became increasingly harmonious.
A servant carried a tray to the long table and served roasted mutton and boiled deer head. The mutton was cooked to perfection, with golden and crispy skin, and tender, oily mutton and deer head.
The chief ordered his men to present the first plate of roasted and cut mutton to Fan Hui and Wei Mingsu, while the others shared the rest.
At this moment, Paulina, who was sitting next to the chief, stood up with a glass of wine in her hand and toasted Wei Mingsu to thank him for helping the tribe.
Paulina smiled and said, "Prefect Wei, this bowl of wine is offered to you on behalf of the Tulun tribe. I hope that our Tulun tribe and Prefect Wei will always be friends."
The people around them looked at them with smiles and eager eyes.
Wei Mingsu also stood up, took the wine bowl, and bowed his head.
Just as he was about to drink the wine in his bowl, a figure flashed past him from the corner of his eye and appeared beside him in the blink of an eye, bumping into him. He swayed slightly, holding the wine bowl in his left hand, and raised his right hand. Instead of pushing away the person who had rushed into his arms, he steadied her.
The person in his arms looked up and found that he was still holding the wine bowl steadily. He took his arm and shook it twice.
Wei Mingsu lowered his eyes and glanced at her. Although he looked somewhat puzzled, he let her have her way and lowered his left hand accordingly.
The wine in the bowl spilled out.
Lu Huaying looked at the empty wine bowl, breathed a sigh of relief, released Wei Mingsu, stood up straight, and apologized to Wei Mingsu and Paulina with a smile: "I'm sorry, I walked too fast and didn't see clearly, I knocked over Governor Wei's wine! I'll punish myself with a bowl!"
She raised a bowl of wine and drank it all in one gulp, then casually took Wei's...
Ming Su picked up the wine jar on the long table, poured another bowl of wine, and handed it to Wei Ming Su.
Paulina looked at Lu Huaying, her face darkening.
Lu Huaying was both amused and exasperated.
When Paulina stood up to toast Wei Mingsu, she was sitting opposite him.
Upon seeing this scene, my heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Before the banquet, Paulina saw Fan Hui standing next to her and gave her a meaningful smile.
“I, Paulina, love handsome men! If I fancy someone, I'll tie him up and take him back to the tribe. If he doesn't obey, I'll deprive him of food and water and whip him until he obeys! If he still doesn't obey, I'll drug him.”
"Feifei, from now on we're friends. If you fancy any man, just tell me, and I'll tie him up and send him to your tent."
Paulina's words from a few years ago suddenly flashed into my mind.
Lu Huaying felt uneasy. She excused herself from Fan Hui, got up and walked over, deliberately knocking over the wine in Wei Mingsu's hand.
She initially thought she might be overthinking things, but judging from Pauline's expression, there was definitely something wrong with the wine in the bowl!
Paulina glared at Lu Huaying.
Lu Huaying smiled at her, her eyes pleading.
Their eyes met, Paulina's expression shifted repeatedly, her anger gradually subsided, she shook her head, sighed, and turned to walk away.
Lu Huaying let out a long sigh, turned around, pulled the silent Wei Mingsu to sit down, and whispered, "Don't drink Paulina's wine tonight... I'm worried..."
Wei Mingsu looked at her and asked, "What are you worried about?"
Lu Huaying blushed and said awkwardly, "I'm worried that Paulina will drug you again."
Upon hearing the words "drugned you again," Wei Mingsu looked away and remained silent.
Why did she drug me?
Just as Lu Huaying relaxed, Wei Mingsu suddenly pressed her with a question, his tone calm.
Lu Huaying froze, lowered her head and said, "Paulina has lost her family, and her lover is probably gone too... She wants... wants to reconcile with us in this way, please understand her."
It was Paulina who thought of it.
Wei Mingsu remained silent, picked up his wine bowl, and took a sip of wine.
Lu Huaying looked up at his profile as he drank.
In the past, Wei Mingsu often advised her to drink less alcohol, as drinking too much alcohol would harm her health.
She remembered forcing him to drink with her while she was drunk. He reluctantly took a few sips, choked, and his usually serious and calm face turned red. She laughed so hard she almost fell over.
Now, Wei Mingsu's drinking posture is very natural and shows skill.
He learned to drink alcohol.
"Prefect Wei!"
Several soldiers from the Dosang tribe walked over smiling, each carrying a wine bowl. Wei Mingsu hadn't shown up at the banquet the night the Dosang tribe reunited, but today he finally appeared. When the soldiers saw Paulina toasting him, they all picked up their wine bowls and came over as well.
Offering a toast is their way of expressing respect.
Wei Mingsu took their wine and drank it without saying a word.
With these soldiers leading the way, another group of people gathered around, each enthusiastically holding up a wine bowl.
Wei Mingsu accepted them and drank them.
His face didn't turn red; instead, it became even paler.
Lu Huaying frowned, stopped a bowl of wine offered to Wei Mingsu, and said with a smile, "Prefect Wei is injured and cannot drink much. I will drink this bowl of wine for him!"
The soldiers had already gotten to know her well, and they joked with her, "No way, Afei, what's your relationship with Governor Wei? Why are you drinking for Governor Wei?"
Lu Huaying smiled, raised her wine bowl, and drank.
She drank bowl after bowl of wine, and when she reached for another bowl, Wei Mingsu pressed her hand down.
"I'm not drinking anymore, I'd like to eat something."
He pushed a plate of golden-yellow mutton in front of her and said.
Lu Huaying put down her wine bowl, took out a small knife from her belt, and cut the meat to eat.
Everyone chatted, laughed, drank, ate meat, and danced.
Amidst laughter and chatter, the chaotic and joyful music around the campfire suddenly stopped. The burly man who had been dancing added a cartload of firewood to the fire, and the men and women who had been performing in the open space retreated.
It went down.
The dancing crowd automatically made way for two people.
A group of women escorted several young women with yellow powder on their faces, drawn-up eyebrows, and dressed in brocade robes as they walked out. On another path, a group of young men in short-sleeved brocade robes emerged from the crowd and approached the young women, who then took their arms.
They took their hands.
The crowd gathered around the bonfire, holding hands and dancing to the rhythm of the young men and women.
Lu Huaying was stunned and glanced at Wei Mingsu unconsciously.
Wei Mingsu's face remained expressionless.
After Tong Jin and A Yu finished eating the meat, they returned and, seeing the young men and women dancing hand in hand, asked, "A Lang, what kind of ceremony is this? Are they worshipping their ancestors?"
Wei Mingsu said calmly, "They are having a wedding."
The two were somewhat surprised.
An official nearby couldn't help but interject, "How did Governor Wei know it was a wedding? Don't newlyweds pay respects to their parents and elders?"
Wei Mingsu looked up at the smiling young people.
His eyes darkened slightly as he said, "I participated."
"Governor Wei is indeed knowledgeable and experienced, having attended weddings like this before."
Their conversation, word by word, was carried by the night wind and reached Lu Huaying's ears.
Lu Huaying felt extremely uneasy, her mind racing, and she poured herself another bowl of wine.
Fan Hui's attendant walked over, his footsteps breaking the tense atmosphere in front of the long table.
"Third Sister, the Chief Secretary requests your presence."
Lu Huaying put down the half-finished drink, got up, and fled in panic.
She never expected there would be a wedding at tonight's banquet.
Wei Mingsu raised his head and watched Lu Huaying's somewhat flustered figure leave before lowering his eyes.
Her wine bowl sat on the table, the wine unfinished. The flickering firelight reflected in the wine, creating a shimmering, rosy glow.
Wei Mingsu raised his hand, his fingers gently stroking the rim of the bowl.
Where her lips touched.
Fan Hui and the chieftain discussed a serious matter. They found Shabona too frivolous and were worried that the translators in Xizhou were unreliable, so they asked Lu Huaying to come and help with the translation.
Lu Huaying regained her composure and helped Fan Hui translate the chief's words.
The three talked for a while, and then the tribe's priest asked the chief to officiate at the young people's wedding.
Lu Huaying translated the words of the priest and the chieftain to Fan Hui.
Both tribes had experienced separation and death, but they reunited in Mud City. Several warriors who returned alive immediately proposed to their beloved. Inspired by them, the other warriors also mustered up the courage to confess their love to their sweethearts. When the chief heard about this, he decided to let them hold a wedding ceremony together at the banquet that night.
The chief stood before the campfire, his face beaming with joy. The young man's wedding symbolized peace and prosperity, and also foreshadowed the arrival of the next generation. The tribe was ushering in a new beginning.
After the ceremony, amidst the blessings of the crowd, the newlyweds walked towards the tents set up for them, lifted the curtains, and went inside.
People gathered around and eavesdropped outside the tent.
Fan Hui chuckled softly, "I've certainly had an eye-opening day."
Lu Huaying took a sip of wine.
It's late at night.
The sounds of pipa, hand drum, and Qiang flute filled the night with light and melodious music, while people danced around the bonfire.
Mang Bao and Mo Te came over and pulled Lu Huaying to dance.
She played the pipa for a while, then returned to the long table and continued drinking.
...
When the banquet ended, Fan Hui's entourage hurriedly went to Wei Mingsu's side.
“Governor Wei, Lu San Niang seems to be drunk. Bao Lina said she wants to stay at the camp, but the Chief Clerk dares not let her stay.”
Wei Mingsu immediately stood up.
Lu Huaying was indeed drunk. She was slumped over the long table with her eyes closed. Fan Hui was standing beside her, taking off his cloak and covering her with it.
Wei Mingsu walked over, frowning: "Why did you let her drink so much?"
Fan Hui said with a wry smile, "I remember that Third Sister had a very high alcohol tolerance. She used to have drinking contests with people, and she made a lot of people pass out at the banquet."
That was before.
Wei Mingsu said, bending down to help Lu Huaying up, she
Not moving at all.
Paulina, who was standing to the side, raised the corners of her mouth and laughed: "Prefect Wei, I was planning to drug you tonight, but I didn't expect that it wasn't you who got drunk, but Feifei."
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