Chapter 66 Victory Celebration Banquet
The palace gates slowly opened, and heavy footsteps echoed through the long corridor.
Mog walked in, dressed in a magnificent outfit that still bore the characteristics of his tribe but was now somewhat worn. His steps were a little heavy.
His face bore an undisguised weariness and dejection. The boldness and untamed spirit he once possessed on the grasslands seemed to be shrouded in the gloom of this defeat, with only a trace of stubbornness remaining on his tightly pursed lips.
Moge regretted it all—regret for fleeing to the Qing court because of the struggle for the Khanate, regret for not dying from snake venom. By letting the wolf into the house, the Dzungars' ambition and backbone were shattered. Although he became Khan, he was merely a puppet of the Qing court.
Therefore, at this moment, one must act like a clown at the banquet to entertain the Qing imperial family.
He was filled with anger and resentment, but he dared not vent it. Compared to the Yongzheng Emperor on the throne, he was more afraid of the smiling tiger, Prince Bao, who controlled the life and death of the Dzungar tribe with ease. He could only obey his orders.
But Mog was ultimately unwilling to give up, so every step he took in seemed to carry a heavy burden, and every scrutinizing gaze around him felt like needles pricking him, like thorns in his back.
"Mogg...Greetings, Your Majesty."
Mog verbally submitted but refused to kneel and pay his respects.
Emperor Yongzheng sat high on his dragon throne, his gaze slightly cold. At this moment, Hongli stood up and said in a deep voice, "I believe the Ministry of Rites has taught the Khan the etiquette for audiences."
Mog froze, feeling a deep threat lurking in that simple sentence. Humiliated, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed heavily: "Zhunger Mog greets Your Majesty, Your Majesty... Long live the Emperor!"
His bent spine could no longer straighten. It wasn't until his forehead touched the cold ground that Mog fully realized that Jungar was a thing of the past.
The lives of everyone in the Dzungar tribe were entirely in Prince Bao's hands; they had no choice but to submit.
No need for formalities.
Yongzheng smiled again, a smile that conveyed an indescribable sense of authority and control.
Seeing Mog rise and take his seat, Yongzheng raised his wine cup and gestured to Mog in the distance, his tone carrying the scrutiny and control of a victor over a loser: "Mog has now come to my Great Qing in a different capacity, and I imagine he has many feelings to share. I toast Mog Khan."
Mog looked at the smug emperor and sneered inwardly, wondering if the old emperor knew just how prestigious his son was in the army.
He appeared to be forcing himself to stand up, respectfully raised his wine cup, and said in a voice tinged with helplessness and resentment, "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years."
After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp, his face full of bitterness and humiliation.
As Yongzheng's smile broadened, Moge poured himself another cup of wine and loudly proclaimed to Hongli, "I toast Prince Bao! The Dzungar tribe lost to Prince Bao, and they accept their defeat wholeheartedly!"
After saying that, Mog tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. His expression was completely different from before, and he looked like he was genuinely impressed.
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze. Yunzhen glared at Moge with hostility, then subconsciously glanced at the fourth prince's expression. Sure enough, the corners of his mouth turned down slightly. Was he starting to fear Hongli?
The singing and dancing continued, the music never stopped, and the lively sounds could not mask the chilling atmosphere.
In this atmosphere, Hongli calmly stood up, picked up his wine glass, and smiled slightly at Moge. Then, amidst Moge's angry and terrified gaze, he poured the wine onto the ground.
"Although the Dzungar Khanate was defeated, the Khan is a distinguished guest of the Celestial Empire. This first cup of wine is to thank Heaven and Earth for bringing joy to our honored guest."
After Hongli finished speaking, he picked up another cup of wine and poured it on the ground. "The Dzungars are originally vassals of the Qing Dynasty, yet they often commit massacres. This second cup of wine is to send off those innocent and wronged people to their deaths. May the Dzungar tribe live in peace with the Qing Dynasty in the future, and may the people be blessed."
Mog's face was deathly pale. Hongli picked up the third cup of wine, and this time he finally didn't spill it on the ground.
"This third cup of wine is to celebrate my meeting with the Khan. The scenery in the capital is quite nice, and I think the Khan would like to stay a little longer."
After Hongli finished speaking, he drank it all in one gulp.
Mog closed his eyes. He shouldn't have acted impulsively. It was all over. The Dzungar tribe was completely finished.
The hall was silent; the singing and dancing had stopped sometime earlier. At this moment, Yunzhen, who had been promoted to Prince Xun for his role in the Battle of the Dzungar Khanate, stood up and cheered loudly.
"Well said! Hongli's three toasts are well done! I will also toast the Khan, and in the future I will certainly take good care of the Dzungar tribe and ensure that the Dzungar tribe can coexist peacefully with the Qing Dynasty for a long time!"
Yunli also rose and toasted Moge, saying, "Isn't it a pleasure to have friends coming from afar? Khan, please stay in the capital for a while longer. I will certainly treat you well!"
“That’s right!” Yunye raised his wine cup. “This banquet today was specially prepared for the Khan. Khan, rest assured, the Qing Dynasty will naturally take good care of the Dzungar tribe!”
“What the princes say makes sense. The capital is prosperous, and the Khan can stay here for a long time. The affairs of the Dzungar Khanate will be handled by a specialist.” Even Zhang Tingyu couldn’t help but stand up and say something, almost saying, “You can’t leave now. Stay in the capital and be a nominal Khan.”
The singing and dancing resumed, and the hall was once again filled with the clinking of cups and the lively atmosphere of banquets.
Yongzheng held the wine cup, his smile somewhat forced.
Although Hongli was displeased when Moge toasted him, he could tell that Moge was deliberately provoking him. Therefore, Hongli responded with three cups of wine with pride.
But when he saw the fourteenth, seventeenth, and tenth princes and their trusted ministers standing up one after another to speak on behalf of Hongli, Yongzheng was momentarily dazed. Did Hongli really have so many people supporting him now?
Even if he didn't choose Hongli, it would be easy for Hongli to take the throne, right?
Yongzheng subconsciously tightened his grip on the wine cup, unaware of the solemn gazes cast upon him by Yixiu beside him and Su Peisheng behind him.
...
After the palace banquet, Yongzheng returned to Suiyuxuan with Zhen Huan.
"Your Majesty, please have a cup of sobering tea. I noticed that Your Majesty drank quite a bit of wine at the palace banquet just now."
Zhen Huan considerately handed the hangover tea to Yongzheng.
Emperor Yongzheng stopped fiddling with the beads and smiled slightly: "Huanhuan is so thoughtful. I am very happy to have you by my side."
Zhen Huan smiled gently in response: "So it is for me."
After taking a couple of sips of the hangover tea, Yongzheng put down his teacup and, seemingly casually, remarked in his private conversation, "The subjugation of the Dzungars is a great joy. Hongli has indeed made a great contribution. I am not as good as him at my age."
Zhen Huan calmly replied, "Prince Bao is outstanding because of the Emperor's cultivation and support. The Emperor is a wise ruler and a loving father."
"Huanhuan can speak."
Yongzheng smiled and nodded at her, then stood up. "It's getting late, you should rest first. I'll go see Consort Jing."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After seeing Yongzheng off, Zhen Huan collapsed onto the soft couch and let out a long sigh of relief.
"My lord."
Huanbi stepped forward with some surprise, and Zhen Huan reached out and took her hand.
"My lord..."
At that moment, Huanbi realized with a start that Zhen Huan's fingers were as cold as ice.
“Huanbi,” Zhen Huan looked directly into Huanbi’s eyes, “the Emperor has become wary of the Fourth Prince.”
Feeling Huanbi flinch instinctively in her hand, Zhen Huan closed her eyes, made up her mind, and then opened them again, gazing deeply at her as if trying to see into her heart: "The incense you used for the Emperor before was very good. I believe you can bring more, Huanbi, right?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
