Chapter 179 A Turmoil Begins in Xingguo Ward: Inescapable Doom
On New Year's Eve, families reunite, and merchants stay home to celebrate the New Year. The usually bustling West Street becomes quiet, with only a few out-of-town merchants unable to return home. They set up tables and chairs outside their shops and enjoy a drink amidst the fireworks and firecrackers. Meanwhile, the Shiyage Pavilion to the south is as lively as ever. Wealthy families in Rongdu, to show off their status, will hold a grand banquet at Shiyage Pavilion on New Year's Eve to entertain guests, spending lavishly without hesitation.
Outside Shiyage, dozens of customers were waiting for tables. At a small table in a corner inside, Feng Shisan and Ji Fang had been sitting for an hour or so. The dried fruit plate on the table was almost empty, but the two young men still showed no intention of ordering food or wine. The waiter impatiently circled the two of them a few times, pointed to the empty plate, and said, "Would you like some more?"
"Sure," Ji Fang said without hesitation. "Free?"
"Free my ass!" The guy rolled his eyes at Ji Fang, muttered something under his breath, and strode away.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Feng Shisan yelled at the waiter's retreating back, "Four dry dishes, eight meat dishes, and a jar of Daughter's Red wine, bring them all to me."
The waiter thought he had misheard and turned to look at Feng Shisan. Feng Shisan tapped the table with his knuckles, "Hurry up."
Ji Fang nudged Feng Shisan, "What are the 'four dry and eight pungent'?"
Feng Shisan grinned smugly, “The four dry dishes are goose breast, pickled melon, sugar beans, plum ginger, and a dry dipping sauce for appetizers. The eight meat dishes are five-flavor stewed chicken, fried quail, roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), scallion-braised rabbit head, lamb trotters with noodles, braised carp, winter bamboo shoots with ham, and a plate of crab roe dumplings.”
Ji Fang was stunned. Feng Shisan's image in front of him suddenly became much more impressive. "Young Master Shisan, how do you know so much? Shi Yage... isn't this your first time eating here too?"
Feng Shisan chuckled, "Since we're coming, of course we should do our homework. Rongdu is full of powerful people who look down on others. Do you think I, Young Master Shisan, would be looked down on by such scoundrels?"
"Is the money... enough?" Ji Fang was still a little nervous.
Feng Shisan patted his broad chest and said, "I've checked, there's plenty. Eat as much as you want."
With all the dishes—four kinds of dry food and eight kinds of meat—served, the table was piled high. Ji Fang's eyes lit up as he sucked on his chopsticks, unsure which to eat first. "So much... we can't possibly finish it all." He glanced towards the door. "Why aren't Ajiu and Guan Ye here yet... Did you forget what you promised?"
Feng Shisan turned Ji Fang's head around and said, "People in the palace have good wine and meat, why would they care about this? Eat yours." As he spoke, Feng Shisan also turned his head to look at the door of Shiyage, picked up the wine jar, filled his bowl, and drank it all in a fit of anger.
"—Shiya Pavilion." Mu Chenbi looked up at the large red characters on the plaque. "This is Shiya Pavilion."
"You've never been here before?" Guan Ye asked, half-believing. "This is... the biggest and best clubhouse in Rongdu."
"I really haven't been here before," Mu Chenbi insisted. "I usually just go to the Ghost Market to see if there are any interesting items, and also to the Tianhu Ruins..."
Guan Ye suppressed a laugh, "It's not like it's a brothel. If you haven't been here before, you haven't been here before. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Mu Chenbi blushed. Yes, it wasn't a brothel, so why was she in such a hurry to explain? Guan Ye pulled Mu Chenbi closer to the door and pointed to the guests in the corner who were eating and drinking with their heads down. "We're with them."
Ji Fang and Feng Shisan were engrossed in their meal when they noticed someone approaching. Feng Shisan raised his slightly tipsy eyes, pulled out a stool, and patted it. "Why are you so late? I thought you two were having so much fun that you forgot about what we agreed on. Ajiu, what are you spacing out for? Sit down."
Mu Chenbi and Guan Ye exchanged a smile, sat down on the stool, Mu Chenbi pressed down on the sword in Xingguo Fang, recalled A Jiu's usual appearance, swayed his body to assume a natural posture, calmly poured himself a cup of wine, and clinked glasses with Feng Shisan.
Guan Ye gently pressed Mu Chenbi's hand, "Drink less."
Before Mu Chenbi could speak, Feng Shisan tapped his bowl with his chopsticks, urging Ji Fang to look quickly, "Look, this is just the beginning, and Guan Ye is already getting involved? Ajiu, once you really marry Guan Ye, how will you live your life? Will you still be able to drink freely with your brothers?"
"Of course I can." Mu Chenbi picked up his cup and drank. "I will marry a wife and drink wine. Guan Ye is just being considerate of me. How can that be called controlling me?"
"Listen to this." Feng Shisan's dark face flushed red. "You've been eating too much at palace banquets, and even Ajiu's words sound pleasant. Has the Emperor hired a tutor for you?"
Guan Ye abruptly withdrew her hand, and Mu Chenbi punched Feng Shisan on the shoulder, "What nonsense are you talking about? Even alcohol can't shut you up."
Ji Fang squinted, "That's the real A-Jiu."
After a few drinks, Feng Shisan remembered something and leaned closer to Mu Chenbi, "Today I mentioned to Manager Pei about you and Guan Ye. During the first month of the lunar year, while the brothel owner is in a good mood, you should talk to him and ask him to get your wedding done as soon as possible. After you've had this meal, we'll be waiting for your wedding feast."
Mu Chenbi glanced at Guan Ye and awkwardly said, "This matter... isn't urgent..." Then, his expression suddenly changed, and he added, "You, Feng Shisan, neither Guan Ye nor I are in a hurry, so why are you worrying about it?"
"Hey." Feng Shisan pointed at him angrily, "You heartless bastard, always sneaking into other people's houses. I was afraid you'd rot in there... I was happy to oblige you sooner, but you're not grateful... Or have you and Guan Ye already taken care of things?"
Guan Ye punched Feng Shisan, almost making him fall off his chair. "If you keep talking nonsense!"
Mu Chenbi's face darkened. He blankly picked up the bowl and drank a large gulp, then shook his head self-deprecatingly. They were originally in love, and even the Emperor said he would grant them their wish. Mu Chenbi, Mu Chenbi, drinking together tonight is already a luxury. You should be content.
Mu Chenbi calmed down and looked around Shiya Pavilion, asking suspiciously, "Why are there only the two of you? Hasn't Xiao Ma arrived yet?"
Half-drunk, Ji Fang was already dazed. He rested his chin on one hand and reached for the fried quail with the other. "Little Ma? Have you forgotten or are you stupid? Little Ma won't come back. He'll never come back."
The Shiya Pavilion was bustling with noise, and Feng Shisan, in a daze, couldn't hear what Mu Chenbi was saying. He gave Mu Chenbi a disdainful look, then lay down on the table and started yawning. Yawning seemed to be contagious, as Ji Fang also yawned several times, his elbows slumped down, and he dozed off.
Mu Chenbi pondered for a moment, then raised the wine bowl to Guan Ye, raising his smooth eyebrows as he said, "This cup is to congratulate you in advance, Guan Ye."
Guan Ye picked up her chopsticks and then put them down again. "If there's a wedding banquet, aren't you coming to drink?"
Mu Chenbi laughed self-deprecatingly, "If I were to lose this face, I'm afraid it would make everyone uncomfortable. Why would I make a fool of myself? Guan Ye, I admire you and like you. I don't want to be someone else's shadow. Life is only a few decades long. It would be a pity to be confined to love. We still have important things to do. I look forward to the road ahead for us."
Guan Ye clinked her wine bowl with his and drank it down heartily, not forgetting to remind Mu Chenbi to drink less. With three drunkards at the table, she wasn't one of three heads and six arms.
Royal Palace
As the midnight bell rang, Mu You fell asleep contentedly, and only then was A Jiu able to leave Chengen Palace. Seeing the twin swords on the table, A Jiu guessed that Mu Chenbi must have disguised himself as her and Guan Ye to go out of the palace to keep their appointment at Shiya Pavilion. A Jiu gazed at the swords under the moon. Guan Ye had put a lot of effort into forging these swords. To be precise, she poured all her energy into every sword she made. Guan Ye said that no tool should be lost. On the battlefield, weapons can protect lives and kill enemies. In life, craftsmanship tools are the means of clothing and food for the people. Both are of great importance and cannot be lost.
Ajiu drew half of the sword blade, revealing the double-blade mark engraved by Guan Ye. This Guan Ye, even with the sword she forged herself, didn't forget to make a mark. Mu Chenbi treasured the sword and always carried it with him. It was only in order to leave the palace with Guan Ye that he was willing to exchange the Double-Blade Sword for a sword from Xingguo Workshop. Wasn't Mu Chenbi afraid that... he would put away the Double-Blade Sword and not return it to him?
"Your Highness." An urgent voice came from afar, and Luo Yichen strode up to Ajiu. "Your subordinate has finally waited for you to come out."
The night was deep and dark. Ajiu had specially changed into a new brocade dress made in the workshop to attend the banquet. Luo Yichen obviously did not recognize Ajiu. He clasped his hands and bowed his head, his tone tense, "This subordinate has something to report."
"What's wrong?" Ajiu asked in a low voice, deliberately weighing the twin-dimpled swords in her hand.
Luo Yichen swept past the familiar twin-dimpled sword and approached, saying, "It's only been a short time since the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), and the Imperial Preceptor Cui Jin... has led several hundred Eagle Guards out of the palace."
Cui Jin? The Eagle Guard? Ajiu turned slightly to the left, perfectly concealing the scar on his left eyebrow. "What was Cui Jin doing leading the Eagle Guard out of the palace? Grand Preceptor Cui also went to the palace banquet, and at the banquet... the Emperor wasn't there either..." Wait, Ajiu recalled the banquet scene by scene. Mu You had pulled him to stay up late on New Year's Eve, getting drunk and talking to him at length. He turned around, and in Cheng'en Hall, only he and Mu You remained, along with some eunuchs and maids... Cui Jin, he didn't know when Cui Jin had left... around 7 PM? Around 7 PM...
Luo Yichen continued with a look of doubt: "Our Black Eagle Guard brothers saw the Eagle Guard Battalion all ready to go, their weapons gleaming. We asked out of curiosity, and they said that the Imperial Preceptor Cui had summoned the Eagle Guard with the Emperor's token, and there were no fewer than five hundred men. As for what they were going to do, the Eagle Guard Battalion didn't know. But..." Luo Yichen hesitated.
"Just say what's on your mind." Ajiu sensed that Luo Yichen vaguely knew something.
Luo Yichen mustered his courage and said, "A Black Hawk Guard brother who was on duty returning to the palace said... Grand Preceptor Cui led his men... toward... Xingguo Ward."
—Xingguo Ward?! What is Cui Jin doing in Xingguo Ward with the Eagle Guards so late at night?
Seeing the Crown Prince's unusual expression, Luo Yichen knew he was worried about Guan Ye. "Your Highness, don't worry. Perhaps they've misjudged. Xingguo Ward is at its peak, and Ajiu and Guan Ye are favored by the Emperor. There's no way that Grand Preceptor Cui and his group would head towards Xingguo Ward. Your Highness, please return to the palace and rest. You'll know first thing tomorrow morning." After saying this, Luo Yichen almost bit his tongue. "It's past midnight... it's already tomorrow."
Ajiu turned and headed towards the palace gate, but Luo Yichen hurriedly called out to him and blocked his way, "Your Highness, the palace gate has been closed for a long time."
Ajiu gripped the twin-dimpled swords tightly, and said in a gloomy voice, "Even as the crown prince, you can't get out?"
“It’s fine on ordinary days, but on New Year’s Eve, leaving the palace after midnight would be a serious matter if word got out. Even for the Crown Prince, it wouldn’t be appropriate.” Luo Yichen knelt on one knee. “I know you’re worried about Miss Guan and that you think I’m being nosy. Perhaps they really did see things wrong. Your Highness, you mustn’t lose your composure because of my nonsense. If you incur the Emperor’s wrath, I’ll deserve to die.”
Seeing that Mu Chenbi was still hesitant, Luo Yichen moved closer, kneeling slightly. "It will be dawn in a few hours. I will go and guard the palace gates immediately. As soon as the gates open, I will head straight for Xingguo Ward. Your Highness, I beg you not to act rashly!" Luo Yichen gritted his teeth and said, "As long as Your Highness is safe, even if the sky falls, I can protect Miss Guan. You must protect yourself first before you can protect others. Your Highness... please think it over!"
Ajiu seemed to be touched by these words, and the hand holding the twin-dimpled sword fell heavily. No wonder Cui Jin interrogated Guan Ye at the palace banquet, asking if she was willing to serve the country after leaving Xingguo Ward, and why Mu You wanted to keep her in the palace to keep watch over the New Year... Mu You and he had already made plans for tonight, and they both knew—Xingguo Ward... was doomed.
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