Chapter 114 Birthday Banquet
On the third day of the ninth month of the twentieth year of the Xuanhuang era of the Great Yu Dynasty, Jin Fangjun Muzhen held a celebratory birthday banquet to mark his forty-sixth birthday.
The Jin Fangjun Mansion was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. A banquet was set up in the main hall, with curtains separating men and women on the east and west sides.
A two-story stage was erected in the courtyard, and the stage was surrounded by seats filled with guests.
It was just before dusk, and the birthday banquet had not yet begun.
Jin Fangjun Muzhen was still making preparations in the inner courtyard, mainly with Physician Luo administering acupuncture and medicine to ensure he was in good physical condition for the birthday banquet tonight.
Mu Xi, dressed in a golden crown and purple moon-colored robes, stood tall on the eastern steps to the east of the main seat.
Wearing a jade-green robe and a white jade crown, Mu Xun greeted the guests who came to the mansion to offer their birthday wishes outside the hall.
Looking at Mu Xun's still upright figure amidst his busy work, Mu Xi felt somewhat apologetic.
Tonight, she was destined not to let Mu Zhen and Mu Xun, father and son, get what they wanted.
Guests filled the room, and soon an announcement came from outside: "Hong Gong has arrived..."
Mu Xun hurriedly went out to greet them, and Mu Xi followed him down the steps.
Hong Gongzheng is the chief steward of the King's inner court. He must have come on behalf of King Yu to congratulate King Jin Fangjun Muzhen on his birthday.
A moment later, Mu Xun led in a middle-aged man with a fair complexion and no beard, dressed in the attire of an eunuch.
Mu Xi stepped forward and said, "Lord Hong, thank you for your trouble."
Hong Gongzheng bowed with a smile and said, "Your Highness is very kind. This old servant has come on behalf of the King to congratulate you on your birthday."
"Please take a seat, Hong Gongzheng." Mu Xi invited Hong Gongzheng to take the seat of honor.
Immediately afterwards, a servant led in a general dressed in a military robe and with a precious sword at his waist.
Mu Xun hurriedly went to greet him again: "General Chen, you are courteous."
Just as Mu Xigang thought this was someone from the military equipment department that Mu Xun had met in Moyang City, Mu Xun stepped aside to introduce him: "Your Highness, this is General Chen under Lord Xuanyou."
Lord Xuanyou?
Isn't that the eldest brother of King Yu Muji and King Jinfang Muzhen, Lord Xuanyou Marquis Muzong who is stationed in the north?
It is said that ever since the founding of the Yu Kingdom, Mu Zong has led his troops to garrison in the northern lands and has never entered Moyang City again. Even when the late king passed away, he did not return to attend the funeral. Therefore, people have almost completely forgotten about this lord.
General Chen, with his thick beard and broad shoulders, exuded the aura of a general. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness. Lord Xuanyou originally intended to come in person, but unfortunately, he caught a cold a month ago. Fearing that he might not have enough time to come in time, he specially sent this humble general to wish Lord Jinfang a happy birthday."
"Thank you for your concern, Uncle," Mu Xi returned the greeting.
After General Chen finished bowing, he leaned forward and said, "Lord Xuanyou heard that Lord Jinfang was unwell, so he specially ordered me to bring you some top-quality thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum and deer antlers from the Nine Gardens, and instructed me to personally inquire after your well-being."
"Thank you for your trouble, General Chen. I will send someone to inform the Marquis immediately. Please come in, General Chen." This clearly indicated that he wanted to see Jin Fangjun alone, so Mu Xi ordered someone to lead him to the back residence.
The fact that Lord Xuanyou, with whom they have had no direct contact for so many years, sent someone at this time suggests that he has also learned that Lord Jinfang Muzhen's health is probably failing.
Just after General Chen left, a loud announcement came from outside: "Lady Qifeng has arrived."
Lady Qifeng?
Now Mu Xi is very familiar with this name. The Qifeng Terrace, which she has been secretly working on for the past month, was built for Princess Yan Ya of the former Yan royal family.
I've always heard that Princess Yan Ya is exceptionally low-key and almost never attends any banquets. Even the annual year-end royal banquet, which Prince Yu cordially invited her to attend, she always declined. So why is she here today?
For a moment, Mu Xi was stunned, then quickly went out to greet them in the main hall.
Princess Yanya wore the same blue and white silk brocade dress she wore at Daoming Temple that day, but with the difference that she had applied a light touch of powder to her eyes and eyebrows.
“Ah… Your Highness…” Mu Xi knew that Princess Yan Ya disliked the title “Lady Qi Feng” and it was inappropriate to address her as a princess from the previous dynasty, so he was at a loss for words.
Princess Yanya smiled knowingly: "If Your Highness doesn't mind, you may address me as 'Madam Yanya'."
Mu Xi quickly replied, "Greetings, Madam Yan Ya."
Princess Yanya nodded and took out a small brocade box from her sleeve: "A small gift to express my gratitude."
Mu Xi took it personally, opened it, and saw that the palm-sized brocade box contained only a single red pill: "This is..."
"This is the 'Danzhu Pill,' a formula passed down from a senior shaman, further enhanced by the power of the Mysterious Maiden. It has the effects of nourishing the spirit and prolonging life," Princess Yanya introduced calmly.
Mu Xi understood and handed the pill back to Mu Xun: "This pill is very important, you should deliver it in yourself."
"Okay." Mu Xun took it and sent it to the back.
Mu Xi then personally arranged for Princess Yan Ya to sit in the seat of honor behind the west curtain: "Please sit for a while, Madam. It will be some time before the Marquis comes out."
Princess Yan Ya gracefully took her seat and said nothing more.
However, their every move attracts attention.
Unaware of the reason, Mu Xi continued to entertain the guests as if nothing had happened.
Next, in order to "avoid suspicion," none of the three sons of the Prince of Yu came in person, but they all sent people to deliver congratulatory gifts.
The Qingyang Lord in the east and the Zhuming Lord in the south also sent envoys.
The banquet hall and its surroundings were gradually filled with guests.
Judging from this situation, everyone in Yansheng with a certain status or position, even if they couldn't come in person, sent an envoy, except for Marquis Shen Lun of Yongguo.
The promised meeting was with Uncle Shen Lun, who was elusive and rarely seen.
Just half a month ago, they sent someone to deliver a special lightweight "fire-resistant cloth" lining garment, which was named for its ability to "wash in fire".
After examining it, Mu Xi suspected it was asbestos fiber, but since asbestos does have flammable properties, she naturally had to accept it carefully.
Since acquiring this fire-resistant garment, she has yet to meet her mysterious uncle, and all she knows about the arrangements for tonight's "Fire Sword Offering for Longevity" is Mu Xun's repeated verbal instructions.
She only needed to perform the sword dance as usual, and Mu Xun would be responsible for setting all the swords in her and Mu Chong's hands on fire when the time came.
After it was lit, she continued to dance as before, until Mu Chong's sword made a mistake.
Mu Xi didn't need to ask how Mu Chong's sword went wrong; as long as she wanted him to make a mistake, he would inevitably do so.
Mu Chong fell down, holding the burning fire sword, which set the carpet on the birthday altar ablaze.
Mu Xi and Mu Xun only needed to pretend to go to the rescue, and then accidentally set more places on fire, and the three of them were surrounded by raging flames.
If you go any further down the platform, it will collapse, and Mu Xi will fall off into the "fire pit," and Mu Chong will fall in after her.
Only Mu Xun, who was left behind, risked his life to save her, but unfortunately, he failed to save the young master Jin Fang and only managed to save the dying Mu Xun.
Prince Jin Fang was burned beyond recognition in front of everyone, so badly that even his own father couldn't recognize him.
The third prince, Mu Chong, was seriously injured and lost his leg, after which he was no longer able to ride a horse and fight.
At this point, only the second son, Mu Xun, remained in the Jin Fangjun Mansion, as the sole male heir capable of inheriting the title.
Mu Xi stood back on the eastern steps, a cold smile playing on her lips, as she glanced down at the multitude of guests dressed in brocade robes and finery.
These guests tonight are all witnesses.
It's not about witnessing how a birthday banquet fire "burned" a prince to death, but about witnessing how a prince "rose from the ashes."
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