Chapter 17 Mushroom Sleepy: Even the Tyrant Sleeps
The palace banquet proceeded as usual. As they approached the palace gates, carriages and horses from various noble families could be seen in abundance. Han Jiwen looked on with disdain; he had never seen his brother so concerned about appearance.
The two were close in age and both looked more like Han Dahai. Now, seeing his brother wearing his clothes, he felt like he was looking in a mirror. Han Dahai was in the carriage in front, and the two of them were sitting together. If Han Jiqing were as brave as he had been on the battlefield, he would feel proud.
Han Jiwen felt a little uncomfortable tidying up her appearance in front of the vanity mirror like this.
"Wouldn't it be inappropriate for you to wear your hair crown, brother?"
"Won't."
"Don't you think I look a bit dark-skinned in blue?"
I don't think so.
"Do you see how much better my chapped eyes are? I went to my mother's room before I left and got some Yu Rong ointment. It works very well."
Han Jiwen was annoyed by the questions, so he replied with a blank face, "Very good, very smooth."
"That's good."
The vehicle slowly came to a stop. Han Dahai had already gotten off and started chatting with the bureaucrat he had just run into. Perhaps they were talking about something funny, because the two old men huddled together and burst into laughter.
Today's palace banquet is different from the New Year's banquet. The palace still retains some of the festive atmosphere of the New Year, but the dishes also take into account the envoys from the Xiao Kingdom, with one or two special dishes from the Xiao Kingdom added.
Gu Huizhou sat on the dragon throne with a bowl of mushrooms in his hand. He looked like he hadn't woken up yet, his eyes were still down as he sat down, letting Cui Xiangzhu serve him food and pour him wine.
Opening his eyes, Gu Huizhou saw that the mushroom dish was very close to the wine glass. Remembering what had happened earlier, he silently separated the two, placing one on his left and the other on his right.
Perhaps out of boredom, the emperor fiddled with the bracelet in his hand before the palace banquet began. He replaced the cinnabar with agate, which was more rounded and lustrous. The thick brick red color looked expensive, and the emperor used it to tap the edge of the vase.
There was a series of clanging and banging sounds.
Cui Xiangzhu sighed to the side. Last night, that little eunuch had done something wrong again and heated the floor heater to a scalding high temperature. When he went in this morning, he felt like he couldn't breathe. He watched helplessly as His Majesty sat by the window, stringing beads and tapping the edge of the vase with agate beads, like a monk striking a wooden fish.
He was terrified. If it were before, that little eunuch would have been dragged out and beheaded long ago. How could he have survived until now?
He'll have to replace the person who burns the earth dragon when he gets back.
Gu Huizhou's tapping was both regular and irregular, sometimes a heavy tap, sometimes several heavy taps in a row. Yao Ruyi was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open. Hadn't he already helped restore the temperature of the underground heating system? Why wasn't he asleep yet? He hadn't stopped tapping since the emperor opened his eyes last night; his whole head was buzzing from the constant tapping.
Those occasional heavy thuds seemed to be ringing a large bell in Yao Ruyi's mind, making Mushroom feel dazed. As soon as Mushroom closed her eyes, they were knocked open again.
"Oh dear, Your Majesty," Cui Xiangzhu couldn't stand it anymore, "These mushrooms are very precious, Your Majesty should handle them less."
Gu Huizhou looked over coldly. The mushroom was crooked in the flowerpot, its stem growing crookedly out of the soil. Its large orange-red cap was even redder than before. The mushroom was drooping its head, as if it would fall over in the flowerpot at any moment.
Cui Xiangzhu thought His Majesty was going to kill this pot of mushrooms.
It would be better if he died; at least he wouldn't be able to play with this poisonous mushroom all day long. As the Grand Eunuch, watching the Emperor handle a poisonous mushroom every day would be too much for his heart to bear.
Gu Huizhou let out a long breath, pressed his forehead a few times, opened his eyes again to shake off the fatigue, and waved his hand, "Take back the Cloud Palace."
Cui Xiangzhu beamed with joy, carefully holding the mushroom in his hands. He bowed and replied, "This servant obeys."
Feeling a little disoriented without the mushroom bowl beside him, Gu Huizhou slipped the bracelet onto his wrist. The brick-red agate perfectly complemented his red and black robe. The veins on his wrist were prominent, and the exposed skin appeared even paler in the winter wind. He wore a bright red fox fur coat and leaned back languidly.
The emperor took a sip of wine, his lips turning a beautiful red from the wine.
Many young ladies from noble families sitting in the main hall couldn't help but look this way, their eyes filled with undisguised amazement, but even more so with fear. After looking over, they all lowered their heads, afraid that they would be the ones who went in vertically and came out horizontally.
Xiao Xiaoyuan was also one of those who were amazed. She couldn't hide the surprise in her eyes, but the next second she saw that the man curl up a very strange and fierce smile, his thin lips pursed with wine, and the temperature in his eyes was tightly floating on the surface.
Xiao Xiaoyuan, dressed in the gown of a princess of the Xiao Kingdom, was undeniably elegant and noble. The necklace and jewels around her neck overshadowed the radiant beauty of the other young ladies from noble families present. She adjusted her shawl and stepped forward to stand in the center of the hall. "Xiaoyuan greets the Emperor of the Yun Kingdom. Long live His Majesty!"
Gu Huizhou sat up straight. "Rise."
At the same moment, the embassy staff following behind Xiao Xiaoyuan also stood up. The diplomat, who had originally planned to gain some more benefits, felt a tremor in his heart the instant he met Gu Huizhou's gaze.
This was their first time seeing the new emperor, and his cold aura was not to be underestimated. It seemed that the same tactics they used to deal with the old emperor of Yun Kingdom would not be enough to gain any advantage from him.
We need to come up with another plan.
The embassy officials exchanged glances, then composed themselves. They eagerly presented the rare and valuable gifts they had brought from the Kingdom of Xiao.
Gu Huizhou smiled faintly, "Please take a seat."
A maidservant stepped forward and led the princess to her seat, followed by several officials. Xiao Xiaoyuan's expression improved slightly when she saw several dishes from the Xiao Kingdom on the table. Her gaze swept over the group of noble young men, and she found a few who caught her eye.
Handsome and dashing men were still within her considerations. As for Baili Wenhan, Chun Ya had already told her which one he was as soon as she entered. He had shifty eyes, and Xiao Xiaoyuan immediately looked away.
The music and dance were heavily influenced by the Yun Kingdom culture, and Gu Huizhou had seen them countless times these days, but he was tired of them.
He lowered his eyes and stared at the agate in his hand, then lightly tapped his finger on the table. Cui Xiangzhu understood.
He beckoned to the eunuch, and the group of palace maids who were singing and dancing were immediately taken away.
Gu Huizhou looked up and said, "Since the Princess is here, she may choose a suitable husband. I will not interfere."
Xiao Xiaoyuan was taken aback. This emperor was indeed straightforward. She gracefully stood up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. However, I have always admired handsome and brave men. I do not yet know the young men from noble families present here."
Gu Huizhou nodded, and within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a fighting platform was set up outside the main hall.
"This...this is going to be a public martial arts competition?"
"Your Majesty is taking this a bit too seriously."
"What does this mean? Isn't this a clear request for a military general? How can a marriage alliance between the Xiao Kingdom and a military general be arranged!"
“Yes, what you say makes sense.”
...
The group moved outside the hall, and the young men from noble families rushed forward, while a few fair-skinned scholars remained in their original positions.
Xiao Xiaoyuan glanced around and found that most of them were decent-looking, but a few did not suit her taste. Chun Ya, who was beside her, followed her gaze and turned her face away in embarrassment.
Hopefully, Baili Wenhan never practiced martial arts.
Gu Huizhou sat in the center, his red robe appearing bluish-red under the dark clouds. He simply watched without speaking, until Cui Xiangzhu gave the order, and the arena officially began.
The first to appear was the youngest son of a vice minister, who was just coming of age and had just undergone his coming-of-age ceremony before the New Year.
The handsome young master stepped onto the stage and greeted the assembled young noblemen with a smile, "Gentlemen, please."
Han Jiqing, who was not far from Gu Huizhou, was about to get up when Han Jiwen pressed him down, placing both of his hands on one of his hands. "Sit down! Wait a moment, it's too early now."
Han Jiqing swallowed nervously several times. This was already the umpteenth time he had been restrained. He turned his head and asked anxiously, "Brother, are you still handsome?"
Han Jiqing sat upright all night, afraid that even the slightest movement would disturb the robe he was wearing.
"Handsome, very handsome."
Gu Huizhou glanced in that direction, a playful look in his eyes.
"You flatter me! Is there anyone else, sir, willing to challenge me?"
The young master of the Vice Minister's family still stood on the stage with a smile, and despite his young age, he was extremely skilled in swordsmanship.
Swords were not allowed in the palace, but he wielded an ordinary longsword from a guard, displaying remarkable skill and fluidity. His swordplay left the onlookers dazzled, and the young nobleman who was dueling with him jumped off the stage after less than two moves.
The young master wasn't upset. He jumped off the stage, bowed gracefully, and finally returned to his father's side.
The young master of the Qian family had defeated several people in a row, totaling no more than a dozen young masters from prominent families. Now, only a few remained. The young master asked with a grin, "Is there anyone else, brother?"
Baili Wenhan swallowed the wine in his cup, exchanged a glance with Baili Yi, stepped forward to take the long sword from the Imperial Guard, and leaped onto the arena. "I am Baili Wenhan, please, Young Master Qian."
The young master's smile faded, and he straightened his expression. He knew Baili Wenhan's level very well; he had been defeated by this man in last year's martial arts tournament. He smiled and nodded at Baili Wenhan, then stood up and stepped forward.
Gu Huizhou still couldn't muster any interest and leaned lazily against the dragon throne.
But Xiao Xiaoyuan couldn't help but look around. The young master's moves were swift and clean, and he was handsome and refined. She had developed a good impression of him. Seeing that the young master had fought several people in a row, Xiao Xiaoyuan was not nervous.
But now, Baili Wenhan has fought to a draw with his opponent on the arena, and even shows signs of overwhelming him.
The two swords clashed with a clang! Qian Ce exerted force with both hands, but was still forced back by the impact.
A smug smile played on Baili Wenhan's lips, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. In the next instant, their swords clashed fiercely, then swiftly withdrew, sparks flying from the metal as they scraped together in a fierce and eye-catching display against the darkening twilight. With the sword withdrawn, Baili Wenhan clenched his right fist and, with a gust of wind, thrust it forward with explosive force.
Qian Ce's pupils dilated, and he instinctively flinched, his collar just a hair's breadth away from the heavy punch. Behind him was the edge of the platform. Qian Ce frowned, leaped, and landed steadily below the stage, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "I admire you."
"good!"
"The Second Young Master is indeed handsome and skilled!"
"As expected of the Second Young Master!"
...
Baili Yi smiled kindly and waved to the people beside him, saying, "I dare not accept such praise. My son only knows a little bit about martial arts."
Liang Fu smiled at him, neither confirming nor denying.
When Qian Ce turned around, he faced the Princess. The two looked at each other, smiled and nodded. Qian Ce slowly walked to Qian Shilang's side and said, "Father."
Minister Qian was still shaken. "That scared me to death, Father. Are you alright?"
"Dad, I'm fine."
"No, that won't do. Go home and have the royal physician take a good look at you. Look how red your wrist is from being rubbed."
Han Jiqing could no longer sit still. Now only one person remained to fight Baili Wenhan, and a winner would have to be decided no matter what. "Let go!"
Han Jiwen's face was serious. He wanted to let go, but the next moment his wrist was pressed down by someone. He turned his head in surprise, "Father?"
Han Dahai's face remained expressionless. He looked at the two of them, then stopped in front of Han Jiqing after a moment and said seriously, "You want to marry the princess of an enemy country?"
The two people sitting there remained silent.
Even a general who has achieved great success and wants to marry a princess from an enemy country still has to ask the emperor if he is willing.
"His Majesty says he won't interfere, but does that mean His Majesty doesn't exist?!"
Still in the palace, Han Dahai rebuked in a low voice, the sound not loud, yet it made Han Jiqing's ears ring. He pondered for a moment, watching Baili Wenhan's deadly moves, "Father, I will never betray His Majesty, no matter what."
"The Han family will never."
“We won’t,” Han Dahai tightened his grip, “but it depends on what the Han family does and what His Majesty thinks!”
Is it His Majesty who doesn't trust the Han family, or the Han family who doesn't trust His Majesty? Han Jiqing's eyes reddened slightly.
"Clang!" The swords clashed again. The young master was not as skilled as Qian Ce. After a few blows, his hands and feet went numb, and he stumbled and fell towards the edge of the arena. If the Imperial Guards hadn't caught him, there would have been bloodshed.
"Young Master Baili's movement technique is amazing!"
"Young master, you are so handsome and elegant; you and the princess are surely a perfect match!"
"It seems that in the end, it was the second young master of the Baili family who won the heart of the beauty."
...
Han Jiqing and Han Dahai locked eyes, neither giving an inch. "Father!"
"Han Jiqing!"
Xiao Xiaoyuan felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Both the arrangements made by her Crown Prince brother and the final outcome of the arena were unacceptable to her. Her wrists gripped the corner of the table tightly, and the veins on her long, bony fingers bulged. Chun Ya quickly stepped forward and covered them with a handkerchief.
Gu Huizhou looked up at Baili Wenhan, who was bowing and making gestures around the arena, and smiled casually, "If no one comes up, I will arrange the marriage."
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