After all this commotion, Huo Liuxing inevitably delayed some time. When he and Shen Lingzhen arrived at the Chongzheng Hall, all the guests except the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Xiqiang envoys were already seated.
Tonight’s banquet was to welcome the Xiqiang envoys and was not the formal ceremony for signing the letter of surrender, so it didn’t warrant a gathering of all court officials. Present were only the adult imperial princes and military officials of Fourth Rank and above, along with their female family members.
When the two entered the hall, a eunuch announced them loudly. Everyone who had been chatting and laughing paused simultaneously and looked toward the palace door.
Today, Huo Liuxing wore a dark robe with silver leaf brocade patterns, his hair bound by a black jade crown. His face, which already appeared as if powdered, was truly powdered now, causing people to momentarily overlook the wheelchair beneath him and focus only on his refined and handsome appearance.
Some bolder female family members at the banquet whispered among themselves, saying that in ancient times there was the Prince of Lanling, who was so excessively beautiful that he had to wear a mask on the battlefield to intimidate enemies. They wondered whether this member of the Huo family had also done the same when fighting in his early years.
Huo Liuxing nodded in return to the various princes and officials who smiled and greeted him, following the eunuch to a seat near the head of the hall. As soon as he sat down, he felt a burning gaze pressing toward him.
He leaned forward slightly, blocking Shen Lingzhen beside him perfectly.
Shen Lingzhen was also different from usual today. Her face bore light makeup, further enhancing her features—brows, eyes, lips, and teeth—all like a painting. Her consort-colored flowing immortal dress was as bright as peach and plum blossoms. Walking gracefully with her slender waist and jade belt, if she weren’t already married, she would inevitably attract stares from head to toe.
Thinking of this, Huo Liuxing subtly shifted his body again, blocking Shen Lingzhen even more completely. He cast a warning yet polite glance at Xue Jie not far away, whose extraordinary perseverance had him gazing eagerly.
After taking her seat, Shen Lingzhen properly lowered her head and didn’t notice this scene. Only when a rough laugh echoed from outside the hall door did she slightly raise her eyes.
The arrivals were the Xiqiang envoys. One was the Third Prince Weiming He, representing the Xiqiang royal family. The other was General Yeli Chong, who was responsible for the prince’s safety and accompanying him.
The laughter came from this broad-shouldered, bear-backed middle-aged general with a head full of braids.
The Xiqiang people’s features didn’t differ much from Han people. If they changed their clothing and headdresses, they would be indistinguishable from the Daqi people present. However, their crude demeanor truly made the female family members present privately gasp.
The two distinguished guests were led by the eunuch all the way to seats below the dragon throne—diagonally across from Huo Liuxing.
Shen Lingzhen noticed that the young Prince Weiming seemed to have deliberately studied Han court etiquette beforehand. His steps were proper and restrained as he walked, with a somewhat cautious attitude, truly appearing as if he had come to submit. But General Yeli instead strode confidently, showing no sense of being subordinate. After taking his seat, he even looked toward Huo Liuxing’s direction with a meaningful smile.
The Emperor and Crown Prince had not yet arrived. Currently, the most distinguished person at this banquet should be Zhao Xun, sitting across from Huo Liuxing. Yet this foreign general didn’t look at Zhao Xun, nor at Zhao Rui with whom he had previously collaborated, but specifically at Huo Liuxing.
Shen Lingzhen secretly glanced at the person beside her. She saw that he didn’t respond to this gaze, but the index finger and thumb resting on the wheelchair armrest gently rubbed together.
This was his habit when thinking.
Shen Lingzhen felt that Huo Liuxing must have also noticed this somewhat strange General Yeli.
Just then, the eunuch’s shrill voice rang out again: “His Majesty arrives—!”
Except for Huo Liuxing who had received special permission, everyone in the hall rose to bow toward the dragon throne.
The elderly Emperor smiled warmly and made a gesture for them to rise, instructing everyone to return to their seats. He then clapped his hands, signaling the start of the banquet.
Music and dance took the stage. The Emperor exchanged pleasantries with the two envoys: “Prince Weiming and General Yeli have traveled far. Was your journey smooth?”
“We smooth, thank Holy… Majesty…” Weiming He had apparently just learned the Han language. His pronunciation was strange and his word choice quite awkward. Halfway through, he got stuck and anxiously looked toward Yeli Chong beside him.
Yeli Chong immediately helped salvage the situation: “Thanks to Your Majesty’s concern, the prince and this humble subject are both well.”
Several nearby Daqi officials looked over because of his fluent Han speech.
The Emperor smiled: “General Yeli’s Han speech is so proficient—you must have put in considerable effort.”
Yeli Chong grinned: “This humble subject has admired Central Plains civilization since childhood and has studied the Han language for many years, achieving this small accomplishment.”
Shen Lingzhen quietly glanced diagonally across.
It seemed this general was the true envoy the Xiqiang royal family wanted to send.
Above, the Emperor and Yeli Chong continued exchanging empty platitudes. Below, everyone sat upright, each face bearing a professionally immovable smile. After each pause in the Emperor’s speech, they would nod lightly, expressing their complete agreement.
The seven graceful performers in the hall dancing the plate and drum dance with great effort were instead left unappreciated.
After several rounds, the sound of clapping to announce the opening of the meal rang out again from the dragon throne above.
This signaled that everyone could begin eating.
But Yeli Chong didn’t immediately begin. Instead, he looked at the empty seat next to him and asked the nearby eunuch whose seat it was and whether they should wait for that person before beginning the meal.
The eunuch explained: “The Crown Prince is absent due to matters. General Yeli, please begin eating.”
Yeli Chong nodded in apparent understanding, then said: “I’ve heard that your country’s Crown Prince is unwell. Our prince specially brought snow lotus fruit and fleece-flower root as tribute on this trip, hoping they might help the Crown Prince somewhat.”
At these words, the smile on the eunuch’s face became somewhat stiff.
He had just followed the Emperor’s instructions to falsely claim that the bedridden Crown Prince was absent due to “matters,” but this general had obviously come prepared. Having learned that Daqi’s Crown Prince was sickly, he mercilessly exposed this lie.
The Emperor’s ability to be emperor naturally meant his composure exceeded ordinary people. Hearing someone disparage his heir, he showed no emotion, merely glancing lightly at Zhao Xun.
Zhao Xun understood. He raised his cup and looked across: “Just eating without drinking—how boring! Come, General Huo, you have rendered great service to our Daqi. Without you, there would be no banquet tonight. I toast General Huo!”
Huo Liuxing smiled faintly, holding his cup with both hands. He nodded toward Zhao Xun, then drained the clear wine in one gulp.
Zhao Xun’s action was precisely to remind that overly arrogant General Yeli why tonight’s banquet existed. Elevating Huo Liuxing now meant elevating Daqi. With the legitimate prince taking this lead, the other princes and officials naturally didn’t dare skip this toast. One by one, they came to toast Huo Liuxing.
Shen Lingzhen smiled as she poured wine for Huo Liuxing, but inwardly lamented.
That Yeli Chong didn’t speak arrogantly again and quietly gnawed on crab, but poor Huo Liuxing had emptied an entire pot of clear wine. She didn’t know if his still-unrecovered body could withstand it.
She quietly pinched Huo Liuxing’s sleeve, silently asking if he was alright.
Huo Liuxing’s gaze was clear, showing no sign of intoxication. He turned his head and raised his eyebrows: “I’m not you.”
Her kind concern met with this jab at her weakness. Shen Lingzhen pursed her lips and ignored him, picking up the crab tools to extract crab meat on her own.
Autumn hairy crabs were especially plump and beautiful, the roe particularly full and tempting. But because Huo Liuxing had developed an aversion after the abalone incident, he no longer touched lake delicacies. He transferred his portion to her bowl, smiling: “You eat yours, don’t worry about me.”
Amid the clinking of cups and changing dishes, songs and dances took turns on stage. After five courses, everyone was well-fed and satisfied. Zhao Xun looked left and right, seeming to feel something was missing. He asked Zhao Rui beside him: “Second Brother, we brothers haven’t played arrow-throwing for a long time. Since we’re rarely gathered together tonight, why not take this opportunity for a competition?”
Zhao Rui looked toward the head seat, replying submissively: “We should probably ask Father Emperor first.”
The Emperor heard this and immediately waved his hand with a smile: “You all play, just don’t neglect our guests.”
“Naturally!” Zhao Xun had someone bring arrows and a pot, asking with a smile, “Prince Weiming must have also played arrow-throwing? If not, it doesn’t matter—watch us throw once and you’ll understand. Join us for a try in a moment!”
This gave no opportunity for refusal. Weiming He could only nod.
Soon palace attendants presented the arrows and pot. The dancers and musicians in the hall withdrew, and the entire venue fell silent.
Zhao Xun took up a bundle of arrows first, drew one out, and pointed to the distant bronze pot—narrow at the top, wide at the bottom—showing it to Weiming He: “Standing one zhang away, throw the arrow into that pot. We each get ten arrows. Whoever hits more wins, and the loser drinks a cup of wine. What do you think?”
Weiming He nodded somewhat confusedly: “Good, I try see.” He picked up an arrow, gestured with it, held his breath, and threw it forcefully.
The arrow flew quite far indeed—but landed half a zhang beyond the pot, shooting near a female family member’s feet, making her gasp softly.
“Prince Weiming has good arm strength!” Zhao Xun smiled and enthusiastically explained, “But arrow-throwing doesn’t rely on brute force—it requires skillful force. Watch me throw once.”
He picked up an arrow and threw it lightly and skillfully. With a clang, it landed squarely in the pot. He then handed a new arrow to Weiming He: “Come, try again?”
Weiming He reluctantly threw again. This time he did hit the pot—but knocked the bronze pot over directly.
The people below laughed quietly.
Zhao Xun sighed, glanced at the green-faced Yeli Chong, and smiled: “It seems Prince Weiming is truly not skilled at arrow-throwing. If this continues, my victory would lack honor. Since General Yeli admires Central Plains civilization, you must have also studied this art. Perhaps… you try?”
Yeli Chong laughed: “How difficult can it be? But this humble subject’s status is lowly—I dare not compete with Your Highnesses.”
As he said this, he seemed intentionally or unintentionally to glance at Huo Liuxing.
Everyone present was reincarnated from old, calculating foxes and naturally could see that this general intended to compete with Huo Liuxing—whom everyone had been elevating tonight—to recover Xiqiang’s dignity.
After all, they came to surrender—why be so competitive?
Many officials frowned. Huo Liuxing’s mind was indeed sharp, but he was after all already disabled. Could he possibly compete with a robust warrior like Yeli Chong?
Daqi could not fall into this trap.
Zhao Xun seemed to have formed a plan in his mind. He looked at Huo Liuxing, saw he continued smiling without objection, but didn’t immediately satisfy Yeli Chong’s wish: “Then how about this,” he said, turning toward the Xue family’s seats. “General Xue, I’ve heard your son has exceptional martial skills. Why not have your son compete with General Yeli?”
Xue Ce nodded, signaling his son to go.
Xue Jie rose and took the ten arrows handed to him by the eunuch. He nodded toward the Emperor and the assembled officials: “Xue Jie will make a poor showing.” With a flip of his palm, he gripped three arrows, narrowed his eyes, focused intently on the bronze pot one zhang away, and threw.
Three clear sounds rang simultaneously—all three arrows entered the pot!
The Emperor above was greatly pleased: “Excellent!”
The assembled officials applauded vigorously.
Xue Jie stood tall and composed, his expression unchanged. The remaining seven arrows—every arrow hit its mark, each one steadily entering the pot. Afterward, he nodded again to the Emperor, then looked toward Yeli Chong: “Your turn, General Yeli.”
Yeli Chong rose, bracing his knees: “Young Master Xue has excellent martial skills, but when I throw arrows, I rely on instinct rather than eyesight.” As he spoke, he tore off a strip of black cloth from his sleeve and bound it over his eyes.
Xue Jie’s expression changed slightly.
Yeli Chong smiled and took the arrows, standing half a zhang farther from the pot than Xue Jie had, and casually threw one.
Hit.
He threw another.
Hit again.
When three arrows remained, he pulled at the corner of his mouth, similarly releasing all three at once, and all three hit.
Thus, while the final result appeared to be a ten-arrow draw, in reality Yeli Chong clearly had the upper hand. Everyone around was shocked by this person’s skill, and for a moment the hall fell silent as a grave.
But in this silent room, three clear and slow claps were heard.
The one clapping was Huo Liuxing.
His praise seemed heartfelt: “General Yeli’s skills are remarkable—truly worthy of our admiration.”
Yeli Chong removed the cloth from his eyes and looked back at him: “In that case, is General Huo willing to compete with me?”
Huo Liuxing’s face still bore that refined and gentle smile, but the words he threw out were forceful and clear: “Why not?”