“Who else would it be but this official?” Though Lian Shengjie answered with apparent confidence, a careful listener could detect how dry his voice was.

Pang Xiao glanced at his fierce exterior but cowardly interior and sneered, no longer paying him any attention.

His long, elegant fingers with distinct joints lifted an exquisite gold-rimmed white porcelain wine cup, and immediately a beautiful maid with a flower-like smile held a copper pot to pour wine for him.

The amber-colored nectar fell into the cup, its color crystal clear and aroma rich and mellow.

The maid’s red lips curved slightly upward, her gaze carefully lingering on Pang Xiao’s handsome face. Her cheeks immediately flushed, and she lowered her eyes shyly.

This scene made Lian Shengjie envious, and he unconsciously swallowed, quickening his steps forward.

Pang Xiao paid no attention, tilting his head back to drink the wine in one gulp. His Adam’s apple rolled, and the firm arc of his jawline added several degrees of casual dominance to his bearing.

The maid’s cheeks grew even redder, and she prepared to pour more wine, but Pang Xiao used his slender fingers to grasp the cup and turn it upside down, waving his hand to signal her to withdraw. He glanced sideways at Lian Shengjie and said lazily:

“Minister Lian must have received His Majesty’s imperial edict, otherwise his courage wouldn’t have grown so much that he doesn’t even bow upon seeing this prince.”

Only then did Lian Shengjie shift his gaze from the beauty and meet Pang Xiao’s mocking yet sharp eyes. His body trembled, and he nearly fell to his knees.

“Ahem, this official, this official naturally came under imperial orders. Unlike some people who came here privately.” Lian Shengjie spoke with extreme unease.

He had truly been beaten into fear. Seeing Pang Xiao made his whole body tense, and the spots where he’d been struck began to ache dully again.

Pang Xiao raised an eyebrow and smiled, casually pointing to an empty seat, “Sit down. Why stand while talking? This prince hasn’t punished you to stand.”

Lian Shengjie’s face flushed red with anger, his courage growing as his fear diminished somewhat. He stiffened his neck and sat down opposite Pang Xiao.

Seeing that the two men from Great Zhou seemed to be at odds, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Receptions nervously broke into a sweat, fearing these two might start fighting at any disagreement. If such a thing happened under his watch, His Majesty would surely be furious.

Seeing that Lian Shengjie no longer spoke after taking his seat, the Minister sighed in relief and instructed several accompanying officials to sit together, then ordered the banquet to begin and the song and dance to commence.

Elegant orchestral music played melodiously. Young dancers in thin gauze costumes moved with graceful beauty. In the magnificent flower hall, they appeared even more ethereal and fairy-like, accompanied by jade platters of delicacies and mellow wine on the eight-immortals table covered with red brocade peony tablecloth.

Lian Shengjie ate fine food and drink, attended by beauties, his gaze fixed on the dancing maidens. He felt physically and mentally comfortable, his tense mood relaxing instantly.

Pang Xiao glanced sideways at Lian Shengjie’s lustful, foolish appearance, took the wine pot from the maid’s hands to pour for himself, and watched the song and dance with extremely cold eyes, as if he hadn’t taken such beautiful earthly scenery into his sight at all.

The Great Yan officials including the Minister, seeing the completely opposite attitudes of Pang Xiao and Lian Shengjie, each had their own speculations but dared not participate in the conflict between the two, merely accompanying them silently.

After three rounds of wine, Lian Shengjie completely relaxed, his emotions elevated by the alcohol.

“Prince Zhongshun, what crime should you bear for coming to Great Yan privately this time?” What should have been an imposing statement came out without any authority due to his drunken stuttering.

Pang Xiao said lazily, “The two countries have successfully negotiated peace and become friendly neighbors. This prince is merely traveling around—what crime is there in that?”

“You’re being unreasonable! As the commander of the Huben Army, don’t you know the importance of your position? His Majesty didn’t permit your travels, yet you decided privately. Do you know you’ve already angered His Majesty?” With alcohol affecting his judgment, Lian Shengjie slammed the table in anger.

The song and dance stopped abruptly, everyone frightened into silence by Lian Shengjie’s sudden rage.

The Minister dared not interfere in Great Zhou’s affairs and hurriedly rose, waving for everyone to withdraw.

The previously festive scene now became eerily quiet.

Pang Xiao took a sip of wine, too lazy to respond.

Seeing Pang Xiao’s silence, Lian Shengjie sneered, “You’re not speaking because you’re afraid! Let me tell you, Pang Zhixi, I’ve been watching your arrogance for more than a day or two. You’ve always been disrespectful to us former Northern Ji ministers. Though we’ve pledged loyal service to His Majesty, you still find fault with us at every turn, beating and scolding us readily. Fortunately, His Majesty is wise and has seen through your domineering nature.”

Pang Xiao picked at his ear, “Finished?”

“His Majesty sent this official to ask you why you didn’t return to the capital but came to Great Yan instead! Why don’t you answer?!”

“When a general is abroad, some military orders need not be obeyed.”

Pang Xiao set down the wine pot, the copper bottom making a “thud” sound against the table.

“Moreover, this prince has his own reasons.”

Seeing that Pang Xiao hadn’t erupted in curses as before, Lian Shengjie couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

So what if he possessed the tiger tally of the Huben Army?

So what if the hundred thousand Huben soldiers were brave fighters worth ten men each?

Even if Pang Xiao held princely rank, he still had to bow and submit to His Majesty, and still feared the former Northern Ji officials and Marquis Dingbei Ji Zeyu’s Longxiang Army!

Not to mention the Longxiang Army’s sufficient forces.

Just considering what Pang Xiao had done when Great Zhou trampled the Northern Ji mountains and rivers—leading the Huben Army as vanguard in charges and slaughter, even dragging out officials who had already surrendered to be slowly cut up alive and fed to dogs—this cruelty alone made the former Northern Ji ministers wary.

Now that these people had submitted to Great Zhou, in their hearts, Pang Xiao was the chief culprit who caused Northern Ji’s destruction.

How could they not hate Pang Xiao?

Moreover, His Majesty was wary of Pang Xiao’s military strength, while Ji Zeyu’s Longxiang Army grew stronger daily, serving as a tool to balance the Huben Army. Yet Pang Xiao still didn’t know restraint, remaining arrogant and throwing tantrums at will.

As a Northern Ji minister who had surrendered to Great Zhou, Lian Shengjie had long found Pang Xiao displeasing.

Now seeing Pang Xiao under his questioning merely saying with a dark face that “when a general is abroad, some military orders need not be obeyed,” he was truly so pleased he almost floated away.

“You’ve been too pleased with yourself for too long.” Lian Shengjie laughed loudly, “Old brother, let me advise you—be more restrained. If you explain properly to me now, I can put in good words for you in my letter to His Majesty. Otherwise, you probably won’t even know how you died. Besides, why you came to Great Yan isn’t my personal question—it’s His Majesty’s question.”

As Lian Shengjie spoke, he supported himself on the eight-immortals table with both arms and stood up, leaning forward in a listening posture while his face was full of mockery, “Come, come, tell me first.”

Pang Xiao continued smiling with lowered eyes, toying with the gold-rimmed wine cup in his hand.

Huzi beside him had long been enraged by Lian Shengjie’s smug expression, his face purple with anger, wishing he could rush forward and break the man’s neck.

Seeing Pang Xiao still silent, Lian Shengjie leaned forward even more, grinning smugly, “Why aren’t you speaking now? You said you ‘have your own reasons’—why don’t you tell me what your reasons are!”

“Slap!” came a crisp sound. Lian Shengjie covered his instantly swelling face in disbelief, staring dazedly at Pang Xiao.

“What are you to have the qualification to hear this prince speak?” Pang Xiao stood up, looking down at Lian Shengjie’s face that alternated between pale and flushed.

Lian Shengjie’s drunkenness was beaten away. Recalling his mocking words from moments before, he covered his face and retreated several steps, as if this could help him escape Pang Xiao’s range of attack.

Pang Xiao, too lazy to deal with him further, turned and left the flower hall with Huzi.

Lian Shengjie covered his face, glaring at Pang Xiao’s retreating figure, and shouted with fierce exterior but cowardly interior, “You, you don’t be so arrogant! Sooner or later you’ll have your day of tears!”

This scene in the room had already been clearly observed by the Minister and others who were secretly peeping through door cracks, and they quietly went to report to the Emperor.

The Emperor was embracing the Empress, sitting on an arhat bed placed by the window of the imperial study, spread with bright yellow cushions, flirting playfully.

Upon hearing the Minister’s words, the Empress first smiled charmingly, “It seems that so-called Prince Zhongshun is nothing special after all.”

The Emperor was also fed up with Pang Xiao’s domineering behavior. He patted the Empress’s bottom and whispered a few words in her ear.

The Empress acted coquettish for a while in protest, but seeing the Emperor truly wanted her to leave, she reluctantly departed the imperial study with her attendants.

The Emperor watched the Empress leave with a smile, then composed his expression and stood up, “So it seems Emperor Zhou is wary of Pang Zhixi.”

“This subject also thinks so. Otherwise, given Pang Zhixi’s usually domineering nature, he definitely wouldn’t tolerate the envoy’s repeated questioning.”

“Hmph! I knew it. This type of person who becomes arrogant upon gaining power will surely not enjoy wealth and status for long. How can one tolerate others sleeping soundly beside the imperial couch? Emperor Zhou must have long disapproved of his behavior and intended to suppress him. Otherwise, how would that Lian fellow dare to be so bold before Pang Zhixi?”

“Your Majesty is wise.” The Minister nodded repeatedly.

The Emperor waved his hand to dismiss the Minister.

Only after no one else remained did the Emperor sit behind the black lacquered paulownia imperial desk with a gloomy expression.

Recalling how his courtesy toward Pang Zhixi during the day had been witnessed by so many commoners and ministers, the Emperor felt regret.

Who knew Pang Zhixi’s position in Great Zhou had already become unstable?

Had he known this earlier, he should have been tougher! At this point, Pang Zhixi likely couldn’t influence Emperor Zhou’s thoughts anyway!

He had actually believed Pang Zhixi’s threat of war?

What a miscalculation, such a miscalculation!

In his anger, the Emperor swept all the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones from the desk to the floor.

Guards and eunuchs outside the hall, hearing the commotion, rushed in frantically to protect him. Seeing it was the Emperor in a rage, they felt slightly relieved, but each remained silent as winter cicadas, not daring to approach or console him.

The Emperor’s temper had become increasingly volatile recently. Often when angered, he couldn’t control himself. Last time, the chief eunuch merely offered one word of advice and was dragged out for twenty strokes of the rod.

If not for the chief eunuch’s accumulated prestige and prior relationship-building, where would he still have his life?

Only after the Emperor had smashed everything he could did he let out a satisfied breath.

“Bring me the immortal pills that Immortal Liu presented.”

“Yes.” The head eunuch immediately fetched an exquisite golden box, holding it with both hands as he presented a black pill.

The Emperor swallowed it with cold wine and immediately felt extremely comfortable throughout his body, his mood becoming pleasant.

He laughed heartily, “The Immortal Liu recommended by the Empress is excellent. Instruct the Empress to reward her appropriately—whatever she needs can be taken from my private treasury.”

“Yes. This servant will go immediately.” The head eunuch smiled and bowed, quietly instructing a young eunuch to silently clean up the mess on the floor.

The Emperor thought again and said, “Also, tomorrow morning go convey my edict. The grace I bestowed upon the Qin family is no pretense. Now that Sun Shi has become a super first-rank lady, the proper rewards cannot be lacking. I’ll write the plaque for the Qin family tomorrow for you to have made. Also, erect a memorial archway for Sun Shi in front of the Qin residence. After delivering the rewards tomorrow morning, make a trip to the Qin family to convey these instructions as well.”

“This servant obeys the imperial edict.”