Changle Yuan was half a day's journey from the imperial city. It was built by the late emperor for the then most beautiful woman in the harem, Consort He. Although this villa had the title of "Yuan", it could completely be called a temporary palace.
It covered an unusually large area, almost encompassing the entire mountain. It was luxurious yet elegant, with winding paths leading to secluded spots, waterside pavilions overlooking lakes, as well as bracket sets, flying eaves, and high-raised ridge beasts, making people feel pleased and sigh in admiration.
From the outside, this temporary palace built on the mountain looked like a giant beast occupying a majestic peak.
Qin Shaozong and Nangong Xiong set off together and arrived at Changle Yuan on the mountain at the end of the Wei hour.
The attendants from the North and Qingzhou dismounted respectively.
The gate of Changle Yuan was wide open. From the entrance, there was a guard every three steps and a sentry every five steps. The guards wore armor and carried swords, with helmets on their heads, fully armed. In the distance, archers on standby could faintly be seen on the high platform.
Seeing this, Qin Shaozong actually laughed, "After all, he has controlled the government for about twenty years. Why is he still so timid and fearful? What's the difference between his courage and that of a large rat?"
Nangong Xiong, who was beside him, was so shocked by his arrogance that his eyebrows twitched. "Disaster comes from the mouth. Speak cautiously!"
"Disaster and fortune depend on each other. Sometimes disaster is not a bad thing." Qin Shaozong's eyes swept over the surroundings, his light brown eyes calm and waveless.
Nangong Xiong understood the meaning of his words and gasped in his heart. "There are at least a thousand troops stationed in this Changle Yuan, and whether there are troops hidden in the mountains is unknown. You, Qin Changgeng, have a large family business and strong soldiers and horses. I can't compare with you. If you want to rebel at this banquet, at least let me know in advance."
Qin Shaozong: "The enemy outnumbers us; it is better to avoid their sharp edge."
That meant no action.
Nangong Xiong felt relieved. "I also think it's more appropriate to hold off. I received news that Liu of Jingzhou has already set off and will arrive in Chang'an within a few days. This big play cannot start singing until everyone is here."
During their low-voiced conversation, the two were led into the main hall by a maid in front. As soon as they entered, they saw that someone was already seated by the table in the hall.
There were three people seated.
One was a man around thirty-five or thirty-six years old. He had pale skin, was slightly thin, and had a graceful bearing. Rather than a military general, he looked more like a literati.
Nangong Xiong recognized him. This was the Governor of Yuzhou, Jiang Shi, Governor Jiang.
Beside Jiang Shi sat a man with the body of a tiger and the arms of an ape. He was over forty years old and had a pair of leopard eyes shooting lightning. The moment Qin Shaozong stepped into the hall, fierce cold light burst from his eyes, as if wishing to turn into a snow blade to cut off the newcomer's neck.
It was clearly Governor Xie of Sizhou, Xie Yuanyue, whose residence had also been blown up like Nangong Xiong's.
Another person was like an old monk in meditation, but his small mung bean eyes constantly swept around. This person was Governor Li of Xuzhou, Li Lishen, who had been guarding one side in recent years.
Receiving Xie Yuanyue's angry glare, Qin Shaozong smiled and replied, "Isn't this Governor Xie of Sizhou? You looking at me like this, could it be that you want to thank me but are too embarrassed to say it?"
Xie Yuanyue smiled without mirth. "Where does the word 'thank' come from? I didn't expect that besides being good at fighting, Marquis Wu'an's skill in putting gold on his own face is also top-notch."
His tone was unkind, like a needle pointing at a wheat awn, and his hostility towards Qin Shaozong was not without reason.
Coincidentally, Xie Yuanyue happened to stroll to the front of the collapsed house at that time. When the secret room below exploded, bricks and tiles flew, and beams and pillars broke and collapsed, almost hitting Xie Yuanyue.
Before he could recover from the shock and investigate the cause, he heard a report from the door...
Then Nangong Xiong's words reached his ears. Xie Yuanyue immediately became suspicious. His chest felt as if it had been dug open, and a cold wind blew through, making his hair stand on end.
If Qin Shaozong didn't know the inside story of the house collapsing, why did Nangong Xiong say those words? Why did Nangong Xiong change his face after they entered and exited the mansion together?
He, Qin Shaozong, must know the mystery inside!
And the collapse of the house brought out the Golden Dragon prophecy, which pointed directly to the Zhi Jinwu and the provincial governors neighboring Chang'an.
The hidden thoughts were suddenly cut open, completely disrupting the plan, making all parties vigilant and the world pay attention; it also made Xie Yuanyue, who was heavily damaged last year and had not yet recovered his vitality, extremely annoyed.
How could he not hate this?
Qin Shaozong only answered the first half of his sentence. "Last year, your younger brother was mischievous and silently brought thousands of people to Yanzhou to bully men and women. I couldn't stand it and escorted him back to Sizhou. It hasn't been a year since this happened. Governor Xie of Sizhou shouldn't be so old that he can't remember things, right? I think you should remember, after all, people call you Governor Xie of Sizhou every day, rather than your third brother."
The old governor of Sizhou died suddenly, and his three sons fought for power. The second son was the first to be defeated and fled. The eldest and the third fought fiercely, and finally, Xie Yuanxiu successfully ascended to power with the help of the Green Lotus Sect. If it weren't for what happened later, the current Governor of Sizhou would indeed not be named Xie Yuanyue.
The burly man immediately widened his leopard eyes, like a hissing snake being pinched at its seven inches, unable to make another sound.
"Governor Xie of Sizhou was just confused just now. Why do you have to be so aggressive, Marquis Wu'an?" Jiang Shi spoke up.
"It's rare for Prime Minister Dong to hold a banquet. We should get along peacefully. Marquis Wu'an, be forgiving when possible," Li Lishen also said, but he didn't mention Xie Yuanyue at all.
The states near Chang'an explicitly showed a high degree of obedience to the imperial court.
And this kind of grouping together was completely exposed at this time.
Qin Shaozong turned his eyes to look at them and said with a half-smile, "Probably because I'm used to fighting the Northern Kingdom in the past, the motto 'If others offend me, I will definitely offend them' is carved into my bones."
Nangong Xiong thought to himself, not only that, you offend people even if they don't offend you.
Jiang Shi picked up the white jade ivory carved fan on the table and waved it gently, smiling warmly. "The past is the past, and the present is the present. How can they be generalized? In this world, feng shui takes turns. The heroes who once dominated an area, such as the awe-inspiring Hegemon-King of Chu, ultimately committed suicide by the river. People shouldn't be too proud."
Qin Shaozong chuckled softly. "That's true. Being too proud will attract the jealousy of some villains who have never been proud."
The hand holding the fan paused.
Qin Shaozong stopped looking at him and turned to look around. A long sandalwood table was placed at the head of the main hall. The wine vessels on the table were ready, but it was still empty and no one was seated.
Below were two rows of desks. Xie, Jiang, and Li had already taken their seats. They arrived early, so they chose their seats early. Xie Yuanyue was seated at the first seat on the lower left, with Jiang Shi behind him in the same row; Li Lishen sat at the first seat on the lower right.
The first seats on both sides were taken.
Qin Shaozong walked to the right side and lifted his robe to sit down at the second seat. Nangong Xiong followed him and sat on the same side.
This time, Qin, Nangong, Xie, Jiang, and Li were mainly invited. The remaining seats were filled by their attendants in a staggered manner.
A quarter of an hour after the latecomers sat down, Dong Zhou arrived late.
The prime minister who had held power in the imperial court for many years ate the fattest fat of Great Yan and had grown to have a waist circumference of ten spans. He wore a Jinxian crown and a black robe with wide sleeves. Python patterns were embroidered on the robe, and a string of gold and jade pendants hung around his fat waist. As he walked, he looked like a dazzling mountain of meat moving.
As soon as Dong Zhou entered, the few people stood up, cupped their hands, and said they were greeting Prime Minister Dong.
Dong Zhou raised his hand casually and pressed it down. "You are all important ministers, dedicating yourselves to the country. You are no different from my own family, so there's no need to be overly polite. Inviting you all to gather at Changle Yuan today is not only to enhance our feelings but also to plan for the subsequent elimination of treacherous officials."
While speaking, Dong Zhou's gaze seemingly casually swept towards the second seat on the lower right.
The man was extremely tall, wearing a martial cap with a tall crown and a black robe, his face stern and cold. Though seated in a lower position, his presence was imposing. Looking at him, one felt the heavy majesty of a mountain and the unfathomable depths of an ocean, as if no matter how the lightning flashed or thunder rolled outside, nothing could cause him the slightest harm.
Dong Zhou was secretly alarmed. Having not seen him for many years, this man surnamed Qin was actually even more formidable than before.
Xie Yuanyue chimed in at this moment, "With treacherous evildoers causing trouble, the common people cannot eat or sleep in peace. We indeed ought to dig them out of the dark ditches early and expose them to the sunlight, so that their souls may scatter and perish."
As he said this, he stared unblinkingly at Qin Shaozong opposite him.
Qin Shaozong smiled, "It is only right. It seems that when it comes to catching thieves, Governor Xie of Sizhou has great experience and determination. Perhaps later you can be the first to lend Prime Minister Dong a helping hand."
The veins at Xie Yuanyue's temples throbbed twice, and he merely sneered, saying that it was naturally so.
The banquet had barely begun, yet the air was already thick with the smoke of gunpowder.
After a few more pleasantries, Dong Zhou clapped his hands. "Since this is a wine appreciation banquet, how can we lack wine? Men, bring the wine!"
Beautiful maidservants filed in, each holding a small wine jar in her hands.
Han wine came in many varieties: some named after their raw materials, some after their ingredients, and others after their regions. Millet wine, Yicheng wine, kumiss, grape wine, chrysanthemum wine...
There were those whose names could be called out and those that could not, too many to list. The young women holding the wine jars stood in a row behind the several men, ready to pour wine for the esteemed guests at any moment.
"The fine vintages of Great Yan are all here. Gentlemen, please!" Dong Zhou was the first to raise his cup.
Everyone drank together.
Since it was a wine appreciation banquet, naturally they would not drink only one kind of wine. A few cups of this, a few cups of that, drinking a mixture, and with every type they tasted, they would offer a few earnest words of critique.
After three rounds of wine, Dong Zhou, seated at the head, spoke again: "With such fine wine, how can we lack song and dance? Let the dancers enter."
A breeze swept in, bringing a waft of fragrance into the hall that was already lingering with the scent of wine.
The crisp, melodious chiming of silver bells rang out as graceful dancers stepped to the rhythm and entered. Their flowing water sleeves fluttered, revealing glimpses of fair arms and slender waists.
The dancers all wore sheer veils, their beautiful faces half-hidden, captivating the eyes like flowers vying to bloom in the light morning mist.
Among the troupe of dancers, a young woman dressed in vermilion was the most striking. She had a tall and lithe figure, and her eyes were extremely beautiful, with large, dark irises that seemed to speak. The vermilion sheer fabric draped over her snow-white skin exuded an indescribable charm as she twirled and leaped.
Many present were watching her.
Qin Shaozong held his wine goblet in one hand, resting the other on the desk, lightly tapping his long fingers off and on. He seemed to be looking forward, yet also seemed not to be.
When the dance concluded, Dong Zhou at the head said, "Do not just stand there. Go and pour wine for our heroes."
A fragrant breeze drifted as the young women, who had just been in the center of the hall, scattered like blooming petals to the sides, settling beside the seated guests.
The most eye-catching dancer floated over gracefully. After taking a wine jar from a maidservant's hands, she took a seat to Qin Shaozong's right.
"My Lord Marquis," she called softly.
Qin Shaozong did not react, only noting the faint, drifting gazes coming from the crowd opposite him.
"Qin Lang," the young woman changed her address.
And this time, the sharp gaze of the man beside her finally swept over.
Du Manxiang's heart surged with excitement, but suddenly seeing his brown eyes devoid of emotion, she realized he likely had not recognized her. She immediately pulled down the sheer veil from her face. "Qin Lang, it is me. Save me."
Qin Shaozong remained expressionless. "Why are you here? Who arranged for you to come?"
"It is a long story. After I left the Marquis's estate last year..."
"Marquis of Wu'an," someone opposite suddenly called out loudly.
The cheerful laughter and chatter at the banquet abruptly stopped, and everyone looked at Xie Yuanyue. The latter grinned and said, "The dancer beside you is not bad. Could you let her come serve me?"
Du Manxiang trembled in fright, instinctively trying to shrink into the arms of the man beside her, but she was blocked by his long arm as he placed his goblet on the desk.
"They all say the Marquis of Wu'an from the North is generous and magnanimous. Could it be that your reputation exceeds the reality?" Xie Yuanyue said.
Qin Shaozong said nothing.
Jiang Shi smiled at this moment, "You, Xie Tengyun, are being quite unreasonable. If you want her to come over, wouldn't that leave the Marquis of Wu'an with an empty seat beside him? He surely won't agree to it. You should offer the beauty beside you in exchange."
"Makes sense. I was inconsiderate just now," Xie Yuanyue laughed heartily, then pushed the dancer in his arms forward, signaling for her to go over.
The pushed dancer was very panicked. She first looked back at Xie Yuanyue, and seeing that the latter didn't even glance at her and clearly wouldn't change his mind, she could only walk towards Qin Shaozong.
Nangong Xiong took a sip of wine, happy to watch the show.
A mere dancer—if this were an ordinary gathering of friends, she could be given away casually. But in this setting, one could not yield an inch.
However...
Nangong Xiong stroked his chin.
He had heard that before Qin Changgeng married last year, he had completely cleared out his backyard of concubines, living only with Lady Dai.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Qin Shaozong asked the person beside him, "Governor Xie of Sizhou wants you to go over and serve him. Are you willing?"
Du Manxiang lowered her head and shook it, leaning closer to his side.
Qin Shaozong frowned imperceptibly. "Governor Xie of Sizhou, she is not willing. Let us drop the matter."
"And what if I insist?" Xie Yuanyue slammed his wine goblet heavily onto the desk. Fine cracks spread from the bottom of the white jade goblet, and soon it shattered into a pile of broken jade with a sharp crack.
Dong Zhou, seated at the head, seemed to finally notice the heavy atmosphere and stepped in to smooth things over. "Since ancient times, heroes have been matched with beauties. Why don't you, Wu'an, and Tengyun decide the victor through martial arts? If Tengyun wins, Wu'an, you let her go serve Tengyun."
"The Prime Minister's suggestion is excellent. The Marquis's prestigious name resounds like thunder in my ears, and I, Xie, have heard of it for a long time. It's a pity I never had the chance to spar with you before. I hope I can get my wish today." Xie Yuanyue stood up.
He was eight feet tall with a thick neck. As he spoke, veins occasionally bulged on the sides of his neck, and when his hands clenched into fists, they were as large as bushels, exuding an immense sense of power.
Feng Feng and others sitting in the back rows of the lower seats frowned upon hearing this.
Naturally, this match could not be lost, otherwise it would surely make the opponent's arrogance soar to the heavens. But winning didn't seem to be a good thing either...
Qin Shaozong likewise let go of his wine goblet and slowly stood up. "Fists and kicks have no eyes. If I accidentally injure Governor Xie of Sizhou later, I hope you won't go crying to Prime Minister Dong."