Chapter 23: The Night Banquet

Since the enthronement ceremony, the Taiyuan palace had been bustling with activity, with palace maids and eunuchs hanging lanterns and festoons, preparing for the night banquet.

The two brothers Liu Chengxun and Liu Chengyou were also busy. Liu Chengxun had been given the post of Palace Gardens Commissioner, temporarily managing affairs within the Taiyuan palace. As for Liu Chengyou, after welcoming Lady Li into the palace, he had been temporarily appointed Commissioner of the Palace City, ordered to select elite troops from among the various armies of Jinyang to garrison the Taiyuan palace and guard the palace city.

From Liu Zhiyuan's arrangements, it was clear that the two people he trusted most at present were his two sons. However, the selection of palace guard imperial troops could not be completed in a short time, so Liu Chengyou directly transferred four battalions of elite soldiers from the Xingjie and Wujie armies, plus his original personal guard unit, to garrison the imperial palace.

By the time Liu Chengyou finished his arrangements and completed an inspection round, night had already fallen. Unhurriedly, he left the palace, changed into a new set of casual robes, and picked up Lady Geng along the way before entering the palace together for the banquet.

In the Taiyuan palace, centered on the main hall, it was already brightly lit with lanterns, and the noise of voices was deafening.

"Second brother, you've finally come!" Amid the assembled civil and military officials, Liu Chengxun looked radiant with joy. Seeing Liu Chengyou, he immediately came forward to greet him.

"Mm!" Liu Chengyou nodded to Liu Chengxun. He wanted to smile, but perhaps having been withdrawn for so long, he simply couldn't manage one. As for Lady Geng, appearing in public for the first time, she nervously performed a salute to Liu Chengxun.

There were seats for the wives of civil and military officials. Liu Chengyou gestured to her, and Lady Geng obediently went over.

"Are the palace city guards all arranged?" Liu Chengxun asked.

Lifting his eyelids to glance at Liu Chengxun, Liu Chengyou replied, "They are all elite troops from the Xingjie and Wujie armies. Elder brother can rest assured!"

Letting out a chuckle, Liu Chengxun laughed, "Second brother's work has always been reassuring..."

The brothers exchanged a few words, then each took their seats. Liu Chengyou's emotions were stable to the extreme, yet in his heart he couldn't help but feel something strange—his elder brother seemed to have begun taking an interest in "the military."

The atmosphere in the great hall was very lively, noisy and clamorous, like a vegetable market. Martial generals like Shi Hongzhao had already started digging into the food on the banquet tables, and the wine was already flowing. Civil officials like Yang Bin were slightly more restrained, but only slightly—though all of them looked quite excited.

The new dynasty had just been established, and its institutions were not yet perfected. Especially the Hedong military generals who occupied most of the main hall—they didn't understand how to observe any propriety. Take Shi Hongzhao, for instance: that fellow probably considered himself meritorious for supporting the enthronement, and the arrogance on his face could no longer be contained. He gulped down wine like a cow, completely disregarding his image.

Liu Chengyou preferred quiet and solemnity. Faced with such a raucous scene, he couldn't help but furrow his brows.

Only when Liu Zhiyuan and Lady Li appeared together did the hall quiet down, with everyone bowing in homage to the two of them.

Liu Zhiyuan wore a purple dragon robe. At this moment, the usual sternness was gone from his face; he was in high spirits, seeming several years younger. Lady Li had also changed into a phoenix skirt, a faint smile on her lips, appearing even more dignified and elegant.

Liu Zhiyuan appeared very tolerant of the wanton discourtesy of the assembled ministers. Presumably the joy of becoming emperor was enough to make him overlook such minor details. He waved his hand to bid everyone rise, then announced the banquet would continue.

The atmosphere in the hall reached its climax from the very start, with cups passing back and forth endlessly between civil and military officials.

"Gentlemen!" Liu Zhiyuan rose at the opportune moment, wine cup in hand, and took a few steps through the hall, saying, "That I, with my humble self, have attained the imperial throne is all thanks to your sincere support and vigorous assistance. Here, I toast you all! Raise your cups, and drink deeply with me! Please!"

"Your Majesty, please!" The assembled company responded in unison, showing him due respect.

After draining one cup, an attendant immediately served another. Liu Zhiyuan's spirits rose even higher. Looking around the hall, he declared in a clear voice, "Now, the Khitan still occupy the two capitals, the barbarian invaders run rampant, and bandits and brigands roam freely. This is precisely the time for us to forge ahead with determination, restore order out of chaos, and render distinguished service. I hope you will all join me with one heart and one mind, working together to save the realm, so as to fulfill the people's earnest hopes for good governance!"

"Your Majesty is wise and martial! Under your leadership, we will surely drive out the barbarian invaders, cleanse the realm, and restore peace to the people of our Central Plains!" As soon as Liu Zhiyuan finished speaking, Yang Bin immediately rose to echo him.

Liu Zhiyuan's face flushed with excitement: "I will drink first to show my sincerity!"

Sovereign and ministers drank together, the atmosphere warm and harmonious. Liu Zhiyuan did not continue with grand pronouncements of righteousness, but, emboldened by the wine, also indicated that the contributions of all his ministers were engraved in his heart and would never be forgotten. He then led everyone in envisioning the prospects of driving out the Khitan and pacifying the Central Plains, and so on.

Liu Zhiyuan was normally not much of a speaker and said little. Having spoken at some length on impulse, he returned to his seat to sip his wine, then instructed Liu Chengxun to toast the assembled civil and military officials on his behalf.

Liu Chengxun naturally responded with enthusiasm, warmly exchanging words with the new dynasty's civil and military officials. With his status as the eldest imperial prince plus the friendships forged during the days of the governor's headquarters, he seemed to be "in his element."

In contrast, Liu Chengyou sat quietly to one side, pouring and drinking by himself.

Watching his elder brother's beaming face, his ears filled with the clamor of the feast, Liu Chengyou's eyes suddenly grew somewhat hazy. Though he was reluctant to admit it, he was quite certain—he was jealous.

Keep a low profile in conduct, but aim high in deeds. He had worked so hard to perform before Liu Zhiyuan and the Hedong civil and military officials all this time, and yet the one remembered and flattered remained his elder brother Liu Chengxun.

A sour feeling spread through his heart...

Still, not everyone ignored Liu Chengyou. Quite a few people toasted him, though their status was not as high as that of Yang Bin, Wang Zhang, and the like. But the ones Liu Chengyou actually took note of were few.

Aside from Zhang Yanwei, there was Su Fengji, Wang Jun, and two others who surprised him somewhat. Guo Wei went without saying. The other was Liu Zhiyuan's trusted staff advisor, Hedong Surveillance Administrative Assistant Su Yugui.

Su Yugui was advanced in years, a good-natured old man who looked like a kind and honest elder. He came from a scholarly family with a deep academic tradition, well-versed in Confucian rites. Among Liu Zhiyuan's subordinates, if there were a few with outstanding learning, Su Yugui would be at the top.

Previously, Liu Chengyou had no particular connection with Su Yugui, yet tonight he had taken the initiative to come forward and toast him, saying some flattering words. The slight fawning expression on that scholarly, gentle face had not escaped Liu Chengyou's eyes. Liu Chengyou naturally responded with equanimity—when an elder takes the initiative to show goodwill, it would be improper to rebuff his intentions.

"Your Highness seems not to be in high spirits. Why so downcast?" It was Guo Wei who, after draining a cup and lingering for a while, took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Liu Chengyou, his shift in form of address quite natural.

Such behavior surprised Liu Chengyou. He looked up at Guo Wei, seeing his face flushed but his eyes perfectly clear, yet subtly glancing toward Liu Chengxun and the assembled ministers.

"My imperial father has ascended the throne, a new dynasty has been established, and sovereign, ministers, soldiers, and people rejoice together—my heart is naturally filled with joy..." Rousing himself, Liu Chengyou raised his cup in invitation and said flatly.

Guo Wei naturally echoed him, laughing lightly, "Your Highness speaks truly. It was this humble general's drunken eyes that played tricks on me—I saw wrongly and spoke wrongly."

Draining the last mouthful of wine from his cup, Liu Chengyou stared at Guo Wei and said with some seriousness, "Among all the civil and military officials of Hedong, the one who sees through the affairs of the world with a clear head is perhaps only you, General Guo!"

Liu Chengyou spoke these "drunken words," but Guo Wei was startled, hurriedly shaking his head: "Your Highness overpraises me. This humble general does not deserve such words."

"By the way!" After exchanging a few more words, Liu Chengyou had completely suppressed the negative emotions in his heart. Suddenly fixing his gaze on Guo Wei, he said, "I hear that General Guo has three sons?"

"That is correct." Guo Wei was somewhat puzzled.

"I lack talented men under my command. I hear that your adopted son, Guo Rong, is cautious and honest, accomplished in both letters and arms. Would you be willing to part with him and transfer him to serve under my command?" Liu Chengyou said lightly.

Guo Wei's brows knit together at once, but seeing Liu Chengyou's face, already calm as still water, his heart was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. After brief hesitation, he still cupped his hands and said, "To be able to serve under Your Highness would be my son's good fortune."

"Good!" Liu Chengyou's voice rose slightly, and he raised his cup once more: "General Guo, please."

"Your Highness, please."