Chapter 652: New Year's Eve Banquet

Wei Shen let out a sharp, violent laugh beside him, while Xie Tu fumbled frantically to turn the drawing back over.

The Great King's mouth was puckered as if about to hang an oil bottle, "……When people are embarrassed, they always get especially flustered, hm."

"I am foolish and dull."

Wei Shen's laughter stopped, "No, you drew it like this—shouldn't the embarrassment be yours? What on earth did you draw?"

The Great King isn't embarrassed at all; he always stands on the high ground, whether it's the food chain or morality. "Don't you know what a sketch is? Isn't it obvious?"

Wei Shen and Xie Tu shook their heads in confusion, making the Great King angry as he pointed at each one, saying, "This is the city wall—can't you see? These, the ones hanging up there, are all the criminals from Slaughter Village, these, these, all of them."

Upon hearing that the branches he thought they were were actually people hanging on the city wall, Xie Tu barely managed to keep his composure. Wei Shen pointed at the indistinct shapes below and asked, "Then these aren't branches either?"

The Great King snorted in annoyance and disdain: "Those are just the onlookers. Use your brain—you could have figured that out."

Wei Shen: ……

Xie Tu: ……Good thing I didn't ask.

The Great King then briefly explained the article's main point to Xie Tu: "……We must emphasize their cruelty and the excitement of the people of Ink Ford after they've been brought to justice. Readers should hate these bandits to the core and feel the thrill of vengeance. We need to deter the enemy and strengthen the people's unity. In short, we need it to be fiery, emotionally stirring—do you understand?"

Xie Tu: ……

Wei Shen practically heard it as a mosquito's buzz, "These demands are too high—you're so clear-headed, why don't you write it yourself?"

The Great King glared at him; in just a short moment he'd already thought of poisoning his cousin brother for the second time. "I would have written it if I could—I only know how to make demands."

Xie Tu hadn't actually seen it himself, and the Great King's demand wasn't low either; he was about to be modest, but the Great King gave him no chance.

They muttered to themselves, "Understood. I know you're a professional at writing essays, Your Majesty, so I'm at ease."

Xie Tu: ……I'm not even at ease with myself.

"Then I'll take my leave, go back to touch up the drawing and let the article mature. When it's done I'll bring it to Your Majesty for review."

The Great King stopped him, "It's not that urgent—there's a palace banquet tonight. Even if you go back, you'll have to return, so why not rest here? Tonight's palace banquet will be splendid; I've brought in the dancers of Spring River Flower Moon Night to open the eyes of the city folk from Everlasting Peace."

If you say that, even the uninterested Wei Shen and Xie Tu become interested. The Great King's Divine Platform Melon Seed Banquet in Everlasting Peace was such a hit that they hadn't even planned to attend tonight's palace banquet.

Bright Light Night Banquet

On New Year's Eve, the Purple Forbidden Palace blazed with lights; the officials and families of Everlasting Peace were entering its night‑scene mode for the first time, each feeling they'd gained new insight. So this is what it looks like when all the lamps are lit!

The lighting design of the Purple Forbidden Palace could be described as shocking, earth‑shakingly shocking to ancient eyes.

Tonight the Bright Light Hall is undoubtedly the liveliest—all the palace lamps and lighting equipment are lit, the twelve pedestal dragon‑coiled candlestands inside burn, candle oil drips down the dragon whiskers and congeals into amber‑colored hills. The scent is an invisible mist, seeping out in wisps from the apertures of the Bo Mountain censer—agarwood mixed with borneol—wafting tumultuously with the palace maids' steps onto every guest's face, making everyone's expression grow more dazed. Such a fairy palace, Everlasting Peace falls far short.

The Great King sat high upon the throne, his visage behind the imperial beads and crown indistinct, only the occasional glint of colliding pearl strings scattering fine cold light. Such a sight, any observant person should see that the Great King is taking the high‑end route today.

"What Divine Platform Melon Seed Banquet? I've never even heard of it," said the Emperor.

"Today's Bright Light New Year's Eve Banquet is truly my real standard!"

The Great King harbored the desire to let the people of Everlasting Peace gain lasting insight; today's food and drink were likewise generous. He felt it was time to let the Everlasting Peace folk climb out of their wells and see the strength of Secluded Prefecture.

The output from the farmstead and ranch foundations came forth like flowing water; in Everlasting Peace, the virtuous wives who'd brought a heap of dried and salted vegetables all turned green with envy. They have everything—people can't even empathize with their own selves from a few months ago.

Everyone raised their glasses to the Great King, who responded with courteous, modest grace; the crowd suddenly realized, "When he's not acting like a dog, he's actually quite imposing!" Is this the emperor of the Divine Platform Melon Seed Banquet?!

The proceedings were halfway through, and the lively spectacle Wei Shen had truly been looking forward to finally took the stage.

The hall suddenly fell silent～

The drumming sounded as if it rose from the ground; those who know could tell it wasn't a Central Plains war drum but a hide drum with hair. The beats were wrapped with urgent camel bells, each thump seeming to strike straight into everyone's hearts.

Suddenly a line of figures like a blazing fire‑cloud spun in from outside the hall.

They were Hu performers.

Their makeup was exquisite, their attire splendid—Hu performers.

Gold bell arm cuffs, embroidered boots with narrow sleeves, their long hair woven with gold ribbons into countless fine braids, each tip bearing a tiny, dazzling gold bead. They didn't walk in; they spun in, like tops in a gale.

That bold makeup carried the wildness of the Great Desert, the swirling skirts like the desert's red flowers in bloom.

The court officials in their tall caps and broad sashes, the noble women adorned with pearls and jade, all stared dumbfounded.

They had never seen such avant‑garde stage makeup, such gorgeous dance costumes; the noble ladies felt their own faces blur ever more in the splendid palace.

The officials thought, "What wonderful days Bai Li Jing must be having in Secluded Prefecture!"

The Great King had grown tired of this dance; just watching the audience's expressions kept him busy.

Tsk—when the Hu Xuan dance began, a sour tang drifted through the great hall.