Chapter 30: Night Banquet in the Valley

The sky was like a dome, the night vast and boundless. The infinite night sky was as clear as if washed in ink, and the bright moon hung in the sky like jade, looking down and casting its light upon the green fields. Across the mountains and rivers of the Nine Domains, the moonlight was the same for a thousand miles.

Amidst several beautiful lakes of varying sizes in Xi Ma Gu, piles of bonfires lit up the valley as if it were broad daylight. Bursts of laughter rose from time to time amidst the firelight. The graceful and charming women of the Jiu Yi tribe, some in military attire and others in colorful garments, sang and danced, taking turns to offer wine, continuously pushing the lively atmosphere of the surroundings to a climax.

The bright, scorching flames danced and swayed with the wind. Opposite, at the main table, Zi Hao's white robes were inadvertently dyed with the bright colors of the firelight. His snow-white garments and elegant bearing, set against his jade-like, handsome face, made him appear all the more graceful and otherworldly. He was slightly tilting his head, saying something to Qie Lan, who sat on his right. His expression was gentle, as if bathed in a spring breeze, not at all like his usual cold and reticent self. Qie Lan also responded with a smile, the flush of wine blooming like rosy clouds upon her jade-like skin, adding even more charm to her bright beauty.

A few days ago, their party had returned from the Sword Hut and passed through Xi Ma Gu once more. With the Eastern Emperor's consent, Qie Lan had reunited with the Jiu Yi army and subsequently gathered her clansmen to announce the decision to cease hostilities with the Royal Clan. Today, they were holding a banquet for the entire tribe in the valley to celebrate the end of the war and, at the same time, to host the distinguished guests from the Royal Clan and the Xi State.

After nightfall, the Jiu Yi people used the grassland as their seats, lighting roaring bonfires in several chosen open spaces; the central one was on this highland surrounded by lakes. Cup after cup of fine wine was offered to the tables. Qie Lan had already drunk several, her face now like peach blossoms, unable to hold much more liquor. Zi Hao sat at the main table and naturally drank no less than she did, yet the more he drank, the paler his complexion became. However, he chatted and laughed with everyone, his pair of deep, dark eyes clear and captivating, almost as if starlight had fallen into them, appearing only elegant and dashing.

He had met several elders of higher seniority within the Jiu Yi tribe one after another, tirelessly engaging in long conversations with each of them. After three rounds of wine, Su Ling had long since understood his master's intent, and his words were perfectly coordinated. In the end, he even personally escorted the elders back to their seats on his master's behalf, observing the etiquette due to elders. After they left, Zi Hao leaned slightly to the side and gave a low cough. Apart from Li Si, who was serving behind him, no one saw his brows knit ever so slightly.

A glimmer of worry flashed through Li Si's soft eyes, but she said nothing, simply replacing the wine cup at his side with clear tea.

The tea fragrance was like a wisp of smoke. Zi Hao lowered his head and sipped slowly, gradually suppressing the uncomfortable effects of the alcohol. Taking advantage of this gap to collect his thoughts, his eyes could not help but reveal a touch of depth. The elders' words had hidden meanings; behind them lay the concerns of all the Jiu Yi people. The impact caused by years of life-and-death struggle could not be completely erased in a few words. The taste of these few cups of wine was truly potent. He cast his gaze toward another bonfire a dozen paces away, and a trace of deep thought flashed through his eyes again.

At this moment, a burst of cheers suddenly erupted from beside the bonfire where the soldiers were gathered, followed by the hearty laughter of several people.

The crowd parted, and Gu Qiutong, Mo Heng, and several high-ranking generals from the army walked over. Before they even arrived, their hearty laughter could be heard: "General Mo is truly worthy of being the number one swordsman of Di Du. Hearing of him is not as good as meeting him; tonight was truly satisfying!" Due to the effects of the wine, Mo Heng's usually icy face showed a hint of life, though his voice still lacked much emotion: "The General overpraises. Mo Heng was merely lucky."

Everyone stepped forward to pay their respects. Zi Hao held his cup and asked with a smile: "Mo Heng, it seems you've won a prize?"

Mo Heng bowed slightly with his hand on his sword: "I did not lose face for my master."

"General Mo's swordsmanship is brilliant; we all became his defeated opponents tonight!" Gu Qiutong took the wine handed to him by someone nearby and laughed heartily: "Your Majesty, we were just talking about that battle in Di Du the other day. To be honest, we have lost battles before, but we have never been defeated so thoroughly as that time. Only afterwards did we hear that there were only a thousand or so soldiers in the Wang Cheng at the time. Your Majesty's genius in using troops is truly convincing. This cup of wine is for me to toast Your Majesty on behalf of the soldiers in the army!"

Zi Hao lowered his eyes slightly and raised his wine cup. For years, Di Du had exhausted its resources on war, mobilizing the entire dynasty to attack the Jiu Yi, only to suffer a disastrous defeat at Xichuan, to the point where only a thousand or so soldiers were available in the vast Wang Cheng. To him, this was not worth boasting about. Although he thought this in his heart, he certainly would not show it on his face, merely smiling as he held his wine: "The walls of Di Du are thick and the moats deep; it is naturally easy to defend and difficult to attack. This cannot be counted as your defeat."

Gu Qiutong said: "The path ahead was blocked, the retreat was cut off, and the commander's fate was unknown. Your Majesty clearly left the city alone without a single soldier, yet we didn't even dare to move. I have been in the army since I was twelve and have fought many battles, but even those consecutive bloody fights were not as unforgettable as that one; I still feel as if I am trapped in it. If I didn't say these words today, I would have suffocated. I hope Your Majesty will not take offense." He raised his head and finished the wine in his hand: "To subdue the enemy without fighting, I have truly learned a lesson!"

Zi Hao's gaze paused on him for a moment, then he smiled, drank the wine he had offered in one gulp, and showed him the empty cup: "General Gu is a pillar of the Jiu Yi army. Fortunately, we did not truly cross swords. Now that the two tribes have cast aside their grievances and will support each other in the future, the General will surely have much hard work ahead. This cup of wine is for me to toast you first."

Gu Qiutong hurriedly cupped his hands: "I dare not!" When he looked up, his heart was filled with emotion, and he could not help but look toward the table. Zi Hao seemed to suddenly raise his eyes, meeting that complex gaze head-on.

Upon meeting his eyes, Gu Qiutong quickly lowered his head and stepped aside. A tall, burly general with dark skin nearby said loudly: "I, Lou Fan, also toast Your Majesty a cup. Thank you, Your Majesty, for showing mercy that day. Although the Royal Clan and the Jiu Yi tribe have deep hatred, I truly admire Your Majesty's martial arts. I'll finish this drink first!"

"Oh, Lou Fan?" Zi Hao raised his eyebrows slightly, looked the man over, and recognized him as the lieutenant whose sword he had taken at the Wang Cheng. He said with a faint smile: "So you are that General Lou Fan who once killed his way back to the capital of the Jiu Yi kingdom five times alone, rescued nearly a hundred clansmen, and was still able to break through the encirclement despite being struck by more than ten arrows."

Lou Fan laughed heartily: "Your Majesty even knows about that? Those arrows really almost cost me my life, but I was so blinded by the killing at the time, I didn't care about any damn arrows!"

He suddenly blurted out a curse. Qie Lan couldn't help but frown, but then she smiled. Zi Hao didn't mind, gently stroking his wine cup, and said slowly: "I remember you once killed two of old General Wen's great generals in succession at Liangjie Pass, and finally fought to a draw with Jin Wu Yu. It seems your martial arts are not beneath his."

Lou Fan said: "That Jin Wu Yu is a real man. I couldn't do anything to him, and he couldn't do anything to me. If I see him again next time, I must have a good fight with him to be satisfied!"

Zi Hao nodded: "After Liangjie Pass, in the battle of Hantian, you and General Xi Cheng led eight hundred troops to cover the retreat and were actually able to hold off the pursuit of thirty thousand elite soldiers. Even old General Wen held you in high regard. It is truly rare for the Jiu Yi army to have a figure like you."

Lou Fan already had a high tolerance for alcohol, and having drunk quite a bit tonight while enjoying the excitement, the wine and his hot-blooded nature surged in his chest. He completely forgot who was sitting at the table and couldn't help but say hatefully: "If it weren't for the Royal Clan relying on their numbers, how could General Xi have died in battle! So many of my Jiu Yi brothers were just like that..."

"General Lou!" Gu Qiutong, who was beside him, suddenly gave a low shout. Lou Fan was startled and turned to look at him. Gu Qiutong gave him a look to stop him from continuing. Lou Fan was stunned for a moment before he realized, and with a "Hey," he turned his head, unable to hide the indignation on his face.

Opposite him, Zi Hao seemed not to have seen any of this, remaining as gentle and smiling as before: "Straightforward and hearty, loyal and brave—I admire a hero like General Lou the most. Shall we have another drink?"

Lou Fan didn't expect him to take the initiative to invite him to drink. He was stunned again before he turned to take a cup of wine, raised it high, and finished it in one breath, though he said nothing more.

Zi Hao set down his wine cup, his clear, deep eyes sweeping over the several Jiu Yi generals. Even though they were treating the Royal Clan and the Xi State as honored guests tonight and holding such a grand banquet, it was ultimately impossible for the Jiu Yi people to completely let go of their grudges. Especially the soldiers in the army; everyone had faced those scenes of bloody slaughter and experienced life-and-death situations. They accepted the Royal Clan's appeasement and followed the Princess's decision, but they could not do so without resentment in their hearts.

Gu Qiutong and the others inviting Mo Heng to a sword duel was inevitably motivated by a desire to make the Royal Clan lose face. He let Mo Heng go because he knew Mo Heng would never lose. Mo Heng was not skilled in strategy or sharp-tongued wit, but his character was firm, and he was extremely persistent in his swordsmanship; his attainments were no lower than those of Su Ling, Huang Fei, and the others. The army valued martial arts, and such a competition would instead build prestige for the Royal Clan, which had been repeatedly frustrated by the combined forces of the Jiu Yi and the Chu Guo. Therefore, he was not worried, but this subsequent round of toasts was somewhat unexpected.

Lou Fan, this reckless general, was straightforward and spoke his mind, not masking his thoughts as well as the others. How could one not be shocked by such hatred forged in blood, tears, and death? However, he would never allow the Jiu Yi tribe to become a source of future trouble, because once something went wrong, it would take several times the effort to repeat and make up for it, and he was the one who could least afford to waste time.

The atmosphere was suddenly a bit strange. Qie Lan frowned slightly and cast a glance at Gu Qiutong as she raised her eyes. Gu Qiutong felt her warning gaze and felt a slight chill in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the Eastern Emperor ask with a smile: "It's rare to have such a happy gathering today. General Gu, I think this is my first time seeing these people beside you. Why not introduce them?"

Gu Qiutong was, after all, steady. Even if there was resentment in his heart, he would never be as reckless and impulsive as Lou Fan. Hearing the Eastern Emperor ask, he immediately smiled and said: "If Your Majesty hadn't mentioned it, I would have truly been negligent." He pointed to a general in red robes beside him: "This is the left lieutenant, Chu Rang."

That Chu Rang was very silent, only cupping his hands upward. Zi Hao nodded slightly: "Chu Rang of the Divine Arrows, you once fought three young generals of the Wen family alone at Chiping Pass, marched through Yun Chuan, broke Li City, and settled three armies with two arrows at the Huan River. In the Jiu Yi tribe, your archery is unmatched. A pleasure to meet you." He signaled for Li Si to pour wine and raised his cup with a smile.

After a moment of surprise, Chu Rang also took the wine in his hand. The coldness on his face faded somewhat, and after hesitating for a moment, he finally bowed and paid his respects to the table.

"This is the right lieutenant, Sikong Yu."

"The Sikong family of Qizhou has always had deep ties with the Jiu Yi tribe. General Sikong, your pair of Golden Maces are supernatural, and you have followed Princess Qie Lan through thousands of miles of battle, loyal and devoted without a single complaint. The Jiu Yi army grows stronger by the day, and you have contributed greatly."

"Deputy General of the Central Army, Shusun Yi."

"General Shusun is both wise and brave. When the Xi State sought aid and the Chu Guo lent troops, you repeatedly offered advice to Princess Qie Lan, helping the Jiu Yi tribe through crises. In the battle of Cangyuan, you coordinated with the Young Lord of the Plains to deploy troops and generals, almost cutting off all of old General Wen's retreat routes. You are well-versed in the art of war."

"Central Protector General, Gu Xuan."

"The General's eldest son, who followed his father into battle at eleven and was able to lead troops alone at sixteen. The General's second son is also in the army and has repeatedly performed meritorious service in recent years. Three generals in one family—truly, a tiger father has no dog for a son."

Gu Qiutong introduced seven or eight generals one by one. Zi Hao talked and laughed while raising his wine, casually recounting everyone's background and experience, all of which were accurate; he actually knew the generals like the back of his hand. Surprise gradually appeared on Gu Qiutong's face, and he exchanged a look with that Shusun Yi, both seeing a trace of shock in the other's eyes.

Every time he spoke to someone, Zi Hao would drink a cup with them. After all, his status was different, and with such courteous treatment, the expressions of the generals also softened a lot. After drinking several cups of strong wine, Zi Hao brushed his lapels and stood up, walking away from the table: "General Gu, although there have been many misunderstandings between our two tribes, the Royal Clan has never truly regarded you as enemies. Not now, and absolutely never in the future. It is rare to have such an opportunity tonight; I would like to get closer to the soldiers in the army. I wonder if the General would be willing to accompany me?"

Although the words were addressed to Gu Qiutong, his gaze swept over the people in front of him with a smile, finally landing on that Shusun Yi. Sure enough, while Gu Qiutong was still hesitating, Shusun Yi had already raised his hand and said: "Since Your Majesty has such elegant interest, we should naturally accompany you. Please!"

They cleared the way, and the group walked toward the lakeside where the soldiers were gathered. Mo Heng was about to follow when his master started walking, but his shoulder suddenly sank, and he was blocked by someone. Turning his head, he saw it was Su Ling, who had returned to this side at some point. Facing his questioning look, Su Ling shook his head slightly. Qie Lan, who was to the side, also did not move, watching from afar as Zi Hao walked alone into the midst of the thousands of Jiu Yi soldiers.

(End of chapter)