The palace banquet was in full swing. Even before the delicacies arrived, the heady aroma of wine filled the air, mingling with the scent of cosmetic powders until Xin Yi felt a faint dizziness. Following the herald’s cry, they entered the Great Hall. Crimson veils hung from all sides, draped in elegant intervals between the pillars and beams. The seating was strictly hierarchical, arranged by official rank in descending tiers, with civil and military officials facing each other in two long columns. They had arrived somewhat late; except for the highest seat of honor, nearly everyone else was already present. At the sound of the announcement, many turned to look. Their chatter did not cease, but their eyes shifted from Bai Jiu to Xin Yi, scanning him thoroughly.
Xin Yi first looked toward Zhang Taiyan. The old man was at his seat, eyes narrowed as he listened to someone beside him. Seeing Xin Yi’s gaze, he gave a small wave of his hand as a greeting. Xin Yi smiled back and then turned toward He Anchang. The man was remarkably conspicuous among the ministers, shrouded in a frigid, piercing aura, speaking to none of his colleagues. He gave Xin Yi a slight nod. Xin Yi was about to return the gesture with a smile when Bai Jiu leaned in and whispered, “Though you hold no official rank, you are the sole representative of Beiyang. Even if His Majesty wishes otherwise, your seat cannot be placed too low. You will likely be seated near Xie Jingsheng. If anything happens, he will look after you.” As he spoke, he rested a hand on Xin Yi’s shoulder, his fingertips giving a subtle, secret squeeze to the bone there.
Xin Yi understood that Bai Jiu was warning him not to speak, so he nodded in immediate agreement.
The two separated to take their seats. Just as Xin Yi settled in, a hand reached out and tapped lightly on the edge of his table. He looked up to see Xie Jingsheng in full official robes. As a high-ranking official from the outer provinces, the fact that he had been summoned back to the capital for a palace banquet was a testament to his importance in the court. Xie Jingsheng raised a wine cup and flashed a smile at Xin Yi. The man was actually quite handsome and spirited, but he always carried himself with a certain roguish lack of decorum. Xin Yi smiled back. Xie Jingsheng remarked, “Though this seat isn't at the very back, it won't attract much of His Majesty’s attention. There’s no need for the Young Prince to be overly formal; just focus on the food.”
Xin Yi felt an urge to laugh at that, but then he heard the soft clink of a wine cup from Xie Jingsheng’s other side. He looked over and saw He Anchang, whom he had just seen moments ago. Xie Jingsheng raised his cup toward He Anchang and said, “Well, if it isn't Ruxu? It’s been a long, long time.”
He Anchang didn't even spare him a glance. He simply raised his cup to Xin Yi and drained it in one gulp. As he set the cup down, Xie Jingsheng pressed a finger against the rim, then proceeded to pour half of his own wine into it. He chuckled, “Don't be polite. I’ll pour first as a sign of respect. Ruxu, this is the care of a senior colleague; you must drink every last drop.”
Xin Yi knew that Bai Jiu’s faction and the Leftist faction did not get along, but he had not expected Xie Jingsheng to be so blatantly provocative toward He Anchang. The grievances between these two were clearly not simple.
He Anchang slanted a cold gaze toward him. Xie Jingsheng simply propped his head on his hand and stared back. “What’s the matter? Have you forgotten me after only a few months?”
“It did indeed take a great deal of effort to remember,” He Anchang said. He lifted the wine cup and, with a flick of his wrist, poured the contents directly onto Xie Jingsheng’s leg, which was stretched out toward his table. He added nonchalantly, “A most timely slip of the hand.”
Xie Jingsheng grabbed the hem of He Anchang’s robe and used it to casually wipe the spill, then looked up and smiled at him. He Anchang saw it clearly—there was a distinct edge of ruthlessness in that smile, suppressed only because Xin Yi was sitting right there.
These two had been at odds from the very first moment they met. In his early years, Xie Jingsheng had spent a long time in the Jinyiwei under Bai Jiu. He had learned at least eighty percent of Bai Jiu’s ruthlessness, though his own brand of villainy was written plainly on his face. Later, as Bai Jiu became the Commander of the Jinyiwei and rose in the Emperor’s favor, Xie Jingsheng had followed him up the ladder step by step. He Anchang was the exact opposite. Although the He family had kept a low profile in the capital in recent years, they were still a prestigious clan capable of shaking the city. He was the legitimate heir of the main branch and the family’s most brilliant star. To be taken under Zhang Taiyan’s wing and serve as a Participant in Deliberating State Affairs at such a young age, he had to be exceptionally capable. It was a twist of fate that these two possessed the exact backgrounds and temperaments that the other despised most, leading to a state of drawn swords and bent bows whenever they met.
Now that they were seated together, the Chief Steward in charge of tonight’s seating arrangements likely wouldn't keep his job for long.
When Bai Jiu looked over, both Xie Jingsheng and He Anchang appeared perfectly normal. He had expected Xie Jingsheng to be restless, but knowing the man had a sense of propriety, he didn't look for long. Instead, his gaze shifted to Xin Yi. Being watched by him, Xin Yi vaguely recalled his dream from the previous night. He immediately lowered his eyes to stare at the patterns on the table, but he couldn't hide. Bai Jiu’s gaze seemed to linger for a moment on the tip of his ear before he turned away. Only then did Xin Yi slowly relax.
They did not wait long before the Emperor arrived.
At the herald’s cry, everyone in the banquet hall rose and knelt in prostration. A figure in yellow robes embroidered with the Twelve Ornaments swept into the hall. Xin Yi stole a quick glance and was suddenly struck by a look of astonishment. Fortunately, he bit the tip of his tongue and regained his composure, lowering his eyes just before the Emperor’s gaze swept his way. In that split second, a thousand thoughts raced through his mind.
The Emperor took his seat at the head of the hall and said, “Rise, my ministers.” He seemed to steady his voice before continuing, “We gather on this auspicious festival to feast in the palace. This is a time for ruler and subject to share in joy; there is no need for excessive formality.” The crowd responded with a chorus of respectful acknowledgments. He smiled and said, “Let the banquet begin.” With that, the Duan Yang palace banquet truly commenced.
Seated below the Emperor, Bai Jiu and Zhang Taiyan sat side by side. Although Bai Jiu currently held immense power over the court, Zhang Taiyan was a veteran of two reigns, held the titles of the Three Ducal Ministers and the Three Advisors, and was the sole preceptor to the Crown Prince. The term "highly respected" was one Zhang Taiyan truly deserved. In fact, strictly speaking, Bai Jiu’s newly minted status as a Prince of a different surname might not even be enough to earn a second glance from Zhang Taiyan. With these two sitting together at the head of the ministers, no one dared to breathe a word of protest. Even Prince Qin’s seat had been moved back three places to maintain a respectful distance.
The Emperor was in high spirits today. He first exchanged a few pleasantries with Zhang Taiyan and then called upon Prince Qin. Prince Qin was a master of reading the room; within moments, he had warmed up the atmosphere. Many others chimed in to curry favor, but Bai Jiu spoke very little. Xin Yi’s gaze drifted toward him involuntarily. He saw Bai Jiu’s fingertips tracing the side of his wine cup, a faint smile playing on his lips. He looked down at the wine in his cup, seemingly engrossed in the laughter and chatter of the crowd, yet his posture held a hint of careless indifference. Xin Yi thought of the phrase "a dog in human finery" that Bai Jiu had used, and he couldn't help but lower his head and smile.
As the atmosphere of the banquet opened up, the people below naturally became more relaxed. Although Xin Yi could not speak, Xie Jingsheng poured wine while regaling him with amusing stories, covering the various anecdotes and scandals of officials great and small. Xin Yi peeled sweet tangerines and kept smiling.
The Emperor did not mention Xin Yi, so naturally, no one else was foolish enough to bring him up. Even though Xin Yi was the sole successor to the Beiyang military, that would only matter if he lived to return to Beiyang. Xin Yi was in no hurry. His purpose in coming to the palace today was not the Emperor. Since no one was bothering him, he was happy to avoid the social maneuvering.
Meanwhile, Xie Jingsheng had been pouring quite a bit of wine for He Anchang. Between their verbal sparring, both had unknowingly drunk a fair amount. Surprisingly, the more Xie Jingsheng drank, the more upright and formal he sat, whereas He Anchang’s face began to flush like peach blossoms, gradually revealing a different kind of charm. When those cold eyes began to wander, they held a beauty that no ordinary allure could match. He Anchang’s body swayed slightly. When Xie Jingsheng reached out to steady him, He Anchang leaned against his arm and breathed warmly into his ear, “Do me a favor... lend a hand to the latrines.”
Xie Jingsheng stood up and hauled the man up with him. He gave a signal to Xin Yi, who nodded, and the two left to relieve themselves.
With those seats empty, Xin Yi became more conspicuous. Before long, a man stumbled out from the crowd with staggering steps. Drunkenly, he crashed into the edge of Xin Yi’s table, causing the plates and cups to rattle. The man hurriedly stammered apologies, lifting his bleary eyes to look Xin Yi up and down. He let out a hum and asked, “May... may I ask which... which department you are from, brother?”
Xin Yi only smiled and remained silent.
Seeing no answer, the man asked again. When he still received no response, he frowned and leaned over the table to get a closer look. Xin Yi leaned back slightly to avoid the man’s reaching hand. Unexpectedly, the man lost his balance and tumbled forward, bringing a wave of alcoholic stench with him as everything turned into a chaotic mess. The table was knocked over, and gasps erupted from the surrounding guests. In the confusion, Xin Yi clearly felt the man’s hand give his thigh a hard, malicious pinch. Xin Yi’s gentle eyes lowered, meeting the man’s gaze directly.
“What’s this? Lord Guan has had too much to drink!” Xin Wen was the first to burst into laughter. He waved away the palace attendants who were coming to help and stared at Xin Yi. “Get lost, all of you. Lord Guan has the Young Prince of Beiyang to support him. Young Prince, you must hold him steady. If you support him well, Lord Guan will surely owe you a great debt of thanks.”
Subtle laughter rippled through the guests. Xin Yi’s collar and sleeves were a mess. He gave a broad, kind smile and actually helped this "Lord Guan" up. Over at the head of the hall, the Emperor and Zhang Taiyan looked over. The Emperor asked, “What is happening there?”
Xin Wen stood up and smiled. “Lord Guan has drunk too much. The Young Prince and I were just about to help him go change his clothes.” The Emperor’s heavy gaze swept over Xin Yi. He simply said, “Go then,” and turned back to Zhang Taiyan to resume their interrupted conversation. Xin Wen gave an affirmative shout and walked over, taking half of the man’s weight. He smiled at Xin Yi and said, “Let’s go.”
A palace maid led the three of them to a side hall. The area before the hall was dim. Xin Wen waved his hand, dismissing the maid. Once she was far away, the "drunk" Lord Guan suddenly grabbed Xin Yi’s hand. Xin Wen spun around and delivered a sharp kick to Xin Yi’s abdomen. Xin Yi let out a muffled groan and doubled over. Xin Wen followed up with a flurry of punches and kicks to his back, cursing, “You Northland mute dog! You dared to kick me! You even dared to glare! I’ll see if I can’t beat you until you can’t crawl!” Guan Si gripped Xin Yi’s wrist tightly, and together with Xin Wen, they pinned him to the ground. Xin Wen had come prepared; he pulled a ferule from his sleeve that he had brought specifically for today and lashed it violently across Xin Yi’s back.
Xin Yi made no sound. After a while, Guan Si turned his face over to look. Seeing that the boy had fainted, he sneered, “They say he’s the son of Prince Yan, but he doesn't hold up well to a beating.”
“How many years did Prince Yan actually raise him?” Xin Wen tucked the ferule back into his sleeve and pointed to a small lake beside the corridor. “This mute dog kicked me into a pond that day; tonight, I’ll let him have a taste of it himself.” He added with a cold laugh, “He usually hides in the King of Hell’s manor, but tonight he finally fell into my hands. Hit him as hard as you like. In this palace, many things are uncertain, but for him, His Majesty won't show a shred of mercy. Even if he drowns in the lake tonight, His Majesty will never investigate.”
Guan Si’s thumb rubbed harshly against Xin Yi’s cheek, turning the skin red. He said, “If he hadn't provoked you, he would be a dead man tonight. I actually wanted to keep him for a few days; it would be fun to... train him. If I could make him fall head over heels for me, why would I worry about him not being obedient?”
Xin Wen frowned and snapped, “He deserves to die, but he isn't someone you can just toy with! He is of royal blood, after all. How could he be allowed to fall to such a state!”
Guan Si knew that Xin Wen prided himself on his royal lineage and wouldn't tolerate any insults to it, so he fell silent, not daring to be so blatantly excessive with his hands. The two dragged Xin Yi to the edge of the small lake. Xin Wen splashed some water on him first. Seeing that he still didn't wake up, he felt at ease. Xin Wen said, “Strip him of his clothes, bind his hands and feet, and throw him in. Once we return to the banquet, someone will be watching to report it at the right time.”
At this, Guan Si hesitated. He asked, “Since he’s lived in the King of Hell’s manor for so long, what if the King of Hell investigates tonight’s matter?”
Xin Wen snorted. “Do you think the King of Hell has truly changed his nature and become a Buddha? He only keeps this mute dog for the sake of those three hundred thousand Beiyang troops. Without that inheritance, this mute dog wouldn't even be able to crawl through the gates of the capital. Besides, everyone can see how His Majesty treats him. Anyone with sense knows not to get involved.” He patted the back of Xin Yi’s head and said, “If I don't take his life tonight, the beatings he’ll face in the future will be far worse than this. The capital is a treacherous place; there are plenty of sinister tricks waiting for him.”
As Guan Si listened, his hand reached for Xin Yi’s belt. Xin Wen was still immersed in his speech, his eyes scanning the lake. Unexpectedly, in that very instant, Xin Yi suddenly flipped over and kicked Xin Wen, sending him tumbling into a patch of tall grass. With a twist of his hand, he cleanly dislocated the bone in Guan Si’s wrist. Before Guan Si could cry out in pain, Xin Yi grabbed the back of his head and slammed his face down into the lake water. Guan Si struggled violently at the water's edge, but the hand holding his head did not loosen; instead, it pressed down harder, submerging his entire head.
“Let—let go—” Xin Wen suddenly shrank back. As Guan Si struggled frantically, Xin Yi pressed his lips into a thin line. His cheek still bore the red mark from Guan Si’s touch as he looked up and stared at Xin Wen. Xin Wen felt his scalp go numb under that gaze. He retreated further, not daring to make a sound.
Xin Yi’s eyes told him that if he dared to speak, he would be next.
Guan Si’s struggles gradually weakened. The ripples on the lake’s surface began to smooth out; it looked as though he was about to expire. Xin Yi grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head up. Guan Si choked on the water, gasping for air in great, ragged gulps. Xin Yi lightly patted his face with the back of his hand and gave him a small smile. That smile sent a chill down Guan Si’s spine, and his teeth began to chatter. Whether from the cold or from terror, he began to shake uncontrollably before Xin Yi’s gentle face. Xin Yi let go, and the man collapsed by the lake, gasping. The wrist Xin Yi had dislocated throbbed with agonizing pain, but he didn't dare utter a sound.
It wasn't until Xin Yi had walked away that the tension in the two men finally snapped. Xin Wen scrambled over and dragged Guan Si up, hissing in a low, furious voice, “How could you let him fight back!”
Guan Si was still shaking, unable to respond. Xin Wen hadn't been stared at from such a close distance, nor had he been held underwater by Xin Yi, so Xin Wen wouldn't understand why his limbs were currently stiff and his hands ice-cold. After this encounter, he wasn't just afraid of Xin Yi—he was scared to death!
He understood now. This was a little King of Hell. If Xin Wen hadn't been right there, his own corpse would likely be floating in the lake tonight. Xin Yi had truly intended to kill him just now; every ounce of strength in those fingers had been screaming it.
Xin Wen spat in anger. “Useless! I won't let him off for tonight’s matter either!”
Guan Si felt a chill on his spine. Enduring the sharp pain in his wrist, he shook his head. “It’s the dog that doesn't bark that bites to kill. I’m afraid... this isn't over yet.”
***
**Glossary**
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