Chapter 148: Unexpected Guest

Li Mushu did not use his official status to exert pressure, but instead conversed calmly about literature. This greatly reduced Yin Zhaoxian's tension, allowing him to express some of his ambitions and ideals.

Some of Yin Zhaoxian's ideas did indeed sound somewhat naive to Li Mushu. However, Yin was not merely fantasizing like other young people; he had his own set of concepts, policies, and principles. He only spoke briefly due to their limited acquaintance, yet Li Mushu still managed to glimpse his potential.

"Yin Jiezhuang, for the ambitions in your heart to unfold, it can only be achieved in a prosperous era!" Li Mushu exclaimed with emotion.

"Yin believes that although the current Great Zhen may not quite reach the standard of a truly 'golden age,' it is indeed prosperous. When the people are strong, the nation is wealthy; when the nation's wealth benefits the people, they are secure. These are interdependent paths." Yin Zhaoxian politely explained, but did not elaborate further.

The two conversed over tea in a private lounge. The palace banquet preparations were handled by servants and did not disturb them. As dusk began to fall, other trusted aides and friends of the Jin Prince gradually arrived. Occasionally, Li Mushu would introduce Yin Zhaoxian to them and exchange pleasantries.

As evening deepened, the temperature continued to drop. Li Mushu, being older, began to shiver in the lounge and suggested they move.

"Yin Jiezhuang, why don't we go to the banquet hall? It has heaters, hot water, and carpets on the floor; it's much warmer than here!"

"But... the Prince hasn't returned yet. Should we go to the banquet hall?" Yin Zhaoxian hesitated.

"Hahahaha... Relax, Yin Jiezhuang. We're not starting the banquet early, and besides, many guests have probably already gone there. They are all esteemed individuals; who would want to suffer in this freezing weather?"

'I am not an esteemed individual,' Yin Zhaoxian thought to himself, following Li Mushu to the banquet hall.

This was indeed considered a family banquet for the Prince's household. Some of the Jin Prince's friends even brought their families, so the atmosphere was not overly formal. The banquet was held in a large hall behind the central courtyard of the Jin Prince's mansion. Inside, there were four or five round tables instead of individual ones, making it feel more like a common family's New Year's Eve dinner.

In addition to the round tables, the hall also had warm stoves in each corner, attended by staff. With the doors closed, allowing only a small amount of ventilation, the room was very warm.

The space in front of the banquet area wasn't particularly large, certainly not enough for grand song and dance performances, but it was sufficient for a few courtesans to play stringed instruments and sing in harmony.

When Li Mushu and Yin Zhaoxian entered the banquet hall through a side door with thick cotton curtains, a wave of warmth immediately enveloped them, dispelling all their chill.

"Hahahaha... Master Li!" "Lord Li has arrived!"

"We've been enjoying ourselves here for a while." "We were just wondering why you, who are so sensitive to cold, hadn't arrived yet!"

"Hahahaha, I'm getting old, can't stand the cold. If I hadn't found a quiet place to discuss poetry and literature with Yin Jiezhuang, I would have been here much earlier. Come, come, let me introduce someone to you all. This is the Jiezhuang from Jizhou, a great talent of our time..."

Upon Li Mushu's arrival, the guests who had already taken refuge from the cold in the hall greeted him warmly. Yin Zhaoxian initially wanted to remain unnoticed, but Li Mushu clearly wouldn't let him, introducing him in a way that drew everyone's attention.

Ji Yuan and the old dragon had also just entered the lounge and were standing in a corner, observing the arrangements.

"Old Mr. Ying, your aquatic mansion, while extraordinarily splendid and bright, is still an underwater palace. Soaking in water on a cold day isn't as comfortable as this place."

Ji Yuan chuckled, making a joke, and the old dragon pursed his lips.

"In my water mansion, the temperature is constant year-round, adorned with coral and pearls like stars. There are also enchantresses dancing to celestial music. Here, hmph, it's far inferior!"

'Warmth, you don't understand warmth, old man!'

As the old dragon spoke, he hooked a hand, and a pot of wine from a nearby table, along with two cups, flew to their corner, unnoticed by others.

He poured two cups of wine. The liquid was a clear golden yellow, and its aroma was very pleasant.

"Is this the 'Golden Jade Wine' from the capital region?"

Ji Yuan took the cup offered by the old dragon. They both drank a sip, savoring the taste.

"Tsk, it's still not as good as 'Thousand Day Spring,' let alone 'Dragon Saliva Incense.'"

"Among mortal wines, it's acceptable."

The old dragon put the wine pot aside after tasting it, and soon a servant on the other side noticed a table was missing wine.

"Oh no, there's a pot missing here!" "Quick, bring another!"

Yin Zhaoxian was also less restrained now, as the conversation revolved around shared experiences, poetry, and literature.

"His Majesty arrives!"

A high-pitched voice from a palace eunuch suddenly echoed from outside. The lively banquet hall instantly fell silent, and Yin Zhaoxian physically felt goosebumps rise.

"The Emperor?" "The Emperor is here at the Jin Prince's mansion?"

"Wasn't His Majesty supposed to be at the Wu Prince's residence tonight?" "This..."

"Calm down, calm down!"

Li Mushu now seemed more like a steward, urging everyone to remain calm, then he cautioned Yin Zhaoxian beside him:

"Meeting the Emperor is not like an ordinary occasion. Even at a family banquet, one must not neglect proper etiquette. In a moment, besides bowing, Yin Jiezhuang, just try to remain as quiet as possible."

"Understood!" Yin Zhaoxian said, wishing he could be invisible.

Ji Yuan and the old dragon exchanged glances. This was interesting; the Emperor had suddenly come to his third son's home?

"Let's go, we'll open the door to welcome His Majesty!"

The banquet hall doors swung open, and a gust of cold wind immediately poured in. Guests and servants alike hurried out to stand on either side of the entrance to welcome the Emperor.

As footsteps approached from outside, everyone inside the banquet hall, from guests to servants, became noticeably nervous and uncomfortable.

This was Ji Yuan's first time seeing the current Emperor of Great Zhen. He appeared to be around fifty, slightly overweight, dressed in a yellow robe and wearing a cloud-patterned crown. Beside him were the current Empress and the Jin Prince's birth mother, Consort Ren. The Jin Prince followed a few steps behind, trailing dutifully.

From Ji Yuan's perspective, the Jin Prince's expression was neither good nor bad, just a bit odd and awkward.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Everyone bowed in unison, greeting the Emperor. In Great Zhen, one usually didn't need to kneel when meeting the "Son of Heaven," unless it was to appease imperial wrath.

"All right, everyone, go inside. I just came for a meal."

The Emperor waved away his numerous attendants, and everyone entered with the imperial retinue. The hall doors were then closed. With the crowd and the heaters, the banquet hall quickly warmed up again.

The Emperor of Great Zhen, who had been rubbing his hands while seated on the main chair, now took off his outer coat.

"It's still most comfortable here at my third son's place. Look at the decor, it really feels like a home."

The banquet hall had velvet carpets covering the floor and walls; it looked warm even without experiencing it.

"Why is everyone standing? Sit down, sit down! Aren't we supposed to eat? Third Son, when will the banquet begin?"

"With Father here, the banquet will naturally begin immediately."

"Then what are you waiting for? Your father and these two mothers are hungry!"

The noble ladies also signaled to the Jin Prince with their eyes, and he quickly gestured around, giving orders to his attendants.

"Everyone, please be seated. This is a family banquet, and Father is presiding as the head of the family. Please don't be so stiff. Tell the kitchen they can start serving."

The Jin Prince's words brought a smile to the Emperor's face.

"Oh, and Father, I don't have many singing and dancing girls here. Instead, we'll listen to a storyteller. I specifically invited a renowned storyteller from the capital region. This person has many tales and is skilled in vocal mimicry. His storytelling is very engaging and interesting!"

"Oh? Excellent, excellent, something new. I knew coming to my third son's place would be interesting, hahahahaha..."

The two consorts also offered polite smiles, and the tension among the guests visibly eased.

The banquet then began. Steaming hot dishes were brought in from a side door, which actually led to a buffered anteroom with cotton curtains on both sides, preventing cold wind from directly entering the banquet hall.

Soon, the tables were laden with delicious food and fine wine. In the modest space in front, courtesans entered with zithers and lutes, while servants brought in a screen, a table, and chairs.

The courtesans began to play gently, and behind the screen, at the table, the storyteller was already seated.

Unlike typical storytelling, using a screen allowed him more freedom in his performance and made his vocal mimicry more vivid.

The Emperor was clearly not interested in an unknown figure like Yin Zhaoxian, or perhaps, he wasn't interested in any unfamiliar faces present.

Hot soup, hot food, and fine wine, combined with the storyteller's tales, livened up the dinner atmosphere. However, unlike other gatherings, here there was less clamor and more absorbed listening.

This art of vocal mimicry was something Ji Yuan had never heard in either of his two lives. Behind the screen, there was clearly only one person, yet a myriad of sounds erupted: from children to old men, from chickens and dogs to wolves and eagles. All sounds were incredibly realistic, making the story told extremely "lifelike."

Ji Yuan and the old dragon even approached the screen to peek behind it, confirming there was indeed only one person there.

Meanwhile, everyone from the Emperor to Yin Zhaoxian and the attending servants were captivated by the story. Even the courtesans, whose music accompanied the storyteller, infused their melodies with emotions stirred by the narrative.

New Year's Eve was not a suitable occasion for tales of battles, murders, or grudges. The storyteller had prepared a story called "Legends of Immortals: Journey to the Dragon Palace." Its fantastical and peculiar nature was particularly captivating.

During one part of the story, the storyteller's wooden block sharply struck the table with a "CRACK!"

"That scholar, ultimately unable to resist his greed, secretly took a precious pearl from the Dragon Palace on his way to the latrine. The Dragon King, of course, knew. Though he said nothing, he thought less of the scholar and was no longer as welcoming as before. The next morning, he sent him back to the county, and never invited this Scholar Qian again!"

"Though this scholar exchanged the pearl for temporary wealth and extravagance, he gradually squandered his fortune, and neglected his studies, his literary talent withered away. In his old age, he ended up quite destitute..."

The courtesans' music also became more melancholic at this point.

After this story concluded, perhaps due to the storyteller's exceptional skill, the Emperor was unexpectedly enthralled. He carried his wine pot to the screen, ordered it removed, had a chair placed beside the storyteller, and eagerly pressed him for more tales of immortals.

The storyteller dared not defy the Emperor's will and did his best to satisfy His Majesty's curiosity, racking his brain to answer questions about famous immortal mountains and the dragon palaces of rivers, relating as many folk legends of deities as he could.

Ji Yuan and the old dragon stood by the outermost table, occasionally picking up a piece of food with their chopsticks, watching the old emperor relentlessly question the talented storyteller. Ji Yuan smiled mockingly.

"Pity the lonely vigil in the night, when questions of ghosts and gods eclipse the common man."