Eternal Night - Chapter 84
"There's no need to say anything more. You've been very good to me all these years. I always wanted Lin Hong to marry you." Yongye sighed and helped Yihong up. "What did Father tell you before he passed away?"
"If necessary... help the young master escape!"
Yongye gazed at Yihong, somewhat puzzled: "Yihong, why are you so loyal to Father?"
Yi Hong replied in a low voice, "Lan Cui, Yin'er, and I are all orphans after the war at Sanyu Pass. It was the Prince who took us in. If it weren't for the Prince, we don't know where we would have been sold. Some families in Sanyu Pass even set up longevity tablets for the Prince in their homes for worship."
Yongye didn't want to hear any of this. She had no feelings for Anguo. She had no interest in the princes vying for the throne, nor did she care about the three kingdoms' struggle for supremacy.
“Young Master, without the Prince of Anguo, the people will suffer even more. In recent years, apart from the invasion of Chen Kingdom, Anguo has not experienced any war. War will kill many people.” Yi Hong seemed to be thinking of her home and parents, and her voice became sad.
"Would Commandant Lin just watch you die?"
Yi Hong raised her head, her chest held high: "We are grateful for the Prince's great kindness, and we are willing to do so! So, young master, after the banquet tonight, Yi Hong will move into this small building in your place. He still has to take his brothers back to Anguo and deliver messages for you. He can only watch me die."
Yongye smiled. Everyone else was willing to sacrifice themselves for righteousness, but she wasn't. She was an assassin, a cold-blooded assassin who killed without blinking an eye.
Do you think your young master is destined to die young?
Yi Hong was taken aback.
"Bring me the court robes; General Yi must be getting impatient."
The chips are in someone else's hands
Of the ten scenic spots in Chen Palace, Feiyan Tower is the most magnificent.
Water from Chenghu Lake was diverted into the palace, and the excavated soil and gravel were used to build a high platform. During misty rain, flocks of swallows would circle and fly around the beams, chirping sweetly, hence the name.
The birthday banquet for Prince Chen was held here.
Facing a lake of clear water, Chen Palace was laid out before them. Coincidentally, a light drizzle fell that day, allowing all the guests to witness the beautiful sight of the flock of swallows.
Yongye sat below King Chen. Before King Chen arrived, she first noticed Prince Yan of Qi sitting opposite her.
He was around twenty years old, with a slender build like a bamboo pole. His black robe with red brocade dragon patterns made his face appear even paler, and his expression seemed to hold endless melancholy.
Yongye wanted to laugh. He had used a disguise to make himself look sickly, while Crown Prince Yan was genuinely weak due to congenital deficiencies. Looking further down, the envoys from various small countries, along with the three chief ministers, the left and right generals, and all the civil and military officials of Chen, were seated densely packed together.
Yi Zhongtian, now dressed in military attire, sat diagonally opposite Yongye, with the envoy from the small Western Liang kingdom below him. His imposing presence made Crown Prince Yan seem even less like a prince. While the Western Liang envoy remained composed, Crown Prince Yan, after being glanced at by Yi Zhongtian, quickly looked away.
Yongye sighed. Two sickly men, still looking like teenagers, had arrived from the three great leaders. How happy would Prince Chen be to see them?
The bells and gongs rang out, and the strings and bamboo instruments played in unison. A man and two women slowly entered from outside the Flying Swallow Tower.
Chen, the land of silk, favors white robes with wide linings. The imperial robes, consisting of an upper and lower garment, are exquisitely embroidered, with golden dragons seemingly about to leap off the robe. The King of Chen possesses both majesty and a touch of refined elegance.
Prince Chen was around forty years old, with delicate features, and Yu Xiu looked very much like him. Beside him was a gentle woman, whose attire suggested she was the Empress.
As they entered the building, Prince Chen paused beside Yongye, his gaze sweeping over her. Yongye smiled and bowed, her eyes fixed directly on Princess Yuxiu, bypassing Prince Chen.
"I heard that Marquis Yong'an was frightened when he came to Chen? I feel very guilty and have ordered a full-scale manhunt for the murderer."
His voice was calm, like fine wine or a spring breeze. Yongye smiled and said, "Your Majesty has gone to great lengths. I wonder if His Highness the Crown Prince was also frightened?"
Crown Prince Yan was taken aback and shook his head repeatedly: "I am fine, and I had a safe journey."
Yongye smiled and said, "Of course you're good. In the Three Kingdoms period, it was always necessary to win over one side while dealing with the other. Wasn't the alliance between Liu Bei and Sun Quan against Cao Cao a good example?" She bowed again to Prince Chen: "Yongye was just unlucky. Your Majesty need not worry too much."
King Chen smiled slightly.
Envoys from various countries presented their gifts, with Anguo's being the most generous.
Yongye's gaze was fixed on Yi Zhongtian's pale face. He cupped his hands and smiled, "Your Majesty, I, Yongye, am not talented. I will be marrying the princess in August. Since we parted in the capital, I have missed the princess day and night. This time, I came to Chen specifically to prepare a gift for the princess. I hope the princess will like it."
Yu Xiu sat upright, and upon hearing this, she had no choice but to bow slightly and reply, "Thank you, Your Excellency!"
King Chen glanced at Yongye's expression, then at Crown Prince Yan. With the next emperor of Qi so weak, even the mighty Qi would gradually decline. Meanwhile, internal strife was brewing among the princes of An, threatening to erupt into chaos. Chen only needed to wait for its chance to dominate. His face gradually brightened, and he nodded, signaling the start of the banquet.
Yongye watched the singing and dancing, but her gaze was also fixed on Prince Yan opposite her. Aside from being completely shrouded in princely robes, he possessed absolutely no regal bearing. Remembering Yuepo's return to Qi, she decided to make the acquaintance of Prince Yan. Raising her cup, she smiled and said, "This is Yongye's first time on a diplomatic mission, and so is Your Highness's. Yongye toasts Your Highness." Yongye then downed her cup.
Crown Prince Yan quickly picked up his cup, took a small sip, and a blush rose to his pale face. He said apologetically, "I've heard that Marquis Yong'an is in poor health, yet his alcohol tolerance surpasses mine by several times. I'm ashamed!"
One can discern a person's character from their drinking habits. It's said that King Qi was a wise ruler, uniting his thirty-six tribes not through force but through virtue. Does Prince Yan possess such courage?
"Hehe, I don't know how to drink alcohol, I'm just... trying to please the princess!" Yongye looked at Yuxiu with a dreamy gaze. Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for Yuxiu, who was sitting above her, to hear.
Disdain and anger flashed across her beautiful face. Prince Chen, however, smiled and said, "It is only proper etiquette for Yuxiu to offer three cups to Marquis Yong'an."
Three cups? This wine has a lingering aftertaste, seemingly light, but after one cup, a warm sensation rises in the stomach, quite intoxicating. Three cups down? Is he trying to make a fool of himself? He's supposed to marry the princess, yet he wants to embarrass himself. The Chen Kingdom is indeed up to no good.
Having possessed an incredible capacity for alcohol in his past life, three cups shouldn't be a problem in this one. Yongye quickly rose and laughed, "Princess, please pour the wine! Let alone three cups, I'd drink three hundred!"
With delicate steps, she took a cup of wine from a palace maid and handed it to Yongye.
This was the second time the two had been this close. Yongye took the wine and leaned forward, whispering, "My gift to the princess is a dress."
Yu Xiu's expression changed, but Yong Ye had already drunk his wine and was smiling as he waited for the second cup.
Yu Xiu angrily handed him the wine again, but as Yong Ye took it, he casually grabbed her hand. She was about to become his wife, so touching her hand wasn't flirting, it was teasing! Yong Ye triumphantly tightened his grip on Yu Xiu's delicate white hand.
Her movements were small and subtle, her hands hidden in her long sleeves, blocking everyone's view.
Yu Xiu suddenly pulled her hand away, and the wine spilled out of the cup. She tried to dodge by turning to the side, but Yong Ye reached out and pulled her away. With her skillful strength, how could the unprepared Yu Xiu avoid it? Yong Ye gently put her arm around her waist and waved her sleeve to block the wine for her.
"Princess, I don't want to have to pay for another dress." Yongye whispered tenderly in Yuxiu's ear.
Yu Xiu was stunned with anger. She took a step to leave, but couldn't budge him. Looking down, she saw that Yong Ye had stepped on the hem of her skirt again. Upstairs, the singing and dancing were in full swing, and many eyes were still on them. Yu Xiu blushed deeply and whispered through gritted teeth, "Li Yong Ye, this is Chen Guo!"