Famine

Chapter 62

“…I dare not.” I sighed heavily.

As a result, I, a living person, still had to attend the soup noodle feast at the Prince's mansion.

You think that's all? I also hoped it would just be a family dinner.

What left me speechless was that the Empress, having just finished celebrating her birthday, heard that I was also going and became very curious about what the "supernatural girl Lin Moniang" looked like. She offered to give me a gift and asked if I could participate in the family banquet, to which the Prince naturally welcomed me warmly. Jiaolong happened to be a guest at the Empress's place and, upon hearing about this, said he wanted to go as well.

Somehow, the news reached the Northern City God, who was also curious about the extraordinary person whose master the "Golden-Winged Roc King, the Heavenly Queen" was (…), and so he sent a letter and gifts. He was about to go, and several other city gods also wanted to go and join in the fun…

What was supposed to be a small family dinner turned into a celebration of the gods, with everyone taking the opportunity to gather together.

By the time I realized it had reached an unprecedented level of success, it was already too late for regrets.

I quickly called Huang'e (she insisted on communicating by phone during our date), and she absentmindedly replied, "Go ahead."

“Oh no! The situation is completely out of control!” I yelled at her. “Almost every prominent deity on earth…” has specifically requested to see me.

I'm too scared to go!

“I’ve heard about it.” Huang’e said impatiently. “Of course everyone will want to see my host. Remember to put on makeup, get your hair done, and change into some fresh and pretty clothes. If you can’t afford to buy any, you can borrow mine.”

…Your figure and my figure…Have you ever heard of chopsticks borrowing clothes from a gourd?

"Huang'e, come with me."

“No,” she refused decisively. “Yunlang is going to the mainland for a year! There’s only one month left, of course we should make the most of it.”

After a moment of silence, I pointed out with a heavy heart, "You and Yu Zheng are both people who would abandon their humanity for the sake of the opposite sex."

"Tsk," her sympathy had been completely wasted. "I'm a ravenous bird, where would I get my humanity?" She hung up the phone decisively. When I tried to call back, her phone was off.

She wanted to use her emotions to create a powerful and magnificent Great Wall.

…That old monster who forgets his friends for the sake of a beautiful woman!

If I didn't have to pay for the phone, I probably would have smashed it.

Having exhausted all options, I told Tang Chen about it. It would have been better if I hadn't told him; after I did, he dragged me to the department store.

"I don't want to go." She covered her face wearily.

"Let's go!" He grinned, holding up my clothes as he spoke. "This could be a modern-day ghost story! It's a rare sight indeed!"

Everyone else was happy and excited, but I was dejected.

Why do I keep encountering these kinds of things...?

On the morning of the banquet, I was still struggling with the question, "Why me? So many spiritualists are eager to attend this kind of divine summit. Can't we let those who want to go go?"

Shuo smiled as he combed my hair into a princess style, saying, "That's why I invited you because you didn't want to go."

Huh? What kind of logic is this?

“You are a true ‘witch’.” She gently bit the comb handle, smiling beautifully. “You should be my most proud student.”

Why am I, someone who knows nothing, your best student? I really can't stand this expert anymore.

With a long face, I left the house as if I were going to the guillotine. Tang Chen drove me to the Earth God Temple and gave me a few instructions, nothing more than not drinking too much alcohol, that he had already put the stomach medicine in my bag, and not drinking tea before meals as it would upset my stomach.

I nodded dejectedly. He tugged at my bangs, then bowed to the old man and turned to leave.

The old man behind me breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing my puzzled look, he sighed, "Girl, you don't understand... Tang Shanshi is going. He's of such noble birth, I wouldn't dare say no. But he's been demoted, his suffering isn't over yet. Taking him along would only bring trouble to the prince..." He suddenly stopped, "Why am I telling you all this? How could you possibly know this? You silly girl!"

Even though I didn't ask, I still answered sullenly, "I'm sorry. I... I didn't hear anything."

He was also feeling down and told me to close my eyes. I felt a gentle breeze and drizzle carrying the scent of sandalwood softly surrounding me.

That day, a fine, magical rain fell across the entire island, carrying people from all over to the Kaitai Shengwang Temple. It is said that this is a method commonly used by the gods to speed up their journeys, specifically for when they travel.

With my eyes closed, I pondered Shuo's words. Everything she said made sense, but I didn't understand why she invited me to go just because I didn't want to.

It's not that I'm ungrateful. I'm flattered by the special favor these compassionate gods bestow upon me. But I'm just an ordinary person; why should I ask for their favor? I know that fortune and misfortune are partly determined by fate and partly by oneself. Gods are bound by layers of laws and regulations, and there are superiors above superiors. Naturally, I wouldn't make unrealistic requests for blessings, prosperity, or longevity to trouble these kind-hearted gods.

I'm not even a proper shaman yet, but the old man took me in. It's just that there's always trouble. He's protecting me more than asking me for favors.

I feel ashamed and embarrassed that I can't repay such care and love. I'm so ashamed that I could hardly think of going to any gathering of gods.

The old man told me to open my eyes. I shakily raised them, expecting the Kaitai Shengwang Mansion to be magnificent and grand, but instead it was simple, solemn, and dignified. It felt like I had entered some ancient mansion. As soon as I entered the gate, someone invited me to a sedan chair, saying that a banquet would be held at Huaqing Garden.

Until I got off the sedan chair, I clumsily and dizzily followed the old man. He told me to greet people, so I bowed deeply. He told me to kowtow, so I obediently knelt down.

The garden was enormous. It was said that there were thirty tables for the banquet, and that was for the high-ranking officers. In addition, fifty tables were set up in the training ground to entertain the five battalions and three armies, and a hundred tables were set up in the backyard to reward the soldiers and their entourage. Just thinking about the scale made my head spin.

It felt like a dream, that I was actually gathered together with these gods.

They didn't resemble the golden statues in the temple in appearance or clothing; their attire was noble yet understated, and almost all of them possessed a dignified and serene expression. Not all of them were in ancient costumes; some did wear armor and cloaks, or wide-sleeved robes, but I couldn't discern the dynasty of some of them, and some had a Western influence. If I hadn't known beforehand, I might have thought it was a banquet themed around the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China.

"Commander, don't make that child kneel. There are several hundred of them. I won't allow it if you make her kneel until her legs are swollen." A beautiful deity veiled with beads smiled. "Come here and let me see. Kind-hearted child, has your name been of any use since I lent it to you?" She covered her mouth and laughed.

My face slowly flushed red, and I knelt before her, saying, "May Your Majesty live a long life, thank you for your mercy."

I've met the real "supernatural girl Lin Moniang".

“I told you not to kneel. Commander,” she glared at the old man, “you’re just tormenting the child.”

"Alright, alright, the Empress has already said so, Hengzhi, get up." The old man chuckled.

I didn't dare to breathe and stood up with my hands at my sides. I stole a glance at the Empress. Her attire was surprisingly simple, a moon-white jacket. When the breeze blew open her beaded veil, it revealed her jade-like beauty. She looked a few years younger than me.

This is the real "supernatural beauty Lin Moniang"! I've been using her name for so long, ruining my reputation for nothing.

Seeing my awkwardness, the Empress smiled. "Commander-in-Chief, the young people are getting bored among us old folks. The Zheng family's young sisters-in-law have been waiting for a while; how about letting the young ladies chat?"

"I am deeply grateful for Empress Dowager Cheng's kindness; it is you who have shown such care for Hengzhi," the old man said politely.

The seventh young lady, who had been standing behind us, smiled, stepped forward, kowtowed, and led me out.

I was happy to be free from those adults, but I had a guilty conscience. Although the Seventh Miss greeted me with a smile and led me to a small courtyard, I still felt a cold sweat on my back.

The young lady took my hand and said, "It's time to invite the matchmaker to take his seat."

"Still basking in the seat? You'll have to get a beating first." The third young lady said with a half-smile. "Close the door, unleash the dogs!"

They really did close the courtyard gate.

Oh no. Has the truth come out, and I've been lured into a trap again? The blood drained from my face.

"Are you going to confess on your own, or wait for us to torture you?" The rather fierce third young lady stood up with her hands on her hips.

"Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll still get stabbed." I gritted my teeth and took the blame.

As a result, the seven young ladies burst into laughter. The eldest young lady glared at the third young lady, saying, "I told you not to scare the Commander-in-Chief Wu like that, it scared her so much she broke out in a sweat."

"Hmph, I was just trying to scare her. She's the one who ruined seven of us!" The Third Miss turned her head away.

"Oh... I see you're having a good time being tricked... Happy wedding, hehe..." the youngest girl teased her.

"You little rascal, you miss..." The third young lady pounced on them, and the sisters laughed and shouted to vent their frustration.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead; it seemed like it wouldn't turn into "The Last Supper."

They took my hand, invited me to sit down, and served me tea and fruit. They even held and led their children, showing them off to me like precious treasures. The oldest one could already walk, with two little pigtails, a chubby face, tilting his head as he ate fruit and looked at me—he was incredibly cute.

The young lady held her one-month-old baby, her face radiating shy maternal pride. The tiny, red-faced baby was yawning.

Of course, I also wondered how these "spirits" gave birth, but I didn't ask. Think about it, if you visited a Black family to see their baby, would you ask, "You Black people give birth too? How do you give birth? Is it the same as our Asian children? Do they grow up? What does their soul look like?"

If you weren't so clueless, I wouldn't have been so clueless as to ask Miss Seven such trivial questions.

The fact is, she has a child, and she's so cute. What's it to you how she has a baby?

We chatted and laughed for a while when a maid came to invite someone, saying that a large group of guests had arrived and they needed the young mistress to help entertain them. They left the eldest young lady behind, took the child and handed him to the wet nurse, and then went out.

"...I'll go out too." I felt a little awkward; everyone was incredibly busy today, and I was wasting my time here. "You guys keep going..."

"What are you so busy with?" The young lady pressed me down. "His Highness instructed us a long time ago to treat you with extra hospitality, afraid you'd feel uncomfortable. There are adults all outside, you must be feeling quite awkward."

I sat down awkwardly, "...I'm not used to big events."

“I haven’t seen much of this before.” She teased the child. “You’ll get used to it after a while. The prince and his wife are both kind and gentle, and my husband is also gentle and respectful…” Her face flushed slightly. “You really are… you took on Lord Golden Wing’s idea again.”

“The Desolation Calamity is my shikigami,” I said softly. “I’m sorry.”

She laughed. "At first, I was a little angry... but it was my clumsy and foolish husband who confessed to the prince. The prince was furious and made my husband and several of his younger brothers kneel before us. They've already knelt, they've already... they've already... what's there to be angry about?"

My heart skipped a beat. Was the Prince angry? But why hadn't I heard a word of it...? Then it dawned on me. Could the commander of the Seven Armies really leave the camp to patrol without orders? He could fool others, but not me? The Prince's move was truly brilliant, a coordinated attack from within and without, his acting was superb.

Miss Seven probably knew this too; everyone secretly laughed, pretended to throw a tantrum, and got away with it. So what could such meticulous craftsmanship possibly do?

"You took a liking to...your husband the moment you met?" I couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh dear," she said, still blushing even after giving birth, "who knows if they're round or flat? All I know are seven men. Who would dare look up and see clearly? I'll marry whoever the prince wants me to marry..."

…So you ended up marrying the romantic ideal of heroism?

For a woman from the Ming Dynasty like her, it didn't seem like a bad thing.

"Are you... still happy?" I still felt a little guilty.

She looked up, her fair face flushed with a rosy glow. "We are very happy. I...we have always been very grateful to you."

I feel like there's something stuck in my throat. I feel happy and relieved... but I want to cry.

Think back to when we first met, they were hanging forlornly from the rafters, their lives filled with sorrow and tragedy, their deaths marked by separation from their homes. Now, holding a child in her arms, with a husband who is clumsy with words and a lack of understanding, she is willing to kneel before him, to let him vent his anger, and to love him.

We looked at each other for a while, then hugged each other and cried.

Don't ask me why I'm crying, I don't know either.

It wasn't until the banquet started that the young lady and I hurriedly washed our faces and went out. Although all the gods were gathered, I was the matchmaker (…), and Tangbing would borrow the old man's blessings (in name only), so we were postponed to the seat of honor. I was really restless.

I was so afraid of losing face that I didn't even dare to pick up any food. I was so nervous I was about to die. In my entire life, I've never even eaten out, let alone attended a wedding banquet. This kind of grand occasion was really killing me. The thought of being surrounded by gods made my stomach feel like it was full of old newspapers. I was afraid that if I did something wrong, I would embarrass so many adults.

Just as he was at a loss, a servant rushed in and whispered in the prince's ear. His expression changed drastically, "Quickly! Kneel down to greet him according to imperial etiquette!"

They, the gods, seemed to have a peculiar way of communicating. Suddenly, they all stood up, and the old man pulled me up, solemnly pressing his lips to tell me to keep quiet.

Prince Zheng hurriedly broke his seat and left, and despite the presence of so many deities, not a single sound was heard.

When Prince Zheng let in a fair-skinned, elegant young man, all the gods knelt down.

The elegant young man laughed, "With such strict rules, I wouldn't have come. I came because I smelled the wine and wanted to join in the fun, but you're all kneeling like this... I'm leaving." As he turned around, I noticed that he had a tiger tail.

"Lord Taifeng, please wait!" the prince cried out urgently.

He chuckled, "Aren't you getting up? My stomach is rumbling with hunger." Only then did the gods rise with a smile, greeting Him in turn.

Tai Feng? From the Classic of Mountains and Seas… and Tai Feng, the mountain god and auspicious deity?! Why am I seeing an ancient god who came out of the Classic of Mountains and Seas?!