After the dishes were served, the Emperor, sitting high on the dragon throne, raised his wine cup and spoke loudly to the crowd: "Since I received the Mandate of Heaven and ascended the throne twenty-eight years ago, the world has been at peace, and the people have lived and worked in contentment. All of this relies on the blessings and protection of our ancestors. I offer this first cup of wine to the ancestors of our Dongzhao State."
As the first cup of wine was poured onto the fleece-covered floor, Eunuch Zhao raised a tray holding the second cup of wine.
Xiao Chengjing placed his empty cup on the tray and picked up the second cup, facing the civil and military officials seated below.
"This second cup of wine, I offer to all of you, my beloved subjects. You are the pillars of the Dongzhao State's court. Without you, I could not support this empire alone. I hope you will all share this cup with me."
In an instant, the civil and military officials raised their wine cups, stood up, and bowed to the Emperor.
"We dare not claim such merit. Thank you for your profound grace, Your Majesty!"
After everyone drank the wine and took their seats, Xiao Chengjing raised the third cup of wine toward Gong Linjue.
"Peace between our two nations is truly the fortune of all people. The Prince of Wei has traveled a long way to celebrate my birthday. I offer this third cup of wine to you, and to the Emperor of your esteemed nation in Yandu. May the friendship between our two countries remain as cordial as it is today."
Gong Linjue stood up with his wine cup and cupped his hands toward Xiao Chengjing in a salute. "On behalf of the monarch of my country, I thank Your Majesty for your kindness."
Friendship was impossible. It was the survival of the fittest, natural selection.
Only the strong deserved the best things, and the weak were meant to be devoured.
Amidst the clinking of cups and the sound of string and bamboo instruments, the palace dancers slowly entered the hall.
A massive temporary circular stage had been set up in the center of the Hall of Preserving Harmony. The crowd enjoyed the music and dance performances while drinking.
After a few songs, Gong Linjue slowly stood up and faced the Emperor seated on the dragon throne.
"Your Majesty, Emperor of the Dongzhao State, the string and bamboo music and dances are mostly the same. Watching too much of them becomes dull. On my first day in the capital, I made an agreement with the Duke of Qing of your esteemed nation to have a martial arts spar. Why not hold this competition right here at the birthday banquet, as a way to add to your entertainment?"
The Hall of Preserving Harmony fell into absolute silence. Everyone seemed to have been struck dumb as they all looked at Gong Linjue.
To have a martial arts competition at the Emperor's birthday banquet—if the Duke of Qing won, it would be fine, but if he lost, it would not only be a slap to the Emperor's face but also cause the imperial court to lose all its dignity.
However, if they refused, they would be accused of fearing battle. If word spread, the common people would think the military generals of the Dongzhao State were as cowardly as mice, not even daring to accept a challenge.
Xiao Chengjing, who was sitting on the dragon throne drinking, already had several cracks in his composure.
Why did it have to be at the birthday banquet, with all the civil and military officials present? Should he agree to it or not?
Seeing that Xiao Chengjing did not speak immediately, Gong Linjue directed his aim at Chu Liuyun, who was sitting opposite him.
"Duke of Qing, regarding our chance encounter on Vermilion Bird Street, does the Duke's promise still hold?"
Chu Liuyun remained expressionless.
"A promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold, so naturally it holds. However, fighting at a birthday banquet is somewhat too violent. It would be better to reschedule for another day."
Gong Linjue: "It is precisely because it is at a birthday banquet that it is interesting. A competition between our two nations is meant to add to the fun. Could it be that the Duke is afraid?"
Saying this, he looked toward the Emperor. "Or is it that not a single military general in your esteemed nation's court can fight, and you are afraid of losing?"
As soon as these words came out, the military generals sitting below collectively exploded.
Who said they couldn't fight?
They had to teach this arrogant Prince a lesson.
The Principal Fourth Rank General of Loyal Martial Arts, Shan Congwu, immediately stood out and said, "I have heard that the Prince of Wei is the number one expert of the Shuobei State. I would also like to spar with you."
The Principal Fifth Rank General of Roving Cavalry, Fang Leitian, closely followed.
"I would also like to compete with the Prince of Wei. Please enlighten me, Your Highness."
Seeing the military generals of the court stepping forward one by one to demand a match, Song Jinzhao, who had been kneeling for a long time, simply sat cross-legged on her soft cushion.
A simple taunt had achieved its goal. This competition had to be fought now.
Xiao Rongyan looked at the indignant military generals below, and the anger in his chest inevitably began to rise.
He took a breath and slowly said to Gong Linjue, "Several of my beloved subjects wish to compete with you. What does the Prince of Wei think?"
Let these people test Gong Linjue's true strength first, to see if he was really as formidable as the rumors said.
Even if they were no match for him, Chu Liuyun would at least be prepared.
Gong Linjue did not take these people seriously at all. What were fourth or fifth-rank officials to him?
"Since it is to entertain His Majesty, the Emperor of your esteemed nation, I would be disrespectful to decline."
The massive circular stage was cleared to become an arena, and dozens of weapons were carried into the hall one by one by the Imperial Guards.
The General of Roving Cavalry, Fang Leitian, chose a pair of iron hammers weighing forty catties, while Gong Linjue casually picked up a longsword and stepped onto the stage.
As the two stood on the arena at the same time, Fang Leitian was a full head shorter than his opponent.
Fortunately, he was on the heavier side, so it looked like he still had the strength for a fight.
Song Jinzhao was watching with rapt attention when Princess Yongjia, who was sitting above, quietly got up and walked over from behind a pillar.
Hearing the movement, Song Jinzhao turned her head and found that the other party was coming straight for her. A trace of confusion could not help but arise in her heart.
What did she want?
Their eyes met, and Princess Yongjia smiled and nodded at Song Jinzhao.
She walked to Song Jinzhao's side and was just about to sit down, only to find that the other party was sitting cross-legged against the rules, leaving no room at all.
"County Princess Linghui knows quite a bit about martial arts. Could you explain it to me?"
Song Jinzhao helplessly got up and moved aside a bit to make some room. "What does the Princess want to know?"
Princess Yongjia: "I want to know if the General of Roving Cavalry can win."
If all the military generals lost, Gong Linjue would have to fight her Brother Liuyun, and she was a little worried.
"Hah!" A low roar came from the stage.
Turning to look, they saw Fang Leitian, wielding the dual hammers, charging toward Gong Linjue. His ferocious face looked as if he was using every ounce of his strength.
The muscles in his arms bulged. There were no fancy tricks, just pure brute force, swinging with the full power of a landslide or a tsunami.
Gong Linjue's sword remained in its sheath as he dodged to the side, his speed so fast it left afterimages.
Song Jinzhao pursed her lips and shook her head.
"When one's strength is not great enough, a heavy weapon will slow down their speed. Gong Linjue is no ordinary military general. Fang Leitian is not his match."
Princess Yongjia's shoulders slumped in disappointment, and she continued to watch with some uncertainty in her heart.
With a forceful strike of the sword hilt against Fang Leitian's wrist, the twenty-catty iron hammer slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground, smashing a pit into the circular stage.
Immediately after, Gong Linjue spun around and kicked Fang Leitian off the stage.
The hall erupted in an uproar.
How much time had passed? Fang Leitian was defeated in less than twenty moves!
Was Gong Linjue too powerful, or was Fang Leitian too weak?
The civil officials were full of doubt, while the military generals wore solemn expressions, each of them standing in strict formation, ready to take the stage at any moment.
The General of Loyal Martial Arts, Shan Congwu, gripped a long saber and leaped onto the stage, cupping his hands toward Gong Linjue. "Please enlighten me, Your Highness."
Half a cup of tea's time later, a longsword, only half-drawn from its sheath, rested against Shan Congwu's neck.
Song Jinzhao's right hand, resting on her leg, was tightly grasped by Princess Yongjia. The fingernails dyed with balsam flowers dug deeply into her hand.
Feeling the pain, Song Jinzhao exerted a little force to pull her hand out.
There were several crescent moon marks on the back of her hand; any deeper and it would have bled.
"Princess, you don't need to worry too much. A birthday banquet martial arts competition will not endanger anyone's life. Even if these people cannot defeat Gong Linjue, the Duke of Qing will not be in any mortal danger when he goes up."
