Chapter 772
Chapter 772
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 772
>Chapter Title: Banquet
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Bai Lingmiao, dressed in a white robe, slowly walked toward the grand hall ahead, guided by four eunuchs holding lanterns.
This was not the Emperor of Siqi's palace, but his summer retreat. Yet even the summer retreat followed the palace's exact protocols.
As she drew closer to the hall, pleasant music drifted into Bai Lingmiao's ears from within.
As soon as she stepped inside, she saw over a hundred people seated on either side of the hall, laughing heartily as they toasted and drank.
There were civil officials and military officers, even some monks and Taoists, and a few of them looked particularly eerie.
In the center of the hall, several delicate beauties with bound feet danced lightly on the palms of armored giants, moving gracefully to the music.
"Is this... a victory banquet?"
Bai Lingmiao was momentarily puzzled. Was this the important matter mentioned in the paper crane?
"Saintess, please this way."
Led by the eunuch, Bai Lingmiao sat down in a prime spot in the front row.
Soon, dishes like deer antler and bear paws, along with things Bai Lingmiao had never even seen before, were served to her.
Yet Bai Lingmiao paid no mind to the waste of food. Her gaze was completely drawn to the gigantic figure in a red Daoist robe sitting beside the dragon throne.
It was Xuanyin. The Xuanyin who had once died was appearing before her again.
As Bai Lingmiao stared at Xuanyin, he clearly noticed and gently shook his head at her.
Feeling a strange sense of familiarity, Bai Lingmiao furrowed her brows slightly and sat there silently with a hint of doubt.
Looking toward the main table opposite the door, she saw several emperors seated at the dragon throne: the Emperor of Daliang, the Khan of Qingqiu, and the emperors of Siqi and Houshu.
Gao Zhijian was clearly the most honored at that moment, sitting in the center. The Khan of Qingqiu ranked second, while the recently restored emperors of Houshu and Siqi sat on the edges.
When Gao Zhijian gently grasped his wine cup, the eunuch beside him immediately signaled below. The palm dancers quickly concluded and withdrew.
"Today."
As Gao Zhijian's deep voice rang out, the hall swiftly fell silent.
"Today, We are greatly pleased. Siqi has now been reclaimed from that pernicious cult by our valiant soldiers!"
Hearing this, smiles spread across everyone's faces. Clearly, all welcomed this good news.
After a pause, Gao Zhijian continued. Though Bai Lingmiao wasn't well-read, she could tell his words were empty platitudes.
Roughly speaking, the Fa Cult was faltering, so everyone should press on to annihilate them utterly and aim to return home victorious this year.
The dancers returned. This time it wasn't palm dancing, but drum-top dancing. Their tender white feet rhythmically stepped on the large drums atop round tables amid graceful poses, a sight that uplifted the spirits.
Thinking of the White Lotus followers outside still eating leftover pickled vegetables, while witnessing this extravagance, Bai Lingmiao felt a complex mix of emotions.
Accompanied by these feelings, the entire victory banquet gradually drew to a close.
Once most had left, Bai Lingmiao approached the Emperor of Siqi.
"Your Majesty, the war isn't over yet. Isn't this extravagance inappropriate?"
"It was I who had them do this."
It was Gao Zhijian speaking. Wearing the imperial crown, he looked weary, as if it weighed a thousand pounds.
"Junior Sister Bai, I know what you mean, but at times like these, we can't skimp on the spectacle. If we don't, the men below might get ideas. Compared to stabilizing morale, this expense is nothing."
Looking at Gao Zhijian before her, Bai Lingmiao felt he was different from the silly big oaf of the past.
Hearing this from Gao Zhijian, Bai Lingmiao didn't press further. She turned her gaze to the more pressing matter.
"Master Xuanyin? Didn't you... die?"
With a gentle wave from Gao Zhijian, the imperial guards swiftly surrounded the hall watertight, while the palace eunuchs formed a second line of defense.
"Let's talk inside."
Soon, in the inner hall, Bai Lingmiao watched as Li Sui, covered in tentacles, emerged from the wide Daoist robe, while Li Huowang's face appeared from the black void.
The earlier Xuanyin had just been Li Sui's tentacles propping up the robe to pretend. The real Xuanyin was indeed dead.
Li Huowang was draped in Xuanyin's red Daoist robe adorned with strange characters, like a bedsheet over him.
But soon, the red robe shrank visibly to fit Li Huowang perfectly.
Li Huowang walked to Bai Lingmiao's side and silently gave her a gentle hug before releasing her.
"The news of Xuanyin and the others' deaths can't leak out. It would affect morale."
As Gao Zhijian spoke, some people slowly entered from outside.
Clearly, those entering now were mostly the core of the alliance, fully aware of what had truly happened.
The outside show had just been a formality; this was where things really began.
Everyone sat on the golden nanmu wood chairs. The serving eunuchs placed a cup of tea beside each person and then withdrew.
Unlike the earlier festivity, the inner hall's atmosphere was clearly oppressive. Faint white smoke rose from the tea cups, but no one spoke first.
"Xuanyin is dead. No need to hide from me. Tell me directly how the situation stands now."
Li Huowang spoke first.
No matter how dire the situation ahead, after all this time, Li Huowang was already mentally prepared.
After Li Huowang spoke, he waited for an answer. But after a while, no one replied.
"What's this? Do you think my status is too low to ask?"
Glancing at Gao Zhijian for approval, a Daliang Supervising Astronomer Minor Official spoke up:
"The Fa Cult has now fully retreated into Nanping territory. Scouts were just dispatched, so we don't yet know the internal situation within the Fa Cult."
"That's it? That's all? You wouldn't still be planning to hide things from me now, would you?"
Li Huowang's expression turned hostile.
"True Person Li, the Supervising Astronomer said before his death that some things can't be told to you."
"Don't use Xuanyin to pressure me! Must I obey everything he said? If he was so capable, why is he dead?"
"Since I'm now fully involved, I won't be a blind and deaf fool. Lay out the specifics, and I'll decide what to do next!!"
Gao Zhijian waved his hands lightly, trying to calm Li Huowang's anger.
"Senior Brother Li, calm down. They won't hide from you. Ask specifically what you want to know; they'll tell you."
"How did Xuanyin die? While I was fighting Matuo, what exactly happened on your side?"
(End of chapter)