The Banquet (3)
The banquet hall was already packed tight with people. That was hardly surprising, since the hour had been announced to everyone well in advance — unless you'd been barred from the feast from the very start, of course you'd arrive early. It beat waltzing in after the Emperor and handing the gossips fresh material.
A courtier in attendance upon the Emperor rang out a herald's cry, and the moment she appeared, every civil and military official in the hall turned their eyes upon us. To be precise, upon me — the one joined to Her Majesty the Emperor.
...This is more of a burden than I expected.
At least several dozen pairs of eyes, of every imaginable kind, were trained on me. Given the turnout, a hundred or more people might well have arrived since the first day alone. Some people can bask in that many stares; I am not one of them.
Of course, burdened though I was, I let none of it show. There were bound to be people here meeting me for the first time — my daily routine consisted of little more than shuttling between my office and my home, then making for the imperial palace whenever Her Majesty summoned me. And half the time I was away on some long campaign besides, wasn't I?
Even if I couldn't leave a good impression, I refused to be underestimated. A first impression, formed the instant you meet someone, shapes the whole relationship that follows — or so I'd heard. Mine wasn't the sort of face that inspired awe on its own, so a little effort was the least I could offer.
Whether that effort bore fruit I couldn't say, but at least none of the gazes I felt were hostile.
It was then that the Emperor spoke, her voice tinged with displeasure.
"Hm. To think some here still hold their heads high and stiff."
"...!"
At those words, the officials who had been studying me so intently hurriedly bent their backs in bows. Their slightly flustered air marked them as newcomers to Luoyang's political scene. The more seasoned figures, by contrast, had given me a single measured once-over and paid their respects long before that — and a few had kept their heads lowered from the very beginning, as if determined to leave no opening whatsoever.
"We shall let it pass this time. But commit another act of discourtesy, and even We cannot say what We might do."
The Emperor continued, watching them squirm.
"We have no wish to see blood spilled on so fine an occasion. Be mindful."
"Y-Your grace is boundless!"
Aigoo, look how white their faces have gone.
The Emperor was plainly displeased that they had tried to take my measure. It seemed they had planted themselves squarely on her bad side.
Those people can kiss their careers goodbye. No — come to think of it, merely setting foot in Luoyang's political world already marked them as having made something of themselves. Which meant, in turn, that this was as high as they would ever climb.
The Emperor clicked her tongue.
"I had no idea there were this many fools who can't take a hint."
"...Your Majesty."
"Ah, We have kept you waiting. Come along."
Before I could get a word out, the Emperor's face bloomed into a bright smile once more. Holding my hand firmly in hers, as if to flaunt just how close we were, she led me all the way to the seat of honor.
Two tables stood side by side there, an arrangement whose intent was obvious at a glance. The only trouble was that I couldn't be entirely certain which one was mine. Each was adorned with ornamentation that drew a gasp on sight — one carved all over with golden dragons, the other with golden phoenixes.
Frankly, I'd have thought any seat would do, but this was a veritable minefield where even the most trivial detail carried hidden meaning. On Luoyang's political stage, those who couldn't read the room didn't survive. And truthfully, I had a fair idea which table was meant for me.
As I wandered across the needlessly vast hall, sweeping my gaze over the surroundings, I soon caught sight of some familiar figures.
...
The pint-sized strategists, seated in a spot that drew the eye no matter who was looking. The way they carried themselves — for all the world as if begging to be noticed — made my head stop dead in its tracks.
...
Perhaps they felt my gaze. Sima Yi, violet hair gleaming, still holding her hands clasped and her back slightly bowed, performed a most peculiar maneuver: a single nudge with her right elbow at Pang Tong beside her.
"...?"
Pang Tong naturally lifted her head a little, question written across her face.
...
"...?!"
But the instant she met Sima Yi's fierce glare — sit still and don't you dare move — she ducked her head right back down.
Zhuge Liang's behavior was little different. I hadn't noticed at first, but looking closely now, her position was oddly skewed toward Pang Tong's side of the row. Remembering how she used to lecture everyone about formation this and alignment that, obsessed with keeping perfect ranks, this was a strange sight indeed.
"...? ......??"
The phoenix wedged between dragon and tiger, with no idea what was going on, wore a thoroughly bewildered expression.
Honestly, I had a pretty good idea what they were playing at. Wasn't it their own clumsy way of telling me to take the seat carved with the phoenix? Those who knew, knew that the kings of old had taken the dragon as the symbol of the royal house — just look at the robes Her Majesty wore now, dragons embroidered across the outer layer. The little strategists seemed anxious that I might mix up the seats at the worst possible moment.
Her Majesty would never stand by and watch someone pull a stunt like that — ash on a finished meal — but it would certainly have thrown the mood off.
When I settled into my seat without a moment's hesitation, the Emperor flashed a smile and spoke.
"Today is truly a joyous day for Us."
...
"A few perceptive souls will know full well how long We have dreamed of this day."
Having said that much, Her Majesty raised her cup.
"We shall keep it short. Enjoy yourselves, and take your ease before you go."
"Your boundless grace, Your Majesty!"
And with every civil and military official answering as one, the banquet began in earnest.
There had been a brief spot of trouble before the banquet, but the atmosphere was hardly bad. No — to put it precisely, it would be more accurate to say we had hauled the mood up by force. Her Majesty urged everyone, again and again, to enjoy the evening, and the loyal servants of the imperial house carried out that order to the letter. The talents who followed me, for their part, rode the current the moment they saw me nodding along with a smile on my face.
Whether those efforts went to waste or not, the hall's atmosphere soon caught fire. Nothing brings awkward strangers together quite like a feast. Perhaps from years of rolling about in the minefield called Luoyang, even the officials who rarely let their guard down began to loosen up after a while — and the hall was bustling besides with familiar faces who had received invitations of their own.
"Huh? Hey! It's been ages! Hasn't it?!"
"General Lü. It certainly has."
Zhang Liao's group, whom I had left in charge of Bing Province's defense. Lü Bu lit up at the sight of friendly faces and started toward them — then froze mid-step.
"Ah. Right, I'm on guard duty. Pull yourself together..."
...
Watching her mutter to herself while slapping her own cheeks, I couldn't hide my astonishment. And here I'd assumed she'd scrubbed all thought of guard duty from her mind long ago. Apparently not?
"If you want to talk, then you come over here! I can't stray far on account of my guard duty!"
"...Good heavens. To think Lady Lü Fengxian could change so."
Seo Hwang, who knew Lü Bu's brash temperament all too well, looked every bit as stunned as I was. At those words, Lü Bu's face went scarlet.
"Ugh... What, you got a problem with it?"
"Not at all. I am merely moved by such a positive transformation."
Seo Hwang wore the benevolent smile of a woman who understood everything. Lü Bu trembled from head to toe before forcing out her reply.
"You... just you wait."
"Haha! I shall look forward to it!"
While the two of them traded barbs, Gao Shun, who had followed them in, offered me a bow of impeccable formality.
Those three haven't changed one bit. Still, Gao Shun coming along was a surprise. I had sent the invitation, yes, but I never truly expected her to appear. By my reckoning, she would have stayed behind in Bing Province, insisting that seeing to the tasks her lord had entrusted to her mattered more than her own life.
Had something shifted in her heart? Well — every time I saw her buried in nothing but work, my worry for her knew no bounds, so this was for the best.
Having returned her greeting, I turned to watch the scene still roiling around us.
"General Lü, might you tell us what has passed between you and the General-in-Chief all this time?"
"Wh-why would you need to know that?!"
"Stories between a man and a woman are always the most entertaining, after all."
Zhang Liao, who had known Lü Bu since their days in Bing Province, set about coaxing her with practiced ease.
"As it happens, I brought along a liquor that General Lü is particularly fond of."
"Were your ears not working just now? I told you I can't drink — guard duty!"
"Could you not simply save it for when you are left alone with the General-in-Chief?"
The moment those words landed, Lü Bu's pupils shook violently.
"I confess I have no idea what might come to pass when a man and woman in the prime of their youth let the wine carry them away!"
"Ugh..."
Saying that with such an innocent smile on her face — I'll never get used to this woman.
Was she truly that desperate to know what had happened? I looked at Lü Bu, already showing every sign of crumbling before Zhang Liao's assault, and let out a small laugh.