Qingming, night banquet.
This was the very first banquet Wei Yuan had hosted since Qingming’s founding.
Because the event had come so suddenly, there was not even a proper venue available. Wei Yuan had temporarily cleared out the courtyard where the cultivators usually held their discussions, only to discover they had neither chefs nor ingredients.
Consequently, Wei Yuan urgently requisitioned cooks and ingredients from taverns and merchant associations across several cities. By dusk, the feast was finally able to begin.
The main hall where the banquet was laid was merely of the scale found in an ordinary wealthy household, and the courtyard was not spacious either.
The cultivators of the Palace of Grand Beginning were all cultivation maniacs who cared nothing for mortal indulgences like fine clothing, food, housing, or transport. Naturally, not a single one of them would admit they had been provoked into this fervor by a certain nineteen-year-old with a dharma idol.
Even so, this night banquet in Qingming held distinct marvels of its own. A spiritual mist pervaded the small courtyard, and the vapor rising into the air was pure celestial qi. In one corner of the yard grew several orchid plants, their tender buds swelling and dewy fresh. Against the wall stood an aqua-blue flowering tree that glowed with a soft luminescence, exuding a deep, refreshing chill that completely chased away the sweltering, damp heat peculiar to the Wu domain.
At this moment, the entire courtyard was saturated with celestial qi; even ordinary mortals standing here and breathing it in for a brief while would prolong their lifespans. This, however, was something no mundane lord or noble could ever possess.
A large table was set in the main hall. Consort Yuan naturally sat in the seat of honor, with Wei Yuan and Zhao Tong accompanying her on the left and right. Nearly all the cultivators from the Palace of Grand Beginning were present, with only Zhang Sheng absent due to secluded cultivation.
Consort Yuan’s fame was renowned far and wide, and given this opportunity, the cultivators naturally wanted to see her for themselves.
Yet that was not what they truly cared about. Their actual interest lay elsewhere—as revealed by the hushed exchange between Xu Henshui and Sun Yu just before entering.
Xu Henshui declared on the spot, "Tonight, we drink until we drop!"
Sun Yu replied in bewilderment, "You don't even drink wine. How are you spouting drunken talk already?"
"Isn't Consort Yuan here tonight?"
Sun Yu was even more confused. "You aren't as pretty as she is, and you can't beat her in a fight. Shouldn't you hate her to the marrow of your bones?"
Xu Henshui snapped in annoyance, "Am I really that petty and narrow-minded?"
"Aren't you?"
"...Let's stick to serious matters! Why haven't you stopped to think about why Consort Yuan suddenly traveled all this way to Qingming? Which of us has ever had dealings with her before?"
A sharp gleam suddenly flared in Sun Yu's eyes. "Could it be..."
Xu Henshui sneered. "Girl Yun just spent an entire two hours dressing up and doing her makeup. What do you think?"
Sun Yu assumed a solemn expression. "For a grand spectacle like this, we truly must drink until we drop tonight!"
By now, the sun had sunk below the western hills. The chimes sounded nine times, and the evening banquet officially commenced.
Wei Yuan felt the smile on his face was extraordinarily artificial, yet he truly could not bring himself to smile naturally.
Bao Yun sat on the lower left, while Feng Tingyu sat on the lower right. Sun Yu and Xu Henshui were seated side by side, Old Daoist Chuhe sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Feng Chutang, and Yu Zhizhuo sat silently farther down, his bright eyes staring intently at the center of the table.
Yet this posture of his was far too deliberate. Who did not know that he harbored a divine bird within him, capable of observing every subtle movement in his surroundings?
Before the feast began, Wei Yuan had already introduced everyone at the table. Aside from Feng Tingyu, most were considered his seniors. Consort Yuan was Wei Yuan's superior, meaning the two sides were roughly of equal standing. After finishing the introductions, Wei Yuan had no idea what else to say.
Only now did he truly appreciate the vivid accuracy of the phrase 'sitting on pins and needles.'
Seeing the atmosphere around the table grow increasingly heavy—almost as if a pocket of the Shattered Lands were about to coalesce overhead—Wei Yuan hurriedly raised his cup and said, "Well... eat and drink your fill!"
The cultivators of the Palace of Grand Beginning raised their cups in unison and drained them in one gulp. Perfected Chuhe then flicked his sleeve, sending a jade pitcher flying in a graceful circle above the table, automatically refilling everyone's cup.
This was a spiritual wine he had brewed himself. Though it was not aged for long, it carried a crisp, fresh scent of wild herbs and flora. It was said to be brewed using water gathered from the rain on the day of Rain Water, dew from the day of White Dew, frost from the day of Frost's Descent, and snow from the day of Minor Snow as its base, combined with numerous bizarre and precious ingredients excavated from deep subterranean depths. It nourished qi and cultivated the spirit—a rare vintage nearly impossible to taste in the outside world.
Consort Yuan's breathtaking, peerless beauty went without saying. Bao Yun appeared at first glance to wear no makeup, yet from her hair ornaments to her gown, every single detail had been meticulously arranged.
The faint, woven patterns on her azure-tinted soft gauze gown flowed like swirling wind dancing with snow, and moon-white ice silk ribbons wrapped around her arms as though moonlight itself were cascading down. Her raven hair was half-pinned behind her head with a spirit wood hairpin, two stray strands curling past her temples to sway gently in the breeze. Her porcelain cheeks gleamed with a crystal-like translucence and pure luster, while a delicate flush of mountain peach blossom lingered between her brows and eyes. An aura of youthful vitality radiated from within her, like a gardenia in full bloom—graceful, clear, and effortlessly, naturally magnificent.
Feng Tingyu, for her part, was busy devouring her meal. Though unpainted by powder or rouge, her small gestures and subtle expressions possessed a distinct charm; the more one looked at her, the lovelier she seemed. And if one observed her a moment longer, one would feel as though she were a volcano ready to erupt at any second, harboring terrifying power within her petite, shapely frame.
Besides the three women, there was also Xu Henshui, whose every frown and smile formed an exquisite picture, his bone structure cast with luminous grace, his features scarcely falling short of theirs.
Wei Yuan secretly counted his blessings: *Thank goodness Master went into seclusion.*
Meanwhile, the shameless martial uncles at the table were eating and drinking with tremendous relish.
Feng Chutang picked up a piece of crispy fish with his chopsticks and praised, "This piece of fish is cooked superbly, showing true culinary mastery! I never expected Qingming to harbor such an exceptional chef. What a pity your master isn't here; otherwise, no matter what, she should have been given a taste of such fine flavor."
He truly had to bring up the one topic that shouldn't be touched. The moment Wei Yuan heard his master mentioned, he shuddered slightly. Right then, Consort Yuan's gaze drifted over, seeming both deliberate and casual.
Consort Yuan maintained an untroubled composure, sampling every dish. By contrast, Bao Yun only lifted her chopsticks once before setting them down, continuously twirling the crystal wine cup in her hands.
The fractured glints of light from the crystal cup fell upon the tabletop, mirroring the restlessness in her heart.
Consort Yuan glanced around the table, raised her cup first, and said to Bao Yun, "Little Sister Bao, I heard of you while far away in the palace of Jin, and today I finally meet you in person. How wonderful it is. The Bao family is at the height of its power, and you are a phoenix among mortals, destined for boundless prospects. Allow this elder sister to propose a toast to you!"
Bao Yun held her cup with both hands, offered a faint smile, and replied, "I hardly deserve to be called 'little sister.' You are a senior, so it is I who should toast you. It was only that I was somewhat dazed just now, never expecting that a peerless beauty meant to remain hidden in the inner palace could be seen here in Qingming. It is truly this junior's good fortune."
Wei Yuan let out a silent wail in his heart, choosing to remain utterly still and quiet, pretending to be dead.
The shameless martial uncles, on the other hand, had eyes sparkling with excitement, watching with rapt attention so as not to miss a single detail.
Consort Yuan smiled faintly, her radiant beauty seeming to brighten the banquet by several degrees. She took a dainty sip, letting the wine stain her lips a more vivid crimson, and said, "True enough. Calling myself your elder sister was indeed rather presumptuous. As for the palace, what kind of good place could it possibly be? Don't the great clans and eminent sects know that all too well?
"Living deep within the palace walls merely grants freedom from worrying over food and clothing, yet one doesn't even dare to sleep soundly at night. If real trouble arises, how could the royal house bear it or protect anyone? Across the court and the realm, there isn't a single soul to rely on.
"Had I any other choice, I wouldn't have fled tens of thousands of li to Qingming to seek refuge. Coming here this time, I have truly cast all shame aside."
Hearing these words, Bao Yun actually felt a pang of guilt, at a loss for words.
She was young after all. Faced with Consort Yuan's tactic of retreating to advance, neutralizing attacks while striking back, she was left with no angle to counter.
Feng Chutang coughed lightly and said, "The Zhao-Li clan's might surpasses even that of the Bao family by a fraction. Your Ladyship's pedigree is inferior to none."
Seeing Bao Yun at a disadvantage, Feng Chutang stepped in directly, subtly pointing out the formidable strength of Consort Yuan's background to expose her pitiful facade.
Consort Yuan sighed. "Small families have their blessings, while great clans have their tribulations. When one is entwined with sovereign power, that is all the truer. From childhood, I was competitive and worked diligently, never falling behind my brothers and sisters in scholarship or cultivation, all of which my royal father observed.
"With my royal father's ambitions, he would never wish to see a wise ruler ascend the throne of Jin, nor would he wish to see a child monarch take power. Thus, any royal favor I gained only made me a thorn in my father's side. As for the bonds of blood, what do they amount to before the supreme throne?
"I hear Master Feng is skilled in divination. Why don't you divine just how many of the assassins who infiltrated the palace were sent by my royal father?"
Faced with these words, even Feng Chutang found it hard to refute her. As for performing a divination, that was out of the question; for Consort Yuan to speak so boldly meant she was certain of her claims. Divining it openly at the banquet would truly shatter all decorum.
In a serious debate, Feng Chutang certainly would not lose. Yet this was not a life-and-death battlefield, only an effort to back up his disciple. Having failed to gain the upper hand with his opening remark, he could hardly pursue it further.
Without changing expression, Feng Chutang covertly kicked Perfected Chuhe under the table.
Perfected Chuhe snapped to attention and boomed, "Well spoken! Come, this calls for a grand toast!"
With that, Old Daoist Chuhe drained his cup in one gulp, offering not a single word after.
Feng Chutang then turned his gaze toward Xu Henshui. Xu Henshui nodded slightly, looked at Consort Yuan, and suddenly seemed slightly transfixed as he said, "Those earrings of yours are quite rare. They must be the work of a master craftsman! I wonder which great master could carve out the spiritual essence of that bird so vividly?"
Consort Yuan said, "Master Xu has keen eyes! This was bestowed by the Old Ancestor when I was young. It is said to have been crafted thirty-seven hundred years ago by Master Baoshi."
Xu Henshui's eyes lit up. "Master Baoshi's genuine works are seldom seen, mostly confined to calligraphy and paintings, with his carvings rarely surviving. I never imagined I would see one today."
Consort Yuan said, "Master Baoshi excelled in freehand spirit; in terms of mere carving technique, it is actually quite ordinary, yet that spiritual aura is something no one else could replicate..."
Just like that, the two began discussing jewelry and jade with great enthusiasm.
Feng Chutang was helpless. That left only Sun Yu and Yu Zhizhuo.
Yu Zhizhuo shook his head slightly, having no intention of intervening. He knew full well he was no match for Consort Yuan in words, and the same applied to Sun Yu.
Both men were doers rather than talkers. If asked to fight Consort Yuan with magical arts, they might not back down, but in a battle of sharp tongues and mocking barbs, even the two of them tied together would be no match for her.
Feng Chutang could only sigh internally, thinking that this was as much help as he could provide.
Composing herself, Bao Yun sighed and said, "Senior has traveled from afar and must be exhausted. Now that the wine has been tasted and the dishes sampled, we shall not disturb Senior's rest any further."
A sharp sense of alarm rose in Wei Yuan's heart. Was this the moment they expected him to take a stand?!
At this very instant, within the vast expanse of his Smoke and Fire of the Mortal World, there was absolute silence. Wei Yuan had long known that when push came to shove, not a single one of his 'sleeping dragons and fledgling phoenixes' could be relied upon. Though his thoughts raced like lightning, he was utterly devoid of solutions.
Consort Yuan spoke with unhurried grace, "Little Sister is still a bit too hasty..."
Before she could finish, Feng Tingyu finally cleaned off the food before her, looked up, and asked, "Sister, did you come from the palace?"
Consort Yuan thought to herself, *Did you not listen to a single word I said just now?* But Wei Yuan had introduced her earlier, so Consort Yuan knew Feng Tingyu was a body cultivator. The more brilliant a body cultivator was, the less one could expect them to use their head.
Consort Yuan replied, "Yes, I did." Her posture remained flawless, the upward curve of her lips precisely measured, showing not the slightest hint of impatience.
"You were attacked by assassins in the palace, couldn't fend them off, and fled here?"
Consort Yuan nodded, thinking that this girl's simplicity had its advantages—she had laid out many things without Consort Yuan needing to say them herself.
Feng Tingyu asked again, "Then will they hunt you down all the way here?"
"This place is not an impenetrable bastion of bronze and iron; I fear it won't be able to keep them outside the domain," Consort Yuan said tactfully.
Feng Tingyu immediately slammed the table. "Alright then, I'll sleep with you! With me around, so long as no one from the Scenery Command stage shows up, no assassin will be able to touch you. And even if a Scenery Command cultivator comes, I can still get you out safely. Besides, I fight even better when I'm asleep, so I'm not afraid of ambushes."
For the very first time, Consort Yuan's smile froze.
Feng Chutang nearly slapped the table in applause. Shortly thereafter, the night banquet drew to a close.
As they walked out of the courtyard, Feng Chutang could not resist saying to Feng Tingyu, "Pulling the firewood from under the cauldron—brilliant move!"
Feng Tingyu looked back with a face of utter bewilderment.
Chapter 663