The Duke of Qian stated, "That is the Third Prince."
Xie Jiang gazed at the two seats below the main one on the elevated platform and remarked meaningfully, "The seating arrangement today carries quite a bit of significance."
Yi Yan Geng was already the quasi-Regent, and the imperial decree for his enfeoffment was expected at any moment. Who else but a mere third prince could possibly be seated as an equal to the Regent?
No matter how much trust the Emperor showed Yi Yan Geng, he would never allow Yi Yan Geng to monopolize power. The art of checks and balances was a mandatory lesson for every emperor, and the seating plan for this evening's banquet was sending a clear signal. The wish of the old ministers in court, that a Crown Prince be established soon, would likely be fulfilled shortly.
The Duke of Qian glanced at Xie Jiang and remained silent, turning back to drink with the old Duke of Qin beside him. The old Duke of Qin, smelling the wine, did not wish to engage with him.
Before the second song and dance had concluded, the Emperor finally deigned to appear. Before his figure was even visible, the eunuch's sharp voice pierced the air, reminding everyone to kneel and pay homage. The song and dance paused, and everyone present bowed their heads, shouting, "Long live the Emperor!"
His Majesty ascended the high platform, surveying the multitude below. After instructing everyone to rise and be seated, His Majesty delivered a rather impressive speech, igniting a fervor in the hearts of the listeners. It was as if the Great Yu Dynasty had truly entered an era of prosperity, what with the tens of thousands of mountain dwellers from the Baiyou region submitting to the court, and the Xie family from overseas bringing the sincere allegiance of the four southern continents. These were achievements that even the late Emperor had not accomplished in his lifetime.
Some ministers, as they listened, could not help but shed tears of joy. How could they not be moved? This golden age was created by His Majesty, leading them with his own hands! They would surely be remembered in the annals of history!
Xie Jiang listened to a few sentences with disinterest before subtly reaching to clean his ear. This Emperor, in his cultivation of immortality, had clearly cultivated his thick skin. While it sounded like praise for the Xie family at first glance, upon closer reflection, it was clear he was praising himself. Though he might not possess the formidable military achievements of the late Emperor, in terms of civil administration, martial prowess, and virtue that commanded respect across the land, he was not entirely incomparable to the late Emperor. If not for his benevolent influence spreading throughout the realm, how could there be such loyalty from all corners of the world today? Did hiding in Yuan You Palace and consuming incense ashes daily now count as a great accomplishment?
It wasn't just Xie Jiang who couldn't bear to listen; Su Yang, sitting behind Xie Jiang, almost vomited. Merely incorporating the four southern continents into the territory of Great Yu, did this Emperor truly believe they had handed them over willingly? What was he thinking?
As Su Yang scoffed inwardly, the resounding cheers of "Long live the Emperor!" echoed through the hall. His young master had already prostrated himself, so he had no choice but to kneel as well. The cheers this time were even louder than when His Majesty first appeared, some voices trembling. The civil and military officials were like men injected with chicken blood.
After the speech, the Emperor waved his hand, signaling for the banquet to continue. The sounds of music and dance gradually resumed, and the dancers, who had been prostrate on the ground, finally rose and began to dance again to the music. The banquet in the palace tonight was to welcome the Lan Yong envoy delegation, and they were undoubtedly the stars of the evening. And the star among the Lan Yong delegation was undoubtedly Xie Tai Hong, to whom the Emperor personally bestowed three cups of imperial wine.
Hong Wei, the Emperor's head eunuch, personally delivered the wine cups. Xie Tai Hong appeared deeply grateful throughout the proceedings, drinking the three cups of imperial wine one after another. Having served as the head of the Xie family for over a decade, Xie Tai Hong was exceptionally skilled in social interactions. Coupled with his impeccable acting, he played along with the Emperor's sentiments, and in the end, the Emperor retired with satisfaction.
As soon as the Emperor departed, the tense and solemn atmosphere of the banquet immediately relaxed. The wine and dishes served earlier had long since cooled. Palace maids cleared away the cups and plates, and then entered in a procession with new dishes and wine. Xie Jiang glanced at the newly served dishes on his table and lost his appetite. In contrast, the old Duke of Qin and the Duke of Qian beside him were feasting heartily and praising the food. Xie Jiang silently passed his sashimi and meat slices to them.
"You're not eating?"
"I don't care for it."
The Duke of Qian glanced at Xie Jiang's side and noticed that not only Xie Tai Hong but also He Zhi Fei and Su Yang had not touched their chopsticks.
"You people from Lan Yong don't eat sashimi?"
"I don't care for it. They don't eat freshwater sashimi, but they eat seafood just fine."
The Duke of Qian looked at the thin, translucent slices of fish laid on shaved ice, so delicate they seemed like cicada wings, and wondered why freshwater fish were inferior to seafood. Xie Jiang stared intently at the dancing women. The Duke of Qian followed Xie Jiang's gaze to the stage and realized Xie Jiang was fixated on their fair, slender waists. He then looked back at his clever and well-behaved granddaughter sitting behind him and immediately abandoned the idea of Xie Jiang becoming his grandson-in-law.
After enjoying a dance with a distinct exotic flair, Xie Jiang noticed that many people had already left their seats. The palace banquet was also an excellent opportunity for networking, and Xie Tai Hong was surrounded by fawning individuals. Xie Jiang casually picked up a pastry, intending to leave and mingle as well, and then coincidentally encountered the Song siblings. However, before she could even stand up, a sudden incident occurred at the banquet.
It was unclear what had happened, but someone seemed to have suddenly collapsed not far from them, causing a wave of gasps from those nearby. The Duke of Qian put down his chopsticks and hurried over. After a moment, he called out to Xie Jiang, "Young Xie, hurry over and take a look!"
Palace maids had already rushed off to summon imperial physicians, but it would take time for them to arrive from the Imperial Medical Academy. The Duke of Qian remembered Xie Jiang's medical skills. Although Xie Jiang was not a poison doctor, since she could cure Madam Xu, she must possess some abilities. The patient's condition was critical, and saving a life was like fighting a fire. Xie Jiang had no choice but to set aside her intention to wander and, putting down the pastry in her hand, walked towards the gathering crowd.
Everyone present had heard of Xie Jiang's reputation as a poison doctor to some extent. Only a few, like the Duke of Qian, knew she was an imposter, and they hadn't yet had the chance to spread the word about her deception. Seeing Xie Jiang approach, the onlookers parted, making way for her.
"Marquis of Nanhai, please quickly examine Minister Hou. We don't know if he ate something wrong. Minister Hou looks to be in great pain..."
The Duke of Qian waved his hand, "Everyone spread out a bit, don't crowd around." The onlookers moved further away.
Yi Yan Geng and the Third Prince, Xia Rong Yu, who were seated on the high platform, also came over. After all, the person who had fallen ill was Hou Chun, the Minister of Personnel. Hou Chun lay on the ground, clutching his abdomen tightly, his face ashen and covered in a cold sweat, clearly in unbearable pain. The female relatives and younger generation of the Hou family were desperately trying to figure out what to do.
Xie Jiang stepped forward and crouched beside Hou Chun, taking his pulse and examining him while asking Madam Hou about Hou Chun's various conditions. Before Madam Hou could finish a complete sentence, Hou Chun, lying on the ground, began to vomit uncontrollably. The Hou family members were terrified. Madam Hou said frantically, "Marquis of Nanhai, please save my husband! What has happened to my husband?"
Xie Jiang performed some actions to stabilize Hou Chun's condition. After understanding Hou Chun's usual health, lifestyle, and eating habits, Xie Jiang had also found the reason for Hou Chun's unbearable abdominal pain. Before Xie Jiang could explain her diagnosis, two imperial physicians arrived in a hurry. Yi Yan Geng pulled Xie Jiang up from the ground and instructed the two imperial physicians to come forward and examine Hou Chun.