Chapter 52: Make a Move in Advance
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The moment those words were spoken, the entire hall fell deathly silent.
Every eye turned toward Prince Jing, Ning Xuanwu.
The air was suddenly thick with tension.
The Empress Dowager frowned, her expression darkening as she glared at Prince Jing like a falcon fixed upon its prey. Yet her voice remained eerily calm. “Prince Jing, mind where you are. Do not speak so recklessly again!”
Prince Jing did not yield in the slightest. He rose to his feet and glared back at her. “Speak recklessly?”
“Forgive me, but this mouth of mine truly cannot be restrained!”
With that, he lifted the wine jug and drained a mouthful. Then he smashed it forcefully onto the floor and swept his gaze across the assembly.
“Great Jin’s armies are already at our gates, yet instead of considering how to resist the enemy, you intend to travel north and sue for peace, bowing your heads and submitting to Great Jin! And in such circumstances, you still have the leisure to sit here and admire song and dance!”
“I would like to ask—what exactly is the purpose of this Lotus-Watching Gathering?”
Ning Chen frowned. He had not expected Prince Jing to launch into such a direct attack, much less steer the subject toward the war at the frontier.
A fresh doubt arose in his heart. Was Prince Jing behaving so arrogantly simply because he was reckless—or did he have another motive?
Regardless, if he continued making a scene, Ning Chen’s own plans could easily be thrown into disarray.
While Ning Chen considered how to respond to this sudden turn of events, the Empress Dowager spoke with a dark expression. Though the corner of her mouth was twitching, her tone remained composed.
“Prince Jing, what exactly are you trying to say?”
Prince Jing gave a cold snort and glanced around the hall. “Everyone, we are all princes of Great Ning. The blood of our royal father runs through our veins. How can we accept such a humiliating act as bowing to Great Jin and becoming its subjects? How could we face our royal father, or our ancestors…”
Ning Chen raised his brows.
Prince Jing, Prince Jing… Are you trying to use a gathering like this to stir up the other vassal princes?
Your true target is probably the Empress Dowager…
Sure enough.
Before Prince Jing had even finished speaking, Prince Ning rose to voice his support.
“Exactly!”
“Everyone, Shanhai Pass has already fallen, and Great Jin has massacred the people of Beiguang City. As members of the imperial bloodline, we ought to stand forth at this moment and unite against Great Jin…”
Ning Chen frowned slightly.
It seemed Prince Ning was already allied with Prince Jing. Most likely, they had contacted the other vassal princes long ago.
If they disrupted this banquet today, would his own plan not be ruined completely?
At that moment, the Empress Dowager suddenly laughed, and the gloom that had covered her face vanished in an instant. Her voice became gentle.
“Prince Jing and Prince Ning have spoken well. They are truly worthy scions of Great Ning’s imperial house!”
“To be honest, I do not wish to travel north and sue for peace either. That is precisely why I invited everyone here—to discuss this matter together…”
She had barely begun when Prince Jing interrupted her.
“We have already sent the Grand Chancellor to negotiate peace. What is there left to discuss?”
The Empress Dowager smiled instead of growing angry. “Negotiations are merely a temporary expedient. Whether we fight or make peace will still depend upon the support of all the princes, will it not?”
“You have all traveled far today. Rest and enjoy yourselves for now. Tomorrow, I shall summon you and the assembled ministers to deliberate on this matter together.”
At those words, Ning Chen froze. A sense of conspiracy instantly made him uneasy.
Seeing that the Empress Dowager had spoken so plainly, Prince Jing and Prince Ning seemed unable to press the matter further. Moreover, Prince Huai and several others stepped forward to smooth things over and defuse the tension. The two princes had no choice but to sit down obediently and await the political deliberations on the following day.
At last, the banquet began without further incident.
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Ning Chen breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever scheme the Empress Dowager might be harboring, it clearly involved the vassal princes and, for the moment, had nothing to do with him.
His own plan could finally proceed smoothly.
Ning Chen ordered the attendants to pour wine for everyone present.
“Everyone, this fine wine was carefully selected from among the common people especially to welcome you all. I invite you to taste it.”
Prince Jing still seemed displeased by the Empress Dowager’s manner of overcoming force with gentleness. Once again, he turned his attention toward Ning Chen, apparently intending to vent his pent-up anger upon him.
He lifted his cup and brought it disdainfully to his lips. As he drank, he loudly lectured Ning Chen.
“Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven of Great Ning, you ought to devote yourself to learning how to become a wise ruler. Instead, you spend your time thinking about fine wine and beautiful women…”
He suddenly stopped.
His eyes widened as he stared at the cup in his hand. He had completely forgotten to continue reprimanding Ning Chen.
“This wine…”
He promptly poured himself another cup and downed it in one swallow. Closing his eyes, he seemed to savor every nuance.
“Excellent wine. Excellent wine…”
“I never imagined that such wonderful wine could exist in this world…”
Everyone else was stunned by his reaction. Then, one after another, they lifted their cups and began to drink.
At that moment, Prince Yong, Ning Xuanzhi, rose to his feet. His face alight with excitement, he looked toward Ning Chen.
“Such wine belongs in heaven above; how rarely can it be tasted in the mortal world. Magnificent wine—truly magnificent wine…”
After tasting it, the others likewise began praising it enthusiastically.
Prince Jing had already emptied three cups. Wiping his mouth, he asked loudly, “What is this wine called?”
“Where did it come from?”
Ning Chen was just about to answer when Prince Yong, Ning Xuanzhi, laughed.
“Brother Jing, what has happened to you?”
“Did you not just say that His Majesty should not waste his thoughts on fine wine?”
The remark sent laughter through the hall.
Embarrassed, Prince Jing snapped angrily, “What nonsense are you spouting? He is still young, so naturally he should not waste his thoughts on fine wine. But I am an old man now—what is wrong with enjoying a good drink?”
“Speak. What is this wine called, and where did it come from?”
Ning Chen smiled and replied respectfully, “Uncle, I happened upon this wine among the common people. The merchant had not yet given it a name.”
He then turned toward Prince Yong.
“Uncle Yong, you are a connoisseur, and a renowned scholar throughout the realm. Why not give this wine a name?”
“Him? Forget it,” Prince Jing said with a disdainful laugh. “His meager talent is only good for putting on a show…”
Prince Yong immediately took offense.
“Brother, I may not be skilled at leading troops into battle, but who says I cannot judge wine or give it a name? Just wait and see.”
He paced two steps, then suddenly raised his brows. Excitedly waving his fan, he gazed at the wine in his cup. After draining it in one swallow, he murmured:
“I yearn to ride the wind in drunkenness, soaring straight up ninety thousand miles…”
“Jade Nectar!”
“That is it. Wine from a celestial realm ninety thousand miles above—what else could it be but Jade Nectar?”
“Perhaps it should be called Jade Nectar…”
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His words drew waves of praise from the assembly.
Ning Chen was especially pleased. The name itself was not important to him. What mattered was that the wine had appeared at an occasion such as this, and that the celebrated Carefree Prince, Ning Xuanzhi, had named it for him.
He believed that the name Jade Nectar would soon spread throughout Great Ning—and perhaps throughout the entire realm.
A moment later, the song “Red Oath” began to play. Dancers swept gracefully across the floor, their bodies swaying as their melodious voices filled the hall.
No one could tear their eyes away.
Even Prince Jing, who had come from the military and had always scorned song and dance, was completely immersed in the graceful, enchanting performance.
It seemed he had entirely forgotten the scene charged with hostility that had marked the beginning of the banquet.
Prince Yong was even more intoxicated by the spectacle. Holding his wine cup, he stumbled over to Ning Chen and said with a mysterious smile, “Dear nephew, how did you know that your Uncle Yong has a particular fondness for this sort of thing?”
“Tell me, where did you find these dancers?”
“This music, this dance, and this fine wine—coming here was worth it. It was truly worth it…”
“Quickly, quickly! Tell your uncle where you found them. And who composed the lyrics and music?”
“I must pay them a personal visit…”
Ning Chen smiled, matching his air of secrecy.
“Uncle, did you not want me to take you to the House of Wondrous Music?”
“The House of Wondrous Music?”
Prince Yong, Ning Xuanzhi, seemed to sober at once.
“Nephew, do you mean that they are from the House of Wondrous Music?”
“No wonder, no wonder! I heard that they had closed their doors a few days ago. So you were the one who invited them into the palace. Brilliant—truly brilliant…”
Ning Chen seemed to remember something. Raising his brows, he said, “Uncle, they will be returning tonight.”
“Oh?” Prince Yong instantly grew excited. “Then if I go there tonight, does that mean I shall have the entire place to myself?”
Ning Chen shrugged without answering. Suddenly clutching his stomach, he said, “Uncle, forgive me. I have to…”
Prince Yong tapped him on the head with his fan.
“Your little body is still too small to hold much. Go on, go on…”
Ning Chen hurriedly left the hall, clutching his stomach. Little Anzi had already been waiting nearby.
The moment Ning Chen reached him, his expression changed completely. In a low voice, he said, “We move tonight. Rescue Fan Dayou.”
Little Anzi was startled. “Tonight?”
“Your Majesty, did you not say we should wait until the banquet was nearly over before taking action?”
Ning Chen frowned.
“The Empress Dowager may strike ahead of schedule. If we wait any longer, it will be too late…”