荔枝影院

Chapter 1996: The Pavilion of Petal and Sepal!

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Wang Chong slightly trembled, but he quickly got ahold of himself and grunted, sitting up straight.

But Wang Chong failed to notice that Xu Qiqin was pensively staring at his face, a ripple in her eyes.

Xu Qiqin was able to sense that Wang Chong had far too many worries on his mind, far too many burdens on his shoulders. At times, she truly wished that Wang Chong could live like an ordinary person, that the two of them could be like ordinary people, participating in this wonderful holiday to watch the fireworks and appreciate the scenery. But Xu Qiqin knew that this was all impossible.

This empire needed Wang Chong too much. If he fell, the weight would be too much for the empire and its people. It was only because he was here that the people outside could enjoy the celebration without worries.

Although she was occasionally reluctant, when she thought about it, she realized that it was this sort of Wang Chong, the Wang Chong who placed the concerns of the realm above his own, that was the Wang Chong she adored.

As she thought about this, an enchanting smile slowly formed on her lips.

But she quickly shook out of her stupor and sat together with Wang Chong as the carriage drove toward the palace gates.

The carriage took them all the way up to the golden palace walls.

“Your Highness!”

The guards immediately recognized Wang Chong’s carriage and bowed their heads.

There was no one in the Imperial Army who did not know Wang Chong.

All of the foreign emissaries and major officials taking part in tonight’s feast could only ride their carriages up to here. Wang Chong took Xu Qiqin’s hand, pushed open the carriage door, and walked out.

Two men had been waiting for some time outside.

“Wang Chong, you’re finally here!”

King Song and Zhangchou Jianqiong, one dressed in imperial robes and the other in the robes of the Minister of War, stood side by side like two mountains. The moment Wang Chong came out, the two of them noticed the fairy-like Xu Qiqin at his side and teased, “So Lady Xu was with you! No wonder you kept us waiting!”

Wang Chong smiled and quickly said, “I’ve kept Milords waiting. Is everything ready?”

“Mm!”

The two turned stern as the conversation turned to more serious matters.

“Although I don’t know what big thing you’re planning tonight, Lord Zhangchou and I will do everything we can to assist you. The experts of my estate have already been scattered around and are waiting for my order.”

“No matter what you plan on doing, just like King Song, I give you my full support, and I don’t need an explanation from you on this night. I’ve already given my orders to the Bureau of Military Personnel. All the soldiers under its command are at your beck and call, including the soldiers that were on parade a few days ago,” Zhangchou Jianqiong said.

With the fall of King Qi, Zhangchou Jianqiong ruled the Bureau of Military Personnel without opposition. When he gave the word, all of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers under the command of this office were Wang Chong’s to mobilize.

It was a simply unimaginable level of authority.

Wang Chong nodded and sternly said, “Many thanks!”

Wang Chong had not given any details on what he planned to do tonight, but King Song and Zhangchou Jianqiong had not even asked.

On the night of the feast of all countries, the movement of any soldiers could easily attract attention and accusations of rebellion.

But these two were confident that Wang Chong would never have this problem.

Bong!

As they conversed, a crisp bell rang out from the Imperial Palace. All of them stopped and turned.

“This is the second bell. The feast has already begun. Let’s go in,” King Song said.

For tonight’s feast, the bell would ring thrice. All of the officials taking part had to enter the palace for the feast before the third strike of the bell. Afterwards, the gates would close to newcomers, only allowing people to leave.

Wang Chong nodded, and the four of them went through the gates.

Past the gates, rows of eunuchs were respectfully waiting in welcome. Several of the older eunuchs became nervous upon seeing Wang Chong’s group and rebuked the minor eunuchs into standing aside. They bowed and swiftly came up to welcome him.

“Your Highnesses, Milord, Milady, please come this way. We lowly slaves have your seats ready!”

With four graying eunuchs leading the way, Wang Chong’s group headed toward the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal.

The Pavilion of Petal and Sepal, the number one pavilion of the Great Tang!

The name was taken from a line in the Classic of Poetry: ‘Do not the petals and sepals of the cherry tree shine splendidly together?’ It was the place used by the Great Tang for large-scale celebrations.

(TN: In the ‘Classic of Poetry’, the line is followed by ‘Of all the people in the world, none are equal to brothers’. The stanza compares the relationship of the petal and sepal to that of brothers, each exemplifying the brilliance of the other. The pavilion was built by Emperor Xuanzong for the sake of his brothers, hence the name.)

Though it was called a pavilion, it was actually a palace, and the building in the Great Tang Imperial Palace that could hold the greatest number of people.

In the seventh year of the Sage Emperor’s reign, the Tang army subjugated the kingdoms of the Western Regions. Moreover, it defeated Ü-Tsang, the Eastern and Western Turks, Mengshe Zhao, and Goguryeo. The Tang military reached unprecedented heights of power.

At the same time, the weather was fair, the people prospered, and trade flourished. With the entire empire growing wealthy, the capital reached one million inhabitants for the very first time.

At that time, the Sage Emperor held a grand celebration at the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal for the very first time. All the officials and foreign emissaries attended, participating in a most grandiose affair.

Because the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal was large and grandiose, and was located in the southwest corner of the Imperial Palace, adjacent to homes of the common folk, one could see the entire capital from the balconies of the pavilion. And outside the palace walls, the common folk could also see the grand celebration within the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal, see the Sage Emperor and the officials of the court, and soak in the festive mood.

The feast of the time caused such a sensation in the capital that it was famously said, ‘the birthday of the empire is in the eighth month, and all peoples and countries come to court to pay respects’.

Wang Chong knew that ‘Third Son Xuan’ had held this feast at the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal and called it the ‘feast of all countries’ precisely so that he could surpass the Sage Emperor’s celebration feast.

Wang Chong’s group followed the eunuchs, and they soon arrived at the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal.

From a distance, the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal appeared like a great Peng with its wings unfurled, the soaring eaves exuding a majestic aura.

Everyone who came here would feel an immense pressure, as if this great Peng soaring through the skies was headed straight for them.

Wang Chong saw that the ‘Sage Emperor’ had yet to arrive, but the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal was already soaked in a lively and intoxicated mood.

The floor of white jade was as glossy as a mirror, reflecting the dancing girls whose long sleeves floated and fluttered to the music of the palace musicians.

Chimes and bells rang out as court officials mingled with foreign emissaries, the faint smell of alcohol hanging in the air.

A little farther off, near the steps and around the pavilion, incense burners in the shapes of tigers, cranes, and turtles burned with sandalwood, filling the air of the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal with their refreshing scent.

And unlike other halls, the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal had a small pool inside its main hall, the green lotuses floating on its surface conferring an air of lush serenity.

As Wang Chong looked around, a booming voice resounded through the pavilion.

“King Song has arrived!

“Minister of War Zhangchou Jianqiong has arrived!

“King of Foreign Lands, Nine Provinces Protector-General, and Empire Guardian Great General Wang Chong has arrived!”

The mentions of King Song and Zhangchou Jianqiong caused only a small stir within the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal, but the news of Wang Chong’s arrival instantly cast a silence across the chattering crowd. Everyone put down their cups and chopsticks and turned toward the steps. Those imposing figures and that youthful figure standing between them were as dazzling as the sun or moon.

King of Foreign Lands!

Nine Provinces Protector-General!

Empire Guardian Great General!!

There was not one foreign country that did not know these titles, and all of these titles belonged to a single youth.

Wang Chong!

Everyone began to stand up, and all the foreign emissaries had expressions of awe and respect as they looked at Wang Chong.

This was the War God of the Great Tang, and purely through the feat of vanquishing the Arabian Empire, he had left a dazzling mark on history and earned the fear and reverence of all other countries.

“Let’s go!” Wang Chong casually said. The four of them walked up the steps into the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal.

“Hahaha, King of Foreign Lands, King Song, Lord Zhangchou, you’re finally here.”

As they made their way up the steps, loud laughter broke out, and a figure parted the crowd and swiftly strode over to Wang Chong’s group.

This was a man wearing the violet robe of a rank-one official, a golden fish pouch and a hooked jade belt on his waist, and a black scarf hat on his head. His every movement exuded a majesty that stood above all the other officials. It was none other than the Prime Minister of the Great Tang, Li Linfu.

As the Sage Emperor’s close aide, the Prime Minister held power over the government and had a status far above any other official.

As this feast of all countries was the grandest celebration in the Great Tang, this renowned minister of the Great Tang could not be left out.

To be personally welcomed by the Great Tang’s current Prime Minister was a great honor, but when Wang Chong saw him, his eyes twitched and his brow slightly creased.

“Heh, you’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting for ages. The feast of all countries cannot go on without all of you. The Pavilion of Petal and Sepal is dark and gloomy without your presence.”

Li Linfu was beaming, his entire person exuding warmth and enthusiasm.

But Wang Chong, King Song, and Zhangchou Jianqiong were all extremely cold and calm, a faint sense of suspicion coming off their bodies.

Wang Chong was one thing, as he had long ago known of Li Linfu’s true nature and would not be fooled. As for King Song and Zhangchou Jianqiong, while they had initially been dazzled by his reputation, one incident after another had slowly made them understand that this man was not as warm-hearted and compassionate as he seemed.