Side Story Chapter 7: Spring Rain Banquet!
“Enter,” Li Taiyi said.
The figure of Gao Lishi quickly entered.
“Your Highness, in three days, His Majesty will hold the Spring Rain Banquet at the Palace of Qilin Virtue. Eunuch Li has sent over the invitation card. Your Highness, please inspect it.”
Gao Lishi bowed as he proffered a golden card with both hands.
After half a month of getting to know each other, Gao Lishi had finally relaxed. Knowing that the Third Prince was not as his reputation made him out to be, he was no longer as cautious and afraid in front of him.
Moreover, Gao Lishi was quick-witted, could read a room, and was a diligent worker, so he had quickly earned an important place at the Third Prince’s side.
“Mm, you may go now!” Li Taiyi said, waving his hand.
“Yes!”
Gao Lishi quickly withdrew.
Li Taiyi took the golden card and flipped it over. As he glanced at it, his face turned grim.
“The thirtieth day of the third month…”
The day listed on the card made Li Taiyi’s eyes twitch.
He had not thought about it too much before this, but when he saw the day, he suddenly recalled something.
The Palace of Qilin Virtue was used by the imperial household for banquets, from banquets of state to minor amusements, so it wasn’t strange for the Spring Rain Banquet to be held there. But the Spring Rain Banquet being held on the thirtieth day of the third month was very unusual.
In his last life, although all that remained of the Central Plains was that single dark city, Li Taiyi clearly recalled that incident that had first altered the fate of the Central Plains…
The Tang Emperor holding a banquet to discuss peace with the Turks!
This simple banquet had been the starting point of the fated war between the Great Tang and the Turks!
If he recalled correctly, in that banquet in the Palace of Qilin Virtue that was to take place three days from now, something would happen that would affect all of the Central Plains for the next several thousand years!
“In the twenty-second year of the Tang Emperor, the Spring Rain Banquet… It can’t be wrong!”
Li Taiyi stood up from his desk, his expression no longer as calm.
In his last life, the Spring Rain Banquet was just an ordinary feast. Rains brought sustenance to all grains, and the Spring Rain Banquet held annually was to pray for a good harvest in the autumn.
But in the twenty-second year of the Tang Emperor’s reign, the Turks abruptly expressed a desire to discuss peace at the Spring Rain Banquet.
For a time, the Spring Rain Banquet became a court session.
There was a major quarrel with regards to the peace talks.
Ultimately, the officials voted to accept the peace talks, and as an expression of sincerity, both sides decided to retreat one hundred li. An area was marked out on the border where the two countries could have friendly interactions.
On the first few days, the Turks treated the Tang emissaries with utmost sincerity, but on the day in which the treaty was to be signed, the Great General that the Great Tang had sent as an emissary walked into a Turkic trap and was shot to death by a hundred thousand arrows in a valley.
History called it ‘the thunderclap coup’!
“This is the source of everything! Since the heavens gave me this chance, I have to change this world! I have to bring splendor back to the Great Tang and the Central Plains!”
Li Taiyi’s brow furrowed as he clenched the golden card, his eyes flashing with determination.
……
Three days later, at the Palace of Qilin Virtue…
As a banquet hall, the Palace of Qilin Virtue was vast and grandiose. It consisted of several buildings of unequal height, all of it built in a splendid and gorgeous style. To the east was the Pavilion of Solemn Rites and to the west was the Pavilion of Bonding. Together, they encircled and protected the central Hall of Magnificence.
As the sky gradually darkened, outside the red-walled and golden-roofed buildings of the Palace of Qilin Virtue, spring thunder rumbled. Rain nurtured all things, and this was none other than a sign for the Spring Rain Banquet to begin.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”
Led by Gao Lishi, Li Taiyi appeared in front of the resplendent Palace of Qilin Virtue.
Amidst drizzling rain, a river of officials slowly made their way up the white jade stairs in a solemn procession.
Those partaking in the Spring Rain Banquet, whether they were the Tang Emperor, the officials, the maids, the eunuchs, or the guards, all had to be washed in the spring rain to show that they had received the rain god’s favor. Even the delicacies brought into the Palace of Qilin Virtue had to be baptized in the spring rain.
The imperial astronomers had specifically selected this day for the banquet. A heavy rain was certain to cause illness. Only this sort of misty drizzle was right and proper.
As night fell, the large red lanterns hanging from the eaves of the Palace of Qilin Virtue began to light up. In the hazy spring rain, the palace appeared like a fairyland.
“Let’s go in!”
Li Taiyi glanced it over and began to walk into the Palace of Qilin Virtue as the rain washed over him.
The banquet hall had been divided into two columns of exquisite sandalwood tables, with a small stool to each table. Every person had a table and a stool. Officials of rank three and above and vassal kings were seated in the inner hall, while the other officials were seated in the outer hall.
The banquet had already begun, and the mood was lively.
On a floor paved with white jade, the bright and glossy tiles reflected the images of the dancing women, who waved their long sleeves in time with the music.
Pleasant music played, and the calming scent of sandalwood filled the air. On the steps and around the hall were various incense burners cast in the shapes of tigers, cranes, or dragons. The sandalwood incense burning within them filled the hall with a fragrance that made the entire place feel like a fairyland, hazy smoke coiling in the air.
Besides the dancing and music in the main hall, one could also choose to amuse themselves with cuju or polo in the side halls, and the entire complex was as lively as could be.
“Paying respects to Imperial Father!”
Li Taiyi quickly crossed through the hall, stood before the throne, and respectfully bowed to the Tang Emperor, who was watching as his subjects amused themselves.
The Tang Emperor glanced at Li Taiyi and said, “Be seated!”
Although the Tang Emperor had a solemn and stern face, his tone was much more relaxed. It was clear that the case of serious corruption that had been revealed half a month ago had greatly improved his impression of Li Taiyi.
“Many thanks, Imperial Father!”
As Li Taiyi bowed again, a minor eunuch came up and led Li Taiyi to his seat, a small sandalwood table to the right of the Emperor.
But before Li Taiyi could move, he saw two familiar figures.
Second Prince Li Chengyi and Fourth Prince Li Longfan!
A meeting of enemies would engender deep fury. Li Chengyi and Li Longfan had been clinking cups and avidly chatting, but when they saw Li Taiyi, they fell silent, their faces chilling.
“Brother Xuan is here.”
“Hmph, my good little brother!”
Hostility was evident in their voices.
But they did not immediately break into open hostilities. In front of their Imperial Father, they still showed ‘brotherly love’.
“Second Brother, Fourth Brother.”
Rather than immediately sitting down, Li Taiyi first saluted his seated brothers, appearing very open-minded.
“Third Brother, congratulations. The winds are blowing in your favor, and Imperial Father greatly favors you to the extent that you even have a seat at the Spring Rain Banquet. Your older brother must look at you in a new light.”
“Heh, Third Brother, what is the need in being so polite? Both Second Brother and I seem to have misjudged you, not expecting you to be playing the pig to eat the tiger all this time, for you to be so shrewd. With Third Brother’s method, I am sure that it won’t be long until you get an even higher status in the palace. In the next meeting, Second Brother and I might be the ones who have to pay respects to you.”
“Fourth Brother, don’t speak nonsense!” Li Chengyi rebuked, putting down his wine cup. Though it sounded like a joke, there was no joy in his eyes, only a bone-chilling cold.
Li Taiyi slightly creased his brow at these barbed quips, but his expression quickly returned to normal.
“Heh, I wonder if Second Brother and Fourth Brother have heard a certain saying?”
Li Taiyi grinned.
Li Chengyi frowned and asked, “What?”
“‘Proper behavior is based on reciprocity, and when you toss a peach, you get back a plum.’ Your third brother is not an overbearing person, and I am filled with respect for my two brothers, but only when the older brother loves… can the younger brother show respect! What do my brothers have to say about this?”
Whoosh!
Li Taiyi’s words made Li Chengyi and Li Longfan pale.
Li Taiyi was clearly mocking them, and they had never imagined that he would be so bold as to do so right in front of their faces.
On the other end, the two of them were ashen-faced, but Li Taiyi casually smiled. Taking the wind out of their sails could be done in passing. He had more important things to do.
Li Taiyi turned around and sat down.
“Second Brother, listen! Just listen! There’s no saving this kid! He doesn’t even respect you any more!”
Li Longfan was so angry that smoke was coming out of his pores.
Li Chengyi’s face was dark as he sternly said, “Enough. I understand how to proceed.”
The banquet continued, and the various officials and emissaries continued to file in and take their seats. The atmosphere was lively and harmonious.
Li Taiyi said nothing. This was his first banquet since his transmigration, and he sat back and enjoyed the dancing and music while sipping on wine.
As time slowly passed, the Spring Rain Banquet within the Palace of Qilin Virtue entered its final phase.
Bong!
Bong!
Bong!
With the rhythmic beating of a drum, two muscular men in short sleeves, each carrying a red drum taller than they were, stepped through the main door of the Palace of Qilin Virtue. Atop each red drum was a short man who was using a drumstick to beat on the drum.
This was a custom of the Spring Rain Banquet: the Thunderclap Drums.
At the sound of thunder, the drums would bang in response so as to indicate that all was in synchrony with the heavens and earth, so that spirits would be invigorated and evils would be driven out.
“The spring thunder rumbles; all things thrive.
“The rain falls, dispelling evil.
“The sweet rain falls in abundance, and none can resist.”
As someone began to sing, the rain outside the Palace of Qilin Virtue came down harder and harder, and the rumbling of thunder grew louder and louder. As the beating of the drums picked up…
Kacrack!
A bolt of lightning flashed across the night sky, the light of the gods illuminating the world.
Bong! The drumsticks struck the center of their respective drums, and the ritual in the center of the Palace of Qilin Virtue, the Thunderclap Drums, formally came to a close.
At that moment, everyone still seemed to be immersed in the ritual and dance, and the entire hall was silent.
But this silence was soon broken.
“Hahaha, wonderful! Truly exquisite!
“This is a dance of the heavens! Only in the prosperous and thriving Great Tang would one be able to enjoy such a dance!”
Amidst the sound of clapping, a loud and deep voice speaking the Tang language in an awkward and stiff manner resounded through the hall.