Feng Xiao was undoubtedly a skilled and reliable partner, but at the same time he was also a very draining rival.
Although both of them have been through life and death, that was in a scenario where both of them were on the same boat; they either succeed or fail together. Now that they're back in the capital, with all their threats annihilated, their relationship returned to the way it was before.
The Emperor and Empress were a loving couple, but competition also existed among themselves. The Jiejian Bureau and the Zuoyue Bureau depended on benefits, so the idea of them treating each other as if loving comrades was even more impossible. Just like how Feng Xiao held a great degree of interest in Cui Buqu, and Cui Buqu was also often unable to determine what Feng Xiao was thinking.
Both of them behaved like friends and they behaved like enemies, yet in truth they were neither. They often tested one another, then realized that their bottom lines go beyond their imagination, so they took a step forward, and continued testing. Especially for Feng Xiao, who was incredibly engaged in these games, he could play with them all day and never get tired.
In fact, the Zuoyue Bureau's location was a secret and no one knew where they were located. If Feng Xiao really did gather a bunch of homeless people to crash the gate outside the Zuoyue Bureau, it really could give rise to some trouble.
Feng Xiao smiled as he fluttered this fan, enjoying the sight of Cui Buqu in a headache, so he edged closer to him and said in a low voice, "You never attend these banquets. Even when Prince Jin invited you, you refused, so there's no need to say about Yuwen Xuanzhu's birthday party. Be honest with me. Why did you come? Are you brewing some sort of bad intentions?"
Cui Buqu laughed coldly, "Even if my bad ideas are endless, when compared to skin like your that is even thicker than the Great Wall of China, I am just a clown!"
Feng Xiao reached out to hold his shoulder, preventing the other from struggling as he ignored him with a 'friendly and brotherly' look, and said affectionately, "Look at you. Ever since the outskirts, we have wallowed in the same distress, lived in the same haunted inn and have been through life and death that practically ended up with both of us dead. We are arguably kindred spirits; how can you keep such a small matter away from me?"
Cui Buqu only felt that there was a fly buzzing around endlessly in his ear. He scrunched his eyebrows, glaring at Feng Xiao and recited in his heart: This person really does have the best face, the only thing not beautiful about him is that he can talk. If there is a day when I can sew his lips shut and only admire his face, then it would be perfect.
"I came to arrest someone." His face was plain, but it was enough that he gave away a little bit of information.
Cui Buqu's elbow was on top of the table, his knees were in front of it, his body slightly bent. Half of his face bathed in the light, and the other half in the shadow. Under the veil of darkness, it would only make him look gentle, but once he said these words, that gentleness morphed into a strong killing intent.
Feng Xiao did not know what those two women were thinking of before, but it was as if his mind was in sync with the other, he automatically understood the entire meaning of his words.
"Arrest who?" Feng Xiao asked.
Cui Buqu glared at him, "The Zuoyue Bureau and the Jiejian Bureau both have their own duties. They have never interfered in each other's business. Commander Feng is asking too much."
Feng Xiao snorted, "When I am of use to you, you couldn't help but hug me all over. When I am useless, you burn the bridge, pretending you didn't know me at all. Such a cold and ungrateful person you are! I fear every person in the world would run away the moment they see you!"
Yan Yun had just mustered her courage to bring Gao Yin over to greet Feng Xiao, but accidentally heard those words instead, she couldn't help but be shocked.
Gao Yin coughed, "Good day, both lords."
Cui Buqu nodded.
Feng Xiao wriggled his eyebrows and said nothing.
He has seen many women who would leap into his arms on their own will. Prior to this, no matter where he goes, there would be a lot of women who offered themselves willingly. Had it not been for the fact that Feng Xiao's qinggong was extraordinary and they couldn't manage to chase him, it might have created a scene where all the women threw fruits to the man they admired.
Even in banquets such as this, Feng Xiao also often encountered scenarios where young women came up to him to ask after himself. Once or twice this yielded a fresh feeling, but after countless times of the same event, he was long numb to it.
He was waiting for those two to say what he expected them to say, but the other didn't continue, so Feng Xiao knocked on the table with his fan.
"I am catching up on old times with an old familiar, do both of you have business with us?"
Yan Yun was pushed aside by Gao Yin, who walked two steps forward shyly and told Cui Buqu, "Lord Cui, can I have a private moment of your time?"
Feng Xiao felt a little bit surprised, then he smiled, "In such a beautiful scenery where all the skilled and talented meet, Brother Cui, there is no reason for you to not go?"
With the lady's eyes blinking and shining, and Feng Xiao encouraging on the side, Cui Buqu still remained unmoved, only said plainly, "I apologize."
Yan Yun: "…"
With just two simple words, he grounded a young lady's heart into dust.
Yunwen Xuanzhu, who saw this behind them, could not stop herself from stepping forward to speak for both of them, yet her footsteps stopped when Cui Buqu raised his gaze.
When their gazes met, the look in Cui Buqu's eyes was even colder than the night's breeze.
Suddenly he smiled at Yuwen Eying, and raised the peeled mandarin in his hand.
"Xuanzhu, have some mandarin?"
Yuwen Xuanzhu did not respond, she even took a step back.
Feng Xiao could sense something was unusual.
Yuwen Eying should not know who Cui Buqu was, and both of them have not shown anything that proved they knew each other before. Although Cui Buqu was cruel and cold, there was no reason for him to do anything to a little lady, since, Yuwen Eying's identity was not related to Cui Buqu in anyway.
However, the way she behaved really made him curious.
Just now, Prince Jin tried all he can to get close to Cui Buqu, as if there was a different story cooking in the background.
Feng Xiao was completely interested.
He felt that Cui Buqu was like a massive maze, even after layers and layers have been peeled, there were even more secrets underneath him.
Before he can analyse it further, Princess Lanling's maidservant came, and when she saw Feng Xiao, her eyes sparkled as she ran towards him.
"Lord Feng! The Princess of my house invites you!"
Feng Xiao smiled, "I apologize. I am joyously catching up with my old familiar, I fear I do not have the time to go over."
It was outrageous that the imperial Princess, Princess Lanling, a daughter of the proud heavens with the grace of an orchid, could not even move a man from his place.
This year, the capital had really changed. Gentlemen had somehow bore hearts of steel?
Yan Yun felt startled, looking at Feng Xiao in shock as he rejected a princess's invitation right then and there.
Had it been someone else who did such things, the maidservant would have already been furious, but when presented before Feng Xiao's face, she was only vaguely furious, "Lord Feng, my mistress is unwell. Why don't you just pay her a visit?"
"Then you can tell your princess to—" Feng Xiao thought for a while, "Drink more warm water, and take care of herself."
The maidservant: …"
She glared at him for a while, before turning around to leave.
Yuwen Eying couldn't help saying, "Commander Feng! My fifth aunt was neither proud nor stuck-up as a daughter of the Emperor, she is kind and gentle. With your rank in court now, if you can get married to a princess, this is your glory!"
Feng Xiao did not wish to argue with a young lady, so when he saw the mandarin Cui Buqu has peeled on the table, he made himself at home. He took it, divided it in half and put one half into his mouth.
Cui Buqu furrowed his brows. He took back the remaining half and gave it to Yuwen Xuanzhu.
"Xuanzhu, you want some mandarin? It's sweet."
Yunwen Xuanzhu looked at the mandarin in Cui Buqu's hand and forced a smile, "There is no need."
Then she turned around and left.
Gao Yin and Yan Yun exchanged glances. They only felt strange and awkward before they also left.
Feng Xiao, "Look, another one. Prince Jin tried to please you, but that could be interpreted with him attempting to garner talents, or trying to pull the Zuoyue Bureau to his side. But for Yuwen Xuanzhu? The way she behaves with you was thirty percent wariness, thirty percent enmity, and forty percent fear. Why?"
Cui Buqu, "Guess."
Feng Xiao smiles, "I am guessing…that you are Princess Leping's lover?"
Cui Buqu gave him a look that said 'Are you stupid?', "If I am the lover of Princess Leping, then what for do I need to defy the Linlang Guild. Shouldn't I be able to deal with it with just an order?"
Feng Xiao closed his fan and clapped his hand one, "Right, then are you Empress Dugu's lover?"
Cui Buqu lost his patience, "Why don't you just say that I have an affair with the Emperor?"
Feng Xiao gave a look of seriousness, "That's impossible. If the Emperor is interested in men, rumours would be everywhere."
Cui Buqu took the mandarin and spilt it apart, before playing with them on the table, unaware that he himself was following along Feng Xiao's nonsense, "Perhaps I might even be a bastard of the Emperor, who knows?"
Feng Xiao laughed, "Haha! With Empress Dugu's techniques, before you are grown up, you would have already reincarnated!"
As both of them spoke nonsense, all the guests have arrived as they all squeezed in the same hall. Princess Leping, along with the Crown Prince, Prince Jin, Prince Qin, Princess Lanling, and all their brothers and sisters came to be seated themselves.
Because of the birthday of their niece, every single child of the Emperor and Empress have arrived. This was truly giving pride to the Emperor.
Perhaps this might also be because Princess Leping herself went to invite them personally, to give her own daughter some sense of pride.
She treated her daughter like pearls, even if her daughter's identity was awkward, she did her best to gather all the pride for her. Such are the hearts of parents.
Many royalties tend to use this chance to look for a suitor for their sons and daughters. Even young men and women also gathered together, or sat next to each other. They chatted, discussed about their interests to find each other compatible, and exchanged cups.
The music of the lute travelled across the air. The ballet did not take place in a fixed location. Their bodies were adorned with ribbons, and they danced from here to there, in the air in a carefree manner, slow and graceful like goddesses, adding a touch to the crowd in the hall.
Many people confessed in their hearts that Princess Leping really did her best for her daughter's birthday. After today, no one could ever hold another banquet as grand as a Thousand Lantern Banquet.
Among them, a few people also wanted to use the chance to prove themselves in front of the Crown Prince and the rest, so they suggested a game of riddles. Even Yuwen Xuanzhu came to join the crowd. She pulled out her jade hairpin and said that if the winner is female then she will be rewarded that jade hairpin as a gift, and if they are a male, then he will be rewarded with a sword from the treasury of her own house.
The Crown Prince smiled, "So be it. Let me be the first one to give a riddle."
As everyone listened, naturally, the atmosphere brightened. They brushed their hands together, prepared to take the riddle.
Yet at this moment, there was an accursed fool who dared ruin the mood.
"Dare I ask Xuanzhu if the sword you speak of was an item from the former dynasty? The former Emperor had once used this sword as his own, but when the new dynasty was established, his Majesty had ordered men to organize a list of items within the palace with no tolerance for mistakes. I was there when it happened, and thus I have seen the list myself. No such sword was recorded on it, so it was assumed that it was lost then. In the records of the former Dynasty, there was nothing written about the sword being bestowed upon to anyone as well, yet here, it has showed up in the hands of Xuanzhu. Perhaps your Highness might consider offering an explanation?"
Cui Buqu sat there quietly and did not move, but his tone was light and it made others hated him more, especially Princess Leping and Yuwen Xuanzhu both, whose faces had changed.
Silence. Everywhere was silence.
With just a few words from Cui Buqu, he managed to hit Princess Leping's rawest spot. Ever since she was little, she was taught to love and be loyal to her country, yet in the end, she had turned into an accomplice of treason, and the one who committed treason had been her very own father, so how was that not mocking her?
No one dared to speak.
Everyone exchanged glances and felt that Cui Buqu had really gone mad, otherwise, the only reason was that he shared a vast hatred with Princess Leping, or else what reason is there for him to ruin someone else's banquet?
Princess Leping grew furious very quickly, "What is the meaning of your words? Are you saying that I stole the sword and kept it for myself? This sword has been drifting about for years, after that someone found it, they gave it to me as a gift. So what wrong is there?!"
Cui Buqu, "Naturally, there is nothing wrong about that. However, can your Highness confess who was the person who gave you that sword?"
Princess Leping, "Cui Buqu, do not think that just because you head the Zuoyue Bureau and had mother's support, that I would be afraid of you! Regarding the origin of this sword, at most I can report it to the Emperor myself. You ruined my banquet, this matter cannot be excused. Men, take him down!"
Princess Leping had already heard of the matter regarding the City of Six Crafts, where Cui Buqu caused a scene in the Linlang Guild's hall. She hated Cui Buqu for not knowing how to give her face, yet at this moment, there was nothing she could do to him, so she could only put this mark in her book. Who could have guessed that Cui Buqu even dared to stir trouble in her banquet, thus, this can no longer be tolerated!
The Crown Prince was furious, "Marquis Cui, your return from a journey makes you a contributor to the nation, but this does not mean that you can do whatever you wish. Everyone was enjoying themselves in the princess's banquet, but you alone spoke in disrespect. So please watch your words!"
Prince Jin coughed lightly, "Elder Brother, perhaps Marquis Cui has his reasons. Why don't we let him speak and see what he has to say?"
Who knew that Cui Buqu shook his head, "I have no reason, only curiosity, but I am terribly sorry for ruining the Princess' mood."
Silence fell upon everyone, their hearts saying: Aren't you just here creating a scene for no reason?
He sat there unmoving. Even the servants dare not pull him away.
When Princess Leping saw the way he spoke so fearlessly, she could not help but feel her temper boiling to her head.
Prince Jin's laugh filled the hall, "Since this is all a misunderstanding, then let us continue. Come, drink some wine. My niece here has grown so much, within the blink of an eye, she is already so grown! Who would be the lucky guy who would marry her in the future?"
Yuwen Xuanzhu felt a little shy, and quickly bowed to her uncle.
With his words, the atmosphere returned. Princess Leping wanted to interrogate Cui Buqu, but she did not wish to ruin her daughter's banquet, so she could only stomach it for the time being, preparing to deal with it after the banquet is over.
The game of riddles began from the start, but there were already a few people who were displeased at Cui Buqu, and were getting ready to take revenge.
All but Feng Xiao who sat in one corner, watching as Cui Buqu used the mandarins on the table to form a word.
Kill.
So he really didn't come here to attend the banquet, but to ruin it.
He knew it. On normal days, this man whose surname is Cui hid himself in his room even more secretly than the daughters of noblemen, refusing to leave the main gate or step over the door of his room. How would he decide to socialize all of a sudden and come to attend the birthday party of a Xuanzhu?
Feng Xiao waved his fan, getting ready to watch a brilliant show unfold before his eyes. All of a sudden, he found his mood had greatly improved.
He couldn't be the one who gets pitted all the time, could he? All things must be evenly distributed.
Author's Notes:
Regarding the awkward identities of Princess Leping, Yang Lihua, and her daughter Yuwen Xuanzhu, they have already been addressed before in chapter 88. So I will not mention here again. If readers have forgotten, they can go back and take a look ~