Killing intent (4)
For the first 10 days after the Beirong envoys’ arrival, the court officials and the envoys were too busy enjoying themselves to even bring up the topic of signing the peace treaty, even though the main reason for them to come to the capital was to conduct peace negotiations.
Well, it was a normal thing to do. When people first met, they just had fun instead of talking about business. They would gradually get to the point after a sense of familiarity was established.
…
As it was May, the Dragon Boat Festival came. The Emperor brought his harem to the Shuixin Palace at Jinming Lake on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival to enjoy the boat races and water games.
[TL Notes: The Chinese celebration known as the Dragon Boat Festival takes place on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, which on the Gregorian calendar is in late May or early June. Many people think that the Dragon Boat Festival is held in remembrance of the passing of Qu Yuan, a respected minister and well-known Chinese poet who later rose to fame as a national hero and was noted for his patriotism and contributions to classical poetry.]
Jinming Lake was built in the Zhou Dynasty, and since then various emperors had extended and renovated it, making it as gorgeous as today.
Although this Lake was used for entertainment nowadays, it was used for military exercises during Xie Yi’s rule. He had the circumference of the Lake surface increased to roughly seven kilometres.
However, as the current emperor came to power, the Jinming Lake that was once a solemn military training area slowly transformed into just a Lake with the garden where the Emperor and Empress could relax and enjoy operas.
Especially during this Dragon Boat Festival, as there were foreign envoys, the Emperor wanted to display the wealth of the imperial court to the Beirong people. From the end of April, the news that the Emperor would hold a grand dragon boat race and water shows in Jinming Lake spread like wildfire.
The emperor granted the common people, regardless of their social standings, access to Jinming Lake beginning in May for a duration of one month in order to display his magnanimity. On the first day of May, Jinming Lake was crowded with people, and on the fifth day of May, it was even busier and noisier. As it was so packed, many people became lost.
Xie Xuanchen and Mu Mingtang were also invited. Mu Mingtang was already used to it. They were like mascots hung up for exhibition whenever such a significant event was to take place. As the people in the royal capital and the foreign envoys were taking part today, no matter what the Emperor’s intentions were, he would certainly try to maintain his dignity.
Even Mu Mingtang couldn’t help but wonder: ‘Who was the emperor’s actual son – Xie Xuanji or Xie Xuanchen?’
The Emperor gave Xie Xuanchen the utmost consideration and care to the point that people would think he was the Emperor’s biological son.
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