Chapter 126: The Millennium Banquet

Chapter 126: The Millennium Banquet

Not long after Xue Jin was released from prison, it was time for the Emperor's Millennium Banquet.

Xue Jin was still in the capital at the time, and as the heir of a marquis, he naturally had to attend. Jiang Xun glanced over the guest list and suddenly recalled something.

In his previous life, an incident had occurred during the Millennium Banquet.

Xu Ping and Xu Ying held a grudge against Shen Xiu and had been intent on bringing down the Shen family. Back then, Jiang Xun had let it slide, allowing Shen Xiu to be beaten and exiled to the Two Lakes region.

The brothers, still harboring resentment, took their anger out on Xue Jin—who was close to Shen Xiu—when they saw him at the banquet.

In their eyes, Xue Jin’s family was far away in the northern frontier, leaving him with neither wealth nor influence in the capital—a pushover. Displeased with him, they deliberately provoked him, ripping his clothes, stripping off his shoes and socks, and pushing him into the water during the banquet.

A major faux pas in front of the Emperor required punishment.

Jiang Xun remembered that he had sentenced Xue Jin to kneel on the Jie Stone, while Xu Ping and Xu Ying were merely placed under house arrest.

The Jie Stone was a specially designated stone in the palace for punishment, its uneven surface making it unbearable to kneel on for even an hour.*

Jiang Xun consulted *System 66*: "Do I need to recreate this scene exactly?"

*System 66* replied, "The original text didn’t elaborate on this. Since it’s unrelated to the protagonist, you can skip the details."

Shen Que was the protagonist of the plot. As long as his life trajectory remained largely unchanged without major deviations, everything else was inconsequential.

"What part of this plot involves Shen Que?"

*System 66* scanned the text: "The Grand Tutor pleaded for Xue Jin’s leniency. You, displeased, yanked him into the palanquin and made a few snide comments."

There was no kneeling punishment involved, so Jiang Xun didn’t need to rack his brains for an excuse. He nodded.

Shen Que kneels, Jiang Xun pulls him up, drags him into the carriage, and then makes sarcastic comments.

The steps were straightforward, the plot clear—simple.

Meanwhile, the palace was abuzz with preparations.

The Emperor’s Millennium Banquet marked his birthday. Jiang Xun had ascended the throne young and had not yet reached his coming-of-age ceremony, making this his first time hosting such a celebration, arranged with exceptional grandeur.

The Ministry of Rites did not dare make decisions on their own and submitted the banquet proposal to Shen Que for approval and oversight.

Shen Que crossed out some unnecessary formalities and instructed, "During the family banquet, have the two princesses seated beside the Emperor."

He still remembered Jiang Xun calling out for his 'sisters' in his dreams—the young Emperor, delirious with fever, begging brokenly for his sisters, so pitiful.

Thus, on the day of the banquet, Jiang Xun found himself flanked by two ornate young women.

Not only was Jiang Xun utterly bewildered, but Princess Ning Guo’an and the two princesses were equally confused.

Imperial siblings were rarely close, especially under the previous Emperor, who had fathered dozens of princes and princesses. The two princesses had been kept secluded, and Jiang Xun had barely seen them, let alone developed any familial affection. But since Shen Que had arranged it this way, they awkwardly took their seats.

Jiang Xun could only ask about their husbands and children, much like awkward holiday small talk. After some stilted conversation, he looked up and saw Shen Que watching him from afar.

Shen Que thought to himself, "He wanted to see his sisters. Now that he has, he ought to cheer up."

He sat with Xue Jin, discussing frontier defenses in the north. Meanwhile, the Emperor, having hardly said a word to his tablemates, suddenly rose from his seat and strode over.

*Footnote: The Jie Stone is a cultural artifact used in imperial courts for punishing offenders through prolonged kneeling on its uneven surface.*

Jiang Xun forcibly wedged himself between them.

Prince Xue was taken aback at first, then deferentially suggested, "Your Majesty, perhaps you should pay respects to the others first."

He had been sitting there all along, unable to trigger Xu Ping and Xu Ying's storyline.

Jiang Xun waved his hand in approval.

Shen Que served two leafy greens for the emperor. Jiang Xun, who had poor health and disliked meat, was like some picky rabbit—only picking at vegetables. The Imperial Tutor placed bamboo shoots before him and testily added a meatball. "Aren't you going to talk to your sister?"

Jiang Xun didn’t like meatballs. He prodded it with his chopsticks, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately ate it.

Shen Que then added another piece of meat.

Jiang Xun pushed the meat aside, refusing to eat it.

These little acts were multiplying.

In his past life, he wouldn’t have done such things. The storyline didn’t dictate it, and Jiang Xun didn’t know how to respond, so he just kept eating, eyes on his bowl. "We’re not acquainted."

Shen Que’s chopsticks froze mid-motion.

Not acquainted? Then who was the "sister" the emperor murmured about in his dreams that night?

He felt a nagging unease, as if he had overlooked something important, but his chopsticks didn’t stop. He picked up the unwanted meat from Jiang Xun’s bowl and ate it directly. When Jiang Xun frowned, he compensated by giving him another meatball.

The Imperial Tutor said, "A balanced diet is essential for health—meat and vegetables should complement each other."

Jiang Xun was stunned, thinking, *Since when do you scold me?* He immediately frowned, but Shen Que let his fingers graze Jiang Xun’s wrist, squeezing it soothingly, even pressing his leg against Jiang Xun’s.

"..."

Jiang Xun’s fury fizzled out, and he lowered his head to bite into the meatball.

A smirk ghosted over Shen Que’s eyes.

—The emperor was indeed soft-hearted.

Lutes trilled as silk-clad dancers swayed, their melodies clear and movements graceful. But Jiang Xun, having heard it all in his past life and experienced the modern era, couldn’t care less about the performance. As he switched his chopsticks, he glanced up—Shen Que was still watching him.

Jiang Xun frowned. "Why are you staring at me?"

Shen Que replied, "No particular reason."

He was merely wondering: if the emperor had no interest in music and dance, then what was the purpose of his daily outings with Xu Ping and Xu Ying?

His suspicions grew stronger, but after some thought, he reached no conclusion.

When the wine had flowed freely, as they conversed, a commotion arose near the banquet’s bamboo grove, followed by a man’s startled cry.

Before long, Wang An hurried over and murmured with a bow, "Your Majesty, Prince Xue and the Xu family’s firstborn have clashed—both have fallen into the river."

Shen Que’s eye gave a telltale tick.

Xu Ying and Xu Ping were certifiable morons, but as relatives of the emperor, they got away with murder. Prince Xue would be no match for them.

Jiang Xun stood up as well.

Shen Que followed closely, and the group made their way to the lotus pond, where Prince Xue had hauled himself dripping from the water.

His hair hung in disarray, his collar gaping open, and half his belt ripped off by Xu Ying, hanging loosely on his body, exposing large patches of wheat-colored skin.

Jiang Xun couldn’t help but steal a few more glances.

Xue Jin exercised regularly and had a ridiculously good build, with chiseled pecs and abs that could easily qualify him as a male model in the 21st century.

It was early spring, and the weather was still chilly. Xue Jin shivered from the cold. When he looked up and saw Jiang Xun, then glanced down at his own disheveled state, his face immediately paled, and he dropped to his knees.

At that moment, Xu Ying also climbed out of the water. He had a cut on the corner of his eye and scrapes on his arm, cursing under his breath as he stood to the side. He touched the corner of his eye and sucked in a sharp breath.

It was bleeding.

Seeing this, Xu Ping immediately clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, my brother and I were just horsing around with Xue Jin, trading some jokes. But for some reason, he suddenly snapped, not only pushing Xu Ying into the water but also messing up his face."

Xue Jin looked indignant and wanted to refute, but he opened his mouth only to swallow his words.

In front of Jiang Xun, he dared not defend himself, shrinking back as he knelt in place, crestfallen and pitiful, like a scolded husky.

Any fool could see that Xu Ping and Xu Ying were the ones starting trouble. The brothers didn’t even try to be subtle, not bothering with clever schemes. Yet the Emperor favored them, so the surrounding officials formed a circle, none daring to speak up.

The Emperor remained silent, simply staring at Xue Jin.

Everyone lowered their eyes, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Though everyone assumed Jiang Xun was angry with Xue Jin, in truth, Jiang Xun was spacing out.

—When he didn’t have to govern or follow the plot, Jiang Xun often checked out.

Like now, he was staring blankly at Xue Jin’s pumped-up biceps.

To be fair, Xue Jin’s physique wasn’t his usual preference—he still favored Shen Que’s slender and refined style—but Jiang Xun couldn’t help feeling a twinge of envy.

...Look at those freakishly huge biceps. Were these the arms capable of drawing a seven-stone bow?

In both lifetimes, Jiang Xun had been frail and sickly, nothing like Xue Jin with his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and robust muscles that radiated health.

Shen Que barely suppressed a frown.

Having spent so much time by Jiang Xun’s side, he could roughly gauge the Emperor’s mood from his demeanor. Right now, while the entire court trembled in fear and Jiang Xun kept a straight face that seemed displeased, the truth was the Emperor was just woolgathering.

And staring at Xue Jin while doing so.

Shen Que also looked at Xue Jin, his frown deepening at the sight of the Prince’s indecent attire.

He stepped forward, blocking the Emperor’s view, and reprimanded, "Prince Xue, appearing before His Majesty in such disarray is what disrespect. Why don’t you go and change your clothes?"

At these words, the onlookers shot each other looks. The Emperor had yet to speak—since when did Shen Que get to interject?

Shen Que stood calmly before the Emperor, saying nothing more.

Though it was overstepping, he didn’t believe the Emperor would reprimand him.

The Emperor wasn’t angry, nor did he intend to punish Xue Jin. In fact, he seemed somewhat intrigued by Xue Jin.

Sure enough, Jiang Xun didn’t rebuke him, merely nodding slightly. His gaze lingered on Xue Jin as his mind wandered even further.

...Wasn’t Shen Que’s plea for mercy supposed to happen later? So this was... a tactical retreat?

Xue Jin felt like he'd dodged a bullet.

He shot Shen Que a grateful look, thinking the Imperial Tutor was bailing him out. Scrambling to his feet, he followed Wang An away.

In less time than it takes to finish a cup of tea, he changed into clean clothes, planted himself in front of Jiang Xun, and dropped to his knees again, looking miserable.

Jiang Xun’s eyes kept drifting back to him.

The clothes didn’t fit well.

Xue Jin was just too damn buff—there were no garments in the palace tailored to his measurements, so he had to squeeze into a robe one size too small, his chest practically bursting out of the too-tight robe.

Jiang Xun’s gaze lingered on the strained fabric before zoning out.

His role here was basically just to stand around like a prop.

Shen Que frowned again.

The emperor’s easygoing attitude gave Xue Jin a sliver of courage. He took a deep breath and said, “Your Majesty, I—I have something to say.”

“Speak,” Jiang Xun replied.

“The wound on Young Master Xu’s face wasn’t caused by me. When we fell from the shore, we hit the cliff. If you look now, there are still traces of blood and scraped skin on the rocks by the water.”

Jiang Xun sighed to himself. *What kind of monster do I look like, scaring the kid into stammering?*

Wang An went to check as instructed and reported, “Your Majesty, there are indeed bloodstains on the shore, along with patches of scraped skin.”

Xue Jin then stared at Jiang Xun like a kicked puppy, as if pleading for justice. But when his gaze swept past Xu Ping and Xu Ying, his face fell.

The two brothers were the emperor’s favorites, while he had offended the emperor during the autumn hunt not long ago. It was obvious whose side the emperor would take.

So he turned to Shen Que with a pleading look, his eyes glistening as if to say, “Help me out here, Teach.”

Jiang Xun was also waiting for Shen Que to intercede.

He still had to stick to the script—taking Xue Jin back to the carriage and throwing in some snide comments.

Yet, under Xue Jin’s desperate gaze, Shen Que just stepped back and looked away, like he was washing his hands of Xue Jin.

Jiang Xun & Xue Jin: “…”

With no other option, Jiang Xun pointedly asked, “Shen Que, got anything to say?”

Shen Que cupped his hands. “Whatever Your Majesty decides.”

Xue Jin stared at him in disbelief. “…Teacher?”

Jiang Xun: “…Prince Xue, for your improper conduct, you are to reflect in seclusion.”

And just like that, the matter was dismissed lightly.

Xue Jin just gaped.

Xu Ying reeled, about to protest, when Jiang Xun added, “Xu Ping and Xu Ying, for deceiving the throne and framing others, shall kneel in repentance overnight and reflect in seclusion.”

He’d basically flipped their fates from last time.

Xu Ying, unwilling to accept this, was about to protest when Shen Que took Jiang Xun’s hand and asked softly, “Is Your Majesty weary? The banquet is nearing its end, and the night is damp with dew—it’s easy to catch a chill. Allow me to escort you back to the palace with a cloak.”

The room went dead silent.

Jiang Xun found himself gently restrained by the Imperial Tutor and was escorted into the carriage.

Jiang Xun: "…"

Time: After the banquet. Correct.

Location: Carriage. Correct.

Plot: Holding someone's hand and leading them onto the carriage. Correct.

But something still felt off?

66 wiped sweat and insisted, "Time, location, and characters—all three elements are correct. We'd get at least 75 points. The plot is roughly the same, so we can make up some points... Host, where’s your sarcasm?"

Jiang Xun: "The Imperial Tutor wields such authority, overstepping his bounds—where does that leave your emperor?"

Shen Que: "This humble servant acknowledges his fault."

Straight to the point.

Jiang Xun: "…"

He sat to the side, unwilling to engage with Shen Que further.

After the Qianqiu Festival, both Jiang Xun and Shen Que became busy.

No one knew what Shen Que was occupied with. He had developed a habit of wandering, often getting lost in the palace and being escorted back by Wang An. He also frequently wandered near the Cold Palace.

As for Jiang Xun, he was busy preparing for the war against Northern Di.

He frequently left the palace, using his Xun identity to contact three individuals.

The courtyard with loquat trees had long been desolate and dilapidated. Jiang Xun hired people to repair it, rebuilding the walls and reinforcing the wooden joints. Then, he personally cleared the weeds in the yard and planted climbing wisteria vines and yellow winter jasmine.

The wisteria and winter jasmine were bought from a gardener—still slender saplings with tender, curled leaves, shyly clinging to the trellis.

Jiang Xun thought to himself that he might not live to see them bloom, but by next year, the flowers would flourish in abundance.

Finally, Jiang Xun replaced all the furnishings inside the house. Palace furnishings typically featured ornate, lavish styles, but Jiang Xun, aligning with later tastes, deliberately selected simple, minimalist pieces.

A fir-wood bed, an ash-wood table, a newly purchased tea set, a copper kettle and purple clay teapot crafted by an unknown artisan from the capital, paired with some *Biluochun* tea—the courtyard with loquat trees was completely transformed, utterly different from its former state.

Among the three, Shen Xiu worked with him most closely. The young man was spirited and energetic. He cautiously submitted two petitions, listing two mid-level corrupt officials. Jiang Xun casually approved them with his seal.

Shen Xiu never expected his petitions to have any real effect, but within two months, the two officials were investigated, stripped of their positions, and replaced by two new appointees from the central government.

The two newcomers were minor local officials, young and relatively unknown. But Jiang Xun, coming from the future, had reviewed local records and knew these two were exceptional in ability, talent, and character. So he confidently entrusted them to Shen Xiu for training.

Shen Xiu was skeptical but tested them out—only to find they were indeed capable.

With a look of astonishment, Shen Xiu reported this to Mr. Xun, receiving a perfunctory compliment in return. From then on, he became even more motivated.

He began sending lengthy letters about everything, from flood control to financial allocation. Though Jiang Xun couldn’t address every detail, he could provide general guidance.

After they became familiar, Jiang Xun didn’t just discuss corruption and floods with Shen Xiu. Instead, he introduced new concepts—like constructing irrigation channels in the mountains, terracing to reduce soil erosion, or the mulberry-dike fishpond system.

Shen Xiu’s primary duty remained combating corruption, and Jiang Xun didn’t press him on these ideas.

Yet Shen Xiu showed remarkable enthusiasm for them. His unrestrained nature finally found release in fieldwork. He took to carrying a hoe every day, mingling with local farmers, and within months, made real progress.

Within a few months, they exchanged over a hundred letters. Shen Xiu was a chatterbox, often veering off-topic, rambling about everything under the sun. Not only did he vent about court affairs, but he also gossiped about his personal life and the romantic entanglements of officials in the Lianghu region, treating Jiang Xun like a personal diary and a gossip buddy.

Jiang Xun found it unbearable, but since he needed Shen Xiu, he had to maintain the relationship—albeit with perfunctory responses.

Shen Xiu didn’t notice his indifference at all.

One day, while Jiang Xun was resting under the loquat tree, a servant unexpectedly brought him a box from Lianghu containing a box of peaches.

Under the peaches, Shen Xiu had slipped in a letter, scribbling awkwardly: *"Following your advice, I cleared an orchard on the mountain. These are the newly harvested peaches—I wanted to send you some to try. Um..."*

*"Also, there’s something else. You’ve taught me so much—mind if I call you ‘teacher’?"*

His handwriting was a mess, the characters tangled together as if he were nervous.

Jiang Xun, who had been sipping tea, spit-taked his tea.

In this era, becoming a teacher was a solemn matter. A teacher was like an elder brother or a father. Yet Jiang Xun and Shen Xiu were the same age. In their past lives, they had despised each other—Shen Xiu, proud of his moral purity, had looked down on him a hundred times over. And now this brat wanted to acknowledge him as his teacher?

Jiang Xun sternly refused.

*"No."*

Absolutely not.

He sent this cold response to Lianghu, and Shen Xiu’s peaches suddenly lost their sweetness. Dejected, Shen Xiu asked, *"Why? A teacher imparts wisdom, knowledge, and guidance. Though you are not my formal teacher, you surpass any nominal one. In my heart, I’ve already decided."*

*"..."*

Like hell you have.

Jiang Xun felt his teeth ache.

Gritting his molars, he crumpled the letter in his hand, itching to haul Shen Xiu back from Lianghu, yank his pants down, and tan his hide.

But Lianghu needed him right now, so he had to let it go.

Meanwhile, Shen Xiu frequently exchanged letters with Shen Que and Xue Jin, and over time, all three became familiar with Mr. Xun.

Shen Que remained confined within the palace gates, slaving over paperwork every day. As for Xue Jin, since the story hadn’t advanced yet, the Junior General was still stuck in the capital and sent to a military camp in the suburbs.

Jiang Xun was no military expert, so he kept his nose out of it. He simply assigned two later-famous junior generals as Xue Jin’s deputies ahead of time.

Of the three, Shen Xiu was far away in Lianghu, Shen Que was trapped in the palace, and only Xue Jin had some freedom. After getting acquainted with Jiang Xun, he occasionally brought booze to the loquat garden for a brief visit.

Originally a mounted archer from the northern frontier, Xue Jin was now stuck kowtowing in this tiny cage, which left him deeply frustrated. He often came to Jiang Xun’s place to drink his frustrations away.

Jiang Xun would ask him about the current state of the northern frontier, how many times he had clashed with the Northern Di, and his thoughts on the matter: *"In your opinion, Junior General, if the Northern Di were to throw everything they’ve got and march south—would we hold our ground?"*

Xue Jin knocked back a bitter gulp. *"It’s tough, Mr. Xun. Really tough."*

Jiang Xun: *"You’re a one-in-a-thousand commander, and the army isn’t lacking in capable men. Why wouldn’t it work?"*

Xue Jin shook his head. *"Can’t make bricks without straw."*

*"In war, the soldiers are one thing—equipment is another."*

*"Corruption runs rampant in the court. Supplies always come up short. The grain sent to us gets shaved off at every turn, and winter coats are often in short supply. The soldiers guard the northern frontier on empty stomachs, freezing in threadbare uniforms."*

*"The Northern Di raid south out of desperation—their own pantries are empty. If they break through our defenses, they loot just to eat and bring food back to their families. But for our northern garrison, even victory brings little reward. While we starve, they grow stronger, of course we can’t win."*

Jiang Xun closed his eyes briefly.

After a moment, he opened them again, his vacant gaze falling upon the tea set before him: "The Emperor is incompetent and cruel, and the nation has long been impoverished..."

The comments of later historians about the Xu Lichao would fit perfectly here.

But Xue Jin said, "Sir, be careful with your words. You must not slander the Emperor like this."

Jiang Xun paused, then let out a laugh: "Slander?"

This isn't slander.

His deeds had long been judged by history, and calling him "incompetent and cruel" was already a very polite assessment.

"Please don't speak like this in the future."

Mr. Xun was so-called "highly respected," so Xue Jin couldn't openly contradict him and mumbled instead, "I don't think the Emperor is that kind of person."

Jiang Xun blinked: "What?"

"I said, I don't think the Emperor is that incompetent."

Xue Jin's face flushed: "When I was in prison, I heard the jailers say that the Emperor specifically ordered not to touch me. The prisoners around me were interrogated repeatedly, but nothing happened to me. Later, I was released without issue. Xu Ping and Xu Ying were severely punished, but I was fine!"

"..."

Wow, Junior General, you've got it all wrong.