Chapter 104: Letter of Credence. 4 Great Popinjays
Tie Zheng's wedding preparations were underway. This wedding would be the greatest event for the entire nation's army!
Nobody could have thought that a seemingly foolish and ridiculous promise would make a general's wedding the unprecedented wedding of the Empire of Yutang!
No wedding would be grander than this one, no wedding had more meaning behind it than Tie Zheng's wedding!
The twentieth of the tenth month would be the date of Tie Zheng's wedding.
There was still two and a half months' time from now but the impending wedding had shaken all the countries across the continent - all brothers, alive or deceased would have a goblet to drink and celebrate together.
The Empire of Yutang's army all felt that they could stand taller when they were walking on the street. The excitement was not only in the Empire of Yutang. The news had made all the east continent militant's blood boil.
Dayuan, Tianci and the other empires' Board of War, as well as their generals, had all sent their regards.
"Can an enemy of the battlefield have a goblet of drink too?"
Even the Empire of Dongxuan's Board of War, whom they had just ended a war with, sent a letter personally signed off by Han Sanhe over.
"Congratulations from a fellow militant! May we attend the general's wedding for a goblet of wine?"
There was, of course, a debate taking place in Yutang's imperial court over this matter. The civils thought that Tie Zheng was creating something out of nothing, trying to pander to everyone and get into their good books. Even the chief generals from the enemy nations wanted to attend the wedding - what was this supposed to mean?
A lot of people with their own theories were sure that the other nations were here to spy on the military's intelligence in the name of wedding wine.
With such considerations, this ridiculous farce should be ended right there and then. At least, the other nations should not be allowed to join!
However, His Majesty the emperor of Empire of Yutang was exceptionally resolute this time, standing strong against all objections and sending a letter of credence.
"To the seven warriors of five empires, a promise from a man of men - there shall be no war before the new year for there to be wine in times of peace. Can we all agree on this?
"
Each reigning monarch of the empires responded to this letter of credence at once - "Agreed. There shall be no war before the new year."
The letters of credence that brought peace were announced to the world accordingly and there was not a single soul that did not know of this in the entire east continent.
All the notable generals of the east continent were about to gather in Tiantang City to attend Tie Zheng's wedding, to drink the wine that belonged to brothers in the battlefield!
However, time was running out quickly; there was only two and a half months' time left after all. The entire Tiantang City was abuzz with excitement. Some generals who had longer journeys to be made had even begun their treks from their home countries already.
This was all for nothing but their brothers in the battlefield.
There was no distinction between host and enemy, they all possessed the souls of heroes.
To hoist a goblet of wedding wine for their perished brothers was the shared wish of all militants!
However, such a wish was a wild one, an extravagant hope that could barely be fulfilled in their empire. Forget the common generals, the chief generals of higher status was even less likely to do it.
Even if they had wanted to, their emperor would be doubtful - What are you trying to do, inviting so many people to your wedding? Are you buying your way into their hearts with your wedding wine?
The generals' achievements were already incredibly meritorious that an emperor's achievements would pale in comparison. If they did something like this, they would really be beheaded.
It was their life-time regret that they were not being able to organize it. However, this rare opportunity had finally come since someone else had managed to pull it off. They could not be bothered about the long stretch of distance then, not even by the fact that it was for a nation.
I have to go.
A lot of the generals were burning with passion.
To ask for a goblet of wine for my fallen brothers, even if this was the wedding wine of the enemy, this wine belongs to all militants in the world!
Even if I have to die in Yutang for this, it's still worth it to be able to drink this wine!
....
No one could have expected that a farce in the eyes of the civilians, a mere militant's wedding, could become an unprecedentedly grand occasion that all the armies from the continent would be joining!
It was a festive event for the militants. This occasion was not only unprecedentedly grand, it would be hard to be on par with in the future!
...
Yun Yang sat quietly under the flower canopy, taking note of the intelligence coming from all around. He still lacked the confidence to face the enemy's inexplicable lurking. They had actually slithered away after failing to land even a single strike.
This was somewhat dissimilar from the regular behaviour of the Four Seasons Tower. At the same time though, Yun Yang believed that once they attacked again, it would be one of massive destruction!
This was because they were already sure that there was still someone alive among the Nine Supremes, and as long as one of them were alive, they would never give up!
They would only advance to increasingly intense tactics and a terrifying strength in the future.
The East, South, West, and North Family had left Tiantang City soundlessly, taking along with them their influence.
However, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Family's young masters were insistent and stayed in Tiantang City. Other than finding fault with the crown prince's residence regularly, they also frequented Cirrus House.
Qiu Yunsan was released from being grounded and had joined the gang. He was beaten up by Dong Tianleng, his nose being pointed even while he was being warned, "Hit on my sister once more and I shall skin you alive!"
Qiu Yunsan was honest like a teething child. "Needless to say... even if you beg me to, I won't dare to... I'm still limping now."
Qiu Yunsan shuddered as he thought of it, terror surfacing on his face. "Have you guys seen a storm?"
The other three popinjays reveled in his misery.
"Oh, right. Dong Tianleng, where's that fellow who was with you the other day?" Chun Wanfeng fanned his green folding fan. If it were not for the green bamboo shoot on his head, he would actually look rather graceful. "Why is it that I haven't seen him of late?"
"Who are you speaking of?" Dong Tianleng said irked. "That's my boss!"
"Your boss?"
Three popinjays exclaimed at the same time. Dong Tianleng was on guard at once, realizing that he had inadvertently leaked the information, he quickly tried to salvage the situation. "Hmm, my boss, I don't know him!"
"Right, and are we to understand you?"
Three popinjays nodded seriously, while Yun Zuiyue smiled on the other side.
With her intelligence and knowledge, how could she not know that these fellows were talismans Yun Yang had arranged for her? With these guys around, it was basically the power of four noble families guarding her shop. Who dared to trifle with her?
Yun Yang had really put in a lot of effort.
Therefore, Yun Zuiyue mingled with these four fellows easily, calling them brothers and ridding them of any charges for the wine and fun.
While this made all four young masters felt honored and unexpectedly loved, they were guilty inside, feeling like they were too much in debt towards this new sister.
Now that Yun Zuiyue heard them talking about Yun Yang, with a thought in mind, she said, "Young Master Chun is right, Young Master Yun has indeed not come for some days now. But it's normal too. He's seldom visited last time; he's the young master of Marquis Yun after all, he should be quite busy usually..."
"Young master of Marquis Yun..." Qiu Yunsan, Xia Bingchuan, and Chun Wanfeng's eyes all shone at one.
Dong Tianleng was unhappy with the proceedings. He did not expect Yun Zuiyue to expose Yun Yang's background just like that.
He could no longer hide it...
There was a ninety-nine percent chance that he would not get to take the lion's share now.
What was there to do?
Dong Tianleng's eyes flitted around, thinking of a countermeasure. The other three were also making the same eye exercises, thinking that very surely the person who helped Dong Tianleng secretly was this Young Master Yun Yang!
What should I do to pull this strong force of assistance to me then?
Yun Zuiyue sipped the wine with her red lips, a gentle smile on her face.
Young brother, earn what you can among four of them then. You should have enough advantages for you.
"Alright, alright. I'll go invite our boss over. Let us drink together." Dong Tianleng said, "You folks wait here."
The other three were reluctant. "What are you saying? Your boss is our boss, how can you go alone? Not only does this not honor our boss, it's not giving us face as well!
"Yeah, we are all brothers. Your boss is my boss. Dong Tianleng, what do you mean by that? Are you trying to show that you're above us all?"
"Exactly. Dong Tianleng is so cunning and deceiving, he's obviously trying to instigate a misunderstanding between the boss and us! He might even speak poorly of us in front of boss if he goes alone..."
"It must be so..."
"You! ..." Dong Tianleng glared at the three hapless people. "I have never seen anyone as shameless as the lot of you!"
What do you mean your boss?
Have you fellow even met him?
You fellows haven't even spoken a word to him and all of you are calling him so intimately. Do I want to ask if all of you are this respectful to the elders in your families?
"I must get to know such a lord. As long as I see him, I, Chun Wanfeng am prepared only to see him!"
"From today onwards, I, Qiu Yunsan, shall look up only to boss!"
"My lord is courageous and intelligent, a gifted genius; there's nothing he can't do. I, Xia Bingchuan, am willing to follow him forever till the end of the world!"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Dong Tianleng shouted with a glare, "Can all of you stop acting like you're close to him? That's my lord! Only mine! You guys haven't even seen him, what relations are you trying to make? Who was it that asked me yesterday, 'Dong Tianleng, how come the fellow with you the other day hasn't come recently?' How come he's become a lord today?"
Xia Bingchuan said lamely, "That's Chun Wanfeng, he's the one who said that."
"I didn't! That was you, why are you putting the blame on me?" Chun Wanfeng retorted immediately.
Xia Bingchuan was angered. "Chun Wanfeng, that line saying, 'One glance tells me the handsome fellow with Dong Tianleng is a paid escort.' You said at least this, didn't you?"
"B*llshit! Qiu Yunsan even said that one glance at the man with Dong Tianleng says that he has a kidney deficiency! He probably has erectile dysfunction too...
"You fellows fight it out, what does it have to do with me?" Qiu Yunsan raged. "Just don't incite ill feelings between me and boss...."
The three of them were flustered in anger, trying to expose each other; Dong Tianleng watched the three of them tussle with a scoff.
"Who is it that's scolding me?" Following an angry voice, a silhouette appeared by the door with a dark expression. "I'd only drank once with Dong Tianleng. How could my reputation become so ugly to the ears?"
All four of them turned their head in shock. A tall figure with a handsome, poised, face stood gracefully by the door, loose strands of hair fluttering in the breeze; he looked as if he could vanish with the wind at any time.
He wore a purple robe, his appearance light and carefree.
It was none other than Yun Yang.