Chapter 148: The Birthday Celebration Banquet

Booger in the rice, rat in the soup. That describes a man like Wu Yuanshuang, and standing right beside him was Yuwen Huiji. Yun Hao was reminded of another idiom: birds of a feather flock together.

"How could I dare claim to be a genius? I am merely contrasted by fools." Yun Hao smiled benignly as he looked at the fellows before him. The ones blocking their way at the city gate were precisely this sort of trash. Each fancied themselves a romantic literatus, unaware that their attire alone violated every rule of decency.

For a grown man to wear a flower in his hair was already bizarre enough, but they also caked their faces in thick white powder, looking as though they had just plastered a wall. Who knew what kind of perfume they used, but it emitted such a sickeningly cloying stench that it could be smelled from afar against the wind. Most unbearable of all was that Yuwen Huiji had actually painted his lips red.

Good grief, a grown man with red lips! Was this supposed to be a scion of a noble house, or some kind of androgynous monster? Seeing this fellow twisting his fingers into the shape of an orchid, Yun Hao felt a strong urge to vomit three pints of blood.

Yun Hao's words deeply triggered Wu Yuanshuang's nervous system. Losing to Yun Hao in talent was one thing, but to lose to a mere child in front of women as well, while having his reputation utterly ruined—it was too much. In just two days, the tale of him defecating in a bathhouse had begun to spread across the city of Luoyang. Many people greeted him warmly to his face while pointing and mocking behind his back.

Ignorant gossips discussed the matter with the zeal of scholars, the speakers full of relish and the listeners gasping in sudden, horrified enlightenment. Even some upright scholars would sigh and shake their heads upon seeing Wu Yuanshuang, wearing expressions too painful to behold.

"You little beast...!" Consumed by a deep and burning hatred, Wu Yuanshuang's eyebrows practically stood on end. He threw out his claws, preparing to rush forward and strangle this little bastard to death right then and there. Seeing this, Yuwen Huiji hurriedly intercepted him, hissing, "Are you tired of living? You dare to cause a scene at the Duke of Chu's birthday banquet!"

"Brother Yuwen, let me go and slaughter this little beast!" Held back in Yuwen Huiji's embrace, Wu Yuanshuang still strained to lunge forward.

"Who are you calling a little beast?" Yun Hao still looked at the enraged Wu Yuanshuang with a beaming smile, utterly devoid of any consciousness of being insulted. His expression was as pleasant as if someone had just paid him a compliment. Wu Yuanshuang was so angry he almost coughed up a mouthful of blood!

"I'm cursing you!" Wu Yuanshuang roared, startling everyone around them into turning their way.

"Oh...! So you are the legendary little beast," Yun Hao said with a prolonged "oh," wearing an expression of sudden realization.

"You...! Brother Yuwen, let me go! I'm going to kill him!" Wu Yuanshuang had been driven to the brink of insanity. To be outwitted by a child in full public view meant his face was thoroughly disgraced and trampled in the dirt. Earlier he had merely been putting on an act, but now he genuinely wanted to strangle Yun Hao to death. Yuwen Huiji even felt that he might no longer be able to hold back his fellow disciple.

"Audacious! It is my grandfather's birthday, who is causing an uproar?" A soft rebuke rang out at precisely the right moment—just loud enough to stop Wu Yuanshuang's further actions without drawing too much attention and disrupting the banquet.

"Brother Yang, my junior brother here acted out of a momentary impulse. Please do not take offense, Brother Yang!" The moment Yuwen Huiji saw that the one stepping forward to halt them was Yang Xiong, he immediately bowed and offered an apology.

Yang Xiong was not only Yang Su's favorite grand-nephew, but his scholarship also marked him as a truly exceptional young talent. Even Li Gang, the Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince, could not stop praising his understanding of the Five Classics. As for his mastery of poetry, he was the undisputed leader in Luoyang. If he claimed to be second, no one dared claim to be first. Before such a man, even the arrogant Yuwen Huiji could not help but bow his head.

"Today is my grandfather's birthday. Junior Brother Yuwen would do well to keep a tight rein on his fellow disciple. Do not make trouble!" Yang Xiong's face fell; to cause a scene at a time like this was to show no regard for the Yang family's face. Offering a verbal warning was already out of consideration for Li Gang and the Yuwen family, otherwise he would have long since ordered men to throw this fellow out.

"Hehe! A little beast, how could he possibly understand propriety? To stop him from bellowing, you'd probably need to find an animal tamer," Yang Xiong's appearance brought the situation under control immediately, much to Yun Hao's profound disappointment. A fool like Wu Yuanshuang only needed to be provoked into striking the first blow, and the Yang family would naturally deal with him. Unfortunately, this fellow Yang Xiong had stepped in and subdued the situation right away. Although Wu Yuanshuang still wore a murderous expression, he no longer dared to make a move.

"You shut up too!" Having chastised Yuwen Huiji, Yang Xiong immediately turned his attention to Yun Hao. One could tell from the tone of Yun Hao's voice that this kid was no good either. There was an eighty percent chance that the earlier commotion had been stirred up by this brat.

Yun Hao smiled helplessly and turned back to his own seat. He loved banquets in this era; everyone had their own individual table, unlike later generations where people crowded around a single large table. Yun Hao enjoyed a lively atmosphere, but eating other people's spit was frankly disgusting.

Those attending the banquet today were all prominent figures in Luoyang. Seeing that the disturbance had been suppressed, they resumed their polite small talk. However, the topic of conversation shifted from the latest juicy gossip to inquiring which prominent family's unruly child that pretty little boy belonged to.

Left all alone, Yun Hao was naturally unclaimed, and this mysterious identity once again naturally aroused the curiosity of these fellows. Glances directed toward Yun Hao gradually increased, and a few individuals with close ties to the Yang family went to probe the Yang family youths for information. Unfortunately, Yun Hao's background was known only to Yang Xiong and a few others. After beating around the bush for a long time, those fellows failed to glean any useful details. Consequently, Yun Hao's identity became all the more shrouded in mystery, and a few people were already itching to go over and try to strike up a conversation with him.

Just as one fellow could no longer contain himself and wanted to step forward, the sound of drums and music suddenly rang out, and Yang Su appeared at the main entrance of the grand hall. Today, Yang Su wore a purple-gold jade gauze crown and a robe embroidered with symbols of fortune and longevity. Every single strand of his silver beard had been carefully combed, making him look exceptionally vibrant and spirited. If someone claimed he could live another sixty years, people would actually believe it.

Behind Yang Su followed a group of men dressed in official robes of various colors, ranging from the second rank down to the sixth. Yang Su walked at the very front, looking precisely like an emperor. Those who knew better understood this was a birthday banquet, but those who didn't might have thought a court audience was in session.

Along the way, people continuously bowed with clasped hands, smiling as they offered congratulations to Yang Su. Yang Su merely smiled and nodded, only acknowledging those of higher rank with a greeting. Those individuals would immediately adopt an even more humble posture to receive the leader's regards. Once Yang Su passed by, they would puff out their chests like victorious fighting roosters.

Being small in stature offered no advantage in such a crowded environment, with a crowd of adults blocking the way ahead. Yun Hao was quite content with this arrangement; he sat securely behind his low table, listening to the flattering words, feeling Yang Su's overwhelming prestige and the humility of those present.

Suddenly, Yun Hao felt someone watching him again. This sensation was extremely strange; Yun Hao could even sense the precise landing point of the other person's gaze. Turning his head, he found himself staring into an ugly face covered in thick, bristly beard.

Ugly—truly ugly. A high forehead, tiny eyes. Beneath a massive nose was an equally massive mouth, while his two ears appeared rather small. If you knew what they were, you recognized them as ears; if you didn't, you might have thought the fellow had grown tree fungus on his head. Not only was his face covered in stiff whiskers, but it was also riddled with pox. He had seen ugly people before, but never anyone ugly to this extreme degree. Compared to him, professional comedians looked like peerless beauties.

"What are you looking at?!" Yun Hao was genuinely startled. Wasn't this the burly man who had been standing next to the Goguryeo envoy? Why wasn't he sucking up to curry favor and instead coming over to his side?

"Kid, you're quite interesting. Whose child are you?" To Yun Hao's even greater surprise, this foreigner spoke the Han language exceptionally well, even carrying a slight Hebei accent. Disregarding his attire, he sounded entirely like a native of the Sui Dynasty.

"None of your damn business!" Toward such a hideous-looking fellow, Yun Hao refused to spare even a shred of goodwill. What he liked were fair-skinned, sweet-smelling, pretty little beauties. That one serving dishes not far away wasn't bad; she looked to be only twelve or thirteen years old, yet her chest had already developed to a considerable size. What a youthful face combined with such maturity!

"Don't you want to know who I am?" the bearded giant asked again.

"Does it concern me in the slightest?" Yun Hao gave him another side-eye. The farther this kind of trash stayed from him, the better. It would be best if he never laid eyes on him again for the rest of his life!

"I thank you all for your kind hospitality, everyone please take your seats!" Just as the bearded giant was about to speak, Yang Su had already walked to his own seat. There was no lengthy speech, merely a casual wave of his hand.

Everyone responded with a resounding cry of assent, and then each proceeded to their respective seats. The bearded giant was exceptionally tall, and his attire differed from Central Plains garments, making him stand out conspicuously in the crowd. Naturally, he could no longer linger by Yun Hao's side. Giving Yun Hao one deep, lingering look, he turned and walked back to his own seat.

Yun Hao rolled his eyes in annoyance, not even bothering to waste another thought on him. What he failed to notice was that as the giant sat down, the Goguryeo envoy subconsciously stood up in deference...!

Ancient banquets were exceedingly dull, with tables arranged in neat rows. Aside from conversing with those immediately to one's left and right, communication with others was virtually impossible. Even worse, dining required kneeling and sitting, which was absolute torture for Yun Hao; his knees were completely numb. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to him, he abruptly plopped down onto the mat, stretching his two legs out long beneath the low table.

The singing and dancing in the Yang residence weren't particularly interesting, featuring music dominated by string and wind instruments. Although the melodies were lingering and carried profound artistic conception, they lacked the high-energy rhythm of a drum kit. The singing girls danced with great effort, but unfortunately, their faces were mostly turned toward Yang Su. From Yun Hao's angle, all he could see were their backsides. Still, that happened to be one of the body parts Yun Hao enjoyed watching the most.

The little maidservant next to him wasn't bad—precisely the one with the youthful face and mature figure. Her round face retained a touch of baby fat, and her slightly upturned nose made her look playful and cute.

"Big sister, what's your name?"

"Big sister, won't you smile? You look very pretty when you smile."

"If big sister won't smile, shall little brother smile for you instead?"

The little maidservant looked as though she was about to cry...!

The bearded fellow seated nearby overheard Yun Hao's chatter and was immensely astonished. Good grief, though so young, he was already cut from the same cloth as their kind! Rack his brains as he might, he didn't recognize this child and wondered which family's precocious young rake this was. He was just about to step over and strike up a conversation when a song-and-dance performance finally came to an end. The dancing girls knelt prostrate on the ground, their chests heaving rhythmically—evidently, the dance had exhausted a great deal of their physical stamina.

Right in the center, a beautiful dancing girl held a fresh peach high in her hands. One had to remember this was the dead of winter, and a fresh peach was something nearly impossible to come by. It was truly a mystery how such a thing had been procured.

Yang Xiong led a group of Yang family descendants before Yang Su's table, raising the fresh peach in both hands. "Offering congratulations on Grandfather's sixtieth birthday, we, the descendants of the Yang family, wish Grandfather eternal fortune and longevity!"

"Good, very good! Reward!" Yang Su beamed, looking just like a smiling Maitreya Buddha.

"Father, the full moon hangs bright in the sky tonight, and everyone sitting here represents the elite of our Great Sui. The song and dance have concluded; why not hold a poetry competition to add to the merriment?" Sitting at Yang Su's lower right was his son, Yang Xuangan. Everyone knew the underlying intent of his words: he clearly wanted to give Yang Xiong, whose poetic talents were renowned throughout Luoyang, a chance to shine and demonstrate that the Yang family had capable successors.

Yang Su glanced at Yang Xuangan and nodded. "Very well! Let the young men display their talents. I shall use this jade pendant as a prize. Whoever carries off the crown shall receive this pendant from me."

As soon as those words fell, the young talents present were instantly moved. A personal jade pendant belonging to the Duke of Chu could not possibly be a commonplace object, and its symbolic value far exceeded its actual material worth. Just displaying it and claiming it was a personal token of the Duke of Chu would ensure everyone looked at you with newfound respect.

"I'll go first!" No sooner had Yang Su finished speaking than Wu Yuanshuang stepped forward. Having been humiliated by Yun Hao earlier, this was his golden opportunity to save face. With everyone's focus centered right here, even if he couldn't compose a masterpiece that overshadowed Luoyang, as long as his rhyme scheme was correct and not too disgraceful, he would certainly leave an impression on people.

Calculating the maneuver brilliantly, Wu Yuanshuang's appearance successfully captured everyone's attention.

"Who is this fellow?!" Yang Xuangan had intended for his own family's descendants to shine, but he had no idea where this blockhead had popped out from. Examining him closely and failing to recognize him, he couldn't help asking.

"Wu Shifan, the son of the team leader of the Jinyang Eagle-and-Falcon Garrison!" Yang Xiong replied after casting a glance at Wu Yuanshuang.

"An Eagle-and-Falcon Garrison team leader?" Yang Xuangan was extremely astonished; how on earth had someone of such humble status managed to sneak in?

"He's a student of Master Li Gang, Grand Preceptor of the Crown Prince!" Noting Yang Xuangan's displeasure, Yang Xiong quickly added that crucial detail.

"Ah!" Wu Shifan's son wouldn't even be qualified to stand guard at the gate, but as a student of Master Li Ji, coming here to drink wine was entirely acceptable. Among aristocratic clans and powerful families, status was paramount.

"Ahem! The cycle of sixty years returns like a lofty mountain, spring and autumn bring endless years of great virtue. Encountering a sixtieth birthday brimming with fortune, descendants gather in joyful harmony." Clearing his throat slightly, Wu Yuanshuang began to recite. Before coming to the Yang residence, he had already prepared a draft in his mind. Reciting it with cadence and modulation added considerable color to this birthday poem.

"Splendid!" The crowd burst into applause. Although the poem could not be considered a supreme masterpiece, its rhyme scheme was proper and its couplets well-balanced—truly worthy of a student of Li Ji.

Yuwen Huiji patted Wu Yuanshuang's shoulder, thoroughly satisfied with his junior disciple's composition.

Yang Xuangan, however, was momentarily stunned, not expecting this fellow to actually possess some genuine skill. The spotlight that rightfully belonged to the Yang family's descendants had been snatched away just like that, and an expression of displeasure immediately surfaced on his face. Glancing toward the younger members of the Yang family, he saw them shrinking back one by one, clearly showing by their empty expressions that they had nothing in their bellies and dared not step forward to show off. He couldn't help feeling choked with frustration.

"First fifty years led to the floral cycle of sixty, waiting through another decade to celebrate the ancient age of seventy. Though the cycle of sixty is complete, much more can still be achieved, fragrance surrounds the beams to welcome a long spring." The shouts of praise had barely faded when Yang Xiong stood up. He had not intended to step forward so quickly, but unexpectedly none of the Yang family descendants could compose a matching verse to Wu Yuanshuang's poem. Left with no alternative, he had to step in and hold the fort; today was Grandfather Yang's auspicious day, and the Yang family's prestige absolutely could not be overshadowed by anyone else.

"Bravo!" This cry of acclaim was vastly louder than the one for Wu Yuanshuang. Although Wu Yuanshuang's poem was rhymed, its artistic conception lagged behind Yang Xiong's by a full tier.

"Splendid! Reward!" With those words, Yang Su handed the jade pendant over—not necessarily because Yang Xiong's poem was exceptionally brilliant, but rather because of the line: *Though the cycle of sixty is complete, much more can still be achieved!* Sixty years passed in the snap of a finger; if the elderly Yang Su were asked to make a birthday wish today, it surely would be the desire to live another five hundred years.

"Hold on!" Just as Yang Su's hand extended the pendant, someone stood up.

"Does my young nephew have a brilliant composition to share?" Seeing that it was Yuwen Huiji, Yang Su asked with surprise. He hadn't heard of this fellow making any great strides in his scholarship; if it were his elder brother Yuwen Shiji, he might have been able to contend with Yang Xiong for supremacy.

"On the occasion of the Duke's grand birthday, this nephew lacks talent and has no masterpiece. However, I heard that a talented youth has recently arrived in the Duke's household. I wonder if this genius's work might be able to claim the Duke's jade pendant?" As Yuwen Huiji spoke, he pointed a finger directly at little Master Yun Hao, who was currently holding a maidservant's small hand and whispering sweet nothings.

Instantly, all eyes converged upon Yun Hao.