Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 939: Chapter 747: Cleansing Banquet, Hosts and Guests in High Spirits

“Resurrecting the dead… Is such a legendary thing really feasible? Is it difficult?” A madam murmured with a face full of yearning.

As the saying goes, the dead cannot be resurrected, and resurrection itself is a baseless tale, but strangely, such absurd claims become reasonable when it comes to the unique Witch and Gu Tribes.

Upon hearing this, the female official frowned, recalling the recent visitor’s instructions, she merely pressed her lips and spoke in a deep voice, “Difficult! Very difficult! Fraught with difficulties! When a person dies, the soul scatters, and when the soul scatters, it vanishes. However, both my Sovereign and the Lord are willing to believe in such a fact. The Lord is wagering, wagering that even if His Majesty the Sovereign Leader perishes, he will not forget the deep love of a couple, and the soul remains unscattered! The Sovereign is also wagering, wagering that His Majesty the Sovereign Leader’s paternal love is unbroken, and the soul still lingers in the mortal world!”

The words of the female official made those listening feel a heavy heart, indeed, such a defiance of natural law like resurrection, how could it be easily accomplished?

In the world, the most heart-wrenching thing is nothing but the separation of yin and yang!

“Life and death are decreed by fate, but affairs are managed by men, having a hope is always good, so I hope all of you, my lords and ladies, will fulfill this!”

The female official looked at everyone, bowing once more in salute.

The Left Prime Minister and others exchanged glances, while many Imperial Decree Ladies sighed silently.

“Forget it! It’s only a coffin, after all. Pity the hearts of parents in this world, pity the lovers in this world, I’ll just assume there’s a sick person lying inside!” said the wife of the Minister of Works, clapping her hands and speaking first.

The group of madams, upon hearing this, nodded, the slight fear in their hearts dissipating, and they began to chat again, one word after another.

“Speaking of it, the Lord of the Southern Country is also a pitiable person, trapped for more than twenty years, ultimately only able to consider this a barely happy family reunion, truly hoping that His Majesty the Sovereign Leader could be resurrected. May Heaven have eyes, pity the lovers of the world!”

“Indeed! If I were dead, I wouldn’t want my husband to carry my coffin around every day, just hope he doesn’t forget our old love!”

“Ah! All men in the world are ungrateful, yet there are still those who are affectionate!”

“…”

Listening to the chatter of their own madams, the Left Prime Minister and others shook their heads helplessly. They sensed something inappropriate but could not pinpoint where. Given that they were guests in someone else’s residence, they couldn’t be too particular. Thus, the matter was brought up casually and left at that!

When the banquet started, everyone saw that beside the main seat, there was indeed a rectangular object covered with Washing Moon Gauze. With the female official’s earlier words, everyone was mentally prepared, so they were not overly startled!

“Sang Jie greets the Lord, His Majesty the Sovereign Leader, and Mr. Ban Shan!” said the Left Prime Minister, offering a greeting, but just sitting behind the table with his fists clasped, not resorting to the full formalities of a court ceremony. His old face carried a casual smile, lacking any restraint, “Invited by the Southern Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince, I’m privileged to participate in this Heavenly Palace family banquet, truly the fortune of Sang Jie. Sang Jie boldly borrows a cup of the house’s modest wine to welcome the Lord and His Majesty the Sovereign Leader!”

The few people at the top seat, seeing this, all revealed a slight smile.

“I have long heard that Prime Minister Sang is a virtuous talent of the Zhou Dynasty, and seeing him today is the fortune of Taitian! Please!” Gu Taitian raised the wine cup on the table, offering a toast from a distance.

For a time, the ministers and the few men at the head exchanged cups and toasts, free from the formalities of the Imperial Court and the constraints of ranks, there was indeed a warm feeling of a family banquet.

On the other side, Gu Changsheng was also happily interacting with the many madams.

“Come, come, in Changsheng’s life, there are three favorites: fine wine, delicious food, and handsome gentlemen. How lucky I am to invite you Imperial Decree Ladies today, do try the grape wine and Southern Country delicacies from my house!” Gu Changsheng held the luminescent cup, speaking boldly. When these ministers and madams earlier offered their greetings, not a single one excluded his own mother, and Gu Changsheng clearly saw his father’s heartfelt smile, which greatly lifted his own spirits, hence he spoke with even less reservation!

All the madams were entertained by Gu Changsheng’s words, feeling unrestrained, as they raised the luminescent cups, praising and tasting the fine wine from the Southern Country.

“The fine wine and delicacies are here, but since your household masters are right in front, I dare not call out the handsome gentlemen!” Gu Changsheng smiled again, but then he pointed to Zhou Mu and Yue Xilou, speaking playfully, “However, it’s fortunate that your Great Zhou’s Crown Prince is here today. I’m in a good mood now, feel free to look as much as you want, I promise not to be jealous! Also, this one here, famed across the Itinerant World, known as ‘Spring Breeze Goes No Further,’ Yue Xilou, renowned as the most handsome man in the world, also a rare sight, feel free to watch, no charge!”

“Hehe…”

“Haha…”

“…”

The ladies laughed again upon hearing this, actually glancing at the two people who were named a few more times.

As for handsome men, even an old Madam with graying temples would still fancy them!

Zhou Mu and Yue Xilou exchanged a helpless glance, sharing a feeling of mutual sympathy.

“This rascal!” Gu Taitian held his cup and pointed at his own daughter with a smile, then turned to the old ministers seated below, “It must be amusing to you all, my child, ever since reaching this Zhou Dynasty, has never participated in court affairs or banquets. It’s merely because this child is too unruly; his only merit is that he has a bit of self-awareness, fearing to go out and be laughed at!”

“Haha, the Lord is joking. The Southern Emperor is deeply emotional yet has the boldness of Northern Mongolian women!”

The Left Prime Minister and others laughed as they spoke, bringing joy to both hosts and guests alike. Especially when halfway through the banquet, when all the dishes were nearly served, Prince Rong, Zhou Rong, came along with his family, adding even more fun to this welcoming banquet!

“Alright, alright! Madam, you better take it easy. If you keep staring, the Flower Peacock might get annoyed!” Gu Changsheng advised with a smile to an old Madam craning her neck to look at Yue Xilou.

Didn’t she notice that her Flower Peacock is nearly dying of embarrassment from being ogled by others? If it weren’t for the presence of elders keeping things steady, he might have stormed out long ago.

The Madam who was addressed chuckled and spoke frankly, “I’m quite curious if such pleasing men truly exist in the world?”

Gu Changsheng heard this and smiled slightly, “Madam, you are unaware, such men would certainly not come from ordinary families!”

He raised his hand to point to the top of the male seating, continuing, “Did Madam take notice? This person’s position is even above Zhou Mu’s top seat?”

“Oh my! I really didn’t notice! He…”

Several ladies were startled upon hearing this. Even at a family banquet, there is respect for the order of seniority and hierarchy. So, does this mean this person is even more honored than the Crown Prince of Great Zhou?

That earlier, had they overlooked this person? They didn’t even pay their respects!

Gu Changsheng, seeing the surprise on the ladies’ faces, took delight and spoke spiritedly, “This person is no other but the cousin of the former Crown Prince, the Little Uncle from Auntie Granny Zhou Mu’s family, haha… how’s that? An ordinary family wouldn’t give birth to such a handsome man akin to a Heavenly Immortal, would they?”

The ladies were taken aback but quickly burst into laughter.

They figured as much, how could an ordinary family give birth to such a refined man? Turns out he is a relative of the Crown Prince, which explains it well, as their Crown Prince also possesses features akin to an Exiled Immortal!

Without the fuss over rank, the feast continued with endless laughter and joy.

“Your Majesty the Southern Emperor, I have a question. It’s said that your daughters in the Southern Country are exceedingly charming. Since you wish to form a matrimonial alliance with the Crown Prince, could my family’s son possibly have the chance to discuss marriage with a daughter of the Southern Country?” a lady asked.

Gu Changsheng was startled upon hearing this, naturally directing his gaze to Hongyan Jiaojiao and Hongfu Su seated behind him, as well as several other accompanying old ministers from the Southern Country.

“The Madam is joking. There is no reason against it, but customs differ every ten miles and languages every hundred. I fear it may bring grievances to the son from Madam’s family!” Hongfu Su, being quite the astute figure adept at strategic schemes, caught the eye signal from his own Sovereign, and immediately replied.

“There is gain and loss. Since there is gain, there is naturally loss. I’ve heard that Bashu and the Southern Borderlands are lands favored by the gods, rich in treasures; I wouldn’t hide the truth. My maternal family’s fortune was built on business, having a notable name in Chen County. Now that the Southern Country is established, the Northern Country has submitted, and Great Zhou is to form a marriage alliance with the Southern Country, the matter of trade is only an issue of time. I ask not for monopoly but merely the first taste of the feast!” The lady spoke openly with a bright smile.

Gu Changsheng paused in surprise, then quickly delighted, his cup clashing onto the table as he laughed heartily, “This Madam is straightforward, so I won’t hold back either. I am keen on shedding the reputation of the Witch and Gu Tribes living in poor and harsh landscapes, and wish for them to enjoy prosperous and stable lives. Our Bashu and Southern Border do not lack deep mountains and old forests, the untapped mineral treasures are ample and abundant in our Bashu Southern Borderlands. Originally, I thought, if we aim to strengthen the nation, then let’s start from my territory, lest others think I’m taking advantage of Zhou Mu’s family. Since this Madam brought it up and Great Zhou is known for not restraining concerning merchants, Madam, having become our guest of honor, I’ll give you a straightforward answer. If you wish to engage in commerce in my Bashu and Southern Border, it is not difficult nor overly easy. As Madam said, marriage alliance is undoubtedly the best way to establish oneself!”

As Gu Changsheng concluded, the ladies were overjoyed, even the gentlemen, including the Left Prime Minister and Minister of Revenue, couldn’t help but strain their necks to listen carefully!

Gu Changsheng lightly curved his lips, continuing, “Then I might as well speak candidly. Under my command, there are five hundred thousand Honor Guard Female Officers, all hailing from the renowned families of Southern Border Bashu. Though customs differ, I don’t intend to force their marital ties. Let’s each take a step back and settle on a method for marriage alliances and trade unions, shall we?”

“How do we each take a step back?” The Madam of the Minister of Revenue asked eagerly. If this matter can be settled at this family banquet, it would be a meritorious service to the nation, possibly immortalized in history, how could she not be tempted?