“Did you always spend New Year’s like this before?” Chaosheng asked Xiang Xian.
“Far from it,” Xiang Xian laughed. “When I was little, I spent it with my master. After he passed, I came to Fanlou alone for New Year’s. Old Wu sat by my side, and A Huang kept me company while drinking. Once the alcohol kicked in, I went down to watch the fireworks, then headed home to sleep.”
Xiao Kun said, “Kaifeng is far more prosperous than Shangjing.”
“Mm.” Xiang Xian replied, “But beautiful scenery is wasted without someone to share it with.”
A Huang finally arrived, bringing another parrot with him. They perched on the railing in front of the private booth.
Chaosheng said, “Is this your friend? Hello! What’s your name?”
“It doesn’t talk,” A Huang said. “Do you have any pine nuts or melon seeds? Give it some.”
“Grand Commandant, boundless fortune! Grand Commandant, boundless fortune!” the parrot suddenly cried out.
Everyone: “…”
A Huang corrected himself. “Fine, it only says ‘Grand Commandant, boundless fortune’ and ‘get lost.’”
Xiang Xian explained, “This is Gao Qiu’s parrot.”
Chaosheng quickly grabbed a dish of dried fruits, pine nuts, and melon seeds for the parrot. The parrot was delighted, flapping its wings as it snatched a pine nut. A Huang added, “It doesn’t eat candied fruit; it gives it diarrhea.”
The parrot proved quite clever, cracking the pine nut open in a few pecks before hopping toward A Huang. It affectionately pressed close and fed him mouth-to-mouth.
“Whoa—” Everyone let out teasing sounds.
A Huang ate it expressionlessly, glaring at the group. In the end, they all burst into laughter again. Soon, the servers began bringing out the dishes.
“Wow, what’s this?” Chaosheng’s eyes widened. The famous dishes at Fanlou Chun Nuan Pavilion differed greatly from common home cooking. The world’s finest foods gathered in Kaifeng, and Kaifeng’s most luxurious were in the Eight Great Buildings. The dishes served included names like “Flowing Pearl Shattered Jade,” “Wealthy Spring Dawn,” and “Golden Treasures in Abundance.” Even Xiao Kun, who often dined with royalty, couldn’t identify them.
“Eight Treasure Tofu—want a spoonful?” Wu Yingzong said, rolling up some roast duck for Chaosheng. Xiao Kun sipped a bowl of milky-white soup while Xiang Xian leaned against the railing, eating beef threads with his wine. The beef was paper-thin and translucent like ice, even revealing the lamplight through it—hence called “Lamplight” beef. Shredded, it made the perfect drinking snack.
Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun chatted idly. Xiao Kun found it strange; they were inseparable every day, talking nonstop except when sleeping, yet they still had endless topics.
But today, they wisely avoided court matters to prevent eavesdroppers.
“The one that sticks with me most was the trip to Chenjia Valley,” Xiao Kun said after finishing his soup and setting aside the fine dishware. “It was a clear winter night just like that one—New Year’s Eve.”
Xiang Xian thought for a moment. “Chenjia Valley, southwest of Yun State, under Yanmen Pass.”
“Yes,” Xiao Kun confirmed.
Xiang Xian tore off a bit of beef and pretended to feed it to him. Xiao Kun took it with his hand. “That year, I sat alone in a tavern in Chenjia Valley, drinking. A harsh winter plague raged, filled with cries and coughs everywhere. Distant flickers of firelight… Should I not say this? Sorry.”
“No,” Xiang Xian said seriously. “Go on. I know about that plague.”
“Mm.” Xiao Kun continued, “Since it was in Liao territory, you couldn’t go resolve it?”
Xiang Xian replied, “If the plague hadn’t subsided, my master and I would’ve made a trip come spring.”
Xiao Kun gazed into the distance. “Later, I learned those firelights were pyres burning the plague victims’ corpses, dotted across the hills like fireworks.”
Xiang Xian studied Xiao Kun’s profile. His blue eyes were as clear as lake water.
“The culprit was a Plague Beast,” Xiao Kun said absently upon snapping back. “Killing it was actually quite easy.”
“But without an exorcist,” Xiang Xian said, “the plague would’ve dragged on for a long time.”
“Mm,” Xiao Kun agreed. “The strong can sway countless lives with a single thought. Casually slaying a demon saves hundreds of families from peril. Heavenly Dao is so unfair. When will mortals truly control their own fates?”
Xiang Xian didn’t answer. He often felt the world was unjust too. Zhao Ji, as emperor, along with the handful at the court’s power core, decided the fates of thousands with a word. No one had any say; they could only accept passively and live numbly.
“Lord Xiang!” someone exclaimed, interrupting their conversation.
The guests in the third-floor booths were all wealthy or noble, mostly acquainted. After a few rounds of drinks, they wandered drunkenly with pitchers in hand, exchanging auspicious words for luck. Xiang Xian rose upon seeing the newcomer. “Grand Commander Gao! This is rare—you actually came to Fanlou?”
It was indeed Gao Qiu. As Grand Commandant, he should’ve hosted at his estate, yet here he was at Fanlou. He grinned and clapped Xiang Xian’s shoulder.
“This is the new head of the Exorcism Division, Lord Xiao,” Xiang Xian introduced.
“Oh!” Gao Qiu, flushed with drink, stared fixedly at Xiao Kun. Xiao Kun rose and toasted him. Xiang Xian added, “Lord Guo will oversee the Gold Stone Bureau come spring. The Exorcism Division will be under Lord Xiao.”
“So young! Impressive, impressive!” Gao Qiu staggered over and grasped Xiao Kun’s hand.
“Such pretty eyes.” Gao Qiu laughed to those around him. “Heh heh, haha!”
Xiang Xian introduced Chaosheng, who looked mildly puzzled, glanced at Gao Qiu, nodded without rising, and chatted up at him from Wu Yingzong’s lap with a smile.
