When Gu Huaiyu took his seat, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
He, however, remained perfectly composed. On his way over, he had already learned of the chaos in the hall from the eunuchs. Since the delegation wanted to stir up trouble, he was more than happy to oblige.
He picked up his tea, lowering his head to take a slow, methodical sip.
Every soul in the hall waited for that single sip to end.
The civil officials didn’t dare speak, the generals held their breath, the Pure Stream faction watched from the shadows, and the members of the Gu Faction were practically vibrating with anticipation.
The light clink of the teacup meeting the saucer was jarringly clear in the silent expanse of the hall.
“A crowd of burly men,” he began, his voice carrying its usual lazy, noble cadence, the final syllables curling upward. “Resorting to bullying women to establish dominance—”
At this, the corners of his lips curved into a half-smile. “How very… impressive.”
It was impossible to tell if his tone was one of mockery, pity, or pure exhaustion.
The interpreter from the Court of State Ceremonies grinned broadly, wasting no time in translating the remark for the delegation.
The members of the Eastern Liao delegation wore various expressions of shock and fury, but for a moment, none of them found their voice.
Yelü Chi, however, remained detached, thoughtfully scrutinizing the expressions of the civil and military officials throughout the hall.
A man with a volatile temper like Wu Wei couldn’t possibly swallow such an insult. He slammed his hand against the table and surged to his feet, barking a string of harsh Eastern Liao phrases.
Even those who didn’t understand the language could tell from his flushed face and the spray of spittle that his words were anything but polite.
Gu Huaiyu’s gaze drifted disinterestedly over the delegation before finally settling on Wu Wei. “Does the Head Envoy wish to wrestle?”
“There isn’t a single man in all of Great Chen!” Wu Wei roared in a coarse, booming voice. “Who would even dare to wrestle me?”
Before the echoes of his shout could fade, a sharp clack rang through the hall—Pei Jingyi had unbuckled his saber and tossed it casually to a nearby guard.
He strode into the center of the hall, spreading his arms with effortless grace. “What’s the fun in bullying the old, the weak, and the women?” he asked in fluent Eastern Liao, a smirk playing on his lips. “Why don’t you try your luck with me?”
Yelü Chi’s brow twitched. He stood up abruptly to intervene, but Wu Wei was already pounding his chest in acceptance. “Come then! I’ll snap your bones like dry twigs!”
With that, Wu Wei ripped off his upper garment, revealing a mountain of thick, knotted muscle. Broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, he stood in the center of the hall like a literal iron tower.
Gu Huaiyu propped his chin on one hand, adjusting himself into a more comfortable position as if settling in to watch a play.
Pei Jingyi took his time unfastening his wide-sleeved outer robe, revealing the fitted inner garment beneath.
Unlike Wu Wei’s crude, hulking mass, Pei Jingyi’s physique was defined by lean, efficient lines—broad shoulders tapering into a narrow waist.
“After you,” Pei Jingyi said, raising his hand in a starting stance. He didn’t look like he was about to wrestle; he looked like he was performing an ancient, refined rite.
Wu Wei charged with a roar, his heavy frame making the floorboards tremble. Pei Jingyi didn’t dodge or retreat. At the very last second, he pivoted—
His right hand precisely clamped onto Wu Wei’s right wrist while his left hand supported the elbow.
With a clean, sharp turn, he used Wu Wei’s own momentum against him, heaving the giant into the air.
Thump!
Wu Wei’s massive body traced an arc through the air before slamming violently onto the hall’s golden floor tiles.
The impact was so immense that even the massive pillars seemed to shudder.
A man of Wu Wei’s size couldn’t withstand the force of his own weight hitting the ground like that. He didn’t even have the chance to grunt before falling unconscious. Blood seeped from his nose and mouth as he lay there, limp as a dead fish.
The entire exchange had happened in the blink of an eye.
The Eastern Liao delegation hadn’t even processed Pei Jingyi’s face before their Head Envoy was lying on the floor, his life or death uncertain.
The hall became frighteningly quiet.
The officials of Great Chen fought to suppress their laughter, their faces turning beet-red from the effort.
Finally, a very faint chuckle drifted down from the head of the hall.
Gu Huaiyu let out a soft snort of amusement. That single sound was like opening a floodgate; the hall instantly erupted into a deafening roar of laughter.
“Hahaha!”
“Glorious! Truly glorious!”
“General Pei is magnificent!”
The civil officials doubled over with laughter while the generals hammered their tables in approval. Despite years of internal strife, the court had never been more united than in this moment.
Pei Jingyi dressed himself in his outer robe again, his expression unchanged. When he returned to Gu Huaiyu’s side, he leaned down and whispered, “I didn’t lose face for the Lord Chancellor, did I?”
The mirth hadn’t yet left Gu Huaiyu’s eyes. He reached out and lightly patted Pei Jingyi’s cheek. “You did well.”
Pei Jingyi instinctively didn’t want that hand to leave. He leaned forward half an inch, as if trying to nuzzle into the touch.
But Gu Huaiyu had already withdrawn his hand, turning casually to pick up his teacup.
Pei Jingyi let out a soft tsk and stood behind him, arms crossed.
As the laughter died down, the Eastern Liao delegation looked ashen. Several men hovered over the unconscious Wu Wei, whispering frantically. The words “Three Arrows of Mount Wu” could be heard among their hushed murmurs.
They had finally recognized the general who haunted the dreams of the Eastern Liao military. They had mocked Great Chen for having no men, only to have their leader thrown like a sack of grain.
The Vice-Envoy, sitting in the secondary seat, wore a dark expression. He had no choice but to step forward, cupping his hands. “Our empire came to Great Chen for two reasons: first, to restore relations, and second, for a marriage alliance.”
