Is This the Feast at Hong Gate in This World!?

Is this what a legendary Feast at Hong Gate feels like?

“Father King!” Yuna glided gracefully towards Bargnar, a wine cup in hand. She glanced at Du Chen, who was seated beside Bargnar, and smiled, “Lord Francis has rendered great service to the nation. I believe he should no longer suffer the disdainful glares of the Versailles Guards!”

Bargnar chuckled, “Indeed, Francis has rendered great service to the nation. How could he be subjected to such rude treatment from ignorant guards?”

Du Chen looked at Yuna, then at Bargnar. This was unusually excessive, wasn’t it? Suddenly, a clear thought struck him, and he seemed to understand something. He looked down to see Beibei staring up at him with wide, blinking eyes. The little one also wore a strange expression, but Beibei’s furrowed brow in thought was utterly adorable.

“My dear Francis!” Bargnar addressed Du Chen by name. “Lord, oh no, I mean Earl Francis… hmm, from now on, I expect the Versailles Guards will no longer treat you disrespectfully. For insolence towards an Imperial Earl, even royal guards must be sent to the execution pyre!”

*He’s promoting me just like that!? A carrot before the stick?*

Though Du Chen had a vague inkling of what was happening, he dared not commit to a definitive thought. He quickly rose and bowed, “Your Majesty, as the saying goes, ‘No reward without merit.’ I am merely a humble student at present. How can I be bestowed such an important position as an Imperial Earl?!”

There were three ranks between an Earl and a Lord, but the fundamental difference was immense. Most directly, an Earl could legitimately possess territory and raise his own private army!

“‘No reward without merit!’ What a profound statement!” Bargnar’s eyes lit up, secretly praising Du Chen’s quick wit. But he didn’t know that Du Chen had merely translated an idiom from his previous life into the common tongue of the Aethelgard Continent!

“Indeed, one should not receive a reward without merit, but you have rendered great service to the nation!” Bargnar gestured to the sparse few guests present and declared, “Last year, the southern floods caused immense suffering to the commoners along eight hundred li of the Newin River. Rebellions erupted, and the region was utterly unstable! Not a single minister in the imperial court could propose a definitive solution to the calamity! Yet you, Francis, resolved this monumental crisis for the Empire. If this isn’t a colossal achievement, then what is?!”

*Got it. I completely understand what’s happening now!*

Du Chen, holding Beibei with one arm and stroking his nose with the other, bowed and said, “Your Majesty, such praise makes me even more undeserving! Yet Francis knows that to serve the nation and its people, one must dedicate oneself with utmost devotion until death!”

Bargnar’s heart stirred once more. *What a Francis! The words of this young man, who was a fool for fifteen years and is now only sixteen, are truly… pleasing to the ear! So very pleasing!*

Yuna chuckled coquettishly, “Earl, I always knew you possessed many virtues, and I’ve mentioned them to Father King before. But I never imagined you held even more virtues waiting for me to discover! Such as your eloquence!” Having subtly implied that the change in Bargnar’s demeanor was her doing, Yuna then smiled again, “Father King, can you now make a decision regarding my proposal?”

“Of course, Yuna, my daughter. Now Father King finds your proposal to be exceedingly correct and excellent!”

Bargnar nodded slightly, then continued, “Francis, you quelled the disasters and hidden dangers along eight hundred li of the Newin River, stabilizing the hearts of the common folk in the Empire’s south and pacifying the unrest! This is a monumental achievement. If I were only to raise your noble title, I, as king, would feel shame in my own heart for not adequately rewarding your service! In my twenty years on the throne, I have always been clear in my rewards and punishments! For those who render great service, I am never stingy with my recompense!”

Since he already understood what was happening in his heart, Du Chen played along, bowing with feigned apprehension, “Your Majesty’s generosity already makes me uneasy! In truth, the stability in the south was entirely due to Your Majesty’s decisive and sagacious judgment, and your sacred standing in the hearts of the southern commoners! Without these, even if I had sent a hundred thousand, a million relief funds, it would have been futile!”

Bargnar smiled, then suddenly waved his hand. Immediately, a servant came forward and hung a complete map of Lanning on the wall behind him. Bargnar stood, took the crown and sword from an attendant’s hand, donned them, and pointed solemnly to the winding Newin River in the south. “Francis, I, Bargnar, the sovereign of Lanning, shall bestow upon you the reward you deserve! This is both a reward and a responsibility!”

Du Chen’s heart sank. He quickly handed his daughter to Yuna, who had drawn closer, adjusted his robes, and knelt. He said respectfully, “By the esteemed ancestor, Saint Bovin of Lanning, Francis is proud to be born in Lanning! I dare not ask for any more rewards!”

*Damn it, this is too fantastical, how is this possible!? I thought a promotion and a noble title would be enough, but I never expected…* Du Chen’s heart surged with a mix of surprise and delight, yet his face remained humbly apprehensive. He responded with a touch of noble excitement, yet with perfect decorum.

Bargnar approached Du Chen, placed the sword on his shoulder, and spoke in a long, drawn-out voice, “By the esteemed ancestor, Saint Bovin, the eight hundred li of land along the Newin River, upstream from Newin Port, shall be entrusted to the Empire’s loyal subject, Earl Francis, for his guardianship!”

“By the esteemed ancestor, Saint Bovin, Francis, descendant of Sigurd, solemnly swears upon his life…” Du Chen recited the obligatory oath that every noble receiving a fiefdom must utter, but his heart was shouting, *I have territory!? Ha, a thief with territory…*

After a long moment, the ceremony concluded. Bargnar smiled, “Very well, rise, Earl Francis! Your responsibility is great. There are three hundred thousand commoners along the eight hundred li of the Newin River. Their future well-being depends on your efforts! Do not disappoint the people of your fief, nor disappoint me, nor disappoint the Lanning Empire!”

Du Chen nodded solemnly.

Bargnar smiled again. “Well, today was just the preliminary ceremony. The formal investiture ceremony and the imperial edict granting the fiefdom will be issued after deliberation among the ministers… Heh, you know, there are many ministers in the Imperial Capital who might have small misunderstandings about you. Before they understand your virtues and character, there are still many things to be smoothed over!”

“I understand!” Du Chen truly understood. Bargnar’s implied meaning was that he wanted Du Chen to help deal with the opposition.

“Haha, excellent! Let us resume our banquet!” Bargnar laughed heartily. Suddenly, he noticed Beibei in Yuna’s arms. He personally picked up the adorable little girl and kissed her, “What a lovely little girl! Yuna, she’s even cuter than you were as a child!”

Beibei glared at Bargnar with annoyance, thinking, *How annoying! You big-bearded old man, how dare you grope little Beibei! I’ll burn your old bum!… Huh?*

The little one peeked at Bargnar again, then suddenly cackled with a cunning, utterly wicked smile! Then, she slowly released her terrifying Spiritual Power… Of course, to everyone else, it all looked so adorable, just a typical child acting spoiled!

Bargnar was utterly oblivious to Beibei’s mischief. He just felt that the more he looked at the little girl in his arms, the cuter she became! *Ha, this is too much! She’s absolutely captivating!*

Bargnar’s heart swelled with delight, a wonderful feeling of enjoying a grandchild instantly rushing to his head. In that moment, he completely abandoned his political mindset and, without thinking, blurted out, “Yuna, your mother, my Queen Consort, will absolutely adore Belmonde, haha!” The little one was truly too cute; the way she blinked her big eyes at him made his heart itch! Bargnar kissed the little darling again and continued, “Francis, I would like the Queen Consort to adopt an honorary granddaughter. Do you mind?”

*Hmm?* Du Chen was startled. He saw his daughter winking and smiling mischievously at him.

“You don’t mind? Excellent! This is a royal internal affair and does not require the ministers’ consultation. Guards! Immediately issue an imperial edict, bestowing upon Belmonde the title of Little Princess of Lanning!”

Du Chen scratched his head, utterly bewildered.

Yuna was also stunned. *Damn it, Father King, what are you doing? This reward is excessive! You can’t openly curry favor with Francis so obviously, can you? How can bestowing a princess title be a royal internal affair!? Good heavens, tomorrow, all the old foxes and young whelps in the Imperial Capital will surely interpret another meaning—that the Lanning Imperial Family is strongly backing Francis!*

But His Majesty’s words had already been spoken, and everyone had no choice but to accept the situation, stepping forward one after another to offer congratulations.

Du Chen looked at Princess Yuna, a mix of amusement and frustration in his heart. *Damn it, is this the Feast at Hong Gate? I never imagined this world’s Feast at Hong Gate would be a promotion, a noble title, a vast territory gifted for free, and on top of that, the bestowal of a princess title…*

“Feast at Hong Gate…” Du Chen muttered self-deprecatingly.

“What feast?” Yuna overheard him and casually asked.

“Ah!? Heh heh, it’s the Feast at Hong Gate!” Du Chen gave a dry laugh. “I read about it in an ancient text on Battle God Isle. It spoke of a powerful Aberrant Beast in antiquity, a bird called a ‘Honghu,’ which was a divine beast used by ancient Sage Kings to guard the gates of their grand palaces. Hence, the Sage Kings’ gates were also called ‘Hong Gate’… And later, the banquets held by Sage Kings to receive and reward meritorious officials were called the Feast at Hong Gate, signifying the king’s divine favor…”

After speaking, cold sweat poured down Du Chen’s back. *Damn it, I’m truly talented. To be able to concoct such nonsense…*

Yuna, unaware that this was a complete fabrication, chuckled, “Earl Francis, you are truly learned!”

“Heh heh!” Du Chen gave another dry laugh.

Bargnar, who had just set down Beibei, also overheard these words. An idea stirred within him; the self-proclaimed Sage King thought, *This is an excellent name!*

After a moment of thought, he smiled, “Earl Francis speaks most eloquently! The Sage Kings rewarding meritorious officials should indeed be called the Feast at Hong Gate! Someone, record this for me. From now on, should Lanning ever reward its meritorious officials, they shall all be granted a seat at a… Feast at Hong Gate!”

When the wine was finished and the guests dispersed, Du Chen left the “Feast at Hong Gate,” feeling both amused and exasperated.

But as soon as he left, Bargnar’s expression in the Grand Council Hall changed. He dismissed the servants, leaving only Princess Yuna and the few guests who were not important members of the royal family.

*Clap! Clap!* Bargnar clapped his hands. Immediately, several figures streaked from hidden panels in the side wall and knelt before His Majesty—Beibei hadn’t misjudged, there really were many experts ambushed here!

Yuna said with a somewhat heavy expression, “Father King, why did you make Belmonde… just now?”

“What are you talking about? Don’t you think that little girl is absolutely adorable?! This can also better secure Francis’s loyalty!” Bargnar had no idea he had fallen for the trick, because Beibei’s technique was incredibly sophisticated.

After walking around in front of the others, Bargnar said, “Yuna, this time, it was thanks to your prior warning, telling Father King that Francis had the support of a Nine-Star Battle God. Otherwise, I fear tonight we would have become enemies with a peak Nine-Star expert! Even if we could deal with Francis, the Versailles Guards and the venerable elders of the Consecration Pavilion would suffer immense losses! Excellent, you did very well this time!”

Yuna smiled faintly but said nothing.

“Tell me, what is Francis truly like?” Bargnar stared at the shadowy figures from the side wall.

“Your Majesty, at the very least, he showed no hostility today. Otherwise, he would not have brought that little girl to the banquet! And according to the intelligence we’ve gathered, aside from what Princess Yuna mentioned—that he reached some agreement with the Holy Church—there have been no disloyal actions whatsoever! Not even any dissatisfaction with the Imperial Family! On the contrary, he acts more loyal than most officials! Relatively speaking, reaching an agreement with the Holy Church cannot truly be considered disloyal, as the Holy Church can provide many things the Empire cannot! So…”

“Hmm, what if Francis harbors hidden ambitions?”

Before he could finish, the leader of the shadowy figures already said, “Your Majesty, a Nine-Star Battle God is indeed terrifying. But if there are only one or two Nine-Star experts without other extensive resources, they are far from sufficient to contend with your Empire. As long as you give the order, Francis absolutely has no chance of survival! Ten of us, a hundred of us, might not be able to kill a Nine-Star expert, but I believe ten thousand men surely can! Your Majesty, even sacrificing ten thousand men to kill a peak Nine-Star Battle God is nothing to you, who commands a million-strong army!”

“Excellent, this is excellent!” Bargnar smiled. “Since he poses no threat, then we can try to make him serve me! This is also the most important reason why I bestowed a title upon that adorable little girl!” He turned to Yuna, asking as if testing her, “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Yuna lowered her head and said, “Francis has the support of at least one peak Nine-Star expert. He is a grand inheritance, and the Holy Church is already partaking in this inheritance!” She paused, then added, “Therefore, after extracting intelligence from Mars, the Battle God, and reporting it to you, I suggested giving Francis a generous reward!”

She looked into her father king’s profound eyes and declared loudly, “Earls, the Empire has over a hundred! Eight hundred li of territory is but a mere speck compared to the vast expanse of Lanning! But these are enough to make Francis overflowing with gratitude, and you, Father King, can exchange such a small price for the opportunity to gain the support of one or even more peak Nine-Star Battle Gods. It is extremely worthwhile!”

“And that is just one of the benefits!” Yuna continued, “The eight hundred li along the Newin River is an economic black hole for the Empire. Over the years, Merfolk infestations, earthquakes, floods, and rampant rebellions… the Empire has expended far too much energy for this mere eight hundred li of land! So, let Francis take this hot potato!”

She chuckled, “Using Francis’s million-gold fortune to fill the Empire’s economic black hole, Father King, you’ve made a killing on this deal!”

Bargnar’s smile deepened, but he asked, as if to challenge her, “What if Francis truly fills this black hole and transforms it into a prosperous region? In that case, with Francis presiding over eight hundred li of territory and the support of two peak Nine-Star Battle Gods, wouldn’t he harbor some… unfavorable thoughts?”

Yuna answered without hesitation, “Even if Du Chen truly manages to transform the Newin River region into a prosperous land—though I don’t believe he has such capabilities—what power could a mere eight hundred li of territory bring compared to your rule over the entire expanse of Lanning, Father King?”

“Father King, Francis is currently like a fruit tree. You plant him, without needing to fertilize or tend to him. Once he bears fruit, you can enjoy it at your leisure, and if this fruit tree dares to rebel, you command a million lumberjacks!”

After listening to Yuna finish, Bargnar suddenly sighed, “Yuna, if you weren’t a princess, but a prince, I wouldn’t have to worry about the successor to the throne… Alas!”

Yuna lowered her head in apprehension, but her eyes subtly darted towards the throne. What she didn’t see was Bargnar, after his sigh, also secretly observing his daughter’s expression.

Outside the palace, Du Chen understood everything as he walked out the gates. Combining this with his earlier thoughts—that for an emperor to change his attitude, one must demonstrate a useful value that doesn’t pose a threat—it was easy to deduce that the Lanning Imperial Family had learned about the top expert by his side.

Du Chen couldn’t yet clearly see the full pros and cons of this situation, but for now, the benefits far outweighed the disadvantages, significantly so!

Lost in thought, he walked to the statue of Saint Bovin. Just then, several individuals blocked his path.

Du Chen recognized all of them: they were Household Guards from the Saint Kaine Estate!

“Lord Francis, your father, Grand Duke Arges, has asked us to inform you that he has arranged a marriage for you. The bride is Miss Avril, Prime Minister Antoine’s granddaughter! Currently, the engagement ceremony is being discussed, please…”

Before he could finish, Du Chen roared, “What!? I’m getting engaged!?”