Blood of Deception [ON HOLD]

Chapter Eighteen

It was the day of the festival. Hundreds of carts and wagons rolled through the gates of the divisions with food supplies and accommodations for approximately one-fourth of the whole populace who would be joining the celebration. Crops were harvested and brought in by merchants. Wholesales rates were soaring high up the clouds. The guards took the preparation of setting up furniture and tents while the servants scuttled about for table-making and food. They needed to complete their task by dusk, which was when the party would begin.

The commotion going all around rattled the Junqian's office as he sat behind his desk, hunched over a report regarding the overall bills for the prep. It wasn't only him. All the civil service workers were required to work as any day, and the only change was that they could retire at lunchtime and wait for the festival. Junqian brooded over the fact that the citizens received a holiday while the slave Division was barely ever off.

The advisor looked up the paper he held to Yuzhe at his left. His assistant was leaning on his elbow, a record book spread on his desk, but his eyes were somehow on the inkpot nearby.

"Yuzhe," Junqian called. When he clearly didn't hear him the advisor set the report down and spoke louder.

Yuzhe turned. "Sorry, what is it?"

"Are you alright?" he asked. "You've been spacing out."

Yuzhe straightened, seeming to be shaking his thoughts away. "It's nothing. I was just thinking a little," he said and brought his focus back to the book.

He had been like that ever since after he came on the first day. During that day, Junqian thought he'd never seen anyone who'd worked more seriously than him. But on the next day, Yuzhe appeared almost distracted. Junqian caught him staring at nothing a couple of times and worried if the job was wearing him out of boredom.

"I'm sorry you're still stuck here on this day," the advisor said. "Let's grab some drinks after we get this done."

Yuzhe agreed with a nod. Junqian picked up a clipped file atop a stack of documents when he remembered something. "There's one more thing," he said to Yuzhe. "I'd like you to be the one supervising this section of the banquet where the common citizens will be feasting."

He pointed to the window behind him with his thumb. The commoner's tents were separated from the aristocrats and were established on the open pavement of the Second Division. The sheer size of it could handle at least five thousand people, excluding gardens and porches.

"We had a brawl broken out last year you see between some drunkards and it led to some severe damages," he continued. "The guards weren't enough to stop them apparently. But I doubt any of those would've had happened if you were there." He clasped his fingers against each other close to his nose, pleading. "We really need some of your muscles. Of course, you can still enjoy the festival. I'm only asking in case if there's any problem."

Yuzhe replied soon after. "Sure thing. I'll watch out for problems."

"Thanks a lot," he said earnestly. "You saved me from having to compromise with unreasonable compensation."

The incident last year wasn't something he'd like to recall. Good thing that it wasn't going to happen again because anyone who would challenge Yuzhe to drunk combats was a fool. He'd experienced that first hand.

Instead, he couldn't wait to indulge in the expensive liquors of the party.

~~~

Meiyue stepped out of her room in the late morning. Xiaonu trailed from behind. Her musical instrument was taken by two soldiers earlier for necessary tuning and arrangement on the stage.