Xinfeng Hongmen was originally an obscure village, but from this day onward, it would likely become renowned throughout the land—all because the Overlord of Western Chu had invited Duke Pei, Liu Ji, to a banquet here, celebrating her achievement of breaching the Pass and overthrowing the Qin dynasty.
That day, the entire area within ten miles of Hongmen was adorned with lanterns and decorations. The Chu army lined the roads in welcome, each soldier wearing a strip of red cloth, while red lanterns and festive ornaments hung from the trees on either side, creating an atmosphere of jubilance and warmth.
"With all this red, this isn't just a banquet—it's practically a wedding feast," Xiao He muttered under his breath as he rode alongside Liu Ji and the others. Fortunately, the clamor of the crowd drowned out his quiet words.
At this point, Xiao He had begun to suspect that the Overlord's famed devotion to Consort Yu was merely a facade for the world. Perhaps his true affection lay with his lord. Though male love was widely known in this era of crumbling rites and music, it was still not something openly celebrated. Given the Overlord's status, he naturally had to maintain appearances and avoid public scandal.
He stole a glance at Liu Ji, who rode ahead of the group on a steed as majestic as the Overlord's famed Wuzhui. Her face was flushed with excitement, her expression tender and delighted. Dressed, as usual, in a striking crimson robe, her handsome features made her look like a bride in this festive setting.
'Come to think of it, the King of Han has always favored red attire since our days in Pei County. For a man to love red so much… could it be…?'
Xiao He's mind wandered into wild speculation, already mapping out the dynamics between the Overlord and the King of Han. If women of future generations knew his thoughts, they would surely crown him the "Number One Fujoshi of Huaxia."
He then glanced at Zhang Liang, who rode beside him. Though Zhang Zifang wore a forced smile, his eyes betrayed deep concern. Xiao He scoffed and shook his head.
Originally, Xiao He had intended to accompany them to Hongmen, but Zhang Liang had vehemently opposed it, warning that the feast was a trap—if Xiao He went, the Overlord could eliminate them all in one stroke. Even now, Xiao He could recall the dark expression on the King of Han's face when she heard Zhang Liang's words.
However, under Xiao He's firm insistence, Zhang Liang eventually agreed to let him come along. At that moment, Xiao He already knew that the hierarchy between himself and Zhang Liang in the Han King's heart had been settled.
Though Zhang Zifang possessed the talent to strategize within a command tent and secure victory from a thousand miles away, like many who relied on their brilliance and looked down on others, he harbored an innate arrogance. In contrast, Xiao He, originally a minor official from Pei County, understood human relationships and had witnessed the harsh realities of the lower classes. When it came to the art of flattery, Zhang Liang couldn't hope to catch up with Xiao He even if he rode a horse.
Just as Xiao He was basking in his smugness, he noticed a sudden commotion and tremor ahead, followed by an eerie silence. The entire Chu army had fallen quiet. Witnessing this, not only Xiao He but even Zhang Liang felt a pang of unease, unsettled by the discipline of the Chu forces.
On the main road ahead, a towering figure rode atop a divine black steed, clad in battle armor, a crimson cloak fluttering gently in the breeze. Like the Han King Liu Ji, this man had strikingly handsome features, making it momentarily difficult to discern his gender—not because he looked feminine, but because of an inexplicable, contradictory aura he exuded.
When Liu Ji saw that Roy had ridden five miles outside Hongmen to greet her, she immediately broke into the brightest, most radiant smile she had worn in months. Urging her horse forward, she dismounted with a swift, practiced motion and knelt on one knee, declaring, "...Your subject, Liu Ji, pays homage to the Overlord of Western Chu. Ji has fulfilled her duty, breached the Pass, and conquered Xianyang. Now that the tyrannical Qin has fallen, it is a great fortune for all under heaven!"
Liu Ji had already pledged allegiance to Chu, becoming a subordinate. After Roy killed the King of Chu and proclaimed himself the Overlord of Western Chu, he became her sovereign in status, making her kneeling gesture entirely appropriate.
"Rise quickly, Han King! Now that you are one of the feudal lords of the realm, seated upon the throne of 'Han King,' there is no need for such formalities when we meet in the future!"
Roy likewise dismounted and helped Liu Ji to her feet.
As he held the delicate, jade-like hands of this future Emperor Gaozu of Han, they felt warm and smooth, as if carved from fine jade, slippery to the touch.
Liu Ji's face immediately flushed red as she stood up.
She had always been a straightforward person who disliked formalities, but given the gravity of the occasion, she had performed the grand gesture. Seeing that Roy had dismissed the need for such rituals, she naturally felt relieved and delighted.
To the others, Liu Ji's glowing expression and moistened eyes seemed like the excitement of having her title as Han King acknowledged by the Overlord of Western Chu, reaching the pinnacle of her life—a reaction they found entirely reasonable.
But in Roy's eyes, the future Emperor Gaozu before him was nothing more than a bashful maiden. The shimmering gaze she directed at him carried hints of tender affection and unspoken longing.
Recalling the smoothness of Liu Ji's hands, Roy mused that her lazy habits back in Pei County had their advantages. Since she had never toiled in the fields and had held a minor official post as a village head, her hands had been exceptionally well-maintained.
As the two exchanged lingering glances, Xiao He, standing behind Liu Ji, twitched his lips. He raised his long sleeve to cover his face, turning his head to study the trees lining the road as if deeply engrossed in determining their age and species.
Zhang Liang, meanwhile, let out a quiet sigh of relief. Seeing that the Overlord of Western Chu hadn't immediately resorted to violence upon their meeting meant there was room for negotiation later—at least they weren't left without options.
.....
What he feared most was that the moment they met, the Overlord of Western Chu would draw his halberd and skewer them all on the spot. No amount of silver-tongued persuasion would help then!
As for how to navigate this crisis, Zhang Liang himself had no good plan—he could only react as events unfolded.
It wasn't that Zhang Liang lacked intelligence, but he would never have guessed in his wildest dreams that Liu Ji was actually a woman who would develop feelings for the Overlord of Western Chu after prolonged contact. During the time Roy and Liu Ji had lived together, Zhang Liang hadn't been present—he hadn't yet pledged himself to Liu Ji. Missing this crucial piece of information rendered his strategies useless.
Xiao He wasn't one to gossip, so he never shared these details with Zhang Liang.
"I've prepared a banquet for the King of Han. Come, let us enter the city at once!"
Roy didn't ride his horse. Instead, he held Liu Ji's hand as they walked along the country path toward Hongmen, five li away.
Liu Ji trailed half a step behind him, her gaze fixed on their clasped hands. Her heart raced, her palm grew slightly damp with sweat, and her mind felt dazed as she followed him in a daze.
Neither spoke during the journey. Only when the small town—or rather, village—of Hongmen came into view did Liu Ji snap out of her trance. She inwardly scolded herself for staying silent the entire way, wasting such an opportunity. And those five li had passed in the blink of an eye.
Einstein's theory of relativity could perfectly describe Liu Ji's experience at that moment.