Chapter 7

Whenever the festival of the Xuan Bird approaches, Wu Ding finds himself particularly missing Se Nu. Before ascending to the throne, it was the only time each year when he could legally and freely embrace Se Nu, enjoying those passionate days within her tender body. Now, he has ten wives and concubines in his harem, their bodies equally soft, yet their hearts are indifferent and cold, devoid of any passion. He is too lazy to embrace them, and even when the ministers and officials earnestly advise him to quickly produce an heir to ensure the stability of the state, he remains unwilling to comply. Now, he has ten wives and concubines in his harem, their bodies equally soft, yet their hearts are indifferent and cold, devoid of any passion. He is too lazy to embrace them, and even when the ministers and officials earnestly advise him to quickly produce an heir to ensure the stability of the state, he remains unwilling to comply.

According to folklore, Qi was born after his mother, Jian Di, consumed an egg of the Xuan Bird. This is undoubtedly a rumor spread by those foreign tribes who either do not understand or deliberately distort the customs of various peoples. Although the Xuan Bird is noble, it is ultimately just a bird, far inferior to God. The rulers of the various tribes, especially those of the Yi people, are clearly descendants of God, as stated on m.hetushu.com. How could they possibly be descendants of a bird? In truth, it was God who transformed into a stranger and, during a certain Xuan Bird Festival thousands of years ago, united with Jian Di in spirit and flesh, thus bringing his son Qi into the world.

However, the issue of heirs cannot be delayed any longer. Wu Ding is already approaching thirty years of age, yet he has only one daughter. Fu Yue does not wish for the noble ladies from the harem to bear princes, and he himself has no relatives of comparable age and beauty to offer to Wu Ding. This wise man, known for his virtue and wisdom, is facing a dilemma for the first time

Wu Ding licked his lips and gladly accepted Fu Shuo's "loyalty". Thus, after a full seven years of separation, he and the Se Girl finally reunited

Throughout Wu Ding's life, he was never able to completely defeat the barbaric southern state of Jingchu. Its existence lasted longer than that of the Shang Dynasty and even the Zhou Dynasty, which was established in place of the Shang. This was something even the most skilled diviners could not have predicted.

The first spring after Wu Ding truly came to power has arrived, and the festival of the Xuan Bird, which is highly valued by both the various tribes and the Xia people, is about to take place in mid-spring. This is a festival that follows the ancient and simple customs, where unmarried young men and women across the country can temporarily forget their identities and select their desired partners during the festive celebrations, seeking a place where they can feel the grace of heaven and the virtues of the earth, indulging in the spring breeze. The ancestor of the Yi people, Qi, is said to be a product of such unions. This is a festival that follows the ancient and simple customs, where unmarried young men and women across the country can temporarily forget their identities and select their desired partners during the festive celebrations, seeking a place where they can feel the grace of heaven and the virtues of the earth, indulging in the spring breeze. The ancestor of the Yi people, Qi, is said to be a product of such unions.

Due to the instability of the domestic situation, Wu Ding did not personally lead the army on an expedition. He appointed Chong Hou Kao as the commander of the troops, who led seventy chariots to the expedition. Chong Hou Kao was named so because he had a red birthmark on his buttocks, which was curved and winding like a river. "This resembles the shape of the territory occupied by the Jing people in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River," he once showed his bare buttocks to Wu Ding, "This is a sign from heaven; my king must send me to campaign against Jing and Chu!"

Fortunately, power has gradually shifted into the hands of Wu Ding, and Fu Shuo, who enjoys Wu Ding's absolute favor, has grown increasingly bold. When he heard Wu Ding reminiscing about the Festival of the Xuan Bird, he encouraged Wu Ding to disguise himself as an unmarried man and visit the shrine of the Xuan Bird. "Heaven creates male and female, yin and yang complement each other. If the ruler does not indulge in female beauty, not only will there be no offspring, but it could also lead to illness," he persuaded Wu Ding, "Why not take advantage of the festival to enjoy a visit to the shrine of the Xuan Bird?"

After the autumn harvest and the completion of the *Tushu* this year, King Wu Ding launched his first foreign war, targeting the southern region of Jingchu. This action was taken both to fulfill promises made to the military aristocracy and to divert domestic conflicts, while simultaneously enhancing his own prestige. The divination before the expedition was personally presided over by Wu Ding, without the involvement of those shamans. "The king divines to attack Jing, it is auspicious!" When Wu Ding raised the charred shoulder blade of an ox and shouted this loudly, it triggered waves of cheers, as if they had already returned from the expedition, binding a large number of slaves to report their victory.

After entering the court, Fu Shuo never advised Wu Ding to indulge more with his wives and concubines. On one hand, he understood Wu Ding's temperament; on the other hand, he shared Wu Ding's deep-seated hatred for the noble-born officials, ministers, and royal family members, as well as the high-ranking shamans. Fu Shuo, with his peculiar and comical appearance yet possessing a demeanor of loyalty and dignity, was, in fact, quite bloodthirsty. Rather than saying that his vision of a prosperous era aligned with Wu Ding's ideals, it would be more accurate to say that the heads he wished to sever were precisely those that Wu Ding despised, which led to a mutual understanding and a perfect match between the two.

Five months later, the army returned from the expedition. They achieved two or three minor victories, but only captured more than six hundred slaves, which was still fewer than those sacrificed during the grand ritual. Nevertheless, victory is ultimately victory; Lord Chong received a warm welcome from the people and was also rewarded generously by King Wu Ding

He did not intend for Wu Ding to meet the Seer—he was completely unaware that the monarch's beloved was serving as a priestess in the Shrine of the Mysterious Bird—nor did he wish for the monarch to become infatuated with a priestess. Rather, it was because many unmarried women would go to the Shrine of the Mysterious Bird before this festival to seek their future lovers. He hoped that Wu Ding would encounter someone to his liking, preferably a woman of low status, whom he could bring into the palace and designate as a concubine.