Chapter 0162: Liaozhou’s Grand Ice Banquet – A Masterclass in Persuasion to Spend
After passing through the animal ice world, they arrived at the center of the ice rink.
Before their eyes stood a majestic, winding giant ice dragon, towering ten feet high. Its body was covered with translucent scales so lifelike they seemed capable of shifting, while its sharp claws soared through ice clouds as if riding mist and clouds. The raised dragon head possessed eyes that commanded authority without anger, holding a massive puck in its mouth. A single golden candle flame illuminated the entire puck like a golden pearl, dazzling eyes in the night.
Yet the most astonishing sight wasn’t the ice dragon, but the nearly twenty-foot-tall giant humanoid ice sculpture. The ice sculpture of Emperor Jian in dragon robes stood majestically at the center of the rink, his profound gaze seeming to survey his empire. The dragon robes carved from ice appeared to flutter in the wind, with the ice dragon coiled beneath him like a celestial emperor descending to earth, its majestic giant form awe-inspiring.
“Tsk, I truly look magnificent!”
Emperor Jian looked up at his own ice sculpture, his heart bubbling with delight.
This must be how he appeared in Ze’er’s heart!
That boy might seem disdainful on the surface, but deep down he must admire him quite a bit~
Beyond the most eye-catching central sculpture, numerous ice-built houses and bridges could be seen, even lotus ponds, while various small game rinks were distributed around the perimeter. Soldiers had already taken their posts, holding signs explaining the gameplay.
By this point, Emperor Jian and his party had grown weary from walking, so they decided to rest at the nearest resting spot. Around the ice rink stood many small wooden huts with charcoal fires, providing temporary warmth for commoners who couldn’t endure the severe cold.
Meanwhile, the commoners and wealthy merchants outside, watching from the pavilions, were already itching to enter as they observed the diverse ice sculptures.
When could they finally go in?
Unable to contain himself, one merchant asked the soldiers maintaining order on the pavilion, “Officer, when will the Ice Sculpture Festival begin?”
The soldier glanced at the sky and replied, “It should be soon. Once the fireworks show starts, you may enter.”
Fireworks show?
What was that?
The Ice Sculpture Program List hadn’t mentioned any fireworks show. Could it be an extra surprise?
As the merchant pondered this, a sudden “whoosh” sound exploded in the sky. They all looked up in astonishment to see a massive white firework blooming in the night, breathtakingly beautiful and rarely seen in the mortal world.
Then, fireworks brilliant like meteors shot skyward one after another, blossoming in the night sky above the ice rink, adding another breathtaking visual delight to the Ice Sculpture Festival.
“You may enter now—!”
At the soldiers’ shouts, the crowd snapped out of their awe from the fireworks. Still savoring the spectacle, they excitedly surged into the ice rink.
The visual feast of ice and snow poured into their eyes like a tidal wave, each sight vying for attention. The bitter cold became negligible under the visual enjoyment. Wrapping themselves tightly in their expensive fur coats bought for warmth, they headed toward the ice sculptures and games.
Having rested sufficiently, Emperor Jian also made his way toward the game area.
The first attraction they visited was called the “Snow Sledding Ladder.” Tall, handsome soldiers stood holding large basins, beckoning to passing women and enthusiastically promoting the sledding experience. Some even demonstrated the activity, making it look both fun and thrilling.
These soldiers, trained by Xie Chengze, were exceptionally smooth-talkers. They easily coaxed ladies and madams into pulling out copper coins and sitting in the large basins. Then, the handsome soldiers would carry them and slide down the high snow ladder together.
Screams of excitement filled the air.
Thanks to the open-minded customs of the Jian’an Dynasty, where gender segregation was less strict, many young women found the experience exhilarating. When they discovered they could even touch the soldiers’ armor, they eagerly stepped forward, taking out coins while marveling at the armor and weapons they had never been able to touch before.
The wives and daughters of wealthy merchants watched with envy and rushed to try the snow ladder. Some merchants were reluctant to let their wives and daughters be held by strange men, but the soldiers skillfully persuaded them with lines like: “A man who doesn’t spend on his wife will be poor for three generations,” “Madam has worked hard raising children and deserves to enjoy herself,” or “A mother and daughter can share a basin.”Thus coaxed, the merchants willingly paid out silver to open a VIP passage for their families, allowing them to enjoy the ride without waiting in line.”
“Do you want to play…”
Before the word “play” was fully spoken, Rou Fei and Da Guiren had already pulled Xi Fei away from the group and headed toward the snow ladder. They boldly tossed silver to the soldiers, each picking a handsome soldier they fancied to accompany them on the sled.
Emperor Jian, clutching the funds Xie Chengze had “awarded” him, fell into a subtle silence.
He had almost forgotten—Rou Fei was wealthy, and Da Guiren was a local of Liaozhou. They didn’t need him to pay or accompany them; they knew how to have fun on their own.
He could only turn to Cao Qingran. “Empress, do you want to try?”
Cao Qingran glanced at him, her expression calm and uninterested, but her right hand was already extended. “Money.Emperor Jian pulled out a piece of broken silver. “Do you need me to—”
“No.” Cao Qingran turned and walked away without another word. She didn’t call for a soldier to accompany her, sitting alone in the large basin and sliding down.
The icy wind whipped against her cheeks like a raging tide. It felt like flying through the sky or leaping from a high wall—a sensation she could never experience within the deep palace walls, or perhaps… one she could only experience once.
When she reached the bottom, Cao Qingran pressed a hand to her rapidly beating heart, unable to calm down for a long time.
This, she thought, must be the taste of freedom she had spoken of.
Hua Ning, you were right. Liaozhou is beautiful, truly beautiful.
…
After his turn on the snow ladder, Emperor Jian was still craving more, but he was quickly drawn to the second game.
This activity was called “Ice Skating,” requiring participants to wear ice skates and glide on the ice. Many soldiers were already skating, their free and fluid movements captivating the men who stopped to watch, finding it utterly fascinating.
It was like mastering lightness skill—every man’s dream.
“Don’t miss out as you pass by~ Rent or hire an ice skating instructor to learn the art of skating! Low-level instructors cost only 20 wen per hour, high-level instructors just eight taels of silver per hour~
Soldiers patrolled the area, calling out their offers, prompting some to ask, “What’s the difference between the high-level and low-level instructors?””
“Ah~ Now you’ve hit the nail on the head!” the soldier promptly explained. “The low-level Ice Skating Instructor can only teach you basic techniques, like gliding from one end to the other. But the high-level Ice Skating Instructor knows countless tricks and will have you mastering advanced skills in no time. Most importantly, our high-level instructors are meticulously selected—each one exceptionally handsome, highly skilled, and quick to react, ensuring you won’t get injured!”
A wealthy merchant immediately grew restless. “Then book me for one hour!”
“And would the madam care to join?” the soldier quickly asked the merchant’s wife.
“Me? Could I really?” the lady exclaimed in surprise, hesitating as she watched only men skating on the rink. “I don’t think I can… I don’t know martial arts.”