9 09- First Meet.

The days pass quickly for us, we spend the mornings, and meals together and settle our own matters privately.

I will then meditate and cultivate martial arts before resting.

Martial arts are extremely important to defend and kill. Not only martial arts, but I have also managed to master Dance, Music, Seductive Arts. Don't ask me how I managed to do that, you must know the process is excruciatingly painful.

Soon, it will be my Welcome Banquet.

Mother, as the Queen, is in charge of managing all banquets and the harem itself, giving each Palace the silvers they deserve, punishing the consorts and servants when necessary... are all jobs of the Queen.

The banquet starts in the evening, at 6, since 3 in the afternoon, mother has sent her trusted servants, Maria and Wonder to help me dress up.

There will be many people from all countries attending the banquet since it will soon be the International Month that will be held every 5 years and the kingdoms will take turns for the ambassadors of the other kingdoms to go to their kingdom to celebrate the International Month.

This year is Southern Lasombra's turn so many ambassadors have already arrived and made it for Beng Gong's banquet, thankfully. Beng Gong needs to make some connections with the various Kingdoms anyway, so Beng Gong doesn't mind that they attend the banquet with their own calculations and intentions.

For dressing up, it is a strenuous process and serious pain in the ass.

First is taking Rose and Marigold bath, preening of hair to an updo, loose strands hang lazily at the sides that add a messy charm.

Then adorned with two jade step shakers, the fringes made of beryl, one at each side. A white jadeite comb right in the middle of the updo, two similar gold hairpins with calcite adorned at the head the hairpin.

The dress, made of the best Charmeuse silk in bold red, snowdrops(flower) sown at the sleeves together with auspicious waves and clouds which are all sown in silver spider silk.

Paired with opal ear studs and light rouge on her cheeks, I surely am the most attractive and deserves to be the 'First Beauty' looking in the whole of Lasombra or even across the lands accompanied with sparkling violet eyes, red full lips, dainty nose, graceful neck arc, vibrant skin.

Beng Gong has the confidence, appearance does not really matter to me, but who'll be dumb enough to reject a hot face? I blow a kiss to the mirror and stride out boldly.

Soon, the banquet will start.

It is 6 in the evening.

All ministers together with their family had long arrived.

Fathers all trying to test each other's waters or ingratiating somebody else.

Mothers all chatting and gossiping, daughters finding their friends or admiring another young master, sons competing with each other, or playing around.

It is noisy and lively.

"Hail to the Emperor, hail to the Queen, hail to Princess Ruthless!"

I roll my eyes mentally at his annoying sharp voice, why won't he just cut off his throat with his balls? Oh right, keep calm, my beloved princess, he still has got some uses.

They rush back to their seats and kneel down while the ambassadors only need to bow. "Hail to the Emperor, hail to the Queen, hail to Princess Ruthless!"

While the princes and princesses, children of the emperor-my, well, siblings, yuck they all share the same blood as Beng Gong and greet "Hail to Father, Hail to Mother and Royal Princess!"

Wow, time's has changed huh? Looking at many of their twisted faces in anger, I laugh silently.

"It is a wonderful day as we are here to celebrate the return of my Royal daughter, Ruthless, so it is a joyful day, please be casual and be seated."

The emperor speaks, a smile hanging on his face as he waves his arm for them to sit while he settles in comfortably in his Dragon Throne.

"As a father, Zhen is joyous that Zhen's daughter has returned so Zhen shall drink first."

That- is really fake, father, yeah, continue addressing yourself like that. I hold up my cup, smiling gratefully at my father, acting like the most obedient daughter.

The emperor holds up his cup and finishes the wine.

"Congratulations on the return of the Royal Princess!"

The ministers and ambassadors all congratulate but who knows who actually mean it? And drink too.

Then, it is dance performances.

The beautiful dancers shaking their slim waists, arcing their soft and flexible backs.

Music playing in a quick tempo, the drum beating, zither strumming.

Everyone is focusing on the dancers, other than those with intentions and of course, me. These dancers suck, even Teari and Infina, or probably Beng Gong's horse can dance better.

I lie bonelessly on my seat, my arm on the armrest supporting my charming brain and sexy face, the other holding a cup of wine, drinking, seeming lazy but you might not believe it but Beng Gong is actually secretly observing the ministers and the ambassadors.

After the dances, the emperor starts to introduce the ambassadors.

"It is of Zhen's utmost happiness to be able to invite our neighbours to this banquet. We have the Dark Prince from Northern Curio Kingdom,"

as he gestures to a teenager, sitting opposite me, dressed in black, he is handsome.

Like really handsome.

Can I stress on that again?

His eagle-like dark blue eyes are sharp and stinging, his tall and firm nose stood like an acute mountain, his lips were thin and sexy, his face like god's proudest work under the magic of his axe, salient and perfect.

His aura is like his face, conspicuous and robust.

His name, Malbeno Curio.

"We also have Firmament Dome(the one with the best mine)'s Rites Minister Dax,

Flower Vine Kingdom(the one women more imperial than men)'s crown princess,

Eastern Clyde Kingdom's (the one that specializes in formations) crown prince,

Western Cohen Kingdom(the one with doctors)'s crown prince

and Middle Daire Kingdom(the one that is in the middle and best business)'s Pearl Princess.

Let us welcome all of you, Zhen will drink upon the joy." The emperor drinks.

(He had obviously only mentioned the main ambassadors of the team.)

Firmament Dome Rites minister Dax is a slightly chubby middle-aged man who looks slippery (means calculative and smart here).

Flower Vine's crown princess, Anya Vine, is known as the first beauty, but not for long. She has a pair of almond jade green eyes, tall nose, red lips, and is the age of 15, her air is proud and with confidence and rumours has it that she loves Northern Curio's Dark Prince.

Eastern Clyde's crown prince has a blond long braid, amber eyes, tall nose, and always a bright smile that revealed his shiny teeth and looks like sunshine, Avery Clyde.

Western Cohen's crown prince, Devyn Cohen, has calm brown eyes and his aura is gentle and mellow.

Indeed, the blood of royalties, all looking good.

I snort as they watch me on full alert, I rise from that hard-not-comfortable-at-all seat and raises my cup, "let's drink to know you better."

Okay, I know that is a little fake too, but I don't really care right now.

I have to set my plans in actions soon.