Proposal X

Shen Rou shook her mental head inwardly and rose to the Fourth Prince's feet along with the other princes for the envoys to take sit after a brief salute with both hands and a slight bow from their part. As he had his head down, he stole a glance up to have a closer look to the Holy Prince; however, he had turned to walk another three steps up as his seat was arranged to be next to the Emperor and it also had a slight elevation in consideration to the Holy Prince higher status. The Emperor had even stood up to receive him as he didn't want to eat more than he could chew in spite of the Holy Prince good known tolerance and reputation.

The Fourth Prince and the other two princes ended their salute; the other party had only given a slight nod out of courtesy and without showing any displeasure for the seat's arrangement, the two envoys sat after they saw their Holy Prince had sat.

A group of courtesans clad in pale red resumed the banquet at the Emperor's gesture. Music flow, the opening wine and appetizers were retired, and finally, the main dishes and specialities of the Snow Flower Empire were served by maidservants wearing light blue robes.

'Blue Spirit Snow Snake eggs… Red Summer Snow Flower wine… I suppose a Middle Empire can be this fancy when it has the backing of a Top Empire.' Although a Middle Empire wasn't as powerful and neither as wealthy to even a Big Empire, because of its location in the north of the Holy Mystic Continent, it had access to rare herbs and items. And it had the luck to first meet a rational Top Empire to negotiate with; it was easy for a Top Empire to crush a Middle Empire and take over its land, after all.

'However, if this old fart stopped staring at me, I would be able to enjoy them better…' the Fourth Prince bit a blue boiled egg as he held it with a pair of fine silver chopsticks. In her mind, Shen Rou wasn't a bit courteous to the old Venerable Alchemist Gu who had sat beside her; he wasn't someone renowned in the Grand Mystic World and if it weren't because she had collected intel about many Empires, she wouldn't have recognized it without someone telling her beforehand.

'Never mind, not gonna entertain you so don't dare talk to me… Umh?! These taste pretty good, I wonder how this Blue Spirit Snow Snake eggs were cooked…' She had eaten them before as they had spirit energy that nurtures the soul but they had tasted different. Shen Rou enjoyed eating and drinking, though a god wouldn't feel hungry unless its energy got completely depleted; it was another thing for Asuras and Devil cultivators, they were usually hungry about many things.

By heavens grace, the old Venerable Alchemist Gu didn't engage in a conversation with the Fourth Prince but the Third Prince who was also an Alchemist; however, from time to time, he would steal a glance at him and he, the Fourth Prince, would also steal glances but to the Holy Prince as his thoughts wandering here and there.