322 RTYY 319 - Weak, Petty People

"Such wise and inspiring words!" A voice suddenly declared, filled with exaggerated awe.

Discreetly leaning forward, FeiWan did his best to see who had spoken. And his annoyance only increased, his frown digging deeper into his forehead.

CarFan, the recently appointed Minister of the Imperial Estate, a position everyone knew he had only attained due to the fact that he was Wen LaoTin's … nephew-in-law? Something like that. FeiWan couldn't really tell, with how complicated familiar relationships were amidst the ruling Clans. In any case, he was, without a doubt, another pawn LaoTin had successfully managed to infiltrate into the Imperial Court.

All dressed in the warm orange and bright yellow colors of the Hao Clan, his blond hair carefully braided and tied to one side of his head, CarFan couldn't have looked more smug and pretentious even if he had wanted to.

FeiWan truly detested his kind, he thought, straightening his back and taking another sip of wine. Weak, petty people, who tried to look strong and important, when in truth, everything they had, had been provided by someone else. Useless people, who, nevertheless, still had the ability to disturb and even cause damage to those around them, other people who actually had some value.

That asshole CalWan!, FeiWan grunted under his breath with a second thought, peering angrily at his brother, sitting atop the dais. Inviting even scum like that! And yet, one look at CalWan's face was more than enough to tell him that he was as pleased with CarFan's sudden intervention as he had been. Which, somehow, made him feel a bit better. At least not everything was going according to his plans, that evening.

Truth be told, CalWan probably hadn't had any choice, regarding CarFan's presence, FeiWan considered with an inner sigh. He was sure CalWan had invited LaoTin, since there was no way he could have excluded the El'Dai herself from his important birthday celebration.

As to be expected, LaoTin had declined his invitation, apparently under the pretense of having to stay behind and look after their father, who hadn't been feeling too well lately. Of course, everyone was more than aware that her excuse was just that, another excuse, similar to the many she had been giving throughout the years.

The truth was, since the day LaoTin had taken up the position of El'Dai, she hadn't attended a single imperial birthday celebration, with the exception of her own, the El'Dur's and, of course, her son's. So no one found her noticeable absence weird or disrespectful anymore. The problem was that she tended to send someone else to represent her, people that, not only were her eyes and ears during the event, accurately reporting everything that had happened back to her, but, on occasion, also worked as her mouth, stirring up confusion and discord, especially in sensitive situations like this. Divide and conquer, was LaoTin's main directive, since, unlike the Janwan and even the Dailar herself, she had no lack of people in high positions willing to support her, and her child, unconditionally.

Of course, from the way TenWan had introduced himself, one would have logically assumed that, being her son, he should be the one taking on the role of LaoTin's representative. And so he was, officially speaking, as far as politely greeting other guests, and delivering gifts and congratulations went. But TenWan was way too childish and naive to understand, much less be able to navigate, the treacherous seas that were the Imperial Palace's politics. And so there was always a second, non-official, representative, the one who obediently moved and talked according to LaoTin's plans, working as her living, breathing extension. A part that, apparently, this time around, had been CarFan's privilege to assume.

"Our esteemed CalDai is truly as prudent and sensitive as the rumors say. No wonder our noble Dailar is so eager to entice such a rare prize," CarFan openly declared, successfully leaving an angry scowl on LinDou's face. "Like my mother used to say, a true man is forged in the burning fires of three virtues. Looks granted by the Heavens, smarts inherited from one's ancestors, and courage developed through hard work!" A bunch of idiots sitting behind CarFan and on the other side of the room nodded their agreement, people he no doubt had brought along to make sure that someone would always have his back.

Glancing towards the other side of the hall, FeiWan saw that, as usually, CalRimRan hadn't even moved, sitting with his back very straight, his cold gaze lost somewhere on the golden carpet in front of him. Even though she clearly wasn't CarFan's target, sitting at the table right next to his, NimRen seemed a thousand times more distressed than him.

"We can all more than attest that our esteemed CalDai clearly possesses two of these fundamental virtues. I wonder if we could also be witness of a small demonstration of the third?" he went on, and FeiWan thought it best to put down his cup and everything else, before his hand slipped and he threw it at CarFan's head. Maybe GinWan would get bored of listening to him?, he thought, glancing towards his younger brother, more than a bit hopeful. But GinWan had apparently fallen asleep, his head hanging back, his mouth unseemly open. LinWan, sitting beside him, was silently staring at him with a very disturbing, very creepy, expression of loving adoration on her face. In any case, no luck there.

That's why he had told CalRimRan to keep his mouth shut! Not to mention that now neither CalWan nor he could actually say anything. One thing was the bickering, veiled insults and threats exchanged amongst the Imperial Family. Another, completely different, was a member of the Imperial Family stooping as low as to actually dignifying a nobody like CarFan with a reply. His mother would skin him alive, if he were to ruin his perfect royal image just to bail CalRimRan out of that situation.

"I must confess," CarFan declared, a very fake sheepish smile on his lips. "I've always been curious about the famous, mysterious fighting style of the Demon Clan. Would the esteemed CalDai be willing to perform a small demonstration for us?"

Taking a slow, deep breath, CalRimRan finally moved, elegantly getting to his feet and almost floating from behind his table, so that he could clearly see who had so boldly launched that challenge.

For a moment FeiWan felt truly tense, wondering if he was really going to oblige that bastard. Sure, like he himself had put it, inside those walls CalRimRan was no more than a commoner. And CarFan, not only was an Imperial Minister, he was a member of the ruling Clan of Hao. A noble blood. And yet, bending to the will of people like CarFan was never a good policy. Leeches like him would quickly latch onto any weakness they could find, and worm their way into one's life, easily transforming it into a living torture. Of course, even if CalRimRan were to as he was asked right now, FeiWan would never allow CarFan to exploit that advantage. It was just that … it pissed him off!, he realized. Watching CalRimRan being forced to do what that bastard wanted!

Taking both hands to his forehead, CalRimRan bowed ever so elegantly, his white hair sparkling like silver under the golden light of the flames.

"I am truly grateful for such flattering words. And I'm hardly worthy of such high praises. But, unfortunately, I am forced to decline such polite request," he declared, his soft, paused voice filling the silence of the entire room.

NimRen, a few steps back, flinched visibly, almost as if she wanted to shrink into oblivion inside her dress. LinDou's obvious foul mood, however, seemed to have been suddenly lifted, her astute gaze now focused on CalRimRan, the expression on her face one of someone who had found a rare, valuable prey. Even CalWan seemed to have relaxed, now looking more curious than anything, as if he were trying to guess CalRimRan's next moves.

FeiWan hated it all! He hated that they were now seeing this side of him! That they were now obviously realizing that CalRimRan wasn't as simple-minded or as easy to maneuver as he looked.

Almost at the end of the hall, CarFan also stood up, bowing respectfully in response.

"I apologized if my request was too straightforward. It was never my intention to offend our important Imperial Guest," he cunningly declared, straightening his back to look at CalRimRan. "It would seem that I have asked for too much. If I may ask, is there a reason why such amazing fighting techniques can't be shown in public? Some Clan rule, perhaps?"

FeiWan greeted his teeth. Now things were starting to get dangerous. If CalRimRan answered that question with anything similar to a confirmation, he might as well admit that his entire Clan practiced some kind of dangerous secret technique. Soon there would be rumors of a secret elite army being raised in the Heavenly Mountains. One that could easily invade Wen and even place the El'Dur's life at risk. In any case, after that, maintaining CalRimRan's presence in the Palace would be nearly impossible, to say the least.

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Author's Note: Hm, who in the room had missed this asshole? 😑

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