New face,Old stories: Banquet before festival.

📝

A number of tents can be seen erected in the plains of the mountain, Foxy Fairy. The hour was no longer young as the brightness from the day dimmed to its lowest extent. It was already eighth hour in the night. One after another the cressets were lit illuminating the dark surrounding.Taking an account that, the next morning would be a proper opening for their ceremonial occasion, Emperor Fen has arranged a night-banquet summoning his courtiers and the ministers.

[8TH HR- 8PM]

A tall tent was positioned in the centre. The space inside it was covered by small sizes dining chairs. The hay woven mats were placed on the floor. The seatings were organized based on their official ranks. The head chair was for Emperor Fen while in his either side, the mats were occupied by his ministers.

The food was being served in their plates and the wine was being poured in their empty glasses. The beanfeast was enveloped in a festive atmosphere. In the right side, three seats away from the Emperor, a short fat bellied man thumped his glass heavily on the dining chair. The man was none other than the left prime minister if capital Kai, Zei Nu.

The Zei household was among the list of nobles.This household belongs to a scholar background. Once, Old Zei, father of Zei Nu coincidentally saved the Emperor from an assain attempt. Pleased by his loyalty, Emperor Fen wrote an emblem then directly promoted his son Zei Nu as his left prime minister. Climbing up the ranks overnight, it was their luck rather than their capability. This fact everyone was aware about it, thus no one looked surprised when the drunken man opened his flattering mouth.

"This self here, undoubtedly supports the sixth royal highness. I am even ready to bet ten thousand gold coins to prove my talks. Our sixth prince, not only he is proficient in literary, his knowledge of weapons and war are highly notable as well. At the end of this festival the sixth royal highness surely would grab the first place."

Zei Nu chunked down another glass of wine further reddening his drunken blushed cheeks.

Other officials carefully examined Emperor Fen. Getting a whip of his satisfaction, one by one they followed in the suit fawning the sixth royal highness. All of them shared a mutual thought : the wood should be added while the fire was still flaming orange.

"Honorable Prime minister, Zei Nu, this sub-ordinate also has same thoughts. Ah..what do they phrase it..yes..Like minds think alike..The sixth royal highness is well versed in all aspects..Till the date I have lived this lowly self has never seen and heard about someone else similar to sixth prince. He is even comparable to the late tenth emperor..Sometimes I am impelled to think if our sixth prince is truly reincarnation of tenth royal leader?"

Supporting his statement someone else added-

"Why not? I am trusting the probability..Beside sixth prince himself..Some credit goes to Qun household as well. Just looked at Lady General Sen Nei the only female general of Kai and she leads the west troop guarding against barbarians and her husband Qun LaoBan isn't he the advisor in the same troop. His strategies had always boosted our army's strength."

The one who spoke this time was a scholar by name Ire Luan, a well known crafty personnel unlike his honourable title.

Although Emperor Fen do not like ministers who wish to please him with their sweet talks but this time there was no need for him to stop them because what they said was more a fact than fawning. Thus he complied and listened to his courtiers. And beside, he quite love his youngest son. Only age of thirteen and his aura outshines most of his brothers. Speaking about his eighth concubine Lady Ushi, their marriage was only for political benefits. Marrying her was a way for disposing any chance of rebel from Qun Household.

But in the midst of hearty laughs and murmurs they was someone wrapped in gloominess while being immersed in sea of hatred.

In the left side of Emperor Fen, a seat away from him, was seated a matured and composed figure enjoying the sweet flower nectar brewed specially for him. His presence leaked an elegant demeanor like an image of a blue peacock fluttering it's colourful feathers in wilderness. This person was the definition for nobility while he possessed an androgynous beauty.His pitch black hair was tied in half while half of it flowed on his back reaching his waist like a waterfall. The colour of his skin inclined more towards pale white contrasting with his poor health and weak body. The only flaw the man has. This enchanting but venomously beautiful man was the first prince of Kai Kingdom, Fen Ruan, the eldest son of Emperor Fen borned from his first and true love Empress Shin Gia.

[ANDROGYNOUS- BOTH FEMININE AND MASCULINE]

Ahem! Don't identify the wrong person lovely readers..

The person who felt bitter resentment wasn't the first prince Fen Ruan but the person sitting next to him, Shin Boun, younger brother of Empress Gia and maternal uncle of Fen Ruan.