The Emperor Birthday's Gift III

-Woman! Are you here just to anger me?!- he reaches and hand and grabs her neck, wanting to strangle her -Do I have to remind you who I am? I can have you beheaded in less than five minutes and nobody will object- XianLen eyes darts to Wang Chia-Hao, standing calmly to the side with his hand behind the back. Upon meeting his gaze, the merchant comes forward -You Majesty, this is only but a card game at the end of the day. The woman simply read out what the images meant, it is not her fault... Nor should you let pieces of paper bound down your future- the boy looks at him -Fate is fate, one cannot go against it- -These card could even be wrong, Your Majesty... Why don't you let down the woman and test your luck with something?- proposes the merchant and so the emperor opens his finger, letting XianLen falls on his knees coughing

-Bring a new table!- he orders and turns to the man -You're a merchant, surely you have some dices that you always being along to play with on your trips- Wang Chia-Hao nods and take out a dice box, he opens it and place the 2 dices and the cup on the newly arranged table -But what if these are loaded dices?- stops midway the emperor -You're the one who took that woman here, so you might want to scheme me too. Bring in my own dices!-

...

After some time his personal dice box finally arrives, he grabs the cup and places the dices inside. Lowering the box on the table he start shaking it around untill satisfied then stops, eveyon holds his breath in and the Emperor begins to rise the cup slowly, scared of the result he might face...

"4-4" reads the dices and the Emperor's face goes blank, murmurs starts going all around the hall as everyone is frightened by the deadly result... Some even go as far as saying that the gods above are giving them a clear sign! -Shut up! Shut your mouth! All of you!- he stands back up and hits the air, but instead of silence a shocked gasps leaves everyone's mouth -What now?! Is there a ghost behind me? Uh?!- he turns around but nothing can be seen -The heck...?- he swears annoyed

-Your Majesty... Maybe it's better if you look at yourself in a mirror- XianLen takes a golden plate from a table and turn it around while handing it to him -What's that supposed to mean...?- he takes then shiny plate and once his eyes meet the reflection the plate goes on the floor, smashing completely. Blood seems to falls down from his eyes and mouth, along a general ghostly fairness on his skin and blue veins peeking through -My face... What, what... What...?- he reaches and hand on his cheek but no blood stains his fingers once he looks down on them -I...- he catches a glimpse of his clothes while staring down, completely white and simple like those of a dead person on his funeral -No no no! This can't be! What sorcery is this?!- he reaches for a water jug and throws the liquid on his face, then rubs himself with a tablecloth -A mirror! Something! Anything reflective! Quick!- a servant rushes with another plate in hand and hand it to him who looks at himself in the reflection -It won't go away...! Call a doctor, call a...! Argh! Call anyone who can help me! I've been cursed if not poisoned even!-

Everyone watches the Emperor go mad, some sniskers happily thinking the throne will be a free seat soon while others trembles in fear at the supernatural occurrences. Ying SheGu comes beside Wang Chia-Hao and XianLen -It's best if you both leave now, we don't know what the emperor might do if he feels like you plotted this...- -YOU!- The boy points a finger toward the woman -It's all your fault!- he wants to come and attack her, taking a meat knife from beside a roasted piglet but Wang Chia-Hao intrudes again -Hadn't it be proven already that Your Majesty has bad luck? A death omen is written on your face for everyone to see, so it was not this woman's fault... She simply read out loud what the Gods above wanted you to know, it had already been decided and will happen whether she performs a divination or not. Your Majesty said it himself, fate is fate and one cannot go against it-

The crazed man begins screaming in frustration and storms out of the banquet hall, everyone take a breath of relief and begin moving out wanting to go home after all the mess they just witnessed. -You must leave now- warns them the counselor -Ying SheGu- calls him with a stiff voice Wang Chia-Hao -Yes, My Lord?- he bows down while coming in front of him with an oddly submissive aura -I have a gift for you too- the merchant bends down toward the cards spattered all over the place and grabs one between his fingers, he plays with it a little bit then hand it toward the amethyst man -Make good use of this- he says toward him, then turns to face XianLen -I'll wait for you outside... Don't take too much time- and with these worded he leaves the hall.

XianLen crouches down and begins tidying up all of the cards, put them inside a box and then stand back up. All while SheGu startes at that weird cards in his hands, trying to understand what could be the meaning behind those seven swords, XianLen passe beside him with the box between his arms -"Seven of Swords" upright... Meaning: Tactics and strategy, Trickery, Deception- SheGu looks at him confused but the prince had already left.

...

-So it was home the one taking advantage of my brother... And I who thought you just wanted to scare off the Emperor- says XianLen, still in his woman form, toward Wang Chia-Hao -It was both, while also stirring up some chaos among the nobles. I want to see what will happen once things are spicen up enough- he smirks -That was a good act, it really looked as if his eyes were bleeding- -Yeah whatever, I helped you... Now keep up your promise and don't make me regret this- murmurs the prince -Yes, Your Majesty- he bows down but XianLen rolls his eyes and walks away -I'm king of no one, I find more alluring to seat on a toilet than that stupid chair!- he yells at him while leaving the gates and strolling around the noble-filled streets. Everyone's eyes are on him as the rumors are spreading under his gaze -Ah whatever! I gotta admit, that man not only has guts but he also knows how to plan something and come out unscratched- he sighs and head back to his little shop.