Chapter 7: The Grand Dinner

The sun slowly climbed up the far mountains, and the pitiful candle had melted away, emitting its dying smoke as the fire completely vanished. And the sun's warm golden rays outside the windows replaced the ember that lit the chamber the Crown Prince just earlier.

Several turns of pages and crumples of rich parchment were heard inside the chambers of Jian Li, the rough and fast squibbing of the sharp quill, and the few sneezes of him from the old textbook's dusts were continuously occuring, the Prince difficultly trying to decode and compare books after books.

"Just a few more.." Cheered him to himself, running his drooping eyes left and right at the pages in hurry, so determined that he was fighting his drowsiness to death. (which would actually happen if he does not sleep.)

His right foot shook faster, biting his lip as he wrote the last deciphered character. He stood up straightly with both of his feet with fatigue and cracked his neck as soon as he finished. His hand sought the deciphered paper and picked it up, then he wrapped a thick cloak around him and went to his balcony.

The chilly wind of the coming dawn blasted his face and the cold made the Prince's breath exhale a misty smoke from his exhausted sighs. Holding the paper, he reads:

"I will find a way to meet you again, Lili."

He raised both his brows.

"I see." Jian Li shakes his head and buried his face to the paper, chuckling quietly.

'This was already given. If you wont, I'll find you still.' said Jian Li inside his head.

" 'Li', huh... You still don't know how to address a royalty, hahaha!" Those long five years of searching were worth it. Those words were plenty enough to reassure him that both parties do have the same intention to reunite again.

With the long years of isolation from the outside world, and with those times Jian Li had longed and strived each day to step foot outside again, with a hopeful heart, he continues to wait patiently, contented of the assurance that they'll meet again this year after his coronation.

"Your Highness," called Aren gently behind him while Jian Li stayed with his back facing his personal servant as they continued their conversation.

Then Aren walked by his side, looking at the rising golden sun. "You should wear a thicker coat to keep you warm." Then the blonde man handed the Crown Prince a coat with its collar puffed with animal fur with a soft smile at his face.

Jian Li smiled softly at his servant, all giddy. "Worry not Aren, i have a good endurance of cold."

"Royals must not endure cold.." chuckled Aren with a sweat and helped his master wrap another layer of white coat around his shoulders.

Checking the gold watch from his pocket, Aren puts both of his hands behind him. "Almost time to attend your breakfast. No- did you slept at all Your Excellency?" Paused Aren as he saw dark circles under the Prince's blue eyes.

Jian Li turned to Aren, putting the paper away. "I did. Have you filled yourself breakfast?"

"I am blessed with Your Highness' concern. I am fed due to the Highnesses kindness." Bowed lowly Aren with a smile.

"To help comes with our power as royals."

"You are truly god send Your Highness, i do hope everyone is like you."

A long silence enveloped the cold balcony but the Prince broke it. "Take care of the things downstairs. I think my younger brother will make his morning fuss in a second." He laughed at the everyday occurrence that happens inside the palace.

He played with the shining red ruby around his neck as he waits for his brother's shout.

"I DONT NEED SCARVES, IM NOT COLD! LEAVE ME BE!" Yelled the echoing voice somewhere inside the palace ticked by his servant's perseverance to wear something thick even though its the season of fall.

Jian Li raised his brows at the booming voice of his brother and chuckled softly.

In chorus, they giggled. "To no surprise."

On that same day, the annual Grand Dinner of the palace will take place. All the nobles, the Royal Council and the House of Lords are to gather inside the Jian palace's Grand Hall along the three royals not to only throw a party but to also celebrate the nearing of the First Prince's crowning.

Each manor residences were overjoyed with this invitation from King Hongwu and began preparing their most expensive clothes to wear for the upcoming event on the evening.

The sleepless Prince slept the morning away and were awoken by Aren who caught him sleeping again. Saying: "not miss lunch", in which he did obeyed and checked around the venue after he ate his meal.

Looking around the grand hall, he would survey around to see if things were going smoothly, even though it wasn't a royal's job to organize, he still wanted to make sure. This behavior of him pleased the servants making him blindingly kind deep inside their minds.

As he was looking around, he turned around only to bump with his pissed off little brother Morfran having his chest revealed confidently in a cloudy afternoon.

With Jian Li's supervision with the servants, and orders towards the guards, everyone was actually helping each other with all the tasks. The Grand Hall were cleaned spotless and it was decorared tightly with lit lanterns and a big chandelier of candles, the Hall looked fully orange by the lights as the dusk of the night slowly arrives, Jian Li who was calculating anything else were already far satisfied, Aren who was beside him proudly looks at his master.

"I'll be going back to my quarters for a while, bring my clothes for the dinner." Aren and the few attendants behind him bowed, while Jian Li exited the grand hall, moving away from their sight completely.

Jian Li walked on the red carpet of the hallways and quietly paced, passing by the lanterns that covered every inch of the palace at night.

Near his chambers, he sees a servant pacing weirdly on the hallway, as he approaches he'd smell a faint scent of sandalwood around the air. Stopping by, he asks: "Are you okay?" the servant jolts and behaved totally flustered under the veil.

"T-thank you for your concern My Majesty! I'm fine-!" It was a man's voice, clearly panicking.

"Are you new here? You seem lost." Jian Li asked, concerned for the awkward man.

Then the servant replied, lowering himself. "I just got the job today.. there's so many things happening around here and i cannot seem to find where the way to the royal kitchen is.."

Jian Li nods, "Oh, you've gone far up then, it's downstairs. If you encounter anyone on the way, just ask. You can also ask for the guard to escort you." The servant sweats under his veil and nods quickly.

"Thank you so much!"

"Off you go, your help is needed on the hall." Said Jian Li while the servant bowed and walked away, successfully getting another servant to fawn over his kindness.

Jian Li sighed, sitting on his bed to rest his tired feet, the moon would rise to the sky little by little as the time slowly passes by.

Around him were the lights from the lanterns and from his chimney, the room were filled with warm and comfortable ambience and also his favorite scent of the sandalwood.

With the arriving of the carriages and the noises of the many nobles at the entrance, he held the six year old paper tightly on his palm with determined eyes. "Its coming.. just a few more days.. soon.. come faster..."

His delicate fingers trembles out of anxiety, afraid if he would make a mistake in front of the high ranking nobles and if he ever destroys his image at the grand dinner somehow. He felt so pressured as he will be ruling over them in the next few days. He was nervous about himself if the people would approve someone like him as their next King, he cannot help but feel insecure and conscious of himself.

Restless he grows, he stands up and searches for the glass-made violin that Aren gifted him.

"When you're nervous about something, just play my violin. I am sure it will help you relax." The voice of Aren echoes inside his head. Trying to compose his heart, he takes deep breath and loosened his nerves as he tries to relax his shaky fingers.

His right arm moved up while his left fingers were wrapped around the fret pressing the strings following a certain score. His wrists began moving slowly, sliding and picking a low tune.

The sound of the lower strings being played makes his legs sturdier, feeling the vibrations warming up his body. The Prince closes his eyes and focused harder on the piece he was playing, humming along the tune he still clearly remembers from that night when the two coachmen sung a low song.

"Arrogant thief."

"Ignorant Prince."

Then he smiled, snickering a bit while he gracefully dances along the transparent violin. His trembling fingers were finally no more, and his body relaxed and were warmed enough to be going in circles while playing the violin.

He finishes the short piece with a contented sigh and a sweep of his cloak.

"Your Excellency, it's Aren, i have brought your royal clothes." Talked Aren outside the doors of Jian Li's chambers. The Crown Prince set down the violin and ran his fingers through his black hair.

"You may come in." Said Jian Li. Aren and the servants entered the warm room.

"Good evening, Your Highness." The veiled servants said in chorus. Jian Li nodded and greeted them back.

"How are things going at the grand hall?" He asks. Aren fixes his clothes: "It is all going smoothly, the guests and their companies all safely arrived, now just waiting for the royals to dine."

Jian Li casually sits on the chair, the servants immediately working on the Prince's beautiful face. But the servants would think their job was already useless since their master's face doesn't even needs products to shine prettier, but still, they adored his face that they'll do the job anyway.

"Wait, companies you say?" The Crown Prince raised his brows and stood up from the chair, the servants automatically removing his clothes and putting on the newly sewed royalty clothing, customized only for the his size.

Aren nodded. "Yes, it looks like even low ranking nobles decided to attend this year, knowing that it's your pre-coronation celebration." Answered back the personal servant, who fastened his white and blue robes from the front.

Wearing his white boots, Jian Li hummed, "Is that so... Then that is well." Aren smiled and nodded.

The servants completing his look by placing a white veil on his head, its end dripping with blue gems. Aren in finishing touches placed the golden coronet above the veil, a crown as his symbol of rank as Crown Prince besides the ruby around his neck.

The servant then sprayed a long lasting and strong scented perfume that the Prince personally disliked but let it slid anyway.

"Go on ahead, i will rest a bit more here and will follow after. Many thanks from all of your assistance." Jian Li smiled under the veil, he sees the servants bowing faintly.

Aren turned around to exit and glanced at the violin on the Prince's bed and chuckled softly.

"Were you nervous Your Highness?" He asked to the Prince who just softly laughed.

"I was." "-not."

"Do not lie~" Teased him and laughed, opening the door after. "Your playing was beautiful." Complimented Aren before he closes the door.

But as he was walking along along the hallway, he would wonder, 'How does he know how to play a folk song?'