Fighting and Play-fighting in the Palace Contest

Fan Xian was moved, though his expression remained deferential. He lowered his eyes, avoiding the young Emperor's gaze, and uneasily cast a glance to one side at the Empress Dowager. There were no expressions on the aged faces of the grand tutor and the Prime Minister, so his gaze naturally fell upon the table to one side of the grand tutor.

The table was empty; it appeared that someone had failed to attend. As he considered this, someone came into the hall from a corridor to the side, bowing to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager and sitting casually at the table, where palace maids served him wine.

The man was dressed head to toe in black. He was tall, slender, and powerful-looking, yet his eyes were as calm as old water wells, their darkest depths invisible. The strangest thing was the chain around his waist, to which two curved blades were fastened. This was brazen indeed!