Proposal VIII

"Our Fourth Prince, Lian'er, We were about to call for you."

The Snow Flower Empire's Emperor looked rather old. He had been in the late-stage Mid God for a while and his age was over eight hundred thousand years; if he doesn't become a High God before he reaches nine hundred thousand years, he will die.

"Lian'er apologizes. As Lian'er had been feeling dizzy, Lian'er was delayed." The Fourth Prince didn't mention directly the incident, he didn't know if those news had spread all around or if they had been covered.

"Hoh. Lian'er is feeling unwell. You shouldn't have forced yourself, then. Health comes first, after all."

'As if you care…' He almost rolled his dark eyes at the Emperor's words behind his long sleeves, "Lian'er thanks Imperial Father's concern. Imperial Physician Cui has already taken care of my inconvenience. Imperial Father doesn't need to worry."

"All right." The Emperor nodded, "You may take seat."

"Lian'er thanks Imperial Father," he said before lowering his hands and raising his head. He saw him gesturing with his hand, indicating he was supposed to sit on the seats lined to his right.

As he walked up to his seat, he was quite surprised and at the same time not much, 'Several of those seats are empty and I don't see the envoys anywhere. I guess I got to sit near them along with the most promising princes: the First and Third Prince… tsk, tsk… I think with this body still being that of a man, being this bold is no problem.'

A eunuch clad in light blue robes led him to his seat which without much surprise was the last of that row.

"First Imperial Brother, Third Imperial Brother, may heavens bless shine upon you," he gave a salute with both hands to the princes that were sitting in the same row as him.

The two princes only nodded, not bothering to even look at him.

He didn't care and sat while his servants stood metres behind him.

Because there was an empty seat between the princes, there was nobody to bother him beside him yet so he took the chance to sweep his dark eyes through the left side of the Emperor that had two rows of seats: one that was a level below the Emperor's throne and alienated to his row on the right and another that was right below the first one. The Emperor's consorts and high-rank concubines sat in the former while the other princes and princesses sat in the later; the Third Empress of the Emperor had died not too long ago, hence there was no Empress right now in the Snow Flower Empire.

'But what eyes they are giving me, haa-.'

"His Imperial Highness, the Holy Prince, from the Holy Light Empire."

"His Valiant Majesty, King Rui, from the Holy Light Empire."

"His Illustrious, Venerable Alchemist Gu, from the Holy Light Empire."

When Shen Rou was finishing surveying the Fourth Prince's mothers and siblings, the arrival of the envoys from the Holy Light Empire was announced by a eunuch.