***
A convoy of square carriages rolled into an icy patch. Behind them, fleets of servants and eunuchs raced with heads bowed beside it, flanked on all sides by armoured guards. The convoy came to a stop and the servants hurriedly helped their masters off the carriage. They worked like well-trained soldiers, moving forward to set up tents on the icy field. The masters stepped off the carriages and all bowed towards the carriages leading the convoy. An older man stepped off as they bowed and the bows got deeper.
"Your Majesty, walk carefully," some of the officials said towards him. The man was garbed in layers of wide-sleeved robes embroidered with golden dragons. He made no motion to those bowing to stand up; instead, he walked towards the carriage at the forefront and bowed. Behind him, two fair women, one older than the other, dressed in robes embroidered with phoenixes hurriedly stepped forward and joined him to bow, just in time for maids to help an Elderly woman off the carriage.
"Grandmother," the emperor greeted the older woman. She waved them away and looked towards a carriage a little away. With all the heads still bowed, she could clearly see that the person in the carriage was yet to dismount. The emperor looked towards that direction and back at his grandmother, then glanced at his uncle to the side.
"Uncle has sure trained a good child; she dares to ignore her respect to this emperor and even grandmother," the emperor shot his uncle a look of scorn. King Ju glanced at his nephew with indifferent eyes.
"Your Majesty speaks right. This king has not been able to teach her well and will not protest if his majesty disciplines her," King Ju said and the emperor almost choked on his saliva. Whoever had the ability should discipline her, was what his uncle was saying. This was a mockery to him. Even though he was emperor, he would not dare talk down on his young cousin, talk more of disciplining her.
"Enough, both of you," the dowager empress said to the two. She could not bear seeing her son lose each time to his uncle. If it were up to her, their entire bloodline would have vanished, but there was no way to do this without destroying hers. Since his brother, her husband took the throne, his brothers are to drop their prince title the moment the king starts having sons. Now they had to give him way because of that last daughter of his.
"Mother, let me help you to your tent, the servants should be done," she turned to the grand dowager empress and made a move to help her.
"That's enough. This old woman sees your filial piety. Mai Mama, take me to go rest," the grand dowager empress said and an elderly maid bowed and accepted her hand, leading her away. The dowager empress froze only for a second, but her smile never seized. She then turned to everyone.
"It has been a long journey to the hunting ground. Everyone finds time to rest. Midday, the cold hunt will start," she said and let a maid help her away. The emperor and the others saw her away with a bow and then others saw the emperor and empress away. Soon, many dispersed.
Several noble families had brought their young or this hunt. The price of winning the first three places was very enticing. Their family servants hurriedly set up tents and went ahead to help the palace servants set up the viewing platform for the hunt.
Midday came fast. Many had all rested the hours from morning till now and were quite refreshed for the festivities.
The viewing platform was decked with chairs and many had already found their seats and started to nibble on sweets as they awaited the hunt to begin. The emperor made his entrance with the empress and was received with bows from the subject. The dowager empress followed behind and was just as received. They waited a w while before the grand dowager empress arrived. She took her seat beside the emperor and looked at the empty seat silently. She wondered if the valley master would attend. They had all arrived, yet none dared to start. The valley head of Lir was not here. The valley of Lir used to be just an unimportant country given to King Ju before he was titled by the former emperor. This was not so anymore. When the next valley head was named many had shivered. Now that Lady Vion had taken over as valley head from her father, no one could slight this little country. After a while, Lady Vion made her entrance. She was completely garbed in grey fur to keep out the cold.
As if on cue, many stood to welcome Lady Vion with a bow. The emperor had always been conflicted about this cousin. But he knew not to offend her. Even though he did not bow, he still got up. As such, the empress and the dowager empress had no choice but to do so as well.