Seiran saw Xing trying to hit him and was about to say something but stood frozen seeing the figure emitting coldness enough to freeze the entire city.
How can you provoke her?, Seiren could sense Shengli's thoughts.
Xing turned and saw Shengli in a light green palace apparel with all his hair held up with a silver hairpin.
"You are already here", Xing smiled immediately with her anger gone and forgetting about Seiren.
Immediately the cold air around Shengli dissipated and his eyes became warmer. He saw her in the blue robes and the sword in her waist.
Good, she'd be safe with her sword as long as she does not reveal her ability to control wind in which case she'll be killed for witchcraft. Shihong might be here too.
He bent over and whispered, "You are beautiful, my moon" in her ears. "You too, my prince", she blowed in his ears and he flinched a little and then he stepped forward and bowed before everyone,
" Greetings everyone. General Huojin, the lieutenant was searching for you. Also Uncle, father is waiting for you to join him. Apparently First uncle couldn't attend the banquet. So he wants you to apologise in his stead to the emperor "
"Fine, fine let's get in", Lord Zhong walked past them not before asking Xing to visit his Manor. Everyone entered the banquet venue. It was arranged in an open space , but there were levels in which they were seated. They were greeted by uncle Feiye at the entrance and the Huang family was introduced and all of the families stood and bowed while they walked in the middle lead by the head eunuch. Xing was walking to the side of AoTian and everyone looked at her weirdly, followed by Feiye and Shengli.
Apparently servants are supposed to be walking a step behind their masters which she learned later. But how would she be able to know all these etiquettes of the palace if nobody mentioned it before.
On the way to their seats Xing saw Haru and Shurei at the middle of the second level. She looked at them and gently nodded when AoTian stopped and spoke to Haru, "Lord Ming, your clothes are well liked by my daughter. Hope you could make clothes for her in the future too".
Haru was shocked but stood and thanked him. Xing was happy her father made a good reputation for Haru's clothing store. They were seated on the highest level to the right of the emperor and opposite to the Zhong household.
Xing saw the servants are standing behind their masters and was standing behind AoTian but her father signalled her to sit beside him. The place next to her was left for Rijun and Feiye and Shengli were sitting further left to Xing. Xing looked around and realised her family is the only one with no women. Soon Rijun took his seat, followed by Huojin. Rijun whispered that the banquet will start soon in her ears.
Xing teased him if he had finished his wifely duties of dressing up his husband which made AoTian snort.
Rijun's face became red in anger but he controlled it. He never could realise why she always got on his nerves. Good thing she was not raised with him or else he would have died of anger by now.
Soon announcements were made of the arrival of the emperor and everyone from the second and third level seatings immediately kneeled. The first level only had the Huang and Zhong household followed by the Ran and Shu families and they were just standing.
Guess the founding families hold respect even after a millennium of the establishment of the Empire!
Xing saw the emperor in dark gold robes with a five clawed dragon embroidered in his chest and a golden crown with beads hanging, entering through the entrance on the carpet. Everyone were kneeling with their face touching the carpet and wishing the emperor. As he got up on the first level, everyone gave a deep bow and wished the emperor and Xing followed them.
Good thing I don't have to kneel, was her only thought.
The emperor walked with his oppressive aura and sat on the dragon throne. After the eunuch announced that everyone can be seated, everyone sat.
The emperor waved his hand and the music started and there were a lot of dancers dancing and the maids started serving the wine and the snacks.
If there are no women in the inner palace, where did these maids come from, Xing thought.
"They are hired just for today", Rijun answered knowing what she was thinking.
"Oh!", she said and started to eat the sweets in front of her. Rijun stopped her, "Mingxia, wait for the emperor", he whispered.
Damn you and your rules! Can't even eat!
But, her father told her to eat if she was hungry. Xing looked at Seiren laughing at her and mouthing 'gluttonous pig'. She flicked a nut at him with her forefinger and it hit his forehead and he rubbed his forehead in pain.
AoTian had a proud smirk on his face looking at Lord Zhong. No one had to tell Lord Zhong what he was thinking, 'My kid is better than yours, both in drinking and in martial skills'. Lord Zhong shook his head at the childish AoTian but he could not retort.
While these drama was happening, Xing secretly sneaked some sweets in her sleeves for future consumption as other dishes were either spicy or pork. Both are the things she does not eat and she cursed her brother for making such menu.
While she was sneaking food, Xing felt like she was being watched and looked at the emperor. He was staring at her intently and she returned his stare.
He looked funny to her, with his crown and all and she wanted to tease him for staring at her.
But, Did he recognise her? Well! Didn't seem so.
Then her thought wandered..
Isn't that crown heavy?
What will happen if those beads got tangled? Or what will he do if his nose got itchy?
Xing got an idea as he saw the Emperor still staring at her and she scratched her nose and she could see the Emperor's face twitching and only then he looked away.
Let's see how he scratches his nose with all these people looking at him!
She then saw him casually taking a napkin and rubbed his nose subtly pretending to wipe his mouth which made her laugh.
Just then she heard Shengli clearing his throat and Rijun looking at her wide eyed.
Is she flirting with the Emperor?
Xing didn't understand them and was wondering why there is no one by the emperor's side. "Why aren't there any Poison tasters for the emperor? ", she asked her father who was busy watching the dance.
"He refused", he answered and left an angry glare at the emperor.
This emperor is making it easy to kill him, Xing thought.
The emperor picked a cup and swallowed the wine in one gulp and only then others raised their cup and started to drink after saying the greetings. Xing picked a cup and drank the wine. It was of good quality and she started gulping more accompanied with the snacks. None of those were poisoned, so that was good.
Just then everyone started to talk with one another and the dancers and the musicians were replaced by the noble daughters of the various families.
Xing saw the effort everyone put to make their daughter perform and the smooth talking ways were really unfamiliar to her. As she grew up in the village, she only knows how to be straight forward. But these nobles had many different ways of speech so that their daughters may have the attention of the emperor. She was really amused by the drama unfolding before her.
The girls, most of them even younger than her, all dressed in white or peach or lighter shades looked so frail and delicate. They talked smoothly and softly. One had good zither skills and another danced gracefully with her sleeves fluttering. Some looked cutely and some coquettishly at the emperor and also at them in the first level. Guess anyone would do for their future to be secure, since everyone in the first level is powerful and rich and does not even have a single woman.
Xing looked at Shengli who was carefully eating the food without even sparing a glance at the women. Feiye was nimble and her father and brother were looking at them occasionally.
Huojin looked like he was bored and Seiren was the only other person along with Xing was enjoying the performances of the noble ladies. Seiren was even grading them according to their performances.
Xing looked at the emperor who is the aim of many ladies and their families. He was sitting with the same firm expression like he doesn't care what happens out there, occasionally sipping wine and eating the food before him.
What a sad bunch of men they are! Beauty should be appreciated, Xing thought.
Looks like the emperor really is not interested in women, father has his work cut out for him.
Just then a lady in white robes with silver brocade stepped in the stage near the first level. She was looking approximately twenty and that's an age too old for a woman to be not married. She is the legal daughter of the Ran household Xing had met previously and Xing noted Lord Ran didn't approve of her actions.
The emperor harrumphed and looked at AoTian and Rijun was fidgety .
Wait ,didn't Shengli said she is pursuing father?, Xing looked at her father who was nonchalantly drinking wine.
Xing looked at that Miss Ran who was graceful as a swan with her white sleeves fluttering and her blushed cheeks and her eyes solely focused on her father.
She really is pretty! And father should at least look at her right?
Xing nudged her father with her elbows, "Father, she seems to be only interested in you. Why don't you look at her? ". AoTian was drinking wine and he swallowed through the wrong pipe when she said this and he had a coughing fit startling everyone even the Emperor.
This girl of his is too much forward!
The culprit Xing, started to pat her father's back to ease him and that lady stopped dancing to get near him before stopped by Rijun.
She stood there with tears in her eyes seeing AoTian suffering. Even Xing felt bad for that lady.
She must love father too much!
Only later she knew about how she tried to get her father by many means for more than five years and even tried to strip in front of him to force her father to marry him.
Well! That's not healthy!
"Don't you die on me Lord AoTian", the Emperor said mockingly but there was a tinge of worry in there too.AoTian stopped coughing immediately. His face was red with all the coughing and Xing gave him hot water to drink.
" Zhen might find it offensive if you die here. There is the fact that your family head is too busy to attend the Royal banquet", he said in an indifferent tone which surprised Xing even.
AoTian still had a hoarse voice and could not speak so Feiye stood and cupped his hands and explained why the head of the Huang family and their children could not attend. Since the emperor said something bad about the Huang family, their opposition families felt happy and they were murmuring excitingly.
After the emperor asked Feiye to be seated, he saw the people murmuring and he smirked and asked AoTian, " Lord AoTian, zhen wanted to meet your daughter today. Are you hiding her from zhen?".
As he asked this the entire place got quite, of all the ladies who tried to show off, the emperor was asking about the absent AoTian's daughter? That means he is interested in her?
Shengli who was carefully observing the surroundings silently clenched his fists. Feiye was shocked while Lord Zhong was smiling.
AoTian glared at him and was about to speak while Feiye was worried his hot-headed brother might say something offensive in public . Xing was too impressed by the drama unfolding and forgot she was the one they are talking about.
Rijun knew the Emperor was purposely provoking his father and immediately stood up and bowed, "Your Majesty, my sister was very ecstatically preparing to attend this banquet. But unfortunately she tripped in her skirts and twisted her ankle. She is currently resting. I hope your majesty can forgive my over enthusiastic sister"
"So that's how it is. Zhen will send Imperial doctors to look at her",said the emperor.
"This lowly official thank the emperor for his concern for my little sister. The imperial physician cannot be disturbed for a lowly sprain. She'll get better in a day if she rests well", Rijun said with a dazzling smile.
Everyone saw how concerned the emperor was for the Prime Minister's daughter and their hopes of making their own daughters as consorts or possibly Empress flew threw the window. They silently cursed AoTian in completely controlling the emperor. But only Huojin and Rijun knew this was the emperor's ploy to make AoTian angry.
The emperor saw Rijun's smile and knew that Rijun smiles this widely only when he is really provoked and decided to let it go. He still needed Rijun to do his work. So he nodded and decided to let the Huang family go.
The Emperor then waved to bring the fruit wine. The wine was brought and after everyone was served, the emperor raised his cup and wished good fortune for everyone and gulped the cup of wine followed by everyone. Xing took a gulp and her face twisted and she looked at Seiren and he had the same reaction. She always knew Seiren is not just a frivolous guy as he shows himself and he and Shengli probably are the ones dealing with the information gathering and spreading department of the Zhong clan.
Xing asked Rijun, " This wine, did you get it from the black market? "
"How do you know ?", Rijun's face whitened, "The previous wine had gone bad, so we had to get it at the last moment. But is there anything wrong? We checked it for poison", his voice was clearly panicked.
Xing shook her head,
"It's not poisoned , but drugged. These kind of wines laced with opioids are used in illegal gambling dens to lower the people's reasoning skills and make them slow and more open to suggestions. I don't think this is a coincidence. Now we should stop serving this wine".
She was talking when suddenly she could feel danger and the wind was getting heavy. She could feel many black clothed assassins infiltrating the palace, killing the imperial guards. It was as if the wind carried the information to her. She immediately stood and looked at Shengli who stood and walked towards her.
Meanwhile Seiren was informing his brother Huojin about the wine and Huojin seeing both Xing and Shengli getting up, he got up too and stood in front of the emperor with both of them.
"The emergency exit, is it.. ", Xing started when Shengli replied, "It is ready"
The entire crowd was panicked when there were people standing in front of the emperor. Just as Huojin wanted to ask what's going on a soldier reported that an army of trained soldiers are attacking the Imperial guards to enter the banquet venue.
Xing rubbed her eyebrow looking at Haru which is her signal for assassins and she touched her nose to say they should be fighting separately. Haru understood and he stood up holding his wife and walked towards the exit.
At Huojin's command a bunch of Imperial Guards appeared and surrounded the Emperor and also the Prime Minister. As panic rose, Shengli waved his hand and a bunch of previously briefed soldiers formed a pathway to the exit and urged the guests to be calm and walk slowly towards the exit .
Just then…