○ Hey everyone. So, in this chapter the prince will be receiving some gifts from his family and loved one along with all the guests. But he would ask for one more thing from the emperor as his gift that will be making the emperor extremely angry and destroy a lot of things. This chapter also contains a lot of violence because it would be an attack by the enemies. So, let's dive in. ○
After disclosing the entire Banquet about the precious birthday gift prepared by the late empress for her beloved son's seventeenth birthday Consort Han showcased a magnificent Jade pendant which looked finely handcrafted with the traditional Dragon and Phoenix design along with a unique flower carved in the middle of it. The pendant had a tassel attached to the central end of the design and a long silver amour chain which held the pendant upright from both the sides. in the tassel top was a premium oceanic pale golden pearl and was attached to the hook. The Imperial Noble Consort presented this gift to the prince on behalf of the late empress. The prince dumbstruck and shook kept on staring at the magnificent work of pure art with minor details created on a small piece of jade. The dimensions of the pendant were around 2 inches or so. Consort Han gave the Pendant as per the late empress's wish to the prince on his seventeenth birthday. After receiving a fragrance of his mother's memory, the prince became void with vivid emotion and felt immense warmth within his heart as he noticed on the back of the pendant was his name engraved by his mother in her beautiful hand writing. Him being under the influence of his emotional state thanked Consort Han with a smile and courtesy that he never showed before. Consort Han was on cloud nine at that moment as that was the first time Prince Yan ever talked to her in a polite way. After gaining confidence from the prince's sudden action Consort Han Embellished her gift and presented the emerald and silver hair pin to the prince to which he didn't bothered to have a look at as he was still staring at the pendant. But after consort Han repeated her statement, he flinched for a split second and accepted the Hair pin immediately as he was in a joyful mood. As soon as receiving the gifts he immediately wore them to show his thankful nature and gratitude towards the Imperial Noble Consort. This made the emperor loosen up his anger a bit on the prince. Later in the event Princess A'rou and princess Ying presented their gifts and both of them were praised individually by the emperor as well as the prince. Princess A'rou's dagger was praised for its sharpness and easy to handle flow construction while on the other hand Princess Ying's embroidered overcoat was praised for the usage of natural silk embroidery and fine weaving with detailed precision. After this all the Nobles and courtiers arrived one after the other to present auspicious as well as beautiful gifts, they prepared for the Capital Succession. After receiving all the gifts from the entire Banquet Prince Yan was in a joyful bliss but as he turned to the past memories, he saw flashes of the emperor killing the empress and so in that delusion he spoke up something he shouldn't have.
Prince Yan, (got up and slightly bowed) I thank all the Nobles and everyone including my sisters and Imperial Noble consort Han for the gifts that I have received. But there is a gift that I would like to ask for from my father the great Qian Emperor.
Emperor, what is it Crowned Prince? You can ask for anything but relaxation in your learnings.
Prince Yan Yo- I only want a small acceptance about a matter of crime that was related to you Father.
Emperor, and what can that be?
Prince Yan Yo- (With the smirk, raised from his bow and moved to face the emperor) But father will you be able to do what I ask you for.
Emperor, OfCourse I can. I am capable of doing anything just ask son what is it that you yearn for.
Prince Yan Yo- Okay...fine then, I want you. The Emperor of Zifen to admit that you killed the late empress my Mother Li Zifen with your own hands in front of the entire capital and apologize to my mother in front of all....so that she can rest in peace.
After listening to these words, the entire commotion of the Banquet went to a pin drop silence. Enraged the emperor shouted "How dare you!?" "You Crappy son" and threw all the food along with the table which slipped and fell near the entrance of the hall. The anger perished into the prince's eyes as tears when he remembered how he lost his most precious part of his heart. Things did shatter before him but he was helpless and vulnerable. That guilt of years ago struck his soul several times in that single moment. Little did he knew that he was about to be insulted...by his own father.
Emperor, You Unfilial son of mine...! how can a crowned prince be so selfish and self-centered? all you care about is yourself and no one else.... how will you ever be able to rule with compassion in the future! send my DECREE that from today the crowned prince shall not to be treated as the Capital of Succession but as a mere prince and shall leave for red fountain palace tomorrow morning. Yan Yo! you are not allowed to return to the capital till you learn how to respect your elders and rule with compassion!
A'rou, Ying'er take your brother to his palace and prepare to leave immediately after the Lun Shen tomorrow morning.
A'rou and Ying princess didn't have a choice but to agree to what the emperor commanded as they didn't want his anger to aggravate. Standing upright and utterly disgusted the emperor ordered the prince to leave immediately. His punishment was set and had been made stricter now. The emperor was saddened by what he did to his son by not telling him the truth about the late empress and in his heart, he kept on repeating the same guilt that he suffered from years. After this the prince left the Banquet in frustration and was followed by his sisters to his palace. While leaving Princess Ying was pulled in by the Imperial Noble consort Han, who then leaned towards her ears and whispered something that she wished to tell the prince. It was about the Jade pendant but now that he would be leaving after the Lun Shen, she told the Princess to tell the prince that the answers he is seeking for will be revealed by the pendant when the time comes. After listening to this with a shocked look towards consort Han was given by the princess to which Consort Han gave an approving head tilt which Princess Ying understood what she was supposed to do. She left the Banquet after that to the Prince's Manor.
Elsewhere,
Jingsì, Jinbao and Mistress Yi all of them had crossed the Willow Forest and reached to Yuen Meng city that was located 5 kilometers away from the San Zin village. There they halted a bit and took shelter at the city council Chief's Manor. Jingsì also helped the Chief's daughter Sú Shijan to recover from a lung disease that was treated with plum nectar and silver acupuncture needles.
Chief executive Sú Hong, Miss Jingsì thank you very much for prescribing medications for my daughter.
Jingsì- Chief Sú please thank my Master Mistress Yi for teaching me how to heal bronchitis. She is the source of all my knowledge.
Chief Sú, yes, I'm extremely grateful to Mistress Yi for accepting our offer and staying the night at my palace being my guests as well as helping my family. We all are thankful Master Yi. (He and his wife did a kowtow to pay respect and show gratitude)
Mistress Yi (pulling them up from the kowtow) No, no please! no need to do something like that in front of me I am just a healer and these are my students please don't embarrass us by doing a kowtow we respect you a lot as a chief... so please don't do this.... You'll make me feel bad...also we are doing our duty so no need to thank us it was our responsibility.
Jingsì- yes, Grand aunt is absolutely correct. Please don't thank us we only did it because of compassion and following our responsibility.
Chief Sú, Okay ok (with a pleasant expression)
offered the best possible meal and a perfectly warm place to sleep. Both he and his wife were kind and helped them while taking care of their guests in a perfect manner.
They took a halt at Yuen Meng city because it was late at night and travelling at that time would be dangerous. So, Mistress Yi decided to leave the next day early morning.
At the Banquet,
Consort Han try's to persuade the emperor's anger and kept on asking for him to calm down.
Emperor Qian, I have really failed in raising my son without his mother....I feel like I failed Zifen....He thinks I killed Zifen but the reality is more complicated than he can ever imagine....(emotional) What should I do now Han I feel so helpless...
Consort Han, Emperor we have kept a lot of secrets from our son and that has grown us apart from him. But didn't we agree to keep these things a secret for his own good? we also agreed that even if it ruins our relations with him, we will do anything to protect him even if that makes us the villain.
Emperor, you are right! We did all that to protect him from the curse that....
BOOM********!
A sudden loud sound shook the Banquet Hall. Emperor and consort Han were at the Balcony and rushed to the main hall as soon as they heard that loud sound coming from the Banquet Hall...
Demons had attacked the Capital of Zi fen and destroyed the entire City with their Hungry ghost army lead by the three elemental Deamons. They attacked and bombed the entire Banquet Hall as well. When Emperor Qian and Consort Han reached the main hall where the Demons attacked, they saw countless people being slaughtered one after the other by the Binzok Demon like they were mere vegetables being chopped. The emperor and Consort Han paused for a second and removed their overcoats. The emperor held a sharp sword along with a spear in his hands while Consort Han held two Katana daggers which were packed along her hips underneath the huge Yi fu she wore.
Demon, Well....Well. Look what we have here (While holding a dead body) honorable emperor Qian and his Consort ready to welcome an old acquaintance with weapons (sarcastic grin) what a pity....
Emperor Qian, Binzok demon we are not old acquaintance. You are just a mere enemy to us.... Just a filthy Deamon (standing position to fight)
Consort Han, (in a harsh tone) Binzok we do not welcome you here!! leave while we still ask you politely....
Demon, What!? Noo! we were not welcome here??? But....now we have entered the Banquet...so why don't we have some fun...Afterall it's a day of auspicious "Capital Succession " isn't it today? (While using his whip arm to kill a child who was running towards his mother to save himself.
Emperor outraged his anger seeing the inhuman slaughtering that wreaked havoc in the Capital aimed towards the demon and started the fight. While on the other hand the lady who saw her son being killed in front of her eyes screamed with utter aggression and anger. This made the Hungry ghost army attack the people in the Banquet and in order to save their lives people rushed in all possible directions to stay alive. The Hungry ghost army grabbed most of the people and bit their neck deeply hence forth killing them. As the fight between the Demon and the emperor started Consort Han slaughtered the ghost army with her daggers and absolute speed strength while fighting. She killed the Hungry ghosts by ripping their heads off. The emperor fought Binzok while saving space for Consort Han to move around and save the people.
○ This chapter ends here. In the next chapter an injured mother tries her best to save her children and the capital of Zifen is converted to the capital of blood. Until then see ya all. ○