As the younger generation were having their banquet, the high ranking court officials were gathered at the Spring Autumn restaurant in the capital.
The Spring Autumn restaurant was a high class restaurant which had three floors, the first floor was for the nouveau rich people and second class families.
The second floor, was for the first class families only. On this floor, only the first class families were served.
On the third and last floor, was were the Clans and high ranking officials were served. Being on the third floor represented power and status. Only the best of the best could dine here.
The third floor was currently occupied with high ranking official who were currently dining and feasting.
"It seems that, the Clan leader of the Qing Clan could not make it today" the Zhang Clan family head said with a smile.
He was the minister of war.
"Hmph, the Qing Clan always act high mighty as if they are above everyone else, such arrogance" said the Second Chancellor.
"They do have the right to act arrogant though!" the Gu Clan leader chimed in.
Many of the officials agreed with him.
"I heard that, the the successor to Moonshadow Sect would be visiting the Qing Clan today, I hear that he's totally infuctuated with Qing Ying" another officials said.
"The Qing Clan are indeed destined for greatness" another official added sourly.
"Hihi, I can't wait to meet the so called Grand General tomorrow, I hear that he's quite young" the Zhang Clan leader chuckled.
"The younger he is, the easier it would be to control him" the second chancellor said smiling.
"But can we really control him?" The minister in charge of registry asked.
The hall fell silent, before roars of laughter's were heard, some even chocked on their food and wine.
"We were able to tame the emperor who was as fierce as a dragon back then, but now look at him.
We turned him into our obedient lamb, and you think a child wet behind the ears will be able to offer any resistance.
"We will have him bowing to us tomorrow, this is Imperial Domain, even if you are a dragon
You have no choice than to lie down and obey us obediently.
In Imperial Domain, we are the local snakes" The Zhang Clan leader said as the other official laughed with him.
"We've not been able to extend our influence to the other regions, but with the arrival of the Grand General, it would become very easy, since he controls them all" The second chancellor said whiles pulling his long white beard.
The other officials nodded in agreement, previously the imperial capital was large enough to satisfy them.
But now, they saw the opportunities to extend their influence beyond the walls of the capital, and their appetite couldn't help but grow.
The second chancellor raised a cup and offered a toast, " To our success" the other officials raised their cups too.
From now on, their influence was bound to experience a lot of growth.
On the first floor, the military officials who would be attending the welcome ceremony of the Grand General were drinking their sorrows away.
In the current imperial court, the military officials had no powers, the emperor had sidelined them and had given all the powers to the court officials.
They were just there to fill in the position which was sad.
Usually those who were granted the position of military officials in court, were usually veterans who had bled for the empire. But under the current regime, there was no respect for them.
"Eventually the prince of the north will fall just like us" said a middle aged man. He was a retired admiral who had joined the imperial court with so much passion, thinking he was going to make a change.
But alas, reality was really cruel, Liu Feifei grand father was among the generals drinking their sorrows away.
The Prince of the north was the last imperial power the military actually held, but it seemed like they would loose it very soon.
"How I wish I could convince the Prince of the north to turn around" A beautiful woman with Scarlett long hair and smooth fair skin joined them, she wore a white dress with flower embroidery on them.
Her face was hidden under a veil, but looking at her body, the old men knew she was a kind of beauty that could cause the downfall of empires, but they didn't dare to have any other dirty thoughts or lust towards her.
She was the owner of the Spring Autumn restaurant, she had a lot of powerful connections, and it was believed that she had connections with a Four-Star Sect in the Sealed continent, so no one dared to mess with her.
Not even the Emperor could afford to offend her.
"Madam Deji", the retired generals greeted her politely.
"What brings the madam of Spring Autumn to our humble table?"
"I'm here to join you drown in your sorrows, since you are the only people who know gratitude in this place.
The Grand General has contentiously warded off invaders and has given the empire seven years of continuous peace, which I heard you haven't had in a long time.
Yet, the officials on the third floor are scheming against him.
Even dogs know how to show gratitude, so why can't the men of the immortal empire do the same? She asked.
Under normal circumstances, the old generals wouldn't take such insults, but they couldn't help but blush.
She was totally right, they were really worse than dogs.
"Though I've never met the Grand General, I'm grateful to him for protecting us" she poured herself a glass and slightly lifted her veil to drink it.
She had heard the conversation upstairs and couldn't help but feel disgusted.
"It would really be unfortunate if such a great man like that fall into the hand of the officials" She sighed before leaving.
The other generals weren't in a mood to drink again, and so left the restaurant for their homes.
If the officials of the prefectures were to see such scenes, they would die of laughter.
When Gu Shang arrived at the Liu family manor, he went to his bedroom and jumped on the bed.
Just then, a man in black appeared holding a box.
"Greetings your grace, the dwarf clan has sent you a batch of new clothes. They say it's resistant to fire and water, and can take attacks from Immortal Kings without sustaining any damages.
A large batch of it have been sent to the Rising Phoenix Manor, but here is your outfit for tomorrow"
Whiles speaking, the man in black took out an ancient looking mannequin from his storage ring.
On the mannequin was a black silk long robes with golden purple Qilin pattern on the robes.
The Purple Qilin was the insignia of the Grand General. He casually glanced at it before asking, "Are preparations for tomorrow ready?"
"Yes your grace" the man simply replied before disappearing.
Gu Shang looked at the silky black robes, before looking at the simple and neat white robes he was wearing.
"The Gu Shang of seven years ago, dies tonight, Only the Grand General remains!"
He took out his flute and began to play it.
From tomorrow onwards, Imperial Domain was destined to undergo changes.
All the forces began to move, A storm was approaching the capital.