Chereads / Filipino time / Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Strengthening the Empire (3)

Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Strengthening the Empire (3)

Jasmine: That's not bad, but wooden minka housing style might be dangerous because of hot climate houses can be easier to be set on fire.

Arnel whose otaku left a sigh.

Arnel: (sigh) I really want to bring that tatami in our culture, but it seems like we don't have other choice.

Jasmine: Hmmm... how about we make an stone house and mixed with tatami since we're short in terms of mass production of tables and chairs.

As soon as Arnel heard this his eyes sparkling shines in Jasmine's face and dazzled.

Arnel: Hoh! that's Great! haha you really didn't give up the idea of tatami for me!

Jasmine: But it's still a problem.

Arnel: (sigh) if i could stop the time! hey system since you Transback us in time can't you stop the time ?

System: No...

Arnel: (Sigh) I guess we should put that aside for the mean time (sigh) i really love that idea but we're short in time.

Jasmine: Stop sighing already you'll fill the air with your sigh.

Arnel: Alright! Alright! now let's do this, the most suitable to make it faster is to make a three storey buildings with plenty of rooms in it.

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54 Days earlier.

December 18, 1449

Somewhere in Sabah, Malaysia

A Sultan sitting in an elevated place.

The servant of the second wife of The Datu ask the Sultan.

"Your Highness isn't it the time that the one that we've sent to return?".

After that he smiled to the second wife and the second wife nodded and smiled back at him.

Sultan: It's been a long time since I've heard about Palawan, why the news haven't arrived yet?!

One of Sultan's wives the second wife answered his question viscously.

"Maybe the person that the main wife recommend has turned against you your Highness".

Sultan: Call my first Son immediately!

The servants whose shaking in fear as the voice of Sultan echoed , they vowed as they answered the Sultan's order.

"Yes your highness".

Datu: How dare they defy this Sultan's grace!.

(Second Wife)Eba: You servants halt! Your highness please, instead of your first son why don't we send my son.

The Sultan who was enraged by suspicious delays of the messenger replied to the second wife in a terrifying manner.

Datu: Are you defying me?

The second wife who was intimidated by the Datu's reply hides her clenched fist in her frustration and replied to the Sultan.

(Second wife)Eba: No your highness, i just think that it's more appropriate to send my son since the minions of the main wife may have turned against us.

(Main Wife)Mayumi: How dare you! how could you say that in front of me the main wif-

The main wife was interrupted by the second wife and smirks at her as she interrupt.

(Second wife)Eba: Let me continue, so It's inappropriate to send the First wife's son it's a matter of trust.

While they are arguing The first son was walking fast towards the room of the Sultan, and one of the servants infromd them.

"Your Highness Sultan, Your First Son is here".

(First son)Rafael: Father! where's my father?Let me through! Father! my mother's messengers we're killed on their way to the sea by an unidentified persons a week ago .

The second wife was surprised by the First son's report.

(Second wife)Eba's mind: Why on they killed them on their way?! i told them to wait for them in the sea and sank them!

Sultan: Eba why you didn't report it to me?

The second wife bows and hesitated to answer.

(Second wife)Eba: I-i don't know your highness.

Then he Sultan slams his armrest.

Bang!

Sultan: That is a part of your territory and you didn't know what happend?! this is just irresponsible move!

(Second Wife)Eba: But yo-

The second wife was interrupted by the sultan and slams his armrests again.

Bang!

Sultan: Enough with the excuses! there was nothing wrong of sending the main wife's subordinates!

Then the first wife smiles at her.

Sultan: I better send my first son than yours i cannot trust someone who's irresponsible!

Sultan: Rafael my first born! I'm gonna leave this task to you.

Rafael: Yes Father!

Then Rafael the Sultan's first son bowed to him.

Present time

February 11, 1450

Rafael's mind : Everything was moving so fast! everything! what in a world was happening here in palawan?!

The first month that i was here they are just planning on a meeting but now it's outrageous!

i must inform my father! , wait nefore that let's meet them first i will reveal my self now.

Rafael's servant approached him.

"Your highness it's about time to go backreport to the Sultan".

Rafael: I will extend my stay here, call one of our messenger and bring him here, oh and also bring a scroll i will write the report.

"We'll bring him immediately your highness".

10 Minutes later.

Rafael: Now that the Messenger is on his way to my father send another messenger but send him to the Maharlikan palace.

"Your Highness... you don't plan to go in that palace right?".

Rafael: Actually i plan to build a relationship with them.

Rafael's servant was shock by Rafael's plan and replied in worry.

"Your highness! you should not do that it's dangerous and oyur father's plan wa-".

Rafael interupted him.

Rafael: I know.. i know... maybe my father would change his mind if he know what relationship with this Kingdom would benefit him.

"But your hig-".

Rafael: Orders are order! are you defying me?

the servant sighed.

"(Sigh)No Your highness...as you command we servants follows".

Rafael smiled.

Half an hour later.

Malacañang Palace

Rafael was sitting at the bench while waiting at the outside of the Malacañang palace.

Inside the Malacañang palace

The butler Approached John in the throne room and bowd at him.

Butler Bertram: Your highness a messenger from the prince of the Sultan in sabah has come here.

John: Let him in.

Then the butler opens a two large doors.

Butler Bertram: You can now See his Majesty.

The messenger bows to the king.

John: What business of the Son of Sultan to sent you here.

"Greetings your highness, i was sent by Sultan's first son Rafael to form a relationship between our kingdom".

John: Oh! so when we'll meet?

"Ermm actually your Majesty he's outside the palace waiting at the bench".

The other elders of tribes was enrage by hearing what he said, and one of them shouted.

"How insulent!"

"How could not show his face to his Majesty first while he's still here!".

"Are you implying that his Majesty doesn't know righteousness and etiquettes ?".

John waves his hands above is armrests.

John: It's alright all of you calm down, You can call him now.

The messenger bow down and shaking.

"Apologies your Majesty".

A minute later.

Rafael was standing in front of the gates of Malacañang palace, and he saw his subordinate running towards him.

Rafael: Jeez why you take so long.

"(Pant) apologies young master we can go in now".

Then the gates opened by the palace guards and they walk towards the palace escorted by another palace guards.

Rafael's mind: What's with the armors? I've never seen such a fine armor!

A minute later.

As they walk they saw the training grounds of the knights and astonished as he saw them.

Rafael's mind : what a synchronized movements! the discipline is detailed!

And finally they were inside the palace and as they walk to the hallway towards the throne room Rafael keeps staring at the arts

Rafael's mind: how did they built this kind of building?

"Young master we've arrived".

Two large doors were opened.

After the doors were opened Rafael saw the king of Maharlika dressed in Barong Tagalog mixed with Imperial clothes sitting in his throne.

Rafael's mind: What a fine clothing!

and as he looks around him he was astonished.

Rafael's mind: woah everything wss shining! we have nothing like this!

John: Welcome to our humble Malacañang Palace prince Rafael.

Rafael: Greetings King of Maharlika, I've come here to form a relationship between our kingdom.

John Smiles at him and lean his back.

John's mind: Alright! this is an opportunity!

John: I see.. the prince must be a wiseman, let's talk about something that both of our kingdom would benefit tomorrow, but now i will prepare something for you but for today let's take a lunch.

Then the butler claps his hands and as the servants heard the clap they brought a long table and the other brings the rice and dishes.

Rafael's servants was surprised.

John: You've come from far away land let our kingdom serves the dishes for you.

Rafael: This is my first time seeing this kind of foods what is this called?

John: That is called fried chicken.

Rafael: Fried what?is it a chicken with a strange color?

John: Have a taste you will know its taste once you eat it.

Then Rafael bites the fried chicken, and as he bites the juiciness of the chicken and the flavors within the oil of fried chicken reaches his tongue.

Rafael: Ooooohh!

As Rafael eats the food in astonishment he can't stop himself of being consumed by the flavor.

Rafael's servants were amazed and their eyes were sparkling.

"What a delicacy!".

"What is this one? its look like a stick".

John: That one is called Fries.

After a couple of seconds Rafael's mind slipped to his tongue.

Rafael: How can this place, a baren place to have this beautiful palace and delicacies?!

Then Rafael realized that his mind slipped to hus tongue.

Rafael: (Gasp)! Apologies your Majesty John!

The Elders reacted.

"This child!"

"What an ungrateful child after we fed you".

Rafael: I'm absolutely sorry your Majesty!

Rafael's servants was worried for him and they are ready to flee incase of punishments.

John: Don't worry it's alright, elders please calm down he's speaking the truth it's true that this is a baren land for a moment.

Rafael: For a moment?

John smiled at hum and told him.

John: You will know tomorrow, there's a saying that goes "Don't judge a book by its cover".

And the elders arrogantly raised their chins.

They had a conversation and ate for half an hour.

Half an hour later.

Rafael: Thank you for the lunch Your Majesty John.

John: You're welcome just rest for now but tomorrow we'll discuss our business.

John: The servants will lead you to your rooms, they will tour you to the palace and you can call them if you needed them.

Then the servants lead them to their rooms, after that Rafael's servant approached him.

"Young master are you alright?".

Rafael: I'm fine.

"Young master what do we do now?".

Rafael: They have so many secrets, but somehow i feel like it's just right to have a connection with him.

after an hour the servants called them and toured them throughout the palace.

24 hours later.

John called Alberto and James for this meeting.

John: This two is my cabinet secretaries.

The two of them waved their hands and and Rafael waved back at them.

John: Let's get to the business, how about we make a trade for both of our country?

Rafael: A trade? what is a trade?

James: A trade is the exchange of goods and services between parties for mutually beneficial purposes.

Rafael's subordinates were worried about this trade thing, and one of them whispered to him

"Young master, you know what's the aim of your father.

Rafael whispered back at him.

Rafael: I know that father wants to subdue this place, but somehow i will convince him.

John: Is there a problem?

Rafael hesitated to answer because he knows that everyone will be enraged by his answer but sfter a seconds he replied.

Rafael: Ahhh yes there's a little problem.

John: what is it?

Rafael: The problem is.. our country specially our king my father doesn't know about trade and even if learned about this trade thing he will reject it as he only allows tributes and he-

James interupted him.

James: Let me give you an idea, let's say that you will manage and represent your country in this trade and cover it up as a tribute, and since you manage the tribute you will sell it and gain profit and you will sell us a product from your country.

Rafael: Hoh! what a great idea!

James' mind: yeah yeah! that's it! i will make you a reseller!

John who noticed James' face expressions.

John's mind: This guy! is evil guy! i will smack your face but it's necessary (sigh) and they will benefit with it too.

James: i would like to show you our products, First is a food that will last for months it's called sardines bring the Products!

James called the the servants.

(Note: Barong tagalog worn up to this day on very important celebrations and formal gatherings, the barong tagalog's ever-present magnificence that is inherently Filipino has stood the test of time. Barong tagalog, root word baro pertaining to "upper garment", literally means "Tagalog outfit". It was coined during the early Spanish colonial period to distinguish it as a native attire of Filipinos in contrast to the European-styled three-piece suits.

Evolution in fashion throughout the centuries brought upon various modifications of the barong tagalog, and even grew in popularity nowadays on women as an alternative to the elaborate four-piece traje de mestiza known as Maria Clara. Typically, it is made of sheer lightweight woven fabric made of either piña or jusi, the former considered more precious.

source - www.tatlerasia.com)