Chapter 563: Chapter-563
Through the massive red doors, the Imperial Guards marched in first, their golden armor clanking in perfect unison. Between them walked the Emperor, draped in blindingly bright yellow silk embroidered with nine majestic dragons. Flanking him were the high eunuchs, followed closely by the Empress in her elaborate phoenix crown. Behind them trailed a vibrant sea of royal princes and princesses, their robes a dazzling blur of ruby reds, sapphire blues, and emerald greens.
The Emperor walked slowly up the jade steps to the highest dais. He turned, looking down at the hundreds of officials kneeling before him.
"Rise," the Emperor commanded, his voice echoing with absolute authority.
"Greetings to Your Majesty! May the heavens bless Your Majesty with eternal longevity!" the subjects chanted in unison as they stood up.
Even in this synchronized greeting, the deep cultural divide between the pen and the sword was painfully obvious.
When the civil officials and scholars greeted the Emperor, their hands were straight, palms pressed flat against one another in a traditional scholarly salute. But Heena, her grandfather, and the Vanguard generals greeted him with the martial salute: one hand closed into a tight, unyielding fist, while the other hand remained open, pressing flat against the knuckles of the fist.
It was a stark, visual reminder. Even though the generals were dressed in fine silk robes instead of their heavy armor tonight, they were wolves among sheep.
The Emperor and Empress took their seats on the grand golden thrones, the princes and princesses settling into their designated places just below them. Once the royal family was seated, the rest of the court returned to their cushions.
Because seating was strictly dictated by status and power, Heena’s table was positioned incredibly close to the royal dais. The Vanguard Patriarch sat at the table right in front of hers, placing the old grandfather just steps away from the Emperor himself.
The Emperor looked out over the glittering hall, a cheerful, commanding smile on his face.
"Oh, my," the Emperor chuckled, stroking his beard. "The palace looks so magnificent and cheerful with all of you gathered here tonight to celebrate."
He raised his jade cup in a silent toast, and the court immediately echoed his praises, showering him with hollow, poetic flatteries. But as the Emperor’s eyes swept the room, they predictably landed on the blazing champagne-colored robes of the Vanguard Madam and the tall man sitting beside her.
"Ah, Lady Seera," the Emperor called out, his voice carrying over the quiet hall. "You are looking exceptionally gorgeous tonight. A bold color for a bold general."
Heena immediately stood up, offering another flawless martial bow.
"I thank Your Majesty for the praise," Heena replied, her voice smooth and perfectly diplomatic. "But nothing in this hall could ever outshine the brilliance of our empire’s Sun."
The Emperor laughed out loud, thoroughly pleased by the flawless flattery. "Oh my, your tongue is made of pure sugar tonight, Madam!"
Then, the Emperor’s smiling eyes shifted slightly, locking onto Samuel. The cheerful warmth in the ruler’s gaze cooled into sharp, calculating assessment.
"And this must be your new fiancé, huh?" the Emperor mused, leaning forward slightly on his throne. "You look exactly as I remember you... the brilliant Top Scholar of the Dongji examinations from years ago. You vanished from the capital, and now you return on the arm of the Vanguard."
Samuel stood up elegantly, offering a deep, flawless scholar’s bow. His expression was a masterpiece of humble, overwhelmed gratitude.
"I thank Your Majesty for remembering this lowly one," Samuel said, his voice trembling just enough to sound authentically awestruck. "I cannot express how much happiness it brings me that the Son of Heaven would remember such a worthless guy."
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, letting out a sharp, mocking laugh that echoed through the silent hall.
"A worthless guy?" the Emperor repeated, his tone laced with a heavy, political jab meant to test the Vanguard’s pride. "For someone who was able to successfully capture the heart of our fierce soon to be general... can you even be called a worthless guy? I wonder what hidden talents you possess to tame such a tiger."
The entire Great Hall held its breath. The civil officials exchanged gleeful looks. It was a direct insult, implying Samuel was nothing more than a toy who had manipulated his way into military power.
But Samuel did not flush with shame. He didn’t look violated or offended by the public emasculation.
Instead, Samuel simply lifted his head. He looked at Heena, his eyes softening into a gaze of absolute, unwavering devotion, and then looked back at the Emperor with a bright, entirely unashamed smile.
"Your Majesty is entirely correct," Samuel smiled smoothly, leaning perfectly into his role. "I have absolutely no martial talents to speak of. It is purely my supreme luck that I was blessed enough to get My lady as my partner. I am simply riding on my wife’s coattails."
The Emperor stared at Samuel for a long, quiet second. And then, the Son of Heaven threw his head back and burst into genuine, booming laughter.
The sound echoed through the Great Hall, completely shattering the tense, suffocating atmosphere the civil officials had been trying to build. They had expected the Emperor to be disgusted by Samuel’s lack of pride. Instead, the Emperor seemed thoroughly amused by his absolute shamelessness.
"You are really a funny guy, huh?" the Emperor chuckled, wiping a tear of mirth from his eye.
Samuel didn’t break character for a single second. He kept his posture perfectly submissive, bowing his head in a flawless display of humility.
"It is my absolute pleasure that this lowly one can make our Sun laugh," Samuel replied, his voice dripping with smooth, polite deference.
The Emperor smiled, waving a hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. Sit down, both of you."
Heena and Samuel returned to their cushions, the crisis seamlessly averted. Samuel reached over and casually poured Heena another cup of tea, looking entirely unfazed by the fact that he had just verbally danced with the most powerful man in the empire.
With the Emperor seated and in high spirits, the grand banquet officially commenced.
Lines of palace servants streamed into the Great Hall, carrying massive silver platters of roasted meats, delicate pastries, and the finest vintage wines. The air quickly filled with the rich, savory scent of the feast.
As the officials began to eat and drink, the heavy, rhythmic beat of traditional palace drums began to echo from the back of the hall. The sharp, melodic strumming of a guzheng joined in, signaling the start of the imperial entertainment.
As the grand doors slowly opened, everyone’s attention shifted toward the entrance. A troupe of dancers gracefully stepped into the hall, their colorful robes flowing with every elegant movement. The performers were divided into two groups—men and women—each possessing remarkable beauty and refined grace. They were the finest courtesans selected from one of the capital’s most renowned brothels, trained in music, dance, and etiquette from a young age. Their dazzling smiles and synchronized performance instantly captured the attention of every guest, while the gentle melody filling the hall created an atmosphere worthy of an imperial banquet.
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