Chapter 166: A Prideful King
The next morning, the Azure Dragon Palace was alive.
Servants moved in disciplined streams, robes flashing in shades of blue and gold. Guards shifted positions with sharpened vigilance. Orders were given, received, executed without pause.
The banquet preparations had begun. And with them... tension.
°°
At the heart of the palace, within the main throne hall sat Jun Yongrui.
Draped in deep azure and gold, his presence alone filled the vast chamber. The carved dragons along the pillars seemed almost subdued beneath him, as if even stone recognized its king.
Below him stood the court.
Advisors. Elders. Officials. All waiting.
"We welcome Your Majesty." Fang Lingbo who was the headmaster of the celestial beast academy stepped forward, bowing low, his tone respectful. "We trust your journey to the Sky Palace was... fruitful."
Jun Yongrui’s cold disinterested gaze lowered to him.
"And?" The single word landed heavily.
Fang Lingbo stiffened. "...The banquet, Your Majesty," he continued, forcing composure. "We wished to inquire—"
"What about it?" The interruption was immediate.
Fang Lingbo faltered, only for a fraction of a second, but it was enough.
The room noticed.
Silence tightened.
Before he could recover, urgent footsteps broke through the hall.
An Moshang, Jun Shanyuan’s husband, entered, moving past the gathered advisors before dropping into a deep bow at the base of the throne.
"Your Majesty."
Jun Yongri’s gaze shifted. Mild annoyance flickered. "You interrupt."
"There is a matter that requires immediate attention."
"Speak."
An Moshang inhaled once, steadying himself. "The guest list... has changed."
That was enough to draw the court’s full attention.
Jun Yongri’s expression did not shift. "Explain."
"...Lan Yunlai has entered the capital." The words landed heavily. "He intends to attend the banquet."
For a single breath, nothing happened.
Then the air collapsed.
A violent surge of pressure erupted from the throne, invisible yet suffocating, forcing robes to whip and bodies to tense as the entire hall seemed to bow under it.
Jun Yongri rose slowly. "That wretched beast..."
A deep, steel-grey aura unfurled from him, dense and crushing, swallowing the space in an instant. Even the strongest among the advisors lowered their heads instinctively, their breaths turning shallow under the weight of it.
Jun Yongri’s expression darkened, his aura still pressing heavily against the chamber.
"How dare he," he said, voice low with restrained fury, "step into my domain after the chaos he has sown across the realms."
One of advisors quickly suggested, "We could inform Prince Jun Haoxuan to—"
"You will do no such thing." Jun Yongri’s gaze snapped toward the speaker, cutting him off before the sentence could finish. "Lan Yunlai will attend."
"The banquet will proceed," he continued, colder now. "Push it to midnight. Preparations will not stop."
No one spoke. No one argued.
An Moshang bowed deeply. "As you command, Your Majesty."
A faint smile touched Jun Yongri’s lips at the obedience. "You are dismissed."
An Moshang exited at once.
The moment he was gone, the advisors shifted. Uneasy glances were exchanged.
"Your Majesty," one began carefully, "allowing Lan Yunlai within these walls is... an insult to the clan."
"His presence alone will be seen as dominance," another added. "His followers will take it as a sign that he stands above us."
"And this—" a third voice cut in, sharper, "—all traces back to Prince Jun Haoxuan. He brought Lan Meishan into this palace."
"Disowned or not," another continued, "he remains Lan Yunlai’s son."
"You must act, Your Majesty."
Jun Yongri exhaled slowly. Irritation flickered across his face, sharper this time.
"That son of mine..." he muttered, voice edged with disdain, "parades weakness as virtue. Foolishness as restraint."
The advisors nodded, encouraged.
Agreement rippled through them, until..
"Regardless..." a single word suddenly cut cleanly through the noise.
All eyes turned.
An elegant figure stepped forward from the edge of the hall. His presence did not clash with Jun Yongri’s.. it moved through it.
Dark hair fell neatly over his shoulders, his pale features calm, unreadable. Aquamarine horns curved subtly at his temples, matching the quiet depth of his eyes. His robes, a refined shade of azure, marked both status and restraint.
"...he is still your son."
Jun Yongri’s gaze settled on the dragon beast man and softened, just slightly. "A-Yu."
Shen Taiyu was an ice dragon. Elegant to the point of illusion.. his beauty soft enough that, at a glance, one might mistake him for something gentler.
He was not.
He was one of Jun Yongri’s husbands.
"I am not here to stay," Shen Taiyu said lightly, his gaze sweeping over the throne room with thinly veiled disdain. "So you can rid yourself of that look."
His eyes flicked toward the advisors. "I need to speak with you. Alone."
Jun Yongri did not hesitate. "Leave."
The command cracked through the hall. The advisors bowed and withdrew immediately, not daring to linger a breath longer than necessary.
Shen Taiyu stepped forward, unhurried.
Jun Yongri descended from the throne to meet him, the distance closing quickly...too quickly.
His gaze lingered. Too long.
"...It has been a while."
Shen Taiyu tilted his head, considering him.
"A century, perhaps," he said mildly. "But who counts such trivial things?"
A faint smile curved his lips. "I have quite enjoyed hating you from a distance."
He stepped closer. Close enough. His hand lifted, hovering near Jun Yongri’s face, almost touching... then withdrew. "...You still look the same. Hateful."
His smile deepened. "...but handsome."
Jun Yongri’s throat moved. He said nothing.
Years ago, he had driven all four of his partners away with pride and control. Now, what remained stood in front of him, untouched by regret.
"What do you want?" he asked instead.
Shen Taiyu’s expression changed. The warmth, false as it was, vanished. "Cancel the banquet."
Jun Yongri let out a quiet scoff. "And why would I do that?"
He turned as if the matter bored him. "It is for Haoxuan. A celebration."
A faint curl of his lips. "My son marries, and I honor it. Is that so difficult to believe?"
Shen Taiyu laughed. "You expect me to believe that?"
He stepped closer again, his aquamarine eyes narrowing, cold as frost. "You are jealous of your own son. You resent that he holds more power than you. You resent that he will surpass you."
Jun Yongri’s jaw tightened. But he did not interrupt.
"You hate him. And he hates you." Shen Taiyu’s voice dropped. "So tell me... Why would you celebrate a bond you don’t care about? You did not even grieve when your child died."