Chapter 296: Imperial Banquet
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The Imperial Banquet is the last major event held before the start of the Crimson Cloud Tournament. Every delegation set to compete is invited, making it the event with the longest guest list in the Crimson Cloud Empire. However, though the guest list has well over a thousand names, the number of people who actually attend is far smaller.
Because the representatives from the Four Great Sects are guaranteed to be at the Imperial Banquet, those from the weaker Sects know better than to show their faces. Doing otherwise would mean leaving themselves open to public shame and ridicule. The disgrace of all those who overstepped their bounds is well-documented. As such, despite its intended purpose, the Imperial Banquet is only a gathering of the delegations from the Four Great Sect and those prestigious enough to be in the same room as them.
That, it must be said, is still an impressive number of people, and it is a testament to the size of the palace’s banquet hall that it can easily fit all of them. The Emperor sits at the center of the head table, overlooking the entire room. To his left and right are the head representatives of the Four Great Sects: Elder Ruan Chenshu of the Endlessly Raging Valley, Elder Xue of the Eternal Flame Clan, Elder Chen He of the Infinite Mountain Sect, and, of course, Lady Shao Zhilan of the Divine Frozen Palace.
The seat directly to the right of Emperor Xiang should have been for his son. Alas, his progeny has chosen to abandon him in favor of spending time at the lower tables with the pink girl from the Divine Frozen Palace, leaving the spot open for Shao Zhilan to take. It is far from ideal, as Shao Zhilan sits far too close to him and smells far too good for his comfort. Glancing at his son, the Emperor cannot help but feel equal parts disappointment, pride, and jealousy.
Perhaps that is the norm for fatherhood.
As Emperor Xiang contemplates such deep, philosophical questions and most definitely does not stare at Lady Shao in any manner that can be deemed improper, the pages enter to announce a new arrival. It is protocol, but most people stop paying attention once the Four Great Sects are in the room.
“Introducing! Emperor Qing Jin of the Storm Dragon Empire!”
His presence enters the room before he does. It is a ghostly chill, a creeping shadow, a hand brushing against your throat. The weaker people in the room shudder, yet the rest look on with interest. Much has been said about the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire, but this will be his first public appearance in the Crimson Cloud Empire.