The great doors of the banquet hall swung open.
Conversation faltered. Cups paused mid‑air. Every head turned toward the entrance.
The chamberlain's staff struck the floor.
"His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Ming!"
Everyone in the room immediately lowered their heads in respect.
Emperor Wei walked in.
He had changed back into his imperial robes—deep yellow, embroidered with five‑clawed dragons—and his crown sat heavy on his brow. He moved slowly as he must as the highest authority in the room.
Behind him, two paces to his right, Pei Shu followed. The chamberlain's voice rang out again:
"The Heir of the Pei Family, Grand General of the Southern Borders, Pei Shu."
Behind him, two paces to his left, Shen Yao followed.
"The Heir of the Shen Family, Grand General of the Northern Borders, Shen Yao."
A ripple passed through the hall.
As low voices rose for a beat only to silence again under the emperor's oppressive gaze.
Though the voices were no longer audible. Shen Yao was aware of the reactions around him but then again he was more than used to it treating it as back ground noise.
Shen Miao, seated at the ladies' table, felt her breath catch. Her brother—announced by name, walking beside the emperor. Her fingers tightened around her cup.
Shen Yiyi, near the far wall, watched with narrowed eyes. "He's been noticed," she thought. "Her useless cousin now had weight in the eyes of the emperor and now."
She turned to look at Shen Maio standing a few tables from her. Even from here she could feel the joy radiating from her. She clenched her fingers teeth gritting " That had to be hers "
"All that attention had to be hers"
Ling Feng, returned to his seat, scowled into his wine. "That man. The one next to the emperor .... his figure felt so familiar, but he couldn't remember from where he saw it"
The emperor reached his seat and sat. Pei Shu and Shen Yao stopped just behind him, then bowed and stepped aside to their own positions not far from his own.
Seated down the emperor raised his hand.
The room exhaled.
Music resumed. Conversation returned, softer now and more measured.
But the atmosphere had shifted.
Shen Yao found his place at the front of the hall next to the Minister Shi. He did not look at Shen Miao or Shen Yiyi. He looked at no one.
But he felt every eye in the room locked on his figure.
"Good," he thought. "It changes nothing."
He picked up a cup of wine and did not drink immediately swirling the cup leisurely.