饕餮大餐
Tāotièdàcān
Great meal fit for a dragon's son.
A sumptuous banquet.
Kageyama Sho paced the veranda of his room, hands behind his back.
He had been feeling disquieted the last couple of days. Since they had returned to Linjing. A truth was pushing against his reality that he could not ignore.
Around him his reading room was in a state of chaos, at least compared to its normal orderliness. His casual robes were slung across the couch, and a military uniform that needed to me cleaned and pressed was hanging from a chair. On the large map table to one side of the room not one but two books lay open, and a scroll was unfurled, filled with news from one of the information sellers he kept correspondence with.
Nothing I don't know already, thought Kageyama, glaring at the scroll.
He continued pacing. His eyes caught on the single mauve lotus that stood in the vase placed in the ornamental alcove. It was the only decoration in the room.
The flower was Kageyama's favorite. It was a symbol of purity, of rising above the sin and temptation of the world, just as the lotus bloom itself rose from the mud and muck of the pond to bloom, brilliant, above the water.
The current occupant of the vase however did not look very pure. The lotus's smooth purple petals had started to brown, and curl inwards. Usually, Kageyama would have replaced the flower long before it started to brown, traded it for another that he picked from the pond himself.
However, recently he had been preoccupied, with the unrest in the Central Kingdoms, with Zhangyu's growing influence in the family, and with...
Kageyama stopped his pacing, to face the garden before him. A pond filled with lotuses like the one in the vase sat directly before him. Around the lotuses, circling orange fish made ripples in the dark water of the pond.
Kageyama followed the movement of the fish as he thought.
He thought of Ao. Of her sly smirks and smiles. Of the unnatural speed with which she had healed from her ordeal with the dragon. Of how she knew things far beyond what her range of experience should allow.
He thought of how she always seemed to be laughing at him, as though the girl knew a joke the kitsune hadn't quite caught onto yet. How her eyes mocked him, hiding a secret she was daring him to find out.
Then Kageyama thought of Sanli. The way the prince's green eyes followed Ao. The way Sanli seemed to relax around her, smiling, laughing openly.
Content at last. As though the prince had finally found what he was looking for.
The fish Kageyama's eyes had been following suddenly flicked its tail, breaking the surface with a splash, and then dived down into the black depths of the pool, orange fading into nothingness.
The girl is... Ao is...
"Lord Kageyama. You wanted to speak to me?"
Kageyama turned. Ao had appeared in the entrance to his rooms. She wore a long robe like dress, such as noble ladies often wear to court or with company. It was of soft grey silk, dyed with vibrant gold-copper fish, much like the one he had just been watching in the pond. The orange fish were offset circles of ripples done in turquoise thread.
The fish theme was further carried over into her hair, which was fixed in an ornately coiled bun atop her head with a number of long hair pins. From the pins hung jangling charms in glass and gold. More brightly colored fish.
To match her beautiful dress and hair, Ao's makeup was done to perfection, not a line of black out of place, her lips perfectly rouged. Kageyama had thought it was strange, the first day he had seen her go out, fully made-up, into the woods. But she had returned with out a single sweat mark maring her powder.
Although it was cooler in the forest than in Linjing proper, and much cooler than Zhanghai, it was still warm. Kageyama did not understand how the girl could walk about fully attired like that, and not feel the heat.
Ao stood there, before him in his rooms, fully dressed and presented, like she was about to attend an audience at the royal court, and not just back from a walk in the woods. As regal as a queen.
Not a queen...
Her dress made her look like royalty, true, but Kageyama knew, that even without all her fine attire and makeup and jewelry, Ao would still look regal. Even when they had first met, and she had traveled with them in the clothing of a lad, the woman had walked as though the world were beneath her, her feet treading on clouds.
He knew it then. It was strange, after everything, it came to him, just like that.
Not a queen. A goddess.
He recalled words thrown back at him as she swayed away down a hall of Chuanfang that summer. "How do you know I am not who he thinks I am?"
Seven hells.
Kageyama sighed, and composed his face into what he hoped was a severe expression.
"Tonight, at the banquet," Kageyama began. Ao's eyes, which had been trailing across the contents of his room, snapped to his face. "You will speak only when spoken to. Understand?"
Her eyes widened with indignation, but her smile betrayed her amusement. "I am confused as to why I am receiving such a warning Lord Kageyama. Do you really think me so crass as to cause a scene in someone else's home?"
"Only when spoken to. And no schemes. No mischief." Kageyama found himself holding up a finger in warning, as he used to do to Sanli when the man was younger and had had a penchant for causing trouble.
Ao folded her long trailing sleeves across her chest. "Lord Kageyama, I can assure you, your worry is misplaced. I am quite insulted," she said, her voice full of laughter.
Before Kageyama could reply, Sanli spoke up from where he leaned against the door frame. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to side with Sho Sensei on this, Ao. The last banquet we attended, you engaged yourself to a dragon. Who later tried to kill you. We all remember that quite well."
Ao laughed. "Fine. I promise to be on my best behavior. No mischief. No false engagements."
"Good," Kageyama grunted.
Sanli chuckled from the doorway. "Shall we go? My dear family is awaiting."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Zakhar was waiting for them in the courtyard, lying on a sofa on the terrace.
Ao leaned over him. "Aren't you coming with us?" she asked, seeing his plain cotton pants and shirt.
"Banquets aren't really my thing. I tend to knock over more food than I eat," said Zakhar. "Plus I stick out like a swollen thumb and that old dowager lady always ends up glaring at me."
"Lady Lu does like conformity," Sanli laughed.
"Well, let's have a drink when we get back then," said Ao, straightening up.
Zakhar smiled. "I'll look forward to it." Kageyama saw the big man watching Ao as she turned and flounced away. Zakhar's mouth opened as though he wanted to say something, but then closed again as if he thought better of it.
The group from Wo You Nai court left by foot, Sanli taking Ao's arm to support her in her tottering shoes, and Kageyama following behind them. Both men had opted to wear their military uniforms, the straight lines of black cloth fitting to their frames.
Kageyama had chosen his out of habit. He knew Sanli chose his because, for him, dinner with his family was like going to battle.
"You look very handsome in your uniform, my prince," Ao said to Sanli, leaning on his arm.
"And you look divine, Lady Four Strings. But I'm sure you already knew that."
Ao laughed. "I do, but it is still nice to hear." The woman glanced over her shoulder at where Kageyama walked behind them. "You look rather handsome as well, Lord Kageyama."
"Turn around and watch where you're walking."
Laughing, Ao turned.
After a short while walking along the smooth trodden paths, they arrived at Lady Lu's court. The trio made their way through the ornate gardens and into the nearest entrance.
Within the building, every corner and arch was decorated with flying phoenixes, their long tail feathers swirling around them.
"She thinks if she surrounds herself with enough Fenghuang (鳳凰), she will reincarnate just like they do," said Sanli, pointing out all the phoenixes to Ao. The little prince leaned closer to Ao, his next words in a low voice . "One lifetime wasn't enough. She wants to come back and torment us all more."
Ao snorted laughter. Kageyama tried, but could not keep the corner of his mouth from creeping up.
They passed through the halls, past the west audience chamber where they had greeted Lady Lu on arrival a couple of weeks ago. Around them the number of servants grew as they approached the great hall, busy bustling around, carrying food and trays and cushions.
They reached the broad doors that led to the great hall. Bronze nails studded the door like warts on a toads back.
Sanli took a deep breath. "Well, shall we?" His smile was bright, but Kageyama knew Sanli's smile was only to cover his trepidation.
Kageyama turned to Ao once more. "Speak only when spoken to. Or not at all. Keep your answers brief."
"Yes, yes, yes," said Ao, rolling her eyes. "Was that brief enough?"
"One 'yes'."
"You are exacting. Fine. Yes."
"Good," said Kageyama, and then pushed the doors open.
*~*~*~*~*~*
The great hall was a room of towering pillars, each made from a single great trunk. The carved red wood reached from floor to ceiling and was polished and lacquered to a shine. The carvings circling the pillars were of more fenghuang, but here they had been interspersed with kirin. The great fiery birds perched on the horns of their deer like counterparts.
The great hall had been added to Lady Lu's residence some 50 years ago, and decorated at her instruction. The pillars were meant to be beautiful, but Kageyama had always felt they reminded him of twisted, bleeding trees, cut and tortured into their current shapes.
As Kageyama moved further into the hall he saw the head table had been laid for three. The center position would no doubt be for Lady Lu, with Zhangyu, the guest of honor sat to her right. He wondered who Lady Lu would call to sit on her left.
Individual trays had been set for the remaining family members. These trays were placed in two long lines facing each other, running down the center of the great hall from the main table. Behind each tray a sitting cushion was placed on the ground for the guest to sit upon.
Sanli turned and made his way to the end of one of the long lines, sitting down on the cushion that was as far from the main table as possible.
"Sanli," warned Kageyama. "You are Third Prince. You should be sitting closer to the main table. If not at the main table."
"No one wants me up there. And you've always taught me in a hostile situation, the best place to be is near the exit. " Sanli pointed to the door they had just come through and winked.
Kageyama shook his head, but gave in and sat a seat away from Sanli. He motioned for Ao to sit between them.
"Sit here and don't cause any trouble."
The girl obediently sank to the cushion, though Kageyama suspected it was because she was too busy looking around her to pay much attention to his words. At first he thought she was admiring the room, but then he noticed how her eyes snapped to every new servant who bustled into the great hall, carrying something. She was looking for someone.
Kageyama too scanned the room, wondering with unease which members of the Lu dynasty would be present tonight.
Kageyama had served the Lu family for generations, though it felt like but a moment in his long life. A guard, an advisor, a spy... he had held many positions, and served many masters.
He would never admit it openly, as it was dishonorable to speak badly of those you were sworn to serve, but he could not help feeling that some of this current generation of the Lu family was somewhat... lacking in morality and honor.
Beside him, Ao coughed a mouthful of wine back into her cup. Sanli had leaned forward to whisper something in her ear, causing her to laugh just as she took a sip.
And decorum. Yes that was particularly lacking. Especially in his charge.
"Quit playing around, would you?" he hissed at the woman and man laughing beside him.
"Forgive me, Lord Kageyama. Best behavior," said Ao, turning away from him to laugh more into her sleeve.
He looked at the jangling pins in her hair and reconsidered his earlier conclusion. How could this impulsive, hedonistic woman have ever been a god?
The goldfish on her robe watched him with bulging eyes, as though mocking his uncertainty.
Kageyama sighed, reached for his wine cup, and took a long sip.
The great hall was dark, little light coming from the windows set high up in the hall. So it could be said that Kageyama felt rather than saw the shadow that fell over him. He turned.
Behind them a woman around fifty stood, flanked by two large, muscular men. The similarity of their facial features showed that the two men were twins.
The woman was tall, with a stately, controlled bearing that came from confidence in one's physical abilities. Her features might be called handsome, with the healthy glow that comes about from much exercise and time spent outdoors.
Her face was without makeup, and her hair was without ornament, tied back in a simple bun with a strip of green silk.
The woman's clothes were the most eye-catching thing about her, not because of their color or pattern but because of their style. Instead of a skirt, she wore tight leather riding pants, and on her top a loose cotton blouse. Clothes that any common forest hunter might wear.
Over the plain hunter's uniform however the woman wore a robe of the most magnificent green brocade, the material embroidered to detail so fine one could not misunderstand the expense that had gone into it. She wore the robe open and without sash, and the ornateness of it constrained with the plain garments underneath.
The woman's eyes were light brown, and were looking down at Kageyama with displeasure.
"Ah, Erli, dearest sister," said Sanli, noticing the woman. "So wonderful to be in your presence once more. Back from hunting already? We had thought you wouldn't be back till the fall."
The woman, Erli, Sani's older half sister and mother to Ermi and Zhangyu, ignored Sanli. Instead she spoke to Kageyama.
"Kageyama. I am holding you responsible for what happened to my daughter in Zhanghai." Her tone was scornful.
Kageyama groaned internally. He turned his body away from the tray set before him so he could kowtow his head to the ground. "A thousand apologies my lady. I should not have allowed Princess Ermi to ever be put in such a situation." Kageyama said this to the ground, raising his voice so those around him could hear his apology.
"Ermi was in MY care sister, it was my fault," said Sanli, his voice rising. "Do not blame Kageyama Sensei." Aich, Little Leaf, don't make this worse. Just give her what she wants.
Erli at last acknowledged her half-brother's presence with a sneer. "Oh, it is definitely your fault, but since YOU are an idiot, it is to be expected." She turned back to Kageyama. "I am disappointed in you Kageyama. I had thought you wiser and more capable."
Kageyama kowtowed once more. "I am ashamed of my own failings, my lady," he said to the carpeted floor. He did not care how he had to humble himself. It was best to resolve the situation quickly before—
"Really though... isn't it your fault?" said a familiarly haughty voice beside him. Ao's hair pins jangled as she turned to look up at Erli.
Oh for the love of- what part of 'don't speak' did this girl not understand?!
"Excuse me?" said Erli sharply, noticing the girl sat between the two men for the first time.
Kageyama reached out and gripped Ao's knee under her tray in warning, but she ignored him and continued. "You gave the dragon permission to court your daughter. As such, he felt he was entitled to her. So really, didn't it all come about because of your words?"
"And who are you, girl?" Erli's eyes looked as though they could slice through flesh.
"I am named Yunyou. My lady." Ao added the respectful address as an afterthought.
"Yunyou..." Erli's eyes cut a path from Ao's painted lips to her elegant dress, and her mouth twisted. "You are Lady Yunyou?"
"You seem surprised, my lady," said Ao, her polite tone guarded.
"I am. My son spoke highly of you. But it seems you are no more than another of my bastard brother's painted whores."
Beside Ao, Kageyama tensed, but the girl did not move. "Watch what you say to my guests," snapped Sanli. "Why don't you take your seat and leave us in peace?" He went to stand, but Ao put an arm out to still him.
"And your daughter?" Ao asked calmly, unaffected by Erli's words.
"What?" asked Erli, confused.
"What does your daughter say of me?" asked Ao.
Erli didn't answer. Her mouth twisted in distaste, and she turned and moved toward the high table, the two large men flanking her following on either side.
Sanli sighed and patted Ao's hand. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" asked Ao.
"Are you not angry she called you a whore?"
Kageyama too was surprised. He had expected Ao to retaliate to Erli's insult with words of her own. Or worse.
"Why should I be?" Ao answered with a shrug. "Some of the best women I've known have been whores. It is not their profession that shames them. It is arrogant people like your sister."
Kageyama's lip twitched, to hear Ao accuse another of arrogance. But he could not help but think her words had truth to them.
"Well said," applauded Sanli. "I myself fully support the profession."
"We know," Kageyama snorted. To his surprise, Ao laughed as well.
There was a clang of a gong then, and all those present stood as Lady Lu entered.
The Lu matriarch was dressed in dark green and her jewelry seemed to have doubled for the occasion. It glittered as she moved beneath the candle light like scales on a snake.
At her side, supporting his grandmother with one arm was Zhangyu, dressed, as always, in his military uniform. But the plain black material had been embellished at the shoulders with golden thread, and a golden kirin emblem was pinned to his chest.
Lady Lu sat, and all those present followed suit.
A second gong announced the beginning of the banquet. Servants appeared in hordes, carrying out the first course of dishes to the assembled.
Kageyama glanced around the hall. There were around 50 guests present altogether. Outside from the main members of the family, Kageyama recognized the heads of several of the branch families, distant cousins and relatives of the main line who had no claim to the throne, but still enjoyed a degree of distinction for their distant relation to the Green King.
Kageyama found Ermi, seated beside Liangyi. On Ermi's other side sat her mother Erli, who was seated just beside the main table, where Zhangyu was sitting.
Ermi caught sight of Kageyama watching her and grinned and waved. Kageyama smiled and waved back.
Beside Ermi, Sanyu, Ermi and Zhangyu's bastard half-brother, was seated, his face pale and his dark eyes staring down at the food before him, ignoring the attempts of those around him to engage him in conversation. As sulky as ever.
Kageyama scanned the hall once more and frowned. The only person who wasn't here who should be was...
"Where's Xiangwu?" asked Sanli.
At that moment a strange garbled cry came from the entrance. All the assembled guests turned.
Xiangwu, the First Prince, stood there, in his military uniform. His little daughter, Xiao Qingxi, was clutched to his leg like it was a log and she was afloat at sea.
The girl was clearly terrified at the huge amount of people assembled. Having the entire hall staring at her made it worse. She buried her face in the material of her father's trouser leg with a whimper.
"Ah, my beloved oldest grandson has joined us at last. Please, come take your seat beside me child." Lady Lu's voice, commanding, powerful, echoed across the heads of those assembled.
The First Prince looked as though he would like nothing more than to disappear back out the door he had just entered with his daughter. But instead he picked up the shaking girl and tucked her against his chest, striding to his place at the end of the hall.
Kageyama noticed Ao's eyes follow the First Prince up to the head table. And stay there.
Sanli noticed it too. "Are you in love with my nephew?" he asked with a chuckle.
Ao's eyes had not strayed from where Xiangwu sat. The First Prince was trying, without success, to get Qingxi to eat slices of pear.
"What?" said Ao, looking away for the first time. "Don't be ridiculous. I just told you your nephew was insufferable less than an hour ago."
"Not Zhangyu. My other nephew. Xiangwu. The First Prince. You haven't stopped staring at him since he entered."
"I'm- I'm not staring. He just looks like someone I know. Knew. Someone I knew. That's all."
Kageyama may have been imagining it, in the dark hall, but he thought the faintest trace of a blush had spread across Ao's cheeks. Someone she knew. Does she mean...?
"Ohhh?" hummed Sanli with a grin. "And who does he look like?"
"Lu," said Kageyama, breaking into the conversation. Sanli's eyes flew to his mentor. "The First Prince looks just like the Green King Lulin, your ancestor."
At Kageyama's words, Ao turned to him. Her eyes also fixed on the kitsune's face. Kageyama felt them there, lingering, hopeful.
"You knew the Green King, Lord Kageyama?" she asked, voice soft.
"I did. I swore my oath of allegiance to the Green King himself," Kageyama replied, lifting a piece of cut meat into his mouth. But he watched Ao carefully from the corner of his eye all the while.
"Oh," said Ao. She looked down at her place, suddenly very interested in making sure her chopsticks were parallel to the edge of the tray.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Course after course came. Fish and meats prepared in sauces of all kinds, spicy and creamy and sweet and tangy sour. Vegetables made up the majority of the dishes. Since the Green King, Lulin, had been a kirin, and kirin did not eat meat, some of his human descendants has also chosen to observe this tradition, and refrained from any dish that contained meat or fish.
Some, but not all, thought Kageyama, as he watched Sanli serve himself and Ao more spicy beef.
Kageyama enjoyed the food, fine as it was. The head chef had clearly gone to great lengths to try and create new dishes, combining ingredients and flavors into new and unique pairings.
But when you had lived a long time, as Kageyama had, eventually, you had tried everything at least once.
"Uhhhm," Ao groaned beside him. "Everything is so delicious. And there's so much of it!" She signaled a servant forward to serve her another helping of fish stew.
"You do enjoy your food, don't you Lady Four Strings," said Sanli laughing on Ao's other side.
"Some eat to live, my prince. And some live to eat." Sanli laughed heartily at Ao's proclaiment.
Kageyama chuckled despite himself.
A silence fell on the hall, and there was the sound of a spoon being struck against a silver cup. The sound chimed over the assembled heads, bright as a bell.
All eyes turned to Lady Lu, who sat poised, like a toad with its throat puffed out, ready to croak.
"We gather here to celebrate—"
Lady Lu's declaration was almost immediately interrupted by a squeal from Xiao Qingxi, who, feeling the eyes of the whole hall turn towards the main table, had begun to squirm in her father's grip.
Lady Lu began again. "We gather here to celebrate the next generation of leaders of our noble family. Our two princes, my grandsons, sit before you, ready to lead—"
A cry from Qingxi interrupted Lady Lu's speech yet again. The old woman glanced at her great granddaughter with barely concealed annoyance. Beside her, Zhangyu's face mimicked his grandmother's in its severity.
Xiangwu frantically tried to hush his daughter, but the girl squirmed harder and cried out.
"My two grandsons are the future of our family—" another garbled scream from Qingxi. The hall was silent, and Lady Lu's displeasure could be felt throughout.
Then Kageyama noticed someone walking toward the main table in the shadows behind the carved red columns. He felt a jolt as he recognized Sanli's posture and lackadaisical gait.
He turned to see Sanli's spot empty. Beside it, Ao sat and watched the Third Prince approach the head table.
Kageyama went to stand, worried Sanli was about to make a scene. But when the Third Prince reached the head table he held out his arms toward Xiangwu and his struggling daughter.
"Give her to me, Xiangwu," said Sanli quietly.
Xiangwu gratefully passed his daughter into Sanli's arms. "Thank you, Uncle."
Sanli turned and walked back along the pillars, bouncing the crying child in his arms and cooing to calm her.
"Shh shh, there there Qingxi. I know how you feel. I don't particularly want to be here either." Kageyama's sharp ears caught Sanli's words. He hoped no one else had.
The disturbance taken care of, Lady Lu began her speech once more. "I have no doubt that our two princes will lead our family into an era of fortune and prosperity."
"Did you know that Qingxi? There are only two princes. I had no idea!" said Sanli, sitting back at his spot with the little girl in his lap. Knowing she could not hear his words, Sanli made his expressions pronounced and dramatic, raising his eyebrows in extreme surprise.
Qingxi stopped crying and watched her uncle's face intently. Beside her, Ao enjoyed Sanli's antics as well.
"—Their martial skill and leadership are unmatched. With them to guide us—" Lady Lu continued.
Sanli gave a pronounced yawn and then crossed his eyes, causing Qingxi to giggle. Kageyama put his chin in his hand to hide his smile.
Suddenly, the little girl caught sight of Ao beside her. She turned, crawling out of Sanli's lap to reach for Ao's hair.
"What- what is she doing?" asked Ao uncertainly, as the girl started to climb up the woman's back, small fingers digging into the goldfish covered silk for purchase.
"I think she likes you," Sanli laughed.
"She wants your hairpins," said Kageyama, as Qingxi reached toward the sparkling fish charms swinging from the end of Ao's hair ornaments.
"Well give them to her then! Get her off— OW!" Qingxi had slipped, and grabbed onto one of the loops of Ao's hair to save herself. Some of the guests sitting close to the trio had turned to see what the disturbance was.
Chuckling, Kageyama reached forward and pulled a pin from Ao's hair to hand to Qingxi. The little girl took it, watched the fish on the end swing and catch the light, and then dropped it to the floor to reach for more.
"Just give her all of them!" said Ao as the girl started to climb up her back once more.
Kageyama and Sanli set about taking all the hair pins from Ao's hair to give to Qingxi.
Finally, Qingxi sat on the floor with a pile of hair ornaments before her. She picked each pin and comb up in turn, playing with it for a moment before returning it to the pile in favor of another.
Ao, hair now long and loose down her back, sighed. "This is why I dislike children. Impulsive...inherently selfish... you can never predict what they will do."
I wonder who that sounds like, thought Kageyama wryly.
Lady Lu's speech had at last drawn to an end. Servants started bustling about, preparing to serve the final, sweet courses.
Xiangwu descended from the main dais and hurried toward them.
"Uncle, thank you so much. I'll take her now," said Xiangwu. Seeing her father, Qingxi gave a gurgle of happiness and climbed into his outstretched arms. "Let's go home, love," her father said.
"Leaving so soon Xiangwu? Don't you want to bask a little longer? You are the future of our family after all," asked Sanli. There was a slighty bitter edge to his words, but it was overpowered by humor.
Xiangwu laughed. "Grandmother does like to dramatize, doesn't she? That was embarrassing. We all know I shouldn't have been up there. Zhangyu does just about everything these days."
Sanli grunted. "He does, doesn't he." Kageyama frowned at the jealousy in Sanli's voice.
"Well, excuse us then," said Xiangwu, inclining his head. "Ah, Little Brook, that isn't yours." Xiangwu took the last of Ao's hairpins from Xiao Qingxi's hands, and held it out to Ao.
Ao waved her hands before her. "Oh no, my prince. The little princess may have it. It's hers."
Xiangwu smiled. "No, it belongs to you. And it looked so beautiful it in your hair, Lady Yunyou. It would be a shame to take it from you. Right, Qingxi?" the man asked of his daughter, who was struggling to take the hair pin back.
Ao laughed unsteadily. "Oh my. Your words do me great honor, my prince. But please let the little princess keep it if she wants."
Xiangwu put the pin back in Qingxi's hands. "Well, thank you then." With a final small bow, the First Prince turned and left, his daughter balanced on one hip. Qingxi happily waved her new toy around, the golden fish on the end swinging in dizzying spirals through the air.
"What was that?" asked Sanli when the First Prince and Qingxi had left, nudging Ao.
"What was what?" asked Ao, indifferently, reaching for her wine cup. It may have been the wine, but Kageyama was certain now there was a flush to Ao's cheeks.
Sanli grinned. "'Your words do me great honor, my prince?' Why do you never speak that way with me?"
"Oh, are you a prince? Are you sure? I thought there were only two," Ao shot back.
Sanli looked hurt for a moment, then laughed so loudly those sitting at the trays across from him glared. "You do try to wound me! You really are flustered. Are you blushing?!"
Ao swatted at him with her hand, but Sanli caught it, bumping his tray in the process and causing a loud sound of clattering chinaware.
"Alright you two, stop," said Kageyama, regretting not intervening sooner.
"'Oh, my prince, your words do me great honor," Sanli sang in a falsetto that was much higher than Ao's true voice. "Please, take the pin, and take me too—"
SMACK. Ao's hand at last found its mark. Sanli's right cheek.
"I told you not to tease me," she snapped.
Sanli looked stunned, as did the servants and banquet guests around them.
Then, despite the red hand print appearing on his face, the prince broke into more laughter.
"I said STOP!" Kageyama snarled.
Obediently, Sanli reigned in his laughter. Ao, face red with anger or some other emotion, turned her back to the Sanli to show her dismissal, and helped herself to a tray of sweet buns a servant was bringing around.
Kageyama felt eyes watching them. He turned, expecting the disapproving stare of Lady Lu or Erli, or even Ermi's friendly glances and waves.
But instead it was Zhangyu who had his eyes fixed on where the trio sat at the end of the hall.
More particularly, it seemed the Second Prince was watching Ao.
Hmm, thought Kageyama. Interesting.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's note here!
The banner art in this chapter is called 'Koi and Lotus' by PsA-anc on deviantart.com. Check them out! http://fav.me/dd5a7i1
Also shout out to Ishmir , for totally predicting Kageyama's lecture at the beginning of the chapter.
And finally.... oh my gosh look at this awesome fanart by divinedramas . Haha Sanli is totally shocked.
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