In the Main Hall

“Greetings, Your Highness Ping” Shen Qing greeted Qi Shi.

“No need with formalities” Qi Shi smiles as Shen Qing gestures him to sit down.

“Would you like some tea?” Shen Qing suggested as maids rushed in to pour them tea.

“Thanks” Qi Shi said continuing to smile, “I heard that Crown Prince Yan is married to three beautiful ladies, but how come I don’t see any?”

Shen Qing laughs, “Your Highness Ping, ladies will take their time to look their best, right?”

Qi Shi laughs along as Consort Fang and Consort Xue entered the room.

“Greetings, Your Highness” they both bowed in front of Qi Shi.

“You may rise” he gestures.

“Your Highness Ping, this is Fang Yu Xiu my second wife and Xue Qiao Rong my third wife” Shen Qing introduced them.

“You have beautiful wives” Qi Shi smiles as they sat down.

“Please, go ahead on why Your Highness Ping decided to come so far just to see me?”

“Well, it’s not anything related to politics” Qi Shi started, “I have a few matters I would like to discuss with you personally regarding your benefits” he smiled mischievously.

Shen Qing smiles back as he suggested that they should go talk in his work room.

In Crown Prince Yan’s work room

“What is it that you wanted to discuss?”  Shen Qing asks, taking a seat so did Qi Shi.

“I have an offer to make” Qi Shi said, “I want your warriors to stop harassing my citizens at the borders”

Shen Qing scoffs, “What will you offer me if I did what you said?”

“It’s obvious,” Qi Shi said getting up from his seat and approached the table placed in the middle of the room, “I’ll eliminate one of your chess piece for you”

Shen Qing laughs, “What makes you think I’ll agree to your terms?” he got up and approached him.

Qi Shi turns to him, “You need someone to get their hand bloody for you, so why won’t you let me be the scapegoat and your hands won’t be dirty?”

Shen Qing’s lips drew a small smile as he grabs a piece of paper. Qi Shi smiles back knew that he would agreed to his terms.

At my residence

After I got dressed, I refused to obey Crown Prince Yan’s orders. Plus, I didn’t have the energy to move due to my wounds.

“Crown Princess Xiang Yun” the maid bows in front of me as soon as she entered.

“You may rise” I said.

“Crown Prince Yan is hosting a banquet for our guest, he wants you to prepare a performance in payment that you didn’t greet the guest” she explains.

I scoff annoyed, “Who is the guest? Why does he deserve to have a banquet and a performance?”

“Crown Prince Yan said he’s an emperor from a different country” the maid answers.

“An emperor?” I raised an eyebrow as I quickly got up and immediately collapse back in my seat.

“Crown Princess Xiang Yun” she reached her arms out just in case I fell forward.

“I’m fine” I assured her, “Go get A’Li for me” I ordered.

The main hall was decorated with extravagant red cloths hanging from the ceiling and pillars as every royal member seated in their seats according to status; high quality bamboo flute & guzheng easing and relaxing the atmosphere as entertainers danced on the small stage. Qi Shi and Crown Prince Yan sat next to each other as they faced the dancers while Consort Fang and Consort Xue sat aside from them in the front right corner. Since it was welcoming banquet, officials from court attended. As for me, now that I know that our guest is an emperor from another country I must go and greet and perform something for him before I ruin Crown Prince Yan’s reputation, but especially mine.

    A maid rushes over to the elder that directed the music players. She whispers something into his ear as the elder nods and dismissed the two music players in the front to rearranged the position of the guzheng (zither). From the side, two servants carried along a fancy dark red guzheng to the middle of the room as Qi Shi glances to Crown Prince Yan with curiosity of what’s going on. At this time, the entertainers were already gone to allow the servants and maid prep the next performance. Entering from the side, I was escorted by one of my maids approaching the guzheng. Qi Shi and Crown Prince Yan gazed at me with tender eyes not knowing who’s approaching the middle of the room since I had my face covered with a soft pastel purple mask that only allowed my eyes to be visible. I wore a dark plum tube-like robe with an amethyst see through cover-up that drapes a little further from my hips. I had my hair up in an elegant braided bun with silver hair accessories that secure the bun from falling out.

“What’s her name?” Qi Shi leans over to Crown Prince Yan.

“I’m not sure either” he replies.

As soon as I sat down, all the servants quickly covers the candles to dim the room a bit as the dance entertainers enters the room again. The music players quietly and softly started the tune for the dancers. I set my hands on the guzheng strings and exhaled inaudibly. I eased my fingers upon the delicate strings and started to play along with the tune, matching the dancer's performance. After a few seconds, A’Li flies in mid-air making an entrance at the same time as  the dancers shot out their cloths that were around their arms; an illusion of clothes appeared to fly along with A’Li. Her feet touches the ground as she immediately spun against the cloths that circled her. A’Li wore a performance hanfu in the colors of a light blue combined with white and a soft see-through cloth covered her lower face. Crown Prince Yan nods in satisfaction and smiled slightly.