It is night now, the night was fine, a bright full moon with twinkling stars and Emperor Shou was sitting in the bar room full of bright canndle lights and lanterns, along with his ministers and generals, holding a jue in his hand and enjoying Mijiu wine from it. The environment inside the bar room was pleasant and enjoyable, Emperor Shou's eyes were also very dry and with those bloodshot eyes anybody could tell that Emperor Shou was truly enjoying the night.
"Emperor Shou! Do you want some more?" Head Hao asked holding a vessel of Mijiu wine in his hand.
"Yes..... sure, please pour it some into my jue, Head Hao." Emperor Shou replied in blunt tone.
Head poured the mijiu into Emperor Shou's jue from vessel and Emperor Shou again took a sip of it enjoying that sweet but better taste of Mijiu.
One minister sitting there, leaned forward onto the table, with a jue in his hands
"Majesty you are looking more alive today than usual." Said with rough but sounding respective. Emperor Shou narrowed his eyes and asked.
"What do you mean? Am I don't look alive like before?" Emperor Shou asked with a sharper tone however it was sounding funny because he was drunk.
"No..... no.... Emperor Shou I didn't meant to say that, I mean to say that usually you suppose to drink Mijiu only two to three cups cups only but today you have already drunk five cups of Mijiu. I guess there is something special." Minister Li asked, teasing Emperor Shou.
"Of course it is special occasion Li, today my son got a name, LIANG! Sounds so good. I have to give it to Master his flowers for giving such a nice name to my son. What do you think Head Hao?"
Emperor Shou looked at Head Hao and wanted Head Hao to give his opinion, Head Hao there was the only one who wasn't drunk.
"Yes..... of course you are right Emperor Shou, Master has given such nice name to our new prince." Head Hao replied.
"Yes... I agree Emperor Shou, we are so lucky now our Dynasty have two prince Jún and Liang. The future of Iron Lotus Dynasty is safe now." Minister Li said with confidence but some of them not pleased by his answer.
"Minister Li, why do you think that the future of Iron Lotus Dynasty is in safe hands now? Both Jún is a kid and Liang is a baby right now. First let them grow and train under Master. After that we will see." Emperor Shou replied and put some sense in the conversation.
"Yes.... yes I know Majesty don't get me wrong but I was talking in terms of gender." Minister Li said and made another illogical argument.
"In terms of gender. What do you mean Minister Li?" Head Hao with a confusing look.
"I meant to say that if a girl was born instead of boy then we would have only one contender for the Emperor in the future and that would be only Jún." Minister Li answered and with that he thought like he was an intelligent person but Emperor Shou and Head Hao knew that his statements were just ridiculous.
"Why.... Why do you think that Minister Li that if I had girl instead of boy then she couldn't become a Emperor of this Dynasty in future?" Emperor Shou asked.
"C'mon Emperor Shou how could girls become the Emperors? I mean it is about running the Dynasty not kitchen..." Minister Li mocked the idea of girl becoming the Emperor and chuckled, Emperor Shou and Head Hao along with some other Ministers and generals didn't find his statements funny. The environment inside the bar turned serious.
There was weird silence in the bar and only Minister Li was chuckling on his statement later he sensed the silence and saw that nobody was laughing on his statement, so he immediately stopped chuckling.
"What happened Majesty? Why everyone are so serious?" Minister Li asked and the grin on his face was faltering after seeing those narrowing eyes in disapproval.
"Minister Li... do you know?" Emperor Shou asked with a sharp tone.
"What, Majesty?" Minister asked in a lower tone with some fear on his face.
"That my wife Hanmei was also the Emperor of her village Yùquán Shān?" Emperor Shou asked with narrowed eyes and firm tone. Minister Li was drunk and had no idea about it after getting reminded by Emperor Shou he realized what stupid statement he made. Minister Li then started to apologise for his stupid statements.
"I... I... I am sorry Majesty I have no idea about it, please forgive me for my idiotic statements, I am drunk." Minister Li apologised Emperor Shou was quite angry with him but he was humble to forgive him for his mistake.
"Minister Li you don't have to be that much sorry for it but remember..... The Emperors are decided on the basis of their gender, they are decided on their overall abilities and qualities. If I had a daughter I would have treated her the same like I will treat my son Liang. If she had those abilities that could make her the Emperor I would have no problem with it, even I have no problem if my son also couldn't become the Emperor of our Dynasty in future." Emperor Shou expressed thoughts and everyone were shock to hear that he has no problem if his son didn't become the Emperor.
"Majesty what you are saying, usually Emperors want their sons to be the future Emperor of their Dynasty and you are saying that you have problem if your son didn't become the Emperor in future. You don't want your son to be the Emperor?" Minister Li asked, Emperor Shou frankly kept his jue on the table and looked at Minister Li.
"Minister Li... I never said that I don't want my son to the Emperor in the future, I said that I have problem that my son doesn't become Emperor even if Jún becomes the Emperor and my son doesn't I still don't have any problem. He is my nephew after all, I just want my son to be a good person, a person with no evil habits inside him. He becomes that I will be happy." Emperor Shou expressed his thoughts about his son's future and at that moment everyone there were looking at Emperor Shou with respect and great admiration for him. Everyone were flattered by his humble nature.
Emperor Shou took a sip of Mijiu unaware, after taking the sip he saw everyone looking at him and this made him curious.
"Why you all are looking at me like this?" Emperor Shou asked.
"Majesty... you are such a great person. My respect for you has increased even more. I don't know whether your son will be worthy or not but I am sure nobody in the could replicate you." Minister Li appreciated Emperor Shou and with his voice it was clear for everyone that was being emotional. Emperor Shou frankly kept his hand on his shoudler and asked.
"Minister Li..... you are being too emotional. I am worried for you you better stop drinking now." Emperor Shou said with a serious look on his face and it made Minister Li rethink that he said something wrong again.
"Majesty..... did I said something wrong again?" Minister Li asked in low tone. Emperor Shou seeing that scared look on Minister Li made Emperor Shou burst in laughter and after that everyone started to laugh and their Minister Li realized that Emperor Shou has fooled him with his acting leaving Minister Li embarrassed.