Inside the brilliantly illuminated and resplendent Great Hall of the imperial palace, courtiers and nobles were drinking merrily.
Since the personage destined for the highest seat of honor had not yet arrived, they felt free to laugh and frolic to their hearts' content.
They savored fine wines served by lovely palace maids and admired the performances of scantily clad dancing girls in the center of the hall.
Amidst the clinking of goblets and the exchange of toasts, they engaged in animated conversation.
However, a discerning observer would quickly notice that although civil and military officials were seated on opposite sides, the cliques among them were sharply defined.
Those familiar with the court's political landscape knew there were three distinct factions:
Officials loyal to the Crown Prince, those aligned with Prince Jing, and the neutral faction.
The Crown Prince's faction consisted largely of military officers, whereas Prince Jing's faction was dominated by civil officials.
The neutral faction was the largest in number, yet their influence at court paled in comparison to the other two groups.
This was because the highest-ranking positions in the court were almost entirely monopolized by the two rival factions.
Today's banquet came as no surprise; it marked not only the return of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager from their imperial tour but also the scheduled audience for the various vassal kings.
This was not a formal court session, but merely a preliminary welcoming ceremony; the main business would take place during the formal morning court session the day after next.
Matters such as the vassal kings' tributes and the imperial bestowal of rewards were reserved for the following day.
Meanwhile, in the imperial bedchamber behind the Great Hall, Emperor Shengzong was engaged in the primal act of carnal pleasure with his favorite consort, Noble Consort Pang. *Slap, slap, slap, slap...*
The continuous sound of flesh slapping against flesh echoed through the bedchamber, rising and falling with the rhythmic movements of Emperor Shengzong's robust body.
"Ah... Your Majesty... you're... too amazing! I... I can't take it anymore! Please... go easy on me! I'm... I'm about to be... fucked to pieces by you!"
Consort Pang clung tightly to Shengzong's neck, wrapping her legs around his waist as she cried out loudly.
"Heh heh! My lovely consort, just take it and enjoy it! Fucking those maidservants these past few days wasn't satisfying at all! In this entire palace, no one but you can truly satisfy me!"
Emperor Shengzong gripped Consort Pang's ample, full breasts tightly, thrusting his cock even more violently into her wanton pussy.
The sheer intensity of the movements signaled to the surrounding maids and eunuchs that the Emperor was on the verge of climaxing.
"Mmm... Your Majesty, please... hurry! Have mercy on me—just shoot your... dragon essence... inside me! Otherwise... I'm going to... break down there!"
Realizing Shengzong was about to ejaculate, Consort Pang immediately cried out in a way that heightened the pleasure.
Spurred on by Consort Pang's lustful moans, Shengzong let out a roar and ejaculated.
At the moment of his climax, an exquisitely beautiful face—a fleeting, ethereal figure—flashed through his mind.
As the last drop of semen was spent, Emperor Shengzong collapsed onto Consort Pang's body, then rose again, a trace of melancholy lingering in his demeanor. "My dear consort, it is time for us to head out."
Emperor Shengzong said this to Noble Consort Pang as he rose to his feet.
Although Noble Consort Pang noticed something slightly amiss with the Emperor, she paid it no mind and immediately attended to him gently as he dressed.
Only after she had finished dressing the Emperor did she put on her own magnificent court robes with the help of her palace maids.
Once both were fully attired, they walked hand in hand toward the main hall.
"His Majesty approaches!"
The eunuch leading the way arrived at the main hall first and shouted the announcement in a shrill, piercing voice.
"Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long, long live!"
My mother, my wife, and I sat in the side hall, feeling increasingly agitated as we listened to the resounding cheers echoing from the main hall.
We were about to meet the Emperor, and I wondered if we would succeed in our objective.
Noble Consort Pang would certainly oppose my mother's entry into the palace; I wondered how Wu Zhenying and his faction would clash with the supporters of Prince Jing.
I had seen plenty of palace intrigue on television, yet I never imagined I would one day be a participant in it myself.
Just as we were lost in thought, a eunuch entered the side hall and announced, "Summoning the Prince of Zhen-Dong to the hall!"
A corpulent man, accompanied by a beautiful noblewoman and their obese son, immediately rose and left.
Shortly thereafter, the Prince of Zhen-Nan—who was at odds with my mother—was also summoned.
The dozen or so princes in the side hall departed one by one.
As the last feudal prince to be enfeoffed, the Prince of Long-Yun was naturally the last to be summoned to the hall. As our family of four appeared in the great hall, we immediately drew everyone's gaze.
Back in the side hall, the princes and heirs-apparent had already been casting frequent glances our way.
Yet, knowing our identities and power, they hadn't dared to make a move.
Now, under the public eye, they could admire us to their hearts' content.
Following the protocol officer's prior instructions, my wife and I walked behind Mother and Mom; upon reaching a spot about ten *zhang* from the imperial throne, we knelt on one knee to pay our respects.
Our family had dressed meticulously for today's audience.
To make Mother look even more stunning, I had adorned her with several pieces of jewelry from my soul space—items that enhanced a woman's beauty.
Mom, my wife, and I wore a few pieces as well.
Father and I were wearing *qipao* again, though the styles had been carefully chosen for the occasion.