My Full-time Servant/Lover

X. This Beau Remembers His Majesty's Uneaten Breakfast

Right after the conference was up, the emperor immediately tasked Court Lady Han and the rest of his maids, together with some of the high-ranking eunuchs to prepare the banquet to be held tonight.

The Court Lady, of course, is hesitant at first. To hold a royal banquet needs time and many preparations should be made.

First and foremost, the food to serve should be planned very well by the emperor himself or if not, some high-ranking eunuchs and the royal chef and his assistants.

The ingredients for the menu should be chosen meticulously from the market and to be inspected as it arrives at the palace gates. Of course, when it arrives at the imperial kitchen, the chef and his assistance will pick the best of the best ingredients.

The Hall of Union where the banquet will be held should be decorated as well and the adornment should suit the theme of the event. The colors that will dominate the banquet hall, as well as the musicians and performers that will entertain the guests will be carefully planned too.

Speaking of guests, the high-ranking officials, if not the emperor himself, will decide on the appropriate list of the invited guest that will attend the celebration. By the time the list is finalized, three copies should be made. One copy for the top imperial scholar to compose a letter of invitation for each of the guests. Of course, it will require time that is enough for the top scholar to make the letter, and enough time for the messenger to deliver it to their respective receivers hours before the banquet starts.

Another copy of the finalized list should be given to the Department of Security, a branch of the Ministry of Defense and War under the command of Princess Yin Xiulan. The said branch is the one responsible for the security inside the imperial palace. They are the ones who have the duty to let the people enter or leave the palace gates so naturally, they should be given a copy.

"We're just starting the day. The banquet will be held tonight. I believe we still have enough time to prepare." Yin Wenyan said. "As I've said, it doesn't have to be grand. Just a small banquet will do. The grand empress dowager needs not to be tired after all. It's just a banquet good for at most three hours. Just invite some of her friends and political allies."

'Easier said than done.' All of them, except for Yin Wenyan and Xu Zhengming, thought of the same thing. Of course, they dare not to tell it out loud in front of the emperor but they definitely have the same thing in mind. They can only complain when a member of the royal family is not around.

After saying his authoritative orders, Yin Wenyan smiles brightly. With a cheerful tone, he continues. "Eunuch Xu will be accompanying me. The rest of you can now go."

"Yes, your majesty." The eunuchs, Court Lady Han, and the emperor's maids all bowed their heads and leaves.

"Your majesty..." Xu Zhengming called. "Since you haven't eaten your breakfast yet, would you like to eat in your hall?"

Yin Wenyan smiles at him with his signature gentle smile. Xu Zhengming isn't so sure if his majesty's phoenix eyes truly glimmered or he's just imagining things.

Yin Wenyan replied, "Yes, please. But first, I'll go to the Lotus Hall to meet and have a word with my shizun and shifu for a while. I have something important to tell them. Wait for me at my place."

"Yes, your majesty."

His little eunuch is already walking further away from him yet the prince still follows him with his gaze with a small smile on his face. His uniform doesn't Although the eunuch never glanced back at him until he disappears from the prince's vision, the smile on his lips didn't fade away.

Even with the tiniest detail, he still feels happy that Xu Zhengming remembered that he haven't eaten his breakfast yet. He knows he probably asked that because he felt obliged to do so as his servant and not from the heart at all. Nevertheless, Yin Wenyan is still flattered that he slightly cares for him.

How happy could Yin Wenyan be if Xu Zhengming asked that out of pure concern?

He felt so happy with just that wishful thinking to the point it hurts. He knows that in reality, it would most likely not happen.

If the current emperor of the Royal Imperial Palace is named Yin Wenyan and not Yin Renshu, would he be unrestrained? Will he be able to chase what makes him happy?

***

"Maybe I could personally ask Fenghuang Sect's leader? She's my friend after all. Besides, you've got yourself into a handful of palace matters, and there's this banquet tonight." Zhao Yanguang suggested after Yin Wenyan told them the matter involving the empress.

Ever since Yin Wenyan arrived from his conference, he discussed with the others the important matters that were tackled during the meeting of the high-ranking eunuchs. This includes the case of the Empress and the banquet to be held by dinner.

"I won't be attending the banquet tonight, you go, Wenyan." Yin Renshu announced.

"But I did head the conference earlier. You should deal with this one." Yin Wenyan said.

Yin Renshu rebutted, "But you are the one who agreed to throw a banquet tonight, not me. You do it."

A vein bulges on Princess Yin Xiulan's forehead. Her right eyebrow raised. "Shut the hell up! You're too noisy. If someone else can hear you two, they'll think that the emperor went crazy."

Yin Wenyan and Yin Renshu indeed have identical faces and body built, except Yin Renshu is a little taller by a couple of centimeters. They have a lot of similarities, and their voice is not excluded. Their voices sound the same as well!

"You should be the one to shut up. Your words are empty!" Yin Renshu roared. "Aren't you the one who said you've got an effective alibi for us not to get stuck-up in grand empress dowager's hall? Where did your alibi go?"

"That..." Princess Yin Xiulan thinks for a way out but eventually realizes that she can't get away with it and confess. "I was about to use the case of the vicious ghost of that eunuch but the grand empress dowager insisted that we should not get our hands in it."

She then changes the topic, "Why not let shizun and Wang-shifu decide who will go to the banquet?"

"Renshu should go."

"It should be Wenyan."

Zhao Yangguang and Wang Junjie looks at each other. They actually have different suggestions this time. This rarely happens. Usually, their minds seem to be linked by one another but that is not the case today.

Zhao Yangguang clears his throat. "Either way is good. The decision is up to you so discuss it yourselves. In any case, Empress Xue Chi's case will be in our hands."

Yin Wenyan then responded. "Then I'll be troubling shizun and shifu to handle this. This is just too suspicious, why would the disciples of Fenghuang Sect involve themselves with a royal?"

"I know their sect leader very well. She would not do something reckless, or maybe she didn't have an idea about this?" Zhao Yangguang assured. "Do not worry, Wenyan. I and your Wang-shifu will handle this from here."

"Thank you so much, Shizun, Wang-shifu." He replied

"Then we will not waste any more time." Wang Junjie rises from his seat. "Hana, let's go."

Zhao Yangguang sips on his teacup before answering, "But I haven't finished my tea yet." He makes a face.

With his face unchanging, Wang Junjie replied to the sect leader. "I will make some jasmine tea for you when we got back home."

Zhao Yangguang's face brightens and smiles in satisfaction. "Alright, alright. Let's go." He rises from his seat as well and bid goodbye to his former disciples. "Then, we will be going now. We'll be back after we gathered information."

Like the old times, the triplets lined up shoulder to shoulder and clasp their hands. In unison, they bid their teachers goodbye. "Take care, shizun, Wang-shifu."

The two didn't waste any second and leaps out of the window. The three looks at them as they run and hop on the roof eves until they disappeared from their sight. It's not that their presence in the palace is something to be kept hidden. It's just they're a pair of spirited cultivators who prefers to be one with the swift wind than walk and attract attention as they have the aura of an immortal.

"I'm not going tonight." Yin Renshu said without breaking his gaze outside the hall through the window.

"Me either." Yin Wenyan replied with a tone of indifference. The gentleness that is always on his face is untraceable this time. His expression's blank. His face is cold.

"Wha--- are you not done yet?" Yin Xiulan lost count of the times she rolled her eyes just this morning.

The two completely ignored their sister.

Yin Wenyan's forehead wrinkled. "Do you have plans for tonight? Why do you keep on insisting not to come?"

"I don't. Do you?" Yin Renshu finally looks at him straight in the eyes.

"..."

Yin Renshu originally thought that his brother should go to let him have a chance to interact with people and socialize more since he's hiding inside the Lotus Hall most of the time. And besides, the event tonight should be lively and he would most probably have some fun there. But why does his brother declines to attend the banquet he decided to open himself?

Yin Xiulan noticed that his brother is acting somehow strange today. Yin Wenyan is usually reserved, collected, has long patience, and most of all, he usually doesn't refuse anyone-especially his siblings.

While she and Yin Renshu argue almost every hour of every day, she honestly couldn't remember when Yin Wenyan got into an argument with any of them. She thought, maybe he really has something to do later.

She asks him in a calm manner. "Wenyan? Do you really have plans tonight? Where are you going?"

"Nothing really." Yin Wenyan averted his eyes. "I just feel like having time for myself tonight, that's all. However, I've changed my mind. Renshu doesn't have to attend anymore. I'll go."

"Hah! There is no need for Wenyan to go. I'll welcome the guest myself. Why would I force him to do something he doesn't like." Yin Renshu sneers.

Deep inside him, he really doesn't want to act ill-mannered to his brother. Yin Wenyan has always been kind and considerate to his siblings after all. It's just that Yin Renshu feels like it's not like him to act that way. Ever since their childhood, Yin Renshu has always been prideful and stubborn. Acting all thoughtfully will make him go out of character.

"Good thing you know." Yin Wenyan expressionlessly said.

Unconsciously, his thoughts got filled with 'unnecessary' thoughts. Thoughts like, "Does anyone even cares about what I want?', 'Does anyone tried to see through me?', 'How come, no one asks me if I'm fine?', and 'Why do I have to do things I don't want to for others?' 

But what hurts him the most is the thought that he doesn't even have his own identity. He's just a shadow of his brother. If his brother lives in glory, so did he but only in the dark. If he dies, there's no need for him to stay alive.

What is his is also his brother's.

"You!..." Yin Renshu's disbelief is written all over his face. "What's wrong with you?"

Even Yin Xiulan got surprised. He's never been rude before.

"Nothing. Maybe I just need some fresh air. I'll go secretly investigate further regarding the case in the town square." Yin Wenyan answered.

Princess Yin Xiulan breathes in deeply and slowly exhales. "I think you need rest. Why don't you stay here for today? Renshu can manage to sneak out of the palace. Right, Renshu?"

Yin Xiulan glared at Yin Renshu, passing the message through a sharp gaze.

Yin Renshu looks away at the other two. "Yeah. Yeah. You need to cool your head off, Wenyan."

Yin Renshu also has the same thing in mind as his sister. His brother doesn't usually behave this way after all. Also, he really doesn't mind hosting a banquet so he didn't argue further. Maybe Yin Wenyan has something in mind, and if he doesn't want to share it with them yet, he and their sister won't force him.

"..." Yin Wenyan was quiet for a few moments. He realized that he's not in his usual self. He suddenly felt guilty and wants to make up with his siblings as soon as possible. But for some reason, there's this little pride sprouting inside of him that he wants to protect. Instead of compensating for his strange actions, he only said a single word.

"Fine."

The whole Lotus Hall got enveloped by a thick layer of silence. Everyone present has something to say but ended up saying nothing in the end. Maybe they are just confused, stressed, and tired.

They grew up in the mountains under the care of Sect Leader Zhao Yangguang after all, the head of Wan MoliHua Palace. A sect that is barely even considered as a sect. After the downfall of once the greatest sect in the lower cultivation world, their Wan MoliHua Palace was known to the public that they got annihilated and became a part of history. Little did everyone knows, they just kept their profile low and stayed hidden in the mountains to avoid trouble. The three of them are the only disciples left, and together with the elders, they lived a peaceful life, away from the troubles of the cultivation world. For several years, they lived as free-spirited cultivators. Laughter and adventures are shared with each other.

That is why Yin Xiulan and Yin Renshu are being careful towards Yin Wenyan now that it seems there's something in his mind that he is not ready to tell them yet. As for Yin Wenyan, he's not used to his siblings being careful around him too. They just don't know how to act in front of each other anymore.

Yin Xiulan is the first one to break the coldness in the atmosphere.

"My Department of Security is going to be busy today. I just can't let Liu Chen handle it himself so I better go. Even it's just a small branch, it's still part of my Ministry of War and Defense after all." She tries to laugh the awkwardness out.

Yin Renshu reasoned out as well, "Me too, I have to go. This case should not get delayed any further."

"Mn. Thank you for the hard work."

"Nah, it's not a big deal. You've worked hard these past few days too. Just rest here and leave everything to us." For the first time in this novel, Princess Yin Xiulan, the Princess General, smiled sweetly.

Both Princess Yin Xiulan and Emperor Yin Renshu exits the Lotus Hall and went on their ways.

On the other hand, Prince Yin Wenyan is left alone inside this spacious hall all by himself as he heard the sound of the footsteps slowly fade away. The truth is, Yin Wenyan isn't new to this kind of scenario. It happens almost every day. However, the state of being alone and loneliness don't feel the same.

Right now, unlike any other day, the prince feels lonely.

Why did he even think those kinds of things? It's not that he's not used to it.

Why is he being selfish this time?

What is there to be mad?

He believes that this is his fate. One cannot possibly change one's destiny. So he should not feel upset for life's inequality, right?