Emperor Song He had spoken bluntly, but Chen Ping'an seemed to have no intention of answering. After waiting a moment, Song He clearly had no plans to turn around and leave. He glanced at the bowls and chopsticks on the banquet table, then shifted the chair beside him so it angled toward Chen Ping'an. "Mr. Chen, shall we sit and talk?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. He shifted his own chair, tugged at his jacket, and sat down with one leg crossed over the other.
This revealed the pair of Thousand-layer sole cloth shoes on his feet, with white soles and black uppers.
Song He said, "Please give it some more thought, Mr. Chen. I can wait."
Chen Ping'an asked with a smile, "Was this the Empress Dowager's idea?"
Song He shook his head. "It was mine."
Song He had not expected Chen Ping'an to agree to become the Great Li National Teacher the moment he asked.
Three groups occupied three wedding-banquet tables, none of them adjacent.
His Majesty and Chen Ping'an had a table to themselves. Naturally, they had serious business to discuss, and both were now seated.
One was a ruler below the mountains; the other, a sect master above them. They were the same age.
They sat neither face-to-face nor facing the cold leftovers on the table.
Empress Yu Mian stood beside another table.
Emperor Song He had naturally come out of the palace in disguise. Apart from Empress Yu Mian, he had brought only three attendants: an old eunuch of the Court of Ceremonial dressed as a wealthy gentleman; a Song Clan guardian who rarely appeared before the Great Li court and public and served as the keeper of the Song Clan's Imperial Mausoleum; and a third attendant, who remained on the street outside the Bian family's gate