At the entrance to Eternal Life Hall in the High Heaven Court.
Zhong Shan stood before Eternal Life Hall with his assembled ministers.
More than a hundred black-robed figures also stood in the square. Each was dressed in black, their faces concealed. Only the one at their head wore a blue robe and had dressed himself with extreme neatness.
"Father, your son has returned!" The Blue Robed Man knelt before Zhong Shan, tears of excitement glimmering in his eyes.
The one kneeling was naturally Great Zheng's Third Prince, Zhong Xuan.
"Good, good! My son has returned!" Zhong Shan helped Zhong Xuan up, his eyes faintly red.
As for forms of address, Zhong Shan only referred to himself as "I, the Emperor" before Great Zheng's subjects, to preserve the dignity between ruler and subjects. But with Zhong Xuan, they were father and son. Zhong Xuan was indeed the Third Prince, but familial affection surpassed imperial dignity, so Zhong Shan naturally did not call himself "I, the Emperor."
Likewise, toward people outside Great Zheng, Zhong Shan generally referred to himself as "I." Only after completely falling out with someone would he call himself "I, the Emperor," looking down on them with the bearing of one who ruled all beneath heaven.
The father and son had much to sigh over upon meeting again. The Small Chiliocosm World had suffered a slight misunderstanding because of the Dragon Gate Meet, but Zhong Shan had never blamed Zhong Xuan. He had even forbidden his eldest son from mentioning it, because Zhong Shan had never given up on this son.
Toward outsiders, Zhong Shan clearly distinguished gratitude from grievance: he repaid kindness with kindness and resentment with justice. But toward his family, Zhong Shan possessed an especially deep stubbornness.
No matter how conspicuous a wayward son Zhong