Literary Brilliance Hall
Eunuchs carried square tables into the hall. At such a banquet, it was impossible to wait until everyone arrived before serving the dishes; everything had long been prepared. Table after table of delicacies had been laid out according to rank and protocol, arranged in neat order.
More than a hundred civil and military officials, led by the Grand Secretariat, stood exchanging pleasantries. The dozen or so commandery princes, dukes, and imperial clansmen appeared more relaxed; some even winked and cracked jokes in such a setting.
Suddenly, someone fell silent and murmured under their breath, "Prince Qi has arrived."
Everyone looked over and indeed saw Prince Qi approaching in splendid ceremonial robes and crown. Prince Qi seemed somewhat weary, with faint shadows beneath his eyes, yet he was in excellent spirits. When people saluted him, he nodded in return.
Once he had passed, people began discussing him. "I heard Prince Qi submitted a letter of confession, and His Majesty released him."
"Not just that. He was injured some time ago, and they said he would not make it. But after recuperating, he recovered again. Now he is as vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger, able to bed three women in a single day."
"Hiss..." The officials who heard this sucked in cold breaths, deeply envious.
"Prince Qi is unharmed. Does that mean..." someone muttered, thinking too much into it.
"You are overthinking it. The Imperial Grandson has already been established, and the heavenly throne has been settled. How could there be any other possibility?"
Prince Qi faintly caught some of it. His body shook, and he was about to fly into a rage when he suddenly realized that this was the towering Heavenly Gate. He absolutely could not make his father lose face. With a