"We pay our respects, Your Majesty." The three elders bowed.
All three held immense power within the Yun Clan, figures whose stomping feet could make the Nine Heavens tremble three times. Yet now they stood behind Yun Huang with delicate expressions, like three students summoned before their teacher. Each wore a different look, and even their breathing had grown a little quieter.
The three old men exchanged meaningful glances.
The First Elder jerked his chin toward the Second Elder, who stared straight ahead and pretended not to see. The Fifth Elder glanced left and right, wanting to say something, then swallowed it back.
"Ahem." Yun Che was, after all, the oldest of the three, and also the most thick-skinned. He cleared his throat, steeled himself, stepped forward, and bowed.
"We juniors merely came to inquire after Your Majesty's well-being, and report on developments among the various factions since Great Xia left the world."
Yun Huang did not turn around. He merely lifted the wine pot and poured himself another cup, saying mildly, "Oh? Inquire after my well-being?"
"Precisely, precisely." Yun Che wore a fake-oh, a smile that was both respectful and suitably familiar.
W-w-well, we can hardly say we heard you poked our children into the Human World along with Great Xia with a single finger, and rushed over in a panic to ask what happened!
Who dared be the first to bring it up? Certainly not Yun Che.
"Great Xia's sudden departure shook every faction in Heavenly Origin. Resources are being redistributed among the various houses, and quite a few powers have their eyes on the vacant position among the 'Nine Heavens Divine Palaces'... Ah, speaking of which, all was well within the clan during Your Majesty's visit to Great Zhou. Every branch's affairs were in good order. Though