Water Magician
Chapter 563: 1 The Wedding Banquet (1)

Editor: Tseirp

The wedding banquet for the Sixth Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen was held within the Forbidden Palace of the imperial court.

Near the West Flower Gate of the Forbidden Palace, in the West White Hall, delegations, envoys, and ambassadors from foreign nations had gathered.

It was noon.

The time when, as an official event, Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen were making their ceremonial appearance before the people of the capital.

However, for those gathered in the West White Hall, something more important than the ceremonial procession was at hand.

That was diplomacy.

Today, the West White Hall had transformed into a venue for diplomatic activity.

Of course, these delegates would remain in the capital for some time, engaging in diplomatic negotiations with various countries.

Today served as the prelude to those talks.

Understanding this, the imperial court had prepared the West White Hall as early as 9 a.m. and offered it to the foreign delegations, despite the banquet itself not commencing until 5 p.m.

After all, it had been five years since a prince had married a principal consort.

Naturally, it was also the first time in five years that diplomatic affairs were so lively.

Delegations had even arrived from the distant archipelago region.

Still, most of them were merchants.

Not diplomats, but merchants authorized by their governments to act as official representatives.

Due to the great distance between the archipelago region and Darwei, there was no urgent need for diplomatic negotiations.

Moreover, since a regional conference had already been held following the recent turmoil in the Kingdom of Suje, there was little left to discuss.

Nevertheless, the marriage of a prince from a nation that could be considered not just a representative but the very embodiment of the Eastern countries—such an event couldn’t be ignored.

No country wanted to risk trouble later by failing to send a representative.

So, they dispatched merchants granted diplomatic status.

For the merchants, it was a golden opportunity. If they could procure rare goods from the capital and return home, they would earn substantial profits.

Although sailing in unfamiliar seas came with risk, the potential gains more than compensated for it.

Thus, every nation had sent its top merchants as their representatives.

“I had a productive discussion, Bandelsh-dono. Until next time.”

“Until next time.”

With those words, Bandelsh, chairman of the Blue Jade Trading Company, returned to his subordinates.

“Father, please have some tea.”

“Thank you.”

It was his youngest son, Banhu, who offered the tea.

Bandelsh had told him it was too far and dangerous to come, but Banhu had insisted on joining him.

“I’m glad I came. It’s so different from our homeland.”

“Well, even within Darwei, the scale of the imperial capital Hanlin is unmatched. There’s no city to compare it with.”

As they spoke, someone approached.

“What in the world…”

Bandelsh, experienced as he was, could not hide his surprise upon seeing the man.

He wasn’t a merchant.

He was also from the Archipelago Region.

But not from Bandelsh’s own Komakyuta Principality. Rather, he was from the neighboring Kingdom of Suje…

“To think Lord Protector Kabui Somal, would come to Darwei himself.”

“Ah, Mr. Bandelsh of the Komakyuta Principality’s Blue Jade Trading Company. It’s been since the Archipelago Regional Conference, hasn’t it?”

The two men exchanged greetings.

Komakyuta and Suje were the two major powers of the Archipelago Region.

But great powers from the same region rarely got along.

That’s just how history goes.

Unless a common enemy or a greater power emerges, rivalry persists.

That said, their current relations could be considered warm.

Certainly not hostile or nearing war.

“Still… while most of our nations, including ours, sent merchants, Suje sent its ruling elite, the Lord Protector himself. That’s truly surprising.”

Bandelsh spoke with a wry smile.

But the surprise was genuine.

Kabui Somal was Suje’s cornerstone—both in name and in practice.

For him to be in Darwei meant… he would be away from his country for several months.

“Our country has stabilized under Her Majesty the Queen.”

Kabui Somal smiled as he replied.

It was nothing but the truth.

Since Queen Iliaja’s ascension, Suje had rapidly regained political stability, economic strength, and public order.

To the point that even with the Lord Protector away for months, everything remained secure.

Of course, he hadn’t traveled all the way to Dawei just for the wedding…

With such encounters unfolding, time passed…

Evening.

The wedding banquet of Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen was about to begin.

The location: Zhenglin Hall, within the Forbidden Palace.

In truth, Zhenglin Hall was rarely used, even for rituals.

Why? Because it was simply too vast.

The central room of the hall was even larger than the Taiji Hall, where morning court sessions and banquets with officials were sometimes held.

It was so spacious that it was difficult to utilize effectively. It was only used for gatherings involving large numbers of nobles and senior officials— just like today.

In fact, it was usually employed by the Imperial Guards for training…

Imagine a massive gymnasium with three basketball courts— that’s the scale.

Even voices wouldn’t carry across from end to end…

No wonder it wasn’t used for political functions.

However, for a royal wedding banquet such as this, the Zhenglin Hall had traditionally been the venue.

With the gathering of the Shitaifu (upper nobility), the guests numbered in the hundreds.

Being a banquet, there were also performances and entertainment.

Furthermore, foreign delegations would make their appearances here to offer greetings to the emperor and his family.

All of this required a space of considerable size.

By the way, after offering their greetings and presenting their gifts, the foreign delegates would not remain at the banquet but would instead withdraw to the West White Hall.

That was the custom.

As the court officials took their seats, Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen were seated at the front.

Finally, the emperor entered.

Naturally, everyone stood to greet him.

Yet, some noticed something peculiar.

A single empty seat.

From the entrance, directly facing the prince and princess, the seat was to the right… right next to the emperor’s.

To the left, from the entrance, the prince, his family, and their allies were seated.

To the right, the high officials of the Six Ministries were seated.

The Six Ministries—Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Public Works—were each led by a Shangshu.

Roughly equivalent to ministers in the Central countries.

In that sense, the vacant seat was the minister’s seat.

The highest among them.

Even higher than the Prime Minister who oversaw the ministers.

Currently, only the Emperor himself stood above the Prime Minister.

Of course, everyone present knew whose seat it truly was.

It was the seat of the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince stood apart from the other princes and imperial princes, holding a position that oversaw the Shangshu ministers.

Thus, his seat was not among the princes, but among the top officials—yet at a higher rank than even them.

However, in Darwei, the position of Crown Prince had been vacant for the past five years.

And still remained vacant.

That was why many attendees found it puzzling that the seat had been prepared at all.

The only exception would be if a king from another nation were present…but not just any king.

A sovereign of nearly equal standing to Emperor Tsuin…yet, among the Eastern countries, there existed no such sovereign.

Only perhaps a monarch who had ruled a large nation for decades and commanded great personal respect…

But no such person was present today.

So, the seat remained empty when Emperor Tsuin entered and took his place.

Right beside that very seat.

It was only at that moment that some noticed the strange, unoccupied chair.

Still, no one dared ask about it.

If the emperor said nothing, it meant everything was according to his will.

Even the empty seat.

And so, the banquet began.

The reception proceeded without incident, eventually transitioning to greetings from the foreign envoys.

That said, these greetings were not particularly entertaining for the attendees.

They ate the food placed before them and drank wine.

Those who could indulge gradually became more relaxed.

But some could not—some were not permitted to.

First and foremost, the two main figures at the center:

Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen.

Though they were the stars of the evening, they hadn’t touched their food or wine.

Perhaps this was a universal truth of wedding banquets everywhere.

The other princes, including the imperial princes, were similar.

While they might nibble at their food… they were far from eating freely.

Some princes hadn’t touched their wine at all.

Then there were the Shangshu ministers and other high-ranking officials.

Any foolish behavior here could cost them their heads.

Though lower-ranking officials shared the same risk, they weren’t likely to be addressed directly by the emperor—so they ate and drank to their hearts’ content…

The world, in many ways, is unfair.

And finally…

“And now, the final guest.”

A voice echoed from the entrance, announcing the next arrival.

At those words, Emperor Tsuin set down the cup in his hand.

Silently, he straightened his back.

“Last, from the Central countries, the Kingdom of Knightley.”

The moment that declaration rang out, all sound in the hall ceased.

A heartbeat later, murmurs erupted.

“Did they say Knightley?”

“You mean, like the bard’s tale?”

“No way—that’s just a legend, right?”

Such whispers, especially from those intoxicated by drink, rippled through the crowd.

The announcer continued:

“His Excellency Duke Rondo, representing His Majesty Abel I of the Kingdom of Knightley.”

With that, silence fell once again.

But only for a few seconds.

Soon, an even greater stir than before swept through the hall.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.”

“Abel I? So it’s really that Abel?”

“And he said Duke Rondo, didn’t he?”

“Duke Rondo… like in the bard’s song, right?”

“Yeah, the Ballad of Duke Rondo…”

Even those of high rank began whispering now.

The princes exchanged glances.

Though none of them had answers.

Their families, however, remained more lighthearted.

Even the ladies murmured among themselves:

“Oh my!” and “Is that true?”

The Six Ministries’ high officials spoke in hushed tones.

“Why would someone like that be here?”

“He can’t be that impressive.”

“Who even found this man…”

Yet perhaps the most shocked of all was one of today’s main figures.

“No way… Duke Rondo, actually here…”

Prince Ryun, the Sixth Prince, murmured aloud—his words reaching the ears of Princess Shio Fen beside him.

“Prince Ryun, you know Duke Rondo?”

“Uh, yes. I met him once at the royal tomb… Fenmu, the imperial mausoleum. I had the honor of greeting him.”

“Oh my!”

Princess Shio Fen smiled at his startled response.

And then finally—the doors opened.

In that instant, it felt as though ice had slid down the backs of many present.

The military officers instinctively reached for the hilts of their swords.

A lone man in a robe entered.

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