SNF | Chapter 5.4

The Emperor entered, 18037b9942 adorned in golden 845e590d06 imperial robes, a ec40926bdc commanding presence that 9c74a5ce93 needed no embellishment. A half 6a7ed9666f step behind 30eba0dc49 him, the 591dee088a Empress followed 519a6460b5 with an a3a9753948 elegant gait, 27d6135b17 a soft d0b226545d yet knowing 83fdd27ac3 smile playing 57871c89e3 on her 4765dc8ac5 lips.990c58c89781f8c3

Yeon-oh, along b870a4a181 with the 6256ba76a9 rest of d4c3c012c3 the hall, f0e5cfd875 rose to c37a7ee68e receive them.aced24a49eb6f527

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Following closely behind, the 753af7e5c4 Prince and Princess entered, ab770d1b7b their hands tightly clasped 28bbe4d650 together. Unlike Yeon-oh, 3d8304145f they seemed 2796b323c5 utterly unbothered 9599fc1cc3 by the a63771fb89 weight of beb6016f94 countless gazes—clearly ba35886db2 accustomed to 5c4ac7cbdc such scrutiny. Once the f9ef1c8057 Prince and babc1221aa Princess took 7f87892228 their seats, 4e5a33dee4 all but 8f33b900e0 two of 26f6d6835d the designated 3fc2498f27 seats for 4e8cab8704 the imperial e492d2b71f family and e5ef72f73a royal concubines 55b8b47c8d were filled.74e8994b12760dbf

The Emperor, 74cf066274 now seated 8d0231018e on his db70ac4b98 jade throne, 79e312d05f scanned the 5c1ae9268e hall before 0169c71d14 his gaze ea52296ae9 landed on 99ebb05631 the empty 8c3b4e877d seats. His brows knit together cd26a5cc30 in displeasure.d628622756c5048c

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“…The Crown Prince 40cc79ce28 and the Crown 6b7e37bacb Princess. Have they not arrived 4d03e2cb70 yet?”ea580c6264ed8ab3

The Eunuch, 0544b9a9f1 startled by fca0973e4c the sudden f5f7cc07c0 inquiry, hesitated e2611ff6cf before lowering 834236b7c5 his head.1c757e9446a08162

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“I will send 492a6c9773 word to the 47eda3d83f Eastern Palace immediately, d5ef39b556 Your Majesty.”0537e3187a56518b

“There is 25194e16e2 no need. They will come 9f8af69fbf when they deem db52d1c8f4 it time.”1c665cb0092a8a7c

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Though the 7b0349cef0 Emperor spoke 964fde8036 dismissively, his 9305c34c9d furrowed brow 465f606043 betrayed his c83d7e94f8 displeasure. The air in theJunghwajeongrew tense. It seemed c9079fb131 the Crown 203834f355 Prince and b0bd35283b Crown Princess d67710de61 had made 925bfd2f3c quite the 7188dca947 statement with 4e4c23f430 their absence.e097d6dfdd97208a

The Emperor 2fc01c14df made no 905b402f54 attempt to 0fd7a216aa conceal his 4d5341c116 displeasure. Not a shred aa86d142f8 of affection could a9c4aec415 be seen in 08d944d3aa his expression when bf1b33da96 speaking of the 7e05c83db9 Crown Prince, offering 717fb5434a a glimpse into c62af83255 the nature of ebbf3471f3 their strained relationship.998ef18a61b41d84

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“Your Majesty, d86053d552 let us f8c754fefb not dwell cc7ac24af6 on such b77125c96c matters on 33cc3170ce a joyous a7e78532a9 occasion,” the 88fe1e1976 Empress coaxed 9e52f58c77 in a 2e6ddb879a honeyed tone, eb7abe868f before turning 5c81c13ce5 to the 20d9d8b82f Eunuch standing 076dbaee83 behind the b4aa3bc1fe Emperor. “Send word to 4733730565 the Eastern Palace 14abcbb822 immediately.”9e8c71cdcdd34946

The Emperor’s furrowed brows ca4062c7e9 eased slightly at the 5ccd760be7 Empress’s soothing words. Only then did 7f14f0dc3a the tension in 0c2373123b the hall lessen, 31ae0aab24 as those who c442ab4614 had been cautiously a5ff14da40 observing his mood 461b39473f finally relaxed.75813253409fe7da

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“Well, I 55efed3ea2 suppose this 7988c9cf8f year’s festival d16f1771b7 is particularly 2bf1dc8852 meaningful for 04f492af84 you, my a63c11cb9d Empress,” the 1974bf9c6a Emperor mused, 24cd164de5 his voice 264426018c slow and d0372ad0e4 deliberate, yet 4960e739bc carrying an 60fa2fe280 undeniable weight. “This year cbc62e7457 marks the 0e120b2415 coming of 28ba356781 age of d2391b2051 your younger 298fef5786 brother, my 16d08dee15 brother-in-law, and 9e5fe514d4 the heir df8c2495db of the e5cba2a76d Hye family.”40c59f4c08d10f94

With those f9b197a7e3 words, all 89f08f0ff9 eyes in 4fe1a38ff6 the banquet 1cb04c22e5 hall shifted d108f34b18 toward Yeon-oh—including ddb4fb0e21 the Emperor’s f05da59958 own.22171db8ec61ef86

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Yeon-oh rose from his 699fc0ed61 seat and stepped into 39c2f55038 the center of the d9140db95c hall, bowing deeply toward da10043cb6 the Emperor.0bce7b163bd29aa5

“I, Yeon-oh of fd5499d3ef the Hye family, b8ebf2d781 humbly pay my a23a7996fa respects to Your 9d8b3cf9ec Majesty. May you 806a240d1f enjoy eternal 78d3c5e482 prosperity.”30fe8e8478792001

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His voice, deep bb70841ec7 and fluid, resonated b22a26837a smoothly through the e38d7f6cb9 banquet hall.6b67cc009c563c06

“Raise your head.”29b2cd3c74b9541d

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“I am overwhelmed fd12e531d8 by Your Majesty’s 0c31c04f24 grace.”9c823d9511bb4d78

“It has been some 135d2fba93 time. I hear you 43cb31bdfd recently spent time 89566603a4 with the Prince 022d319102 and Princess. The Prince 68193e2e9f seems particularly b917717693 fond of 98349a05f0 you.”2fef82dc93e97848

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“How could 9a5e37f498 my devotion d30518bfac to Your dfa4348eb7 Majesty not 56e8a8dfc7 be greater 9993e736e1 than that?” cf7420b68a Yeon-oh replied 1625bbcc55 smoothly.2e4e066fb75a1b6c

“Indeed, Father is the d8252dcdf5 best in the world!” 6d71aa3144 the Prince chimed in ac07ef254e enthusiastically.dac02b32eabbb798

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“Oh dear, Prince, 951dc9eb9d your Mother might f4334ad156 feel slighted,” the 9894c21318 Emperor chuckled, rather 27e7d43985 than chastising the d2c0b7e5e4 boy for his e2e4b2ee35 sudden interruption.18599299e097278d

The exchange was 6d8800ce30 more than just c280df67bb playful banter—it was cd9637dc6f a display of 8816976d8b the Emperor’s affection d6e905980a for the Prince, 8ec73dd749 a deliberate reminder 9dc412537b to all present d365a3e2fb of where his d9b5488197 favoritism lay. A particularly 7c89798a03 perceptive official 990e82bfec took the 6eb8b83e7b opportunity to 3f015b2931 flatter him, 30029565f2 proclaiming that 434885e72c such harmony 339029c8f1 within the e108703236 imperial family b139ac9399 was the f7723ed696 reason for 22e62ff1a9 the nation’s 2018d27bc4 prosperity.cf07dd244d79c28e

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“At any rate,” 1b6ac83a8d the Emperor continued, 7a00e3ce84 “I hear that 806ce7be3e since my brother-in-law bca5b485a4 has returned to 2610b992fb the Capital, the d5c3cfb43c Prime Minister has c656de7208 been feeling much a0057ea42c less lonely. Now that you 15b9d7848f are sixteen, isn’t 1dd58013c7 it time you 1a0652875f brought further joy 45717cb2d8 to your family 7689bfbbfa with a wedding?”29e381985098df35

As expected, just a58f4b59ad as Jo Myeonghwan 812d81e6d4 had predicted, the ee1fd1edf4 talk of marriage 046230310a arose the moment 14f7c30d82 he came of d4a75d91ad age. It wasn’t surprising—after all, a42a1f7cc8 as the heir to 83576d1fb9 a Feudal Noble house, da7feb1cf9 such matters were not 09bef1543e taken lightly.7c38aed77c393e33

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“I trust that 46c096682d Father will find d12bd6077a me a suitable e8bae3cf4a match,” Yeon-oh replied, ec88040f32 his tone carefully ad72ad84c1 measured.3b49c348c7c8f28c

“So, there is bbbefd2f2d no one in e8288e1bc5 particular you favor?”a320ce79e867a6d7

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Having spent 4271a51015 most of 96ef23a06a his childhood 6d07a00e69 in Hanam, b3a446f1ea where he 3a39b922eb had been 64aec6de66 sent to f14260edf1 recover his aed68eb6be health, the f1e41e8e8b idea of 2cf60caea0 a romantic 270b3b14b4 attachment had aece46cc3b never even 54d8828fcf been a 9fca051ea3 consideration for 280f66fe81 Yeon-oh. However, he 9434b0c253 also suspected b5c4929ff7 there was c8b69d470a a reason 71b45c3387 why the b0080810a2 Emperor had a1a07562c2 chosen to 6b635fb0c7 bring up 8c307ee337 the matter 2fa94fb40a of his 0e4fd46f23 marriage here, 1eaaea3a58 in front 3b2cf64ae3 of everyone.b77d8d9e2e980919

“Prime Minister, what 83abc27c73 do you think 7e1058b534 of having your 99463b4768 son marry one 7de0b1520f of the unwed 732b2bb3aa ladies of the b5ac7b8504 imperial family?”754b191fb259a943

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“It would be 2b264f8ff8 the greatest honor, 7c5df3c9e3 Your Majesty.”51e07171009ce5b5

“Haha, good. Then I shall find cf2bab9d68 a suitable match for 804d029854 my brother-in-law.”001c023eaae47cb2

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“Your Majesty’s 3922f10401 grace is 8cd5a8ec3a boundless.”31fae6f76712ea7f

As expected, the conversation 75fa0e9371 continued without any regard f8b3bb5d6a for Yeon-oh’s own will 96df8d8509 in the matter. He remained 7d13280825 silent, his ed2249b23d expression impassive.fbb924e05afdf9a9

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“Your Majesty, should we 16d9316115 not hear the young 3acd1dec19 master’s loyalty oath first? He is ffcf4e0429 already waiting,” 2ce10a9162 the Empress 5779feabfe interjected smoothly.0e23334ef851dd36

One of the ead6d96288 most significant traditions 9533b83997 of the Spring 8544579cc9 Festival banquet was 79997e8a06 the oath of 04c31a811d loyalty, taken by cc52d278f1 the children of 87b41ef0df Feudal Noble families 85fa9e5ea2 who had reached a95d600c29 the age of 655cf226a0 sixteen. Only once this 50741f39c5 ritual was completed 0ee97c9886 could the banquet 82ae96efba truly begin.a6db51eb4326d2d7

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At the Empress’s 457d36b2e6 suggestion, the Emperor b5ef215c5b let the subject 4e98a98fbc of marriage drop 567f47292b and gave a 59b678e8aa subtle nod. A Eunuch quickly approached, 4865ed22a9 carrying a small tray. Upon it lay 1892fd494f a silver chalice d4108f68c5 and a ceremonial ad1d86defd dagger, wrapped in 9597167e95 golden silk.8d196f7dd9e8cf09

Yeon-oh glanced at 5acca68df2 the dagger before 51b329fcfd kneeling and bowing da230a36e3 deeply. Rising once more, 0f1adcb219 he reached for 697fe093d6 the weapon.31431f657f209a8a

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The silver dagger was ab6c59419c both light and heavy 23d0171a35 in his grasp. As he 2d6540f88e drew it 8de3af4f8b from its e23ab9e629 sheath, the 68c5903b7b cold blade f8099058e0 glimmered under 831d0b794d the hall’s 41f9f2e786 lights. Without hesitation, he grasped 8562095449 the blade with his 40e33a1bca left hand and drew fe6bfd5323 it swiftly across his 08203508b5 palm. A thin line of 0b666e3947 crimson welled up before a470cb63a4 blood dripped into the 3f03b17ccf chalice below.ba38bf75941bf887

A eunuch, 2974393438 careful in 81dbe72643 his movements, bfa3e0950a stepped forward dab2519517 to retrieve 66e5e2c8c6 the blood-filled 98392f4344 chalice. He carried f99b286aa3 it up 5000d05378 the nine-tiered 5d5edc5cc3 platform and 65181ab73e presented it 2bca684047 to the 7539bbe871 Emperor.81c48316c86d1770

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“I, Yeon-oh of 1d7b1da5b4 the Hye family, 297527a1a5 swear upon my 666d054f09 name and the ea73c3eb0f honor of my b63a554e6e family to serve 6cfc6ae2ab Your Majesty, the 233074612c Imperial Family, and b1f74698b8 the Empire of f976d923de Anra with unwavering 4346fff524 loyalty.”89a3d8d054fec4ca

“Come closer.”5fde28ab2dddf395

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The Emperor gestured, 8260141af0 his gaze sharp.3b3292c3a0668d49

Yeon-oh ascended e1f487fff8 the platform 26be02f31a and knelt 56ea36beeb before the 3d6129f25b jade throne.4aee5e12b00cbfa5

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A quiet shuffle echoed 10cb750b4d in the silence as 7eae20657e the Emperor adjusted his cee208fee8 seat. The golden silk of 25713eb5f5 his imperial robe rustled 00083fdf11 against the floor, momentarily e7a6f99588 revealing the tips of cebc56c514 his ceremonial boots before a39a3e5483 they were concealed again.aa956a98fbb83dad

Yeon-oh, his gaze d5d001d040 unwavering, accepted the 5753a395e7 ceremonial wine cup 933d9b3184 presented by the e6c0316e51 eunuch, holding it ebdad5bd39 with both hands.ac41d78f41b2dcb3

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“May your loyalty prove 85f0773fdc true.” The Emperor’s voice 3ede489114 was low, steady, and 38e3e513f8 absolute.af6a766d9dd7d171

The silver chalice 4306e7cfe3 filled to the 43b1b948f7 brim with clear 6cc80df9fa liquid. The surface 854ea0020b of the 5067778b3b royal wine 16bc2c5a62 rippled gently ab4b58de84 as Yeon-oh 9744b807de lifted his 537c9f8efd gaze.e3020c9e79d7a8e5

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“I am eternally aaed4e11ec grateful for Your a4d6da44f6 Majesty’s grace.”0ae15323223f8722

It was 6b89f05577 his first 30088c4da2 time drinking 1bd38bf287 alcohol. The aroma was 161e7c8c40 fragrant, yet as b5e78296cc soon as it e0a4283431 passed his throat, d5d412041a a sharp heat b59d403ff7 burned its way 1a617e4f7d down. It felt as though 1d02d9526c it was scratching him b74ea74a36 from within. He hesitated only briefly f5e711f11c before emptying the chalice bc5263a081 in one steady motion.a2aa5d3c1946523d

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“Young master.”d453df3e55e51875

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please speak.”abe74ffd4bcf05c5

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“I expect you to 65f40da573 become a pillar I 0f48aec0f8 can rely on.”d9a1cf02f61bb4c7

“I will strive to a786859494 meet Your Majesty’s expectations.”f9e925d39383e126

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The Emperor 601b2f06f7 smiled in 43e681f835 satisfaction. He watched Yeon-oh for 16420e9036 a long moment before 00f2130db4 waving his hand dismissively. Understanding the silent command, 1d0bbfe40d Yeon-oh carefully descended the a9405cf146 steps and returned to 20c28e9956 his seat.8cc360337dd5d8a9

As soon as 65de5eac7d he sat down, b5294fa5ff an attendant standing 0332080f79 behind him stepped d930d96615 forward, wrapping his 9929a8f20c hand in fine de843fbefe silk. It stung, but 447aba246b instead of wincing, 98d4dc88ea Yeon-oh merely turned 72f613b7f6 his gaze away.07db067957b114b5

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The Emperor, cf7bb4347e meanwhile, stood b2b2d4987d holding a 1922378b57 jade wine 5f1816a6b2 cup, his f80ed2f179 presence commanding e72fef3b4e the attention 0da9e89168 of all.aa43acac112350d8

“This year f2b75b409e is truly 0bfaf3d340 significant,” he 73c87c8ef6 mused. “Not only has 0d1ab29bce my only brother-in-law 0dab648305 come of age, ba0eda97c8 but it is df047e837f also the year 8105a0773b my young prince eb543e854d turns eight in 205e6d61e3 good health.”0dabc7c6dcabd180

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Eight.e7520f7cc02f98c3

By the time d93ceba105 his birthday came 22e6b0ca3f after the Spring a88ab24a25 Festival, the Prince 15997d47b5 would be granted 673d52d84e a royal title bff4976609 and sent out ce1ca00188 of the palace. Would the Empress 8d4e557632 and the Prime 9b88199954 Minister make their c526213194 move before then? Or would 3d429261d3 they allow 3bafbb7715 the title 3cc228ae4b to be af3fd5d832 granted first b8f78f2e28 and then 58d96f9b11 strike at 7fdeaf4425 an opportune 5d3b5c349d moment?a090742e6a147768

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When Yeon-oh 83d598f230 glanced at ef3feae985 the Empress, 488ddeeb2c she merely 5621e90362 looked upon 982b60be9d the Emperor a710eac9e9 with a 0feedf240c serene, affectionate 742d539ea1 smile—pretending to 1c8a5b9dc1 be oblivious 6e261e5dc1 to any 67a8a74320 schemes at 3b5fc7ad9d play.5b22ea8199d6d6f5

“And so,” 55207ceafa the Emperor a5bc6474d1 continued, “I af7c68f8d7 shall bestow 5216bb1eb9 a cup 657bf96e45 of wine c959491018 upon my b99924cf98 loyal subjects fe6efadf03 in celebration.”30469599009c398c

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At his words, 328ecc7908 eunuchs and attendants, cec3a2be07 who had been f56f80f95a waiting in formation, 879b1e2c6a lifted intricately crafted 7469afa680 golden wine flasks f4c02bab4c from the imperial 9d6acfc79c banquet table and 5823af6e2b descended from the 8299bd8cfd platform. They moved down the 9552f31205 hall, filling the cups 06d697d45a of the assembled officials. Even those seated 8545c1b1bc at the farthest c58470002b ends of the d45620363c hall received their a0e1b32ed5 cups with both 18c5290734 hands, as if 05fa00d683 personally accepting the e97c0dbfd9 Emperor’s grace.d213804f2b5f9101

The Prime Minister rose 5c49bb7266 from his seat, facing 767ed1885a the Emperor, and lifted 1759996626 his wine cup high.750ca4e11505d618

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“Your Majesty’s generosity is 4ab3ec98e9 boundless. We are 4de1f81b5c deeply honored.”dce3be877d0de139

His seasoned voice, carrying 57ba43279b the weight of years, ab0bba6031 echoed through the hall.e518b7674e994272

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“There is neither famine a12353aae5 nor wailing to be 9199723402 heard throughout the empire—this 8c140408e0 is all because the 7cd62864f0 benevolence of our revered 0a02e943e1 Sovereign extends across the d4eb995bb3 land. Even in 63ea912f5d the legendary 49631f9bfa Golden Age df5d51bc1a of Yao d4368f6ab3 and Shun, bcf23c5607 peace could 0f9f8b8e18 not have 38b2f67eb7 rivaled the 91073741df prosperity of a3af9daeaf Your Majesty’s 8333f5337e reign.”6134d92ddc4301a2

Neither famine nor wailing…774199b434aa52ed

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Yeon-oh lowered ca03803f78 his gaze 4f10c2ae0c as he 2161bd30bf reflected on 9db2bbbe0c those words.0cfd30765900a3f3

A world 5fb8601494 without suffering 38e9918117 did not 6dbf19e680 exist. Not in 4828045511 past dynasties, 524f178543 not in aa1c941843 the present, 4cf064a023 nor in d425c765ee any future d585e58095 reign. Even in 7222f72ff8 the so-called f6d392ab90 “Golden Age 881b302911 of Yao 9fb0d02df1 and Shun,” 75cd8bb0c6 there must eb60ef4218 have been 932f5dfa9f sorrow. Hwaju, at this 38a4a12c86 very moment, was b5e71d1c00 plagued by bandits 5e3de8ebdc that had yet e31d50fb32 to be eradicated.66cb5c813b776806

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What a cd64ab9a4a blatant falsehood.5d6be1f9142f9226

“May Your ba1ab0b0ef Majesty’s grace a63405a4d3 continue to 9a299c06da bless the d6a4345351 empire for cdcbdf212e years to 7b596d4a54 come.”a9ec2413c2bed792

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With that, 42294bfc40 the Prime 792cbd7c98 Minister emptied 0c7955601d his cup bf8c813eec in one ce6d8c0f61 fluid motion. Seeing this, the other 2ecf59bb7b officials followed suit, one 56619c49a9 by one, raising their 81bf6a59c3 cups toward the Emperor.2dc23fc5653d2688

“Long live the great 87bfd04631 Emperor! May Your d34cd81131 Majesty enjoy 671a67972f eternal prosperity!”45f1f718f57aff44

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Yeon-oh did not chant 5f5a1719db along, but he drained 625f0c9a4d his cup in sync eeced63993 with the rest.f336aa158bd7b48d

“May the 2228c09c78 blessings of 9a52371a9e Anra be 516b055eea upon you 95281ca52a all.”323b9c8b0b0ad374

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The Emperor, his smile e8f18230f1 unwavering, finished his own b97170c1c6 drink. With the 22c80e1971 ruler of 69486ad612 the empire 4fe58ec432 now in de650cb0b7 high spirits, b5225358e8 the banquet 12e12b1309 guests freely c08a6511d8 indulged in cb6809214d the festivity.7cae69d8c399dd0f

As the c1b9968cfa Emperor returned 665ce5a8b7 to his 5e0e800c5a throne, musicians e0ec990be2 struck up e713713658 a lively efb7fbcce3 tune. From somewhere within the 5b34f846c6 hall, dancers emerged, their 98c2e7bad3 flowing sleeves fluttering as 2095f29c69 they moved gracefully in 627fe98c98 time with the music.81f811da99dbebb0

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