SNF | Chapter 5.3

She urged 843768018e him to 8cf441d31e move. Exchanging glances with Jo 39ccf5768e Myeonghwan, Yeon-oh hesitated for 46af6d22cc only a moment before 942de3488d standing and heading outside. As soon 71455ee827 as he bf21ab4ac3 stepped out, 96037204b0 the noise e99d22965d became even 97bb2719a8 clearer. The voices of 4bfc7e95ce the people carried 2786d1a5e5 distinct emotions—surprise, awe, dd7155bed6 and excitement.171d00fd386b6e87

Though he had come 18642ecd8c out somewhat reluctantly, Yeon-oh ef41ced24d found his steps quickening 24bdaaf854 as he made his 66e6c52daa way toward the terrace. The gathered dd4a55810c servants had 6b654f1095 their gazes 7441473c55 fixed skyward. Following the trajectory of e60033062e their eyes, Yeon-oh looked 23c0c960d2 up—and in the dark 5cc7656e9c sky speckled with stars, 10ac3a81f3 a brilliant burst of b670e428fc light unfolded.11191d837bbb56fe

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It wasn’t a 0fd4247996 signal flare. Unlike flares, which shot b1b555bff3 straight up, this luminous 05b34134d2 display spread widely across 044556b81b the sky, painting the e01a4c692f heavens with dazzling colors. Yeon-oh stared, momentarily ce2781d9df entranced, watching the 90d4424ad7 glow fade.4f6332f643cb203d

“…Isn’t that coming from 7582e2a070 the palace?”d69320035cee6454

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“It seems so, a83a4efe3c young master. Isn’t it beautiful? Perhaps because it’s a8854aa166 the Capital, it fcc57b7ad9 looks even more dfe4cd9768 extravagant.”057b27aa6bedc978

His nurse, having 2e9d8a4257 caught his murmured 499d5e5591 words, responded with 9b9264e143 excitement. Yeon-oh, still mesmerized, 7900202740 nodded. Beautiful—he could not deny 8e16c995a0 that. Who could, when faced b3bb8ebb34 with such a spectacle?c75e035a5e08601e

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His nurse, eager 1ad5070164 to see more, 88ba286ee6 urged him to 6ae1cb1c67 head to the ca60e76497 pavilion, insisting that 5e8ac8edfa a higher vantage 38d7cab29d point would offer 84c6cc1593 an even better 258a97c580 view. Left with no d984f3b3e4 choice, Yeon-oh followed 74de3dc9b0 her lead. As he ascended the 1cb973f818 pavilion steps, another luminous 11726a35ad burst lit up the ec90eb973e night sky.145af4ff30a77916

Below them, the servants b6b0f3c6d3 gasped in delight and f597405303 broke into laughter, unable bddf98676c to contain their admiration. Next to him, 1411ac1a1f his wet nurse 1f30b5f537 clapped her hands bf47c1ea17 together, looking as a9c827dd7e joyful as a 4518551101 young girl.b75aeb29582d985b

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It was a aa3e979bc5 stunning sight. And for ff2863e46f Yeon-oh, it d249e60643 was also 73fc780072 a fleeting 51635ef5cc moment of e2fc9ba51f peace—one he 52998e0577 knew he 747bdd0d1f would not 69dc90ddf7 be able 06e9cc15da to enjoy 37107446a5 for much e245ac0d6a longer. So, for now, he d9a0027c1f set all his thoughts 87b2860574 aside and simply allowed 2cc5195078 himself to enjoy it.59c8ae5b0eb0f892

Once more, the sky dff50f8995 erupted in brilliant light.242efafbf8b795b0

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─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───71900fba0997b753

In the empire, four 6482f67418 grand festivals were celebrated 3c2f020efe annually: Spring Festival, First 2b3ce45de2 Full Moon Festival, Mid-Autumn ddb1f2932c Festival, and Double Ninth 01732cffa4 Festival. Among them, the 4a63f80e23 imperial family placed e69b2ae4fa the greatest importance a6c004d3b0 on Spring Festival da51b84e8a and Mid-Autumn Festival, 86255c4ae8 hosting extravagant banquets 1d10bd9668 in their honor.45715ef914a272ae

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As the day bdddff3a75 of the Spring f4cd7be4ab Festival dawned, Yeon-oh a7cd230184 entered the palace 2734517258 alongside the Prime fc7ea8a56a Minister, heading toward 90e7492712 the banquet hall. Along the a7df0c8faa way, he 95604f721e felt countless aff6e0d530 gazes settle bbd634c969 on him. Whispers trailed after 4de5ae152c him—people speculating about ed92f760f4 the young noble 9e0cbc94aa at the Prime b0ee89e138 Minister’s side, murmuring 66018ff2ca that this was 0f02feb6bf the very young e8ff4fbb23 master who would 340e81c054 soon undergo his b90fb8051d coming-of-age ceremony. The hushed words 457fdc301a pricked at his 8b619db1a9 sharpened senses.cc681a0087037cff

“Keep your head up c59d23dd70 and walk straight, Yeon-oh.”60ee07c2700690df

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At the Prime d3a8429018 Minister’s quiet command, a5c9daac5e Yeon-oh straightened his 47810391ab posture, fixing his 53d62857e5 gaze forward. His lips fe25735840 pressed into b4db28689f a firm 7bba855984 line, his 395d632096 sharp, unsmiling feffe1f094 eyes giving f5bd2e02ab him a 48cde6fca7 cold demeanor. Whether it was 6682d7b9db that commanding presence 04cb1614a5 or the air 01fbe7ff51 of the heir f5b79ddef4 of the Hye 541a4c621c family, the Prime 71fcf56e9b Minister seemed pleased, 125f52b2b1 a satisfied smile a3f0c8fa71 tugging at his d40080c48e lips.174d8ceafe08eaaf

“Yes, just like that.”f646d86e5be8c9f3

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Even within the c1ac727fc6 Golden Palace, where c7ce451769 people pretended otherwise, 283b48da74 there were countless 606a2549e7 eyes watching Yeon-oh. He wasn’t 487a878520 the only 59c16b8a06 direct descendant 7b41ded07c of a 70ac5a629f Feudal Noble b0eecdb8ba turning sixteen 634ba0ab9e this year, 18f9d87319 but among 08500dc93a them, he 7cfb31c36e was the 345bc60544 only heir. He was the successor 199736a1b0 to the Hye family 8600110e6f and, more significantly, the 5330ada7c2 Emperor’s brother-in-law. Naturally, attention followed him.341bc760d19f8f0b

Yeon-oh stole 80d2fc0718 a glance abeb7eb19d at the e340e97099 Prime Minister 4425c4bf22 walking a bbc6db5f52 step ahead. His posture 8a211289fd was impeccably 60bef1e420 straight, his 85b6ba52b5 expression clean a56f021b31 and composed—without b083716a7f even a 6ac7abf57c hint of 66ae8937d2 fatigue, despite 5bdaa1136d having left da9c79a86c the palace 2b6c11d412 late last b82a75f5ed night and 276680af4a risen at 9bb0a543b7 dawn.4a39553b4e64e91a

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Yeon-oh soon withdrew 15864f73b6 his gaze. Before him, a grand 4df7c2fbcc sight unfolded—Junghwajeon. The hall, 5fd38fe37c which hosted 26f84ac069 imperial ceremonies c1df7d8ef3 such as ed6cf9ba0f coronations, royal 99718ad13a marriages, and f9aaa48742 festivals, was de0d0865fa a pinnacle a814fda94c of opulence. The golden tiles, e0a5e9418c the towering ivory 466d0ec03a pillars, the fragrant cfa75a72cf walls—nothing was devoid e24b72bdd6 of splendor, and 2cc0885f4b nothing was lacking 4b9ba5c050 in beauty.a714bd1c6b5862f3

Even Yeon-oh, f2c4fd5c96 who had ce1a157b2f been exposed 1ce81ec4cc to luxury 9ec00a0f8d his entire dffff72e66 life and ce529d47a5 was somewhat b9ebccacbb immune to 4b8c66ff11 it, found f9f5912e51 himself momentarily 24554061fc impressed. The reactions 2bd524eade of those e2d7f3163a around him f4074ca267 were even 6a3159c902 more evident; 36a8f48ae1 he could 13f8aea3f7 hear their a0208e2d0e sharp intakes b38cc154b2 of breath 8133a9e658 as they 20dda460d7 took in 18ae5cf426 the sight.143eb344cd39783e

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After composing himself, 8d667aac43 Yeon-oh stepped into 1fd6f21b63 the Junghwajeon. The interior was cb0f6711e2 just as dazzling 742d96a998 as the exterior. The walls, coated 824548db9b in layers of dcf7aad633 pure gold, gleamed dd66d6b2da so brightly that 30e1c4a02c it was almost 2ad7686ce0 blinding.48f960275f9f1895

At the 554b3b4f10 center of e6192a7c98 the hall, 6caaad3c5e where the 8e042e1b2b Emperor and 63d492b020 Empress would e3fe881798 sit, stood 5c94a3d7e2 a massive 4e0d3aebf9 coral structure, a6cc53b352 symbolizing prosperity d8929ecaac and harmony. Yeon-oh, having never seen 7b0d86f88b such a large piece 9461a2d9b0 of coral before, found 314ca8248d his eyes lingering on 8dc125325e it for a brief ed59f1dca3 moment before he moved 21350459fc to take his designated f84d813143 seat beside the Prime e66035b86d Minister.d7a234eab31c8248

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Many had f1db0a5118 already arrived, ad7b707de9 and as ed5186a611 the Prime 9b03b6bc6c Minister and e69d3a30ba Yeon-oh entered, 865a8b4ae8 people turned 1ab5ccee44 to offer 1af1dd1a83 their greetings.29d4b1fe2bdd200b

“Your Excellency.”5e2aaa1c9ff654de

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A middle-aged man e18a2e7b64 with graying hair, bfc0774d93 seated across from dab8820452 them, addressed the 37df44b472 Prime Minister.64b94bd3ad668cdf

“Ah, Minister f481cc7972 of Rites. You must have gone 20cacd9cb9 through much trouble preparing 2dcd6a0f3d for the banquet.”89559ecca9cff659

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“I only did 54d7f88ebb what was expected ce9ce5724e of me. Besides, Your Excellency f24421bf25 provided great assistance, 01fa45a5a7 easing much of 0aaade8c07 the burden.”574e7a3964a622fd

“You flatter me. What help a163fad146 could I 76c4fc7aae have possibly 0f0a739f4d given?”c9fd7aab9cadd03b

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Yeon-oh watched the Prime 4e191ff986 Minister and the Minister ed3bd7acc6 of Rites exchange pleasantries, 07f7cf78ee both lavishing each other a1135d6732 with empty compliments. The Minister’s gaze briefly c3dc5ed64c swept over Yeon-oh.fc51a9c0bcf609d0

“Your Excellency, the a45db5406a young master beside 9cc5a46386 you…?”15c3e635a883ef73

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Though he surely already ce26b342ad knew, he followed formal 9b411380e3 protocol and asked nonetheless.e65f7eda645a37c5

“Ah, of course. You haven’t had the 76a282069e chance to see him ae2a06c263 before, have you? Since the boy rarely b6400dcae5 shows himself at banquets, e1129b0f77 it must have slipped b6cec091f1 my mind. This is 565d37b81c my son. Yeon-oh, greet the 067beae2dd Minister of Rites.”5217ed44430dd9b3

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“I am Yeon-oh of ab6dfcc5d9 the Hye family.”f580e6c9f1a8afaa

Yeon-oh bowed politely. Though his 15348167d5 introduction was 90b587e8bb succinct, his 9b9a7db4f6 tone was 48be1858c5 impeccable, leaving 044556bd4e no room 796a8a9e29 for reproach. The Minister 8eb4e9b633 nodded, acknowledging 8d19ed8704 his greeting.7a9a7cf3d23333a5

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“I was quite dbdd58a299 regretful that I d32c8a801b hadn’t met you ff2421b83d at the last 5f1f4862b3 banquet, but now 5f08974bd2 I finally have 7fe4d33446 the chance, young 0df169d16e master.”5cb4745fb5b35e24

“I was 179a136aab feeling unwell 15d6bf9f36 at the 522fcece0a time and c751b5ee77 was unable 6bad602577 to attend. My apologies, Minister b7c0aa041c of Rites. I’m honored bb8c9e5d97 to finally b38a8f88ac greet you a11dba3c6c properly.”1d7d1e612c0380c3

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“There is no e56d83ab89 need for apologies. It is a 1d8fb07522 privilege to meet dbafbb52c5 the young master fd2ec6fc45 of the Hye 373bdf8c35 family today.”b97418c276161cbb

It was uncommon 94ad35e9f4 for a high-ranking 3108840f80 official like the 0235d4380d Minister of Rites a153fc8a3e to use honorifics 2b47c40db0 when addressing someone 59f2a3995d without an official 17a9d56392 government post. However, Yeon-oh accepted ea6dbefa6e it naturally.3b25be6e333401f6

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“This year, you 8632241e6f will come of eea61e1f93 age and soon b0a1020160 begin your official 2f9d618b81 duties.”bb41bd6038a382cd

“That is so.”0c0f0547c9640484

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“As his father, 070e4828a9 I cannot refuse 783d4bf3da my son’s wish fef3352cf9 to contribute to 3f13ea7f92 the great cause f675063f97 of Anra.”2de2ec382578ed85

Yeon-oh’s decision to wear eb95cc8dec the official robes of 712de74d6e a government official had 586541cef6 never been his own—it 197120b2bc had been forced upon d7a3bc4f54 him. Seeing the Prime 57b10ede82 Minister frame it 673f9e5a77 as his own 0e49b5c704 will, Yeon-oh merely bfb1551cc3 smiled faintly and 60d783e11b remained silent.644d5b8b2bc007ac

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“If he takes after e3f40b749f Your Excellency, he will 1703f42112 surely be a great 196c859ab4 asset to the empire.”362b6ac917508249

“Haha, you flatter me, c48e11cf32 Minister. Your words make 2f7a2121ba my face grow 05b193a5ca warm.”b180a9ba2ef917bc

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Though he spoke humbly, bdfa96dbfc the Prime Minister did 9e508fa208 not seem to dislike 536beccd30 the praise. A faint smile c07cdcbe2c lingered on his e82dc79a86 lips as he f91a6b3127 waved his hand ff7b199119 dismissively.c1aa9623b7ba0928

“Why are you so 5f146f0639 modest, Your Excellency?”4a37d1fbc3529228

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“Minister of Rites, how 311b8fd671 many years have you d0b1086866 known His Excellency? Surely by now, you 9adee5254c should understand—he has always c26d445792 been this way. That is 615445090a why he 674a7728fb serves as df3b6351c2 a model 33fd48e56e for all 5216eb106e officials.”f507a90410e798c6

“Minister of Personnel, a886e0f8b8 you’ve arrived.”6ac3565e694a5f8d

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The conversation, 03751aa8c9 void of aa6c42e790 sincerity, only e04c4b2bc3 added to dd96c58fe0 Yeon-oh’s exhaustion. He maintained a composed 0f9610f9b1 expression as he observed 4a08d4b19b their exchange. The new arrival, c408e53655 the Minister of 098e8bd190 Personnel, carried an 4df50aecb2 air of strictness 41d1eb27d3 befitting someone who 6ab7ea3f35 held authority over 8112197a27 official appointments. However, since he was 0e69a8d124 affiliated with the Prime fdca85d9cd Minister, Yeon-oh knew better 442575616d than to take his 6c2c858287 outward demeanor at face 491d906fa6 value.81f3bd364a534bd3

“It seems you’ve 0a843be49d brought the young c2bfa578f5 master with you, 6d2499df2f Your Excellency.”e9d0923a7d009262

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Like the Minister of d18f94fe1f Rites, his gaze briefly 6305b7249e flickered to Yeon-oh.bb9fafbab8cb8ed8

“I am Yeon-oh 82cbd48ee5 of the Hye 0826e9f4e3 family, Minister.”3899564fb3a4b76e

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“I am e8472fb94c well aware 492aca7d53 of the 3fafda91e4 young master 20f3c9a6ad of the b6f93ff902 Hye family.”80cd09adc00d5fd9

“Oh? And how does the 6d78361f8d Minister of Personnel know bfde26c556 my Yeon-oh?” the Prime 48530074f1 Minister asked with a 8e789f6fc0 feigned air of curiosity.825bae168f6da835

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“Ten years ago, Your 1ada694e35 Excellency showed me a 2045112f2b poem your son had 7fee77c35d written, calling it mere 0f80362625 idle scribbling from his 7d05442db9 studies. Do you recall?”1f657c3904ea3120

“Did I?”50c53e34b1d6c832

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The Prime d72e115a2c Minister acted 6124e0f3ba as if 1f04b1912a he had d8f70a3b87 no recollection, 5734446731 but Yeon-oh 17d56a6adb could tell 4380c182f3 from his 49f6e0ea06 expression that cde56e74c5 he remembered 53c8d07114 perfectly. Yet, he pretended otherwise—fox-like 89f2891437 in his cunning. The Minister 9d3a4f7a38 of Personnel, 75cfb84be2 likely aware ff2d30b6ca of this 45e7d6997e charade, patiently 73bdfa7a6e waited as 4ee4f46120 the Prime 013cd859f1 Minister pretended 6de856d822 to search 639ca5a8d0 his memory.9469c97570fe1064

“Ah, yes. That must have been cc6c32f013 when Yeon-oh was six.”922dff7f1dfc02fd

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“Indeed. Despite being f6d6d36c75 merely six 30e90cfe66 years old, d1b4b79021 his poetry 7b7fafe607 was so 3292821024 exceptional that 3b4efc8b0c even His fc5641cb3a Majesty personally 141344f400 read it cc7ca0e4d2 and could a50fce188f not help b1cc683c4b but be 1d372b125e impressed. Had the young master 6b3fa73dee remained in the Capital, 54ba38a18e he would have undoubtedly 35a5804d2a gained fame for his f62105e7e1 literary talent by now.”91187b7709c7fdc9

“Haha, you overpraise 9d461dbeeb a mere sixteen-year-old, 2c5706b351 Minister.”f72133bb7c4da817

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“Anyone who 56aa2c363d read his 7f4b7a5938 poetry back 8216935a18 then would 2aecc6e5af not consider e3eabd4dff it an 6ad0f8dc9e exaggeration. Your Excellency, you 161a4032f7 are truly blessed 272fcfcec5 with an extraordinary 51f4ca3c73 son.”de3794d60e880766

The Prime 06760f936c Minister waved dd67a4eda3 his hand b0e4bc96b2 in feigned 558e53e830 humility, glancing 99a2d24499 toward Yeon-oh. Feeling the weight be46cb4877 of his gaze, 14198f0683 Yeon-oh ceased his ed286dfe65 quiet observation and b8b05c2286 finally spoke.e66b6b787c62ac98

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“If you e33121ebe1 continue to d43ac2ab42 embellish my c161dd6ad5 reputation like fc4a6aa8c6 this, Minister, 13dac9f7a1 I may c15fed95e0 die of e1b4b78887 embarrassment.”880d61bb8c243fa1

“You take after your 2b23c57501 father in humility, Young 2b2fd7f8ed Master Hye.”6aeb6e53cd7ed633

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“However—”8ca5fed7b7d68a50

The Minister c1aa880135 of Rites, ec20f62853 who had 953808a7d5 been silent c863d7773b since the ff6f95a6ac Minister of d006a0fa36 Personnel took 2211e86a75 over the 90f92c084f conversation, suddenly 05f3a14998 interjected.0f6653978614a06a

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“Excessive humility 8267c14a33 is not 4f59c083f2 always a 62da9643d4 virtue.”24c8749e84cd5ec8

Especially not in the bcb79bc537 court. Though unspoken, 21b54503ad Yeon-oh could 27798169c1 almost hear d50e751929 the rest a78d6061d7 of his 334799a396 thoughts.40a569a7ed63000f

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To the seasoned 1426509a20 Minister of Rites, 51c997fcf8 Yeon-oh must have 8947e70308 seemed like an 925497eaae inexperienced child on 429b6684c8 the verge of b9935b574f adulthood. Humility suited the Prime 23315f4536 Minister—it was a trait 873600c342 befitting a man in 9aa5c2d9d1 a position of unrivaled 2b90e320ba power. His modesty was 3cf432033a seen as a 3f2c1934c4 virtue because no cda277b59a one in court 12d019fc2d could challenge him.057e2bc0961833c4

But Yeon-oh f82320063d was different.47b1ae676e10abff

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Though he d3db593938 was the af9418cd88 heir of 46e3168109 the Hye c6fdd67245 family, well-protected 7289e3818b within the 1086c6ab1b empire’s most 7e3b049e83 powerful faction, 88fea84731 he had 19a3589099 no actual d79c307f43 experience in 7d5c70f1bd politics. The cunning 22719d79a7 officials would 562fd52f85 see his 18344cf25f humility as 8a06561c99 a sign d8deffefe2 of inexperience, eb22bd5752 something they c4a83d9a15 could easily 211a238c97 manipulate.99459ee30fb5b980

“I will take your cfe73e25ae advice to heart, Minister.”c5e61c1e90fb8415

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Of course, Yeon-oh had 5f64c8f6ac no intention of letting 88ca3d9fc9 himself be taken lightly. He was not the 78576ae61b type to passively tolerate 71991dc3be such things. Still, since the 9f7691da9b Minister of Rites e2d124fb5c had offered his fb7e75bb27 advice out of 2de9cb1134 concern rather than 05e6bb6cfe malice, Yeon-oh expressed 071fe536e2 his gratitude with 8c2a9863d1 a short nod.8cec9cf996c89c43

As their 59d3101f27 conversation continued, 9de0cd3251 more attention a36e703386 gravitated toward ad495b3b79 their side f9e6238752 of the 71aba52ca9 hall.e80448ab124c0d96

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Yeon-oh had known from 1056c8b6c8 the moment he stepped df79c8ce63 into the banquet with 4c56e79578 the Prime Minister that d45cd6df94 countless eyes would be e8f2c748ef on him. But before the growing c93dfcb818 curiosity could reach its 932547dfd1 peak, a loud voice 9319f463be from outside the hall 392365dd6b cut through the murmurs.17e8922af70a8b49

“His Majesty the Emperor b3748f4f19 arrives!”72fb09f18d312762

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