The Story of Dusk 173 COMMOTION AT THE BANQUE

The order would be follow the place where their status in the imperial family. So, after all the princes and princess, it would be the representatives of other country.

That was why, after Mo Xuan Fei's presented his gift, which didn't accept very well, it was Xiao Jun turned to present his and Qianru's gift.

Xiao Jun let Qianru to stay and walked alone toward the stage before he presented the jadeite Budha to the Empress.

The first woman of the Rockstone Kingdom's face lit up, she looked excited with the gift from Xiao Jun and immediately took it in her hands to scrutinize the material with curious and bright eyes.

"What a wonderful jadeite." She exclaimed, raised the jadeite high to look at it under the ray of the light as the jadeite glowed beautifully. "I assume this is the well known purple jade from Azura, one of the rarest jade that Azura had ever produced." She asked again, but her eyes never left the small Budha statue made of jade in her hand.

"Yes, your majesty." Xiao Jun said solemnly. He appeared so mature and charming, if it wasn't because the Emperor held something against him, he would like to have this prince to marry one of his daughter.

Though he knew that Xiao Jun had a wife, but it was so common in the Rockstone Kingdom for having more than one wife.

"This Empress really likes your gift." The Empress said sincerely, her eyes turned into crescent when she smiled. She wasn't young anymore, but her beauty was still there.

"All of this is thanks to my wife, Princess Qianru." Xiao Jun said humbly, but there was proudness in his tone.

The Empress turned her head and looked at Qianru and smiled while nodding as a greeting, Qianru did the same and bent her body forward deeply while sitting. Because the distance between them was quite far, it wasn't comfortable for them to exchange words.

"You have a beautiful wife." The Empress complimented. "And a sensible one."

"I don't really think she is sensible enough. Actually she is very rude right now." The harmonious atmosphere stalled when Zhao Tianqi opened her mouth all of sudden and threw those words. "Princess Xiao didn't follow our tradition and sit the way as she wishes."

Upon hearing Zhao Tianqi's loud and clear voice, all the guests turned their head toward Qianru and tried to sneak a peek the way this princess was sitting.

"Prince Xiao Jun, where is your outer robe?" One of the General from Rockstone Kingdom asked Xiao Jun after he saw the prince's robe was actually on Qianru's laps.

There was a buzzing commotion among the guests when finally they were realize that Xiao Jun didn't wear his outer robe and left it with Qianru instead.

"Hmm. It isn't really polite for you to meet my Empress mother without wearing your outer robe." Mo Qin Yi chimed in, he wouldn't waste an opportunity to humiliate Xiao Jun.

Qianru, in the other hand, was sipping her tea calmly. She masked her nervousness perfectly. It wasn't the time to feel inferior or at fault.

Xiao Jun had said to her that this banquet was supposed to be has different arrangement, but somehow it changed into this way. It was really a disadvantage for her.

Moreover, Xiao Jun had told her to sit comfortably, so it was safe to say that he has something in his mind to counter a situation like this, after all this situation was predictable.

Qianru has known him for long time, she believed Xiao Jun and trusted his ability. Thus, she didn't have to worry and let those people talked as they wished.

"Princess Xiao has weak body and sitting near the ground at night didn't help with her health. That is why I left my robe to warm her." Xiao Jun talked to the Empress, though that question was asked by Mo Qin Yi, but the Azura prince didn't even spare him a glance. "Moreover…" He added.

Xiao Jun looked at the Emperor straight into his eyes. "The Emperor had said toward this Prince that the arrangement of the banquet will not be like this." Xiao Jun blurted out.

Actually, Mo Qian Yuan indeed had said that the arrangement of the banquet wouldn't be this way, but he didn't really put his attention into it, thus he had never issued any order about this.  Moreover, he was occupied with another problem about the illicit relationship between his son, Mo Xuan Fei, and his concubine, Lin Xingyan.

That problem really took up his time and energy, how dare his own son put green hat on his head!?

Under Xiao Jun's demanding eyes, Mo Qian Yuan coughed awkwardly, he couldn't say Xiao Jun had never mentioned about it, but he didn't want to admit his mistake as well.

Thus, he tried to mend the situation by talking like the sovereign of Rockstone Kingdom. "Prince Xiao Jun, I hope you know your position and situation, this is Rockstone Kingdom, not Azura and as a guest you shouldn't act this way." He said with loud voice.

"It is so impolite of you, is this the way how Azura's people act?" Zhao Tianqi made the atmosphere turned worst.

Xiao Jun didn't look Zhao Tianqi when he talked again with much colder tone than before. "In Azura, even the Empress wouldn't dare to interfere if the Emperor talks what is more a mere princess. I don't know if in Rockstone Kingdom someone could talk freely after the Emperor." Xiao Jun said clearly.

He didn't attack Zhao Tianqi directly, but he attacked at Mo Qian Yuan sour spot. For an Emperor like him, a respect was everything and he wouldn't tolerate if someone looked down on him.

Mo Qian Yuan glared at Zhao Tianqi that made the Crown Princess swallowed her retorting words. She lowered her head and talked in grievance.

"It's not my intention to interfere with the Emperor conversation, but this Princess only wants to point out Prince Xiao Jun misbehavior." Zhao Tianqi said while balled her hand into a fist to calm her nerves.

"Crown Princess Zhao Tianqi, I think you look down on the Emperor. Do you really think that the Emperor needs you to point out things?" Xiao Jun glanced at Zhao Tianqi whose face had turned red.

"Prince Xiao Jun, you accused this princess carelessly. There is no way I will think like that!" Zhao Tianqi who had a short temper was fuming mad. She abruptly stood up from her seat, forgetting about the situation they were in now and all the important guests who were attending the banquet. She lost control and it was something fatal.

The crowd broke into a buzzing commotion in an instant by witnessing the crown princess behavior.

"Crown Princess!!!" Mo Qian Yuan shouted at his daughter in law. Her behavior couldn't be tolerated now. She had stepped the boundaries.

The commotion immediately fell into a silence, they lowered their head and didn't dare to look at their Emperor, while people from Zodasian Kingdom looked at each other meaningfully.

Zhao Tianqi was startled by the Mo Qian Yuan's voice, there was enmity laced on it and when she looked down she found Mo Qin Yi furious eyes were glaring at her.

This wife of his has really humiliated herself and him.

Reluctantly, Qianru sat down and lowered her head, she didn't dare to say anything anymore. Under the table, Mo Qin Yi grabbed her hand and squeezed them painfully, but she endured it or else she would aggravate the Emperor further and Mo Qin Yi wouldn't let her loose this time.

She started to hate him now, ever since they were married and Mo Qin Yi met with Qianru, he changed.

"Prince Xiao Jun, why don't you ask Princess Xiao sit according to our tradition?" The Empress tried to lighten the tense atmosphere. "She should know the saying that one needs to follow the tradition wherever they are."

Mo Qian Yuan sipped his wine and glanced at his Empress, it was good to have someone dealing with the situation like this.

"Yes, you as a Princess, Princess Qianru should know her situation." The Emperor added.

Xiao Jun smirked, he had been waiting for Mo Qian Yuan to mention this thing. "I think it is a mandatory for Rockstone Kingdom to not force their tradition on us."

Despite their recently good relationship because of the scheme that they created together with Zodasian's General to take down Azura's kingdom.

This situation right now was out of their 'good relationship'. Both Xiao Jun and Mo Qin Yi stood on their side.

Their good terms only limited to the case that could benefit both of them and Zodasian.

Mo Qian Yuan promised Xiao Jun the Azura's throne if they could win the war with Azura this time in exchange of Xiao Jun's help.

However, everyone in this circle or has been living long enough to taste the bitterness of imperial politic should know better to not trust a promise from an Emperor, no matter what.

Because at the time, it would be merely a promise.

Xiao Jun knew this better than anyone, that was why he had more than enough plan within his palm.

"What do you mean with that?!" The Rockstone General who had criticized Xiao Jun previously shouted at him with taut eyebrows. "Do you think Rockstone Kingdom needs to bend their rule for Azura?"

All of this unnecessary uproar thanked to Zhao Tianqi, who had ignited it. Now, this matter actually had escalated to be an insult on one country.

On her seat, Qianru pursed her lips tightly when she saw Xiao Jun was attacked by many people, she wanted to relent, but Xiao Jun wouldn't allow her to do that and she didn't want to waste her husband effort to protect her.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

"He will be fine."

Qianru turned her head and looked at Mo Xuan Fei with brows locked together. That prince looked unexceptionally pale and his left arm lied limply on the table. If one didn't pay close attention on this, they would overlook the discomfort on his face.

"He knows what he is doing." Mo Xuan Fei talked again as he raised his wine cup toward Qianru.

"I know." Qianru replied softly. Of course she knew, but it didn't mean she didn't feel worry.

In front of the Emperor and Empress and under the pressure of the harsh words that directed at him, Xiao Jun stood tall without slightest confusion or fears that fleeting in his eyes.

He was as calm as a frozen lake, cold and rigid.

"I recall there is a law between our three Kingdoms that mentioned we, Azura's people, will not follow any of the two Kingdoms rule in exchange of your freedom." Xiao Jun enunciated his every word clear and loud.

When Xinghe was destroyed there was a short meeting between the remaining three kingdoms that one of them mentioned about Azura's imperial family has a privilege to be respected in every occasion and wouldn't be bound by any tradition or rule as long as it wouldn't harm the affiliation between them.

And what Xiao Jun had said was referring to that privilege.

Mo Qian Yuan and The Emperor from Zodasian Kingdom, who had been silence during this time, indeed remembered, however they would have never thought Xiao Jun would bring this issue up.

"Or, what my wife does right now isn't included into that privilege? I think that agreement is very clear." Xiao Jun remembered every detail of the agreement because it was Xiao Tianyao, who had drafted it when he won the war and destroyed Xinghe.

The General who had scolded earlier fell into silence, he was aware about that agreement as well and found himself couldn't utter another word to reprimand Xiao Jun.

Mo Qian Yuan didn't want to blow this matter out of proportion and wanted to end it up. "Prince Xiao Jun, we respect the agreement and will not take this behavior into account, you can go back to your seat."

The way Mo Qian Yuan was speaking it was as though he was talking to misbehave person and didn't really yield because of the fact he couldn't violate the agreement that he had signed.

The performance had long finished and didn't continue due to this fuss and now since there was no more attraction that divided the guest's attention, all of them put their focus on Xiao Jun who had been standing there for more than twenty minutes by now.

"Before I go back to my seat, I want to ask for The Emperor to be my judge and make a fair judgment." Xiao Jun declared.

There was another commotion among the guests as Mo Qian Yuan exchanging glance with his Empress. They really didn't know where this conversation was heading to.

"What is it?" Mo Qian Yuan asked grimly. He didn't like this turn of event.

Xiao Jun turned and glanced at Qianru as his wife smile softly. He just wanted to see if Qianru was fine after all of this argumentation and if this uproar didn't affect her, because he would give another blow toward this wretched imperial family.

"This afternoon, when I and Qianru would retrieve the gift for the Empress, my entourage was attacked by a group of assassin." Xiao Jun stopped to let his words sink in to their conscience.

Like what Xiao Jun had predicted there were a loud gasped from the women guests and frowned when he said it.

"Attack by a group of assassin?" The Empress covered her mouth while her eyes widened in shock.

Xiao Jun looked around and tried to engage those people reaction, of course his first focus was on the Crown Prince Mo Qin Yi, because his name was mentioned by that man when he asked about who had sent them to kill him, but the crown prince didn't react much except frowning and looked confuse.

However, Zhao Tianqi's reaction drew Xiao Jun's attention on her.

Confusion and shock was a normal reaction from female guests, covering their mouth or clutched their chest as the gesture, but there was fear that flashed in her eyes as she clenched the edge of her table tightly.

Xiao Jun smirked when he saw her reaction.

His guest was right. Something was wrong with the confession of that man.

"How dare someone attack a royal family!?" Mo Qian Yuan was livid. He wished Xiao Jun to die, but not now, no when he still needed him to overthrown the Azura Empire. "How are you? Are you hurt?" The anxious in Mo Qian Yuan's voice was palpable.

Xiao Jun crossed his hand on his chest and replied politely. "My wife and I are fine now, fortunately the guards that I brought were capable enough to protect us."

"It's good. It's good." Mo Qian Yuan leaned his back while rubbing his long beard. "I will ask someone to investigate this matter."

"There is no need for that." Xiao Jun cut his words when Mo Qian Yuan was about to call his eunuch. "I bring one of the assassins with me. He had mentioned the name of the perpetrator."

"So, there is someone who ordered them to kill you?" Mo Qian Yuan scrunched his nose, puzzled. Who was daring enough to make a move on Xiao Jun?

"May I invite him in?" Xiao Jun asked with well manner. He glanced at Zhao Tianqi who looked at anywhere except his direction, while the Crown Prince Mo Qin Yi had caught her strange behavior and was staring at her with perplex expression.

The Empress's expression didn't look very happy about this progress. Tonight event was her birthday party, not a judgment day, why they should invite an assassin now? It would spoil the fun and put people focus not on her anymore.

"Can we wait until the party is ended? You can bring this matter to tomorrow court and the Emperor will give you the justice that you deserve." The Empress's voice laced with warning, she really didn't want to prolong this unnecessary problem.

After saying that, The Empress glared at Zhao Tianqi, who didn't see her at all and was drinking her wine. It was because of her interruption that her party turned into a judgment court.

Actually the Empress didn't really like this Crown Prince, but the Emperor had bestowed her as Mo Qin Yi legitimate wife that with another words put the crown of Princess on her head.

"My apologize." Xiao Jun didn't want to call it a day. They were the one who had started and it would be him, who had the last say, whether this matter would be ended or not.

The Empress frowned, she didn't like if someone talked back at her and didn't heed her wish. "Tonight is my banquet. I hope Prince Xiao Jun doesn't spoil the fun only for your own personal satisfaction."

Xiao Jun looked at the Empress with face that devoid from any emotion as he gestured toward someone far away from him.

"This wouldn't take long time, but if this matter definitely will concern Your Majesty." Xiao Jun spoke to The Empress.

Meanwhile, Liu Wei was walking closer toward where Xiao Jun was standing while dragging a person, who had beaten black and blue with almost all of his body was covered with white bandage.

"Prince Xiao Jun, you don't have any right to bring someone without my concern!" The Empress stood up in anger. This person would ruin his well- prepared party in an instant if she didn't do anything.

While the Emperor, who didn't really enjoy the party, was more interest to the news that Xiao Jun would bring to them, thus he kept silence and didn't object Xiao Jun's move.

"It will be your concern Your Majesty." Xiao Jun gestured Liu Wei to throw that assassin in front of him, that man fell down on his feet, looked around dreadfully.

"How do you think it will be my concern?" The Empress raised her chin smugly.

"Because this assassin said, the perpetrator of my assassination is the Crown Prince, Mo Qin Yi." Xiao Jun stared at Zhao Tianqi instead of Mo Qin Yi when he made that declaration.

Chapter end