The Noble Woman's Guide On How to Tease One's Husband

Chapter 3-Jungkook

Jungkook would never enter the Imperial Palace if it is not necessary; thus, merely for the sake of courtesy he came here today to pay a formal visit to the Queen Mother and also to attend the welcome dinner banquet that the Emperor, Chu Sehun, arranged for him.

As dusk fell, hazy shades of the carved beams and painted rafters of the Golden Pond Pavilion spread out that still fitted closely with the embedded images in his memory where every places contained the vivid images of either tranquil or lively, all seemed to reappear in front of his eyes and made the path leading to the Chen Ji Palace became incomparably long.

Many of the ministers have already taken their seats by the time he arrived. There were not many familiar faces left from the reign of the previous emperor. Instead, many new scholars from poor and humble origins were gathered together as they discussed historical works, as well as political affairs. All of them are well-educated, well-balanced, and uncorrupted. On the other side are the high-ranking officials of the prominent families; seated with refined speech, rarely laughing and displaying cultured demeanour.

There is a flat white marble-paved open space in the center, which was originally used for enjoying songs and dances, but now has separated the officials of the prominent families with those of poor and humble origins. Just like the river that divided the Chu and the Han, as both sides did not have any interaction with each other proving the matter of peer competition wasn't really baseless.

[T/N: river that divided the Chu and the Han ( 楚河漢界 – Chǔ héhàn jiè) – a line that divides rival territories]

They nevertheless did share one common understanding – stay away from Jungkook.
It is indeed a laughable matter since many of these promising talents have never actually seen Jungkook before. When they met him in front of the palace, they merely thought he looked outstanding and imposing with a pair of brown eyes as cold as the midnight stars, none dared to look him straight in the eyes. However, when they turned around and caught sight of his mystical dragon robe, they promptly wished they had jumped three feet away to distance themselves, lest others misunderstood.

Who didn't know he was the thorn in the Emperor's eyes during that year of the heir selection? After he left for Northern Land, there were rumours circulating that the true crown prince whom the previous emperor had his heart set on was actually him. Wouldn't it be obvious for those who dared to approach him to pull the rug from under the Emperor's feet? Even if one didn't want the official post, one would still want to stay alive!

Hence this was the scene.

Jungkook took a sip of wine and just as the wine filled the stomach, an extremely familiar male voice reached him from the left-hand seat, "We[1] remember that younger brother doesn't drink wine in the past, has he changed his nature now?"

Finally, the Emperor has arrived.

He is wearing a crimson ceremonial robe with red shoes and a twelve jade-bead crown, which dazzled like the sun. As soon as the Emperor ascended the imperial pedestal, all the ministers turned silent of their own accord and stood up in succession to salute him. Jungkook was also no exception and his every movement was extremely respectful with cautiousness.

The Emperor turned his body around to take the seat as both hands were placed on the gilded dragon heads armrests. Then he waved randomly towards the group of ministers who expressed their gratitudes and seated themselves. He seemed to have not noticed them, instead chose to look at Jungkook when a light flashed through his eyes that diminished as quickly.

"Why is Our younger brother so courteous? We haven't seen you for many years and missed you very much. You don't have to be constrained with the presence of the ministers here, just relax."