"Child Monarch:The rise of a little emperor"

Chapter 1

At a banquet filled with revelry, the finest wines from a neighbouring empire flowed freely, accompanied by an abundance of meats. He couldn't resist the entertainment, his gaze shifting from dancers with jingling anklets to swaying hips keeping pace with the harp's melody. However, it was the ample bosoms that truly captivated him. He chuckled lightly and almost regurgitated his indulgences in a hiccup.

"I am the emperor! I am the emperor!" he sang proudly, stumbling around with a goblet of wine in hand. The grand palace seemed to accommodate his every whim.

Stepping away from the banquet and his throne, he found himself alone in the autumn night, surrounded by blooming flowers and their fragrant scents. The still lake reflected the moon, making the fish visible in its depths as if it were daytime. A bridge spanned the lake, its beauty beyond words. Some claimed it was made from a fallen star, while others suggested it held a piece of the sun. If these theories were incorrect and it was indeed crafted by human hands, they must have been demigods, if such beings existed.

The bridge defied human comprehension, shrouded in mystery and wonder.
It seemed as though the bridge existed and did not exist simultaneously, emitting a light that was both transparent and capable of illuminating the night even in the absence of the moon. What was even more remarkable was the bridge's ability to cast tiny glimmers of light onto the lake's surface. Over time, people observed that the aquatic life in the lake had doubled in size, and the lake's water possessed healing properties capable of curing any ailment. This attribute bestowed upon the palace and the entire empire a sense of prosperity and unparalleled beauty in comparison to other realms.

The neighbouring empires would have surely coveted this treasure for themselves if the bridge had not been shrouded in mystery. Alternatively, war could have been a means to secure this great asset by conquering the entire empire. However, it would have been naive to assume that an empire that had endured through the ages could be conquered without considering the potential consequences that would ensue. This was the reality of the Rin Empire, which he now ruled as emperor, surrounded by riches, wine, and women, all within his reach.

Standing on the bridge, he paused, gazing into the horizon as if expecting a peculiar sight, only to find nothing remarkable. He raised the gourd to his lips once more, drinking voraciously until it was empty. Upon realising there was nothing left in the gourd, he taunted himself and angrily hurled it into the lake.

"I am the emperor!" he exclaimed with a giggle, teetering on his toes as he struggled to maintain his balance on the bridge. Walking became a challenge, his eyes frequently closing or losing focus.

He stumbled around, groaning and cursing the gods for depriving him of his wine. Amid sobs and smirks, he aimlessly traversed the night that led away from the palace.

Had he been sober and aware of his surroundings, he would not have found himself in this situation. He had never ventured beyond the palace walls to witness the streets and people outside. Their way of life was foreign to him, something he deemed unattractive.

In his inebriated state, he failed to notice he had passed through the palace gate, where the guards had neglected their duties and succumbed to the night. His clothes were dishevelled, his forehead glistened with sweat, his hair tousled from running his hands through it, and his shoes had slipped off his feet.

Despite the emperor's absence, the revelry at the banquet continued unabated, promising to last until the morning. Regardless of the festivities, the emperor's safety should have been paramount. Perhaps the attendants assumed he was unwell and retired early to his chambers, or they believed he desired a moment of solitude.

His escorts had accompanied him initially but, in his intoxicated state, he gestured for them to remain behind as he continued to drink from his gourd. As he ventured outside the palace, a place unfamiliar to him and appearing on the verge of sickness, the paths he trod would prove challenging to retrace upon his return.