Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 652 The Mysterious City of Emeralds (Part 2)

As night fell, Thales and Jann stepped into the magnificent banquet hall. The competition had only been going on for an hour, but the guests were already chatting and laughing, some even swaying back and forth in a drunken stupor. A few more unrestrained foreign guests were wildly dancing and singing in the iris garden, howling and competing in their vocal prowess.

This gave Thales a new impression of the banquet customs on the South Bank: the food and wine never stopped, the bards and music played intermittently, and the guests could start a night of revelry on their own without waiting for the host to arrive.

“Our…guests, they come from all corners of the world,” was Jann’s pale and feeble explanation, especially after he saw two drunken guests from the Kingdom of Ligudan wrestling in his garden, attracting countless people to trample the lawn. “This, well, demonstrates the Emerald City’s inclusive spirit.”

Duke Thales expressed his appreciation cautiously.

After all, the people of the North are just eating, drinking, and exercising.

But precisely because of this, when the two dukes took their seats, Thales neither encountered the deafening roar of a royal banquet nor felt the lurking wolves surrounding him in the Dragon Sky City banquet hall. Along the way, guests who recognized them naturally greeted them with respectful smiles, while those who did not recognize them were simply immersed in the festive atmosphere of the banquet, which gave the young man a long-lost sense of ease.

“Thanks to you,” Jann said, his face grim. “This year’s guests are more numerous and of higher rank than ever before. Look at this banquet, many people I never expected are here—everyone thinks they have a chance.”

Thales' eyes lit up: "And that means..."

Jenn nodded, his expression serious:

"If your father is going to make a move, tonight would be a good time—in front of these VIPs, I have too many constraints and very little room to maneuver."

The atmosphere between the two instantly turned cold.

"Have you made any discoveries in Emerald City these past few days?"

Jann glanced at Thales:
"Of course there are: business disputes in the Gold Point District, drunkards causing trouble in the Canal District, playwrights reporting each other in the Goddess District, and the Blood Bottle Gang and the Brotherhood using the festival as cover for smuggling, but these are all things that happen every year, and none of them involve the Empty Bright Palace."

Thales's eyes flickered slightly: "This is interesting. Where will he, or the Kingdom's Secret Service, start?"

Jenn's eyes sharpened as he looked at the guests at the banquet:

"We'll find out."

"Ah, Lord Jann! Hahaha!"

A rough, booming voice interrupted the two.

“I was originally going to talk to you about which chambers of commerce to issue licenses to next quarter,” a burly man reeking of alcohol approached Jann with a glamorous foreign woman on his arm, grinning maliciously. “But as you can see, unfortunately, my impatient new companion can’t wait tonight!”

“No rush, Captain Tanganga, the celebration is still six days away.” Jann smiled slightly.

Tanganga laughed heartily, his scars contorting in pain.
"Well said, only six days left! Haha! We need to hurry and find a room before your husband sobers up and comes to his senses... The banquet is too short, time waits for no one!"

Thales squinted as he watched Tanganga and his new companion hurry away, then turned back to look at Jan.

“Don’t look at me,” Jann said unsurprised. “’Sea Wolf’ Tanganga is a Kassaman. That’s just the style of a young girl’s son.”

"The Kase? The daughter of a young girl? But that's not..."

“Pirates,” Jann affirmed. “Yes, at least his maternal grandfather and mother were.”

Thales frowned.

"Their tribe was once renowned at sea, rampant and ruthless, committing all sorts of atrocities," the Duke of South Shore sneered. "But decades ago, in the Battle of Radiant Bay, they were utterly defeated by the Radiant Harbor Navy, suffering countless casualties. By the time it came to Tanganga's generation, his mind had become more active."

"Lively?"

Jenn nodded, and said dismissively:
"Now, they are no longer pirates, but the 'Seawolf Fleet.' Their business scope includes legally and compliantly transporting, escorting, patrolling, reconnaissance, and peacekeeping at sea—as well as legally and compliantly doing the opposite."

Legal and compliant?

“The opposite of that business…” Thales’s expression was strange. “You mean robbery, robbery, robbery, robbery, and… robbery?”

"No, then you underestimate them."

Jenn shook his head in denial, lowering his voice:
"You should know that Tanganga also engages in kidnapping and extortion."

Thales was taken aback:
"And you're collaborating with someone like that?"

“Cooperation?” Jann found it laughable. “You’re underestimating me—who do you think gave them the incentive to legally re-enter the workforce?”

With mixed feelings, the two took their seats together.

“I’m thinking,” Thales said, sizing up the guests, “that the Secret Service might start with these outsiders? Like Tanganga just now—would he betray you?”

Jenn smiled dismissively:
He's not qualified.

As the host of the banquet and the Duke of the South Bank, Jan was quite busy that evening, having to frequently rise to attend social events or receive audiences during the meal:

Besides the Kassai ship owner Tanganga, the son of the governor of the Ligudan Kingdom brought greetings from across the ocean to the two dukes and hinted that he might be the next governor. He waited expectantly for their reaction, but the two dukes were obviously preoccupied and had no time for him. The guest eventually turned away in disappointment.

Several noble ladies from the Kingdom of Turo boldly requested Lord Jann to dance for them. After being politely refused, they turned to Thales with mournful faces. But just as Thales was about to politely decline, they gestured to the prince's height and left in disappointment, saying that custom did not allow them to dance with a man shorter than themselves.
(The prince angrily ate the next plate of food, while Duke Janne cheerfully and kindly suggested that he might as well order two more plates.)
The two guests from the Eastern Continent belonged to two families among the seven great families of the Hambur Dynasty. They represented Dieba of Lyleden and Doro Zhicheng Hambur, and Taral of Congzhong City and Dusuan Lisheng Guodalan, respectively, to offer their blessings to Duke Jann and Prince Thales.

“I remember, Hambur is both their royal surname and the name of their dynasty—although when ‘Great Qadil’ Ama Mimo Hambur founded the dynasty, his people were a veritable hodgepodge of ethnicities, including the Nieda, the Wild Mountain, the Red Earth, the Salt Land, and the Flame Sea…” Jann whispered to Thales as he accepted the guests’ greetings, “but to this day, we are used to calling them Hambur people, just as they call us Star People, not Ludor people.”

“I know,” Thales replied calmly in a low voice.

"There are seven major families in the Hampur court, each holding one of the seven powers: Tubar recites the scriptures, Azad wields the sword, Godaran holds the lamp, Uhlaya holds the whip, Meriya offers the plate, Takhambu manages the horses, and Nifat controls the balance. Now, these seven families have also absorbed new blood and incorporated outsiders, which means they have become seven powerful groups, sharing the dynasty with the Hampur royal family, which dominates Xiwang City, namely the family of the leader, where Qadil is located."

"I know!"

"Besides calling the monarch 'Qadil,' the Hamburs also call princes and dukes 'Diyeba,' and city officials 'Talar'—don't get them mixed up later, or either he, you, or I will be in trouble."

"I know—really, you'll be in trouble?"

"Such a thing has happened in history, known as the 'mistake between cousins,' which resulted in the seven major clans fighting to the death, and in the end, a new Patriarch of the Sun Temple and a new Kadil were appointed. Another time, the Night Dynasty wrote the wrong title in their correspondence, and the war between the two countries lasted for a full twenty years—but for the sake of world peace, you should keep quiet for now."

As time went on, the atmosphere at the competition grew increasingly heated, and Thales, who was multitasking, soon spotted a familiar figure:

Doyle, wine glass in hand, was arm in arm with several local young gentlemen, laughing unrestrainedly and singing a terribly awful ballad; Golov sat alone in a corner, exchanging glances with Rolf in the opposite corner; Marius politely chatted with several older guests, occasionally casting sharp, deathly glares at his subordinates around him; Paul stood on the edge of the observation deck, enjoying the view, getting along harmoniously with several composed nobles whose family crests alone indicated their high status; Neshi mingled with a group of energetic people, cheering wildly for a circus act; Wyatt, being dragged along by Comto, was surrounded by guests who looked like government officials, offering polite smiles; Stuart and Piloga from the logistics wing walked past tables laden with food, pointing and arguing—what, how many poultry are on the table?
Chicken, duck, goose, lark, quail, pigeon, partridge, peacock, dove, ostrich, sandpiper... The poultry dishes on the table were interrupted when the bored Thales only counted up to the twelfth one, because the musicians at the other end of the hall were about to start playing music.

That's incredibly extravagant.

Thales thought resentfully.

The extravagance of the South Bank nobles at their banquets is evident—especially those noble families who were counts or above, but below the king, whose emblem was a flower adorned with three colors, whose capital was one of the most prestigious towns in the kingdom, and whose heads of state were quite young and wealthy (Duke Thales has omitted their names here to avoid unnecessary disputes).

In retaliation, Thales chose to continue devouring their food.

“That guy without eyebrows just now was Hassa, the special envoy of the Tyran Trade State,” Jann said as he returned to his seat after another round of socializing. His face immediately turned cold, no longer the approachable person he had been before. “He actually dared to bring up tariffs with me and even hinted at his relationship with several royal charterers… Does he think he can threaten me with that, or does he think the Shining Star royal family is some kind of good thing?”

“Um… I’m sitting right here,” Thales reminded him, frowning.

“I know,” Jenn said unhappily, “otherwise how would we show that our relationship is cold and that we are hostile to each other?”

"Hmm, that seems to make sense," Thales hesitated for a moment, "...it does make some sense?"

But Jenn's eyes flickered:
“Actually, I’ve been thinking about something,” the Duke of South Bank turned to Thales, “that wine merchant, Morse, how did you determine that he was bribed by the Secret Service?”

I saw it with my own eyes in the secret service.

“Just speculation,” Thales put down his cutlery, his expression unchanged. “What’s wrong?”

Jann stared at him for a while before nodding.

"When it comes to making money, Morse is quite adept, but when it comes to being a spy... why would the Kingdom's Secret Service choose this guy who's full of flaws and gave himself away on the very first day?"

“In order to stir up conflict between us,” Thales said matter-of-factly, “of course, on the surface, they succeeded.”

Jenn squinted:

"Is that really all?" "Why don't we release Dagory?" Thales shrugged. "Let's see who he goes to, and who comes to him."

Jenn shook his head in denial:

"Too late. Releasing him now will only make him more suspicious—wait, did I just see... standing there, is that Ms. Miranda Arendt?"

Thales quickly looked closer:
Across from them, a group of guests dressed in various styles were enjoying themselves, singing a song with an exotic flair. Miranda was surrounded by a group of ladies, swaying to the rhythm, her lips moving, her face filled with utter despair.

Jenn looked at Miranda, a flash of amazement in his eyes.

“No,” Thales spat out the bone, shook his head nonchalantly, and deliberately adopted an unfathomable tone, “What stands there is my sharpest weapon.”

Jan looked at him like he was an idiot.

Damn it, how awful—Tales muttered inwardly, unable to save face—but when Rumba said it, it sounded pretty cool!

A few seconds later, the Duke of the South Bank sighed.

"Are you sure His Majesty will make his move here? Is his target Emerald City?"

Upon hearing this, Thales's heart sank.

"He will."

Jann glanced at him.

“Believe me,” Thales sighed softly, turning his attention back to his seat, “whether it’s parliament, a banquet, a hearing, or even some loser’s support group in a tavern, wherever there are crowds, under the watchful eyes of everyone, something will definitely happen to me, and it will always be something big…”

Jenn didn't speak, only his eyes flickered.

“So,” Thales said, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, and quickly changed the subject, “you were prepared, you had a plan, you anticipated how the king would approach you, how he would deal with you?”

Jann stared at him for a long time before letting out a soft hum.

"Isn't this something you know best, and shouldn't you be the one telling me?"

Thales' expression changed slightly, and just as he was about to reply, a small commotion broke out at the banquet.

The two dukes looked over and saw a Far Eastern man dressed in ancient imperial attire entering the brightly lit banquet hall, accompanied by his entourage.

The man's age was not apparent from his appearance, but he was pale, had a cold gaze, long hair that reached his shoulders, and impeccable manners. However, people who recognized him would often change their expressions drastically, step back, and avoid him at all costs.

"finally."

Strangely, when Jann saw this man, he seemed relieved, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his chest.

“As far as I know, they arrived in Emerald City long ago, but have been lying in wait, rarely venturing out,” the Duke of South Shore said solemnly, sitting up straight. “Now, they have finally arrived.”

The banquet continued, and many guests remained immersed in the joyful atmosphere. However, Marius in the distance made a hurried gesture, and the Star Lake Guard struggled to break free from the glitz and glamour and approach Thales.

The visitors from the Far East moved forward expressionlessly, each step landing silently on the ground, without even a tremor in their shoulders.

Thales looked at the man, vaguely sensing that something was amiss, but couldn't quite put his finger on it:
"That man from the Far East, is he from Suye?"

“Yes,” Jann said with a strange look, “but not entirely.”

"what?"

Jenn let out a soft hum:
"Because he is already dead."

Thales was taken aback.

In an instant, the visitor from the Far East arrived before the two dukes. He gracefully gestured to decline the wine tray offered by Ashford.

Jenn smiled and was about to speak when the guest slowly turned his head, his cold gaze sweeping over Jenn and landing on Thales.

"It is an honor to meet you in person, Your Highness Thales, Duke of Starlake."

He spoke in standard Western Common, his voice calm and even, as if it were a machine.

"As a descendant of the Radiant Star, your appearance is unlike that of the Restoration King, but you do bear a resemblance to Black Eyes." The guest stared at Thales without moving, his gaze strange.

King of Restoration, Black Eyes...

The sins of the River of Hell burned restlessly, and Thales's expression changed slightly.

As he got closer, he finally realized something was wrong.

The response from Hell's Senses was both strange and familiar: within the other person's body, a strange dark red hue emanated from their entire being, silent yet ominous, without even the vibrations caused by their breathing.

“Lee Corleone, from the Kingdom of Night across the End Sea.”

The guest from the Far East bowed respectfully, but his pale face remained expressionless.

Hmm? Corleone, the Night...

Thales frowned.

"As Her Majesty Cortrina's regent, I bring you greetings and gifts from the Throne of Blood."

Ko, Koteline...

Thales' eyes widened as he suppressed the faint, phantom pain in his neck and realized what was happening:

"You mean the crybaby, um, Kurt, uh, the Queen of the Night?"

The vampire, who resembled a Far Easterner—Lee Corleone—raised his head, his pupils cloudy: "Exactly."

His Majesty's original words were: "May Your Highness Thales remain as spirited, passionate, and vigorous as ever."

----

That evening, the two sides, who had been at loggerheads, gathered at the Emerald Palace for a banquet that lasted until dawn, with both hosts and guests enjoying themselves.

King Horace and Duke Cork not only reconciled their differences, but also arranged a marriage between their children, Prince Hyman and Lady Regina.

(A court painter, who was quite drunk, was about to paint a portrait of the prince and princess on the spot as a witness, but the duke's eldest son chased him away: "Let's wait until his nose is straightened back.")
It is said that Hyman and Regina's wedding was grand and luxurious. King Horace and Duke Cork both attended and celebrated together. Whether they were princes from the six realms or guests from all directions, the Starry Sky Royal Family and the Kevin Deer family welcomed everyone. The whole city was set up for a banquet, and everyone had a seat.

For months, the Emerald City was ablaze with revelry. Guests from afar came and went, and countless bards sang tales of Prince Hyman's bravery and wisdom, Princess Regina's intelligence and grace, and their touching love story, composing tales of the Nine-Pointed Star and the Iris turning enemies into friends, and proclaiming the kingdom's strength and unification.

To commemorate this grand wedding, a rare event in history, and the profound significance of its transformation from hostility to friendship, "Regina's Day" became an annual traditional festival for the citizens of Emerald City. In the years that followed, Hyman and his wife lived happily ever after, supporting each other through countless acts of wit, courage, and compassion. Their fame spread throughout the kingdom, their virtues immortalized in history. So much so that a sarcastic remark from Duke Arend inadvertently bestowed upon Hyman the enduring title of "Southerner."

When King Eight Fingers and Duke Cork both passed away, and Hyman ascended the throne as Hyman I, Regina became the first Queen of the Stars with the surname Kevindir. The people of the South Shore became even more proud, always praising "our Queen" to everyone they met and always mentioning "the Queen's city" when introducing themselves.

This is the origin of Queen's Day and Queen's City, which occurred 550 years ago.

Time flies, and the world changes. The story of Hyman and Regina saving the kingdom from the brink of war has gradually faded, transforming into the literary works of bards and playwrights, bringing a smile to listeners and audiences. The significance of the first Queen Kevindale and the "Southern" King has also slowly yellowed and faded, settling into the gaps between history and the pages of books, only occasionally reappearing between the glasses and pens of a few scholars.

But from "Regina Day" to "Queen's Day", and later the more popular "Emerald Festival", the festival customs of the Emerald City during this week have been passed down for generations. They even correspond to the steps of the royal wedding in the past in terms of the form of celebration, starting with the Banquet of Contest and ending with the Banquet of Praise.

As for the significant historical events behind the festival, they have been refined by time into the sands of civilization, seeping into the lives of every citizen of Emerald City today.

The End of Chapter Six of The Jade City Mystery.

The daily update sword is gone, but my weekly update sword is still alive!
(Next chapter: The weekly update sword is gone, but my monthly update sword is still alive!)

(Next chapter: The monthly update sword is gone, but...)
(End of this chapter)