It didn’t take long for Yuelan to change her clothes. Fortunately, Camphor had thought to bring a set and they didn’t need to change her hairstyle at all. Yuelan left the palace together with Guangfeng and headed out to the streets to enjoy the festival.

Stands had been set up and vendors were selling various foods, sweets, toys, and accessories. The stage in the central square had been cleared away and there were musicians playing while people danced in celebration. Street performers displayed their skills and the noise and bustle had Yuelan excited and grinning like a child as she pulled Guangfeng along from stall to stall.

For his part, Guangfeng was happy to watch Yuelan enjoy herself. He paid for her chicken skewers, candied fruits, and other snacks, helped her choose accessories she liked, and enjoyed the bright smile on her face.

Their maids and guards followed close behind the pair and overhead, Seiryuu had returned to his dragon form and patrolled the skies, causing occasional exclamations of amazement from the throngs of people out in the streets.

After a couple of hours, one of Guangfeng’s guards reminded them about the banquet in the palace and the crown prince escorted the dragon priestess back to the palace so she could change her clothes again and be formally introduced as the last part of the day’s celebration.

🐉

Inside the banquet hall, four gilded thrones and one silver throne waited for the four emperors and Yuelan at the head table while other tables were filled with princes, officials, and dignitaries from each nation.

A eunuch announced the arrival of the emperors and everyone in the hall rose and bowed. The emperors walked to their seats, then bowed to the entrance as the same eunuch announced Yuelan’s arrival with her two divine beasts.

Everyone waited until Yuelan and the emperors had seated themselves before returning to their seats. Longuo’s emperor lifted a hand. “This banquet is to introduce all of you to her holiness the dragon priestess, Long Yuelan. Her identity was made known to me the day she arrived by Lord Long He, but he requested it remain a secret until she was ready to take up her position. Despite her noble identity, Lady Yuelan has suffered at the hands of the former empress and many others. The divine dragon Seiryuu demanded her identity be made known without question to everyone, and so this festival and banquet were hastily prepared. Let it be known that Lady Yuelan’s identity is even more noble than that of an emperor, for without her our world would not continue to exist. Actions against her holiness are crimes even greater than treason and subject to punishment according to her will and the will of the divine beasts who protect her. Pay your respects to her today and remember her from now on. Let none bring her harm in the future.”

Everyone attending the banquet, with the exception of the emperors and Yuelan, rose and bowed toward the head table and shouted in near-unison: “Yes, Your Majesty. Blessings to Her Holiness the Priestess.”

Emperor Xiong Lijun nodded. “Then let the banquet begin.”

On cue, servants carrying heavy platters filled with food and drink stepped into the banquet hall and began setting everything out on the tables. Yuelan picked up her chopsticks to sample a little of everything set before her as officials stepped up to begin presenting gifts to her. This part was the most boring part of any formal event. More gifts than Yuelan knew what to do with, all of them as expensive as the officials could manage without much thought beyond what would make them look good in front of others. Jade figurines, golden statues, art pieces, embroidered screens, bolts of cloth, and various other items Yuelan had no interest in were brought before her until her eyes had glazed over.

Eventually, an older man with confident steps and a definite military bearing stepped forward and saluted. “Priestess, I am General Chang Taikang. I present as your gift this jade pendant, and with it the two hundred soldiers that it commands to act as your hands and feet and to protect you. These soldiers are the best under my command and they will serve you well.”

Yuelan blinked and the glazed look left her eyes as she sat up a little more. “Thank you, General.” She reached out her hand and personally accepted the pendant from him. “I will do my best to use your soldiers well, though I have no military training myself.”

The old general smiled and nodded his head. “If the priestess has no objections, it would be my pleasure to join you as your military advisor. I have already retired from the court and the military. Your fiance, his highness the crown prince, is capable, but has many responsibilities. It would not be a bad thing to have someone who serves you as well.”

“I’m grateful. Please arrange a time to visit my manor this week. I will be leaving for Lanzhou before too long to carry out my duties as a priestess in the south.”

The general bowed and returned to his seat among the surprised discussions of the other officials.

Longuo’s emperor turned to nod at Yuelan. “Old general Chang is very capable. Priestess, please be at ease in accepting his offer.”

Yuelan nodded. “I have met his son before, and the young general is also very capable. I am pleased to have the one who raised and taught him offer to assist me.” She smiled. “Thank you, your majesty, for being willing to let him go.”

The emperor chuckled. “He retired due to his age. We could not ask him to stay on, but are grateful he has chosen such a capacity to keep him occupied in his retirement.”

Yuelan smiled. “Some people are not suited to idleness.”

All four emperors chuckled and nodded their agreement as more officials came to present their own gifts. The banquet continued until late at night and when Yuelan finally left, a few carriages from the palace had to escort her back to her manor to carry the gifts.