Dressed in a modest color of a plain white top and light blue skirt, wrapped with a red string cloth around her tiny waist, Jae-in left her quarter with Yu-ji by her side.

Despite the colors being a "boring" combination, it does not hinder the natural beauty that she possessed.

To make sure that she is dress properly, her hair seems to be well-decorated with silver crafted accessories and white pearls specially sought by Qi Yuan.

Making her way to the living room, there sits Qi Yuan, who patiently wait for her to be ready to embark on a journey to Kai Palace. As his eyes twinkle with admiration the moment she appeared, he went towards her, offering his hand for her to hold them as a form of support.

"Jae-in, why are you dressed in such modest color? Isn't it a common thing for ladies to be dress in bright and attractive colors to capture attention for the royal banquet?" Jae-in smile at the question asked by him.

"Am I there to attract anyone's attention?"

"No."

"There you go, that's your answer. This is a royal banquet and I am dressed modestly, not wanting to attract attention is my intention, ultimately I only have one goal."

Qi Yuan nodded with agreement, a part of him is glad that she did not dress up too much that might attract unwanted attention from the other male noble young masters.

With the thought of it, it irks him somehow.

Before leaving the doors of Qi Yuan manor, Jae-in wore a light blue veil that covers the lower part of her face, revealing the same enchanting brown eyes that holds a story that is untold.

"Yu-ji, you stay here in Qi Yuan manor. I will be back soon." Jae-in ordered while Yu-ji look at her unwillingly.

"Missy but!"

"Stay. Be a good girl, I will be back soon."

As the two board the carriage, they head towards the Kai Palace with guards from Qi Yuan manor following behind like a bodyguard.

Passing through the heavily armed entrance, the carriage carried on smoothly and soon reach their destination.

Holding Jae-in's hand as she ascend down, under the public eyes, a heavy stare with evil daggers thrown towards Jae-in. Some watch her with careful eyes while others with curiosity, wondering the identity of this lady with a veil who shared a carriage with the fourth prince.

"Sister Jae-in! You are here too?" Ai Le shouted from afar as she is surprise with her attendance of this banquet.

"Yes Ai Le sister, do you want to accompany me to my seat?"

"Of course! Let's go!"

"Hey! Why are you asking her to tag along with us? You got me to count on, do not need an extra hand."

Qi Yuan pouted his lips as he shows his dissatisfaction of how Jae-in drag Ai Le into this group.

"Brother Qi Yuan, you have no idea how dangerous a woman can be in this battle of nobles. Only I can protect her, you can only stand at the line of defense."

Ai Le dismissed Qi Yuan's words and start to cling onto Jae-in's arms by her side.

As the two start to be involved in a heated argument of who to protect Jae-in during the banquet, the noble ladies at the side stared with their mouth wide open.

All of them are shocked that this lady is on good-term with Ai Le Jun Zhu, and surprised that she was not being beaten up for sharing the carriage with the fourth prince.

Somehow, they are looking forward to the two ladies to be involved in a cat-fight, hoping that Ai Le Jun Zhu will tear that veil away to reveal the ugly face of this mysterious lady.

With Qi Yuan and Ai Le standing next to her, leading her to the main banquet hall, watchful eyes from all sorts of direction land onto Jae-in. Jae-in is very used to the attention received as an Empress, so she did not shy away from them, instead she walk proudly with an authoritative aura.

The eunuch who is leading the guest to their respective seats approach Jae-in.

"Gu Niang, may I ask which household are you representing?"

"I am just a visitor who is having a short stay in Kai Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, the eunuch change his attitude towards Jae-in, guessing she is some low-class daughter with no power or money.

"There you go, you can sit here."

He brings Jae-in to the seat that is closer to the door, furthest away from the main stage and the Emperor. As Ai Le and and Qi Yuan got distracted with the greetings from other officials, they created a distance behind her, leaving an impression that Jae-in came here alone.

Thanking the eunuch, she take a seat as the position of where she is sitting at doesn't really matter to her much.

Using her side eye, Ai Le see the pathetic seat that Jae-in is sitting on. In anger, she push all the annoying ladies out of her way and march to that eunuch.

"SISTER JAE-IN! Why are you sitting at such a pathetic seat?"

"Oh you done with the greeting? You should go to your seat."

Not receiving a direct answer, she turn to that poor eunuch who stand beside her.

"Tell me, who give you the permission to direct Sister Jae-in to sit here?"

"Your lowly servant ... I ... uhm... she is said to be a traveller to Kai Kingdom and not being accompanied by her family, so your lowly servant is unsure where she can sit ... so I .."

"Uh huh.. so just because she is not high-ranked noble or an official's daughter, she is deserved to be treated this way? So what she is a traveller? She is a guest in Kai Kingdom, therefore she needs to be treated properly."

Grabbing Jae-in's arm and forcefully pull her up, Ai Le drag her to her seat.

"Sister Jae-in, come with me."

Knowing the intentions of Ai Le, she abruptly stop at a seat that is right in the middle, near to the main stage, yet not too close to where Emperor Kai will be sitting. Glancing at the seat that has already been taken, she emotionless said.

"I want to sit here."

Both Ai Le and the eunuch stop and look at her, along with the noble young master who is already occupying the seat.

"Who do you think you are to ask for a seat that I am already sitting at?" The young master seems angry as if Jae-in is challenging his face value.

Not sparing a look at him, she folded her arms and look at this eunuch.

"I want to sit here, did I make myself clear?"

The eunuch felt a sense of authority as she speaks as though she is entitled to order him and he is one lowly servant to obey accordingly. Immediately, he went to usher the young master out of the seat while trying to smoothen his anger with flowery words.

Jae-in settled down into her seat gracefully with many confused looks from the other nobles that are seated near her. The seat that she chose is actually in the male zone, where most of the unmarried men will be seated at.

Ignoring all the looks and stare, she proceed to pour herself a cup of wine.

"Since Sister Jae-in wants to sit here, then Ai Le shall sit here with you as well."

With that, she immediately settle into an empty spot beside Jae-in and the eunuch who return back after appeasing the young master almost broke down.

How can one Jun Zhu sit in such a lowly seat, especially they are in the male zone??

"Hm? Why are you two sitting here?"

Qi Yuan, who is done with the surface exchanges between the officials, attempt to find the two ladies and surprisingly found them seated at the male zone.

"Qi Yuan! Oh because Sister Jae-in wanted to sit here, so I shall sit here as well." Ai Le answered.

Qi Yuan furrowed his brows with a thin smile to show his displease as the position Jae-in chose is not to his liking.

No, he cannot let this go like this. Walking to the empty spot beside Jae-in on the other side, he sat down while Ai Le poured him a cup of wine.

With the two highly status of a Jun Zhu and a prince sitting at the men zone, not forgetting that both are guarding the sides of this unknown woman with a veil that covers the beauty that they are not aware of.

Qi Yuan and Ai Le's reputation in Kai Kingdom are not the best but definitely not good, seeing the two reputable individual lowering themselves for this woman, not only that, both seems to be in good terms with her and takes care of her.

Once again, the three of them settled into their own world, ignoring the reality.

'Just when will the banquet start?' Jae-in thought.

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Jae-in - 小豆蔻兒