ETERNAL LOVE : A LOVE STORY

The next day, 

The main palace, where the banquet arrangements have been made, was decorated with beautiful flowers, brightly lit decorative lanterns, and the golden clothes were draped around the pillars completing the picture. 

The banquet hall was filled with people, dressed in a precious-royal dress with the most expensive and precious ornaments that they have, since it was the banquet ceremony of the most beautiful and adorable Princess and charming Prince of the Ji Dynasty. 

Wen Xu has already arrived at the banquet hall and has taken her place, which is above everyone else and at the same level as Ji Cheng and Zhao Ming. She was dressed in a royal blue dress and the ornaments on her body were showing the power she holds in the banquet. 

She turned to Consort Jia shi who was talking to a maid and was talking about the arrangements of the banquet, " Jia shi, you did a great job in preparing his banquet. It's beautiful." She complimented her, which surprised Jia shi by her sudden comment. 

She turned to her and immediately bowed to her gratefully and said, " I am blessed to be recognized by Empress Dowager. Even though I am still lacking, I tried my best to prepare for the banquet of our royal twins." she said with a smile. 

In these five years, not only the political and economic condition of the Ji Dynasty has changed, but since Xiao Li was not there, the people in the palace have become much more obedient and polite, especially the consorts that were under Xiao Li at that time. 

And the biggest reason for that was the change of Empress Dowager. Since has accepted Zhao Ming as her daughter-in-law and has given her well-deserved respect, all the maids and consorts in the palace automatically changed their stance towards Zhao Ming. 

Moreover, Zhao Ming is not only the Empress of the country but the future Empress Dowager who will attain the title after Ji Xicheng takes over the throne. There is no way that they can stay against her with the lowly position of theirs. 

Wen Xu was pleased by her polite response and seeing how capable she is when it comes to the harem works, the image of Jia shi in her eyes was getting better every time she met her. She is not a lowly consort anymore who was the daughter of the aristocrat with a concubine but the Head Consort of the Ji Dynasty who not only manages the harem but also takes care of such important occasions as well. 

-

[Everyone, stand up. His Majesty and Her Majesty are making an entry with the royal twins.] 

When everyone was gathered in small groups and was socializing with other respected guests, the guard who was standing at the door, came forward and struck his long spear on the ground to get everyone's attention before making the announcement. 

Everyone immediately dropped what they were doing and stood while bowing in two lines to make a pathway for them to walk to the throne in between.

Wen Xu, who was also standing in the courtesy towards the crown, smiled seeing Ji Cheng and Zhao Ming who were looking ethereal together while entering the banquet hall with two little buns walking by their side. 

Ji Yaling was dressed in a beautiful royal blue dress with the flower hair clip on her hair. Similarly, Ji Xicheng was also dressed in a royal blue outfit and his indifferent expressions were enough for people to know about the power he holds. He is charismatic at this young age, what will happen when this young prince will grow into a fine man who will eventually take over the throne?

Meanwhile, Zhao Ming was dressed in a royal red dress with golden imprints on it to match the outfit with Ji Cheng's red and golden robe. Her hair was tied into a sophisticated bun with a beautiful phoenix jade hairpin in her hair. 

She followed Ji Cheng to their throne with slow and stable steps in her long-heavy dress. After years of practice, she has finally got hold of walking elegantly and slowly without hopping like a penguin. 

' I can't believe it took me years to learn just this Empress-like walking.' she pursed her lips and cursed herself inwardly for being this clumsy. 

-

Once on the throne, Ji Cheng glanced at the people who were bowing to him and said, " At ease." 

Upon hearing his command, everyone stood up and greeted the royal family with courtesy. The royal twins were sitting on the small-royal chairs on each side of Zhao Ming and Ji Cheng. 

After the greetings were exchanged, the performances started. The dancers took over the stage and showed their elegant moves on the rhythm of the traditional music. Zhao Ming's lips curled up in a pleased smile as she can't help but wonder since when she started to like such things. 

" Aren't you being too obvious with your glare? Everyone will think that you're bullying the Emperor." He teases her while nudging her elbow, making her grumpy, but internally only she knows how much she was struggling to hold her laughter. 

Bullying the Emperor. Haha, she loves to do that. 

-

After the performance ended and people presented their gifts and loyalty to the royal twins, Ji Cheng turned to everyone and said, " Before moving to the dining hall, I have something to announce." He looked at everyone with all seriousness, which turned the atmosphere to become serious and everyone looked at him curiously.

" In the presence of all the nobles and aristocrats, I, the Emperor of Ji Dynasty, wants to announce the establishment of a new institution. An institution where the children who are interested in medicine will be taught and directed by the Masters of the medicine who has served the palace and the country with their impeccable medicinal skill."

Ji Cheng's words caused chaos in the banquet hall with his sudden announcement.  Medical institution? There was no such institution to learn medicine and if someone is interested, they have to find a master for themselves, and then only they can learn about medicine.  Because of this, there are a handful of people who decide to learn medicine as their occupation. 

Zhao Ming turned to him in wonder and nudged him and whispered, " What is it? You didn't say anything to me earlier." 

She was confused since he always discusses to her before making any important policy or announcement if it is about the country or the palace unless it's something related to the military or confidential that is out of her field of work. 

He smiled and turned to face everyone and said with a loud voice enough to be heard by everyone, " Just as how we have schools for children who want to learn, I want to establish a school for medicine, where children who are interested in medicine can learn from the Masters and become well-trained doctors who will serve the country in the future." 

Everyone was stunned by his thoughts and realized how no one thought of this idea which can help to increase everyone's interest in medicine and will provide more well-trained doctors in the future. 

" The medical school will be headed by Master Li who has served as the Imperial physician in the reign of Late Emperor and His wife Shen Jia who has been taking care of the imperial family in these past years will also work with him to look over the work of the institution. " At his words, Master Li who was standing with Shen Jia with Jia shi was overwhelmed by his recognition and bowed to him gratefully. 

" Your Majesty, we will do our best to teach the future of the Ji Dynasty and pass on the skills that we have and build the strong foundation of medicine for the better future." Master Li said, earning well-deserving applause from everyone. 

After roaming in the mountains for a long time, he found out about the war that broke out and it took him weeks to reach the palace and by that time, Ji Cheng had already returned from the war after restoring the peace. However, he was overwhelmed that Shen Jia, who was missing earlier, was already at the palace and had returned and was taking care of Zhao Ming. 

If he had known that she is at the palace, he would not have wasted his time in the mountains in search of her and have come over to his wife already.