'I heard another proposal arrived, ' the Emperor comments over dinner one evening.

These dinners happened even before Jinshi dropped his eunuch guise and reclaimed the title of Imperial Brother, but now their capacity is more official. Instead of the Emperor visiting a subordinate to discuss various happenings of the rear palace, allowing for a more casual atmosphere, it was the Moon Prince paying a visit to his dear elder brother. With two of the most important men in the country in a room together, the one or two guards that stood at attention when Jinshi was a eunuch became twenty, and the almost cozy setting of the rear palace became a cavernous, echoing banquet hall. This shift has few benefits. Admittedly, the improvement of the food and wine is one of them.

It 's not enough of a perk to keep Jinshi from grimacing around his glass.