Chapter 60: Chumo

Dongboyou, East China

On the night of a full moon, hundreds of maids and thousands of warriors had been gathered in a wide field of the Royal Palace. A ceremony was about to be held before a pagoda shrine. The drums started beating and then a number of armored men wielding thin swords along with veiled women started a dance in front of the shrine. 

On the left side, there was a row of stairs leading to a balcony filled with cascading decorated chairs as well as lit lanterns. The Royal Family and ministers sat in accordance to their ranks and some of the chairs were still empty, in particular the grandest chair that had the design of a golden dragon. On the opposite side of them, was another balcony where dozens of shrine maidens as well as several eunuchs wearing white silk robes.

The drum beat its last and the dancing stopped when the booming bell was struck with the hanging log held by another eunuch. A woman dressed in a beautiful, silky white dress wearing a large veil came before the shrine that looked like a three-story pagoda and kneeled. The moment she kneeled, the two large pots sitting on the sides of the shrine burst out a large flame.

She got up and walked to the right to make way for a man wearing a black and gold overextended hat. He wore a red and gold robe that strikingly more grandeur than anyone present. 

When the man arrived before the shrine, he put his hands together in a palm and fist before kneeling down. He raised his arms wide open and said, "Gods of the heavens, earth, wind and water. I, the ruler of the prosperous kingdom of Dongbuyou, give thanks for the four seasons, the fertility of the crops and the people! We owe you our blessed lands and offer a humble sacrifice to show our gratitude! Please give us another bountiful and protect Dongbuyou's people for years to come!"

Everyone shouted and the joyous festivity once more came alive. The drums started beating again, the dancers were back in front of the shrine, and food was coming out of the kitchen to be served at the numerous tables laid down inside and outside of the courtyard. 

The man in royal attire made his way up the flight of stairs on the left balcony and sat on the grandest chair. Tonight was a thanksgiving festival in Dongbuyou. 

As the feast was occurring, and the man in red finally noticed something amiss, rather someone amiss.

"My Queen, where is Chumo?" he asked the woman wearing a red and gold dress sitting beside him.

"It seems he has left the royal palace once again, Your Majesty. No one can find him," she replied. 

"Probably having fun with the commoners again!" He laughed.

The night went on and after everyone had their fill, the king took his leave along with the queen. The handmaidens slid open the royal chambers and the king and queen went inside. 

Now that they were away from prying eyes, the queen said in disbelief, "How dare he didn't show up! Such an unfilial child!"

"It's a sacred day. Let us discuss this no further," said the king while two handmaidens were removing his heavy robes.

"But Your Majesty! Chumo is a brat! It's unbefitting of him to act this way!" she replied, also being stripped down, revealing a white dress underneath.

"My Queen, he's still my son, a prince, even if he was born from a concubine. He can do anything he wants. Why are you that displeased with him?" asked the king, now on his casual robes.

"He's rude, spoiled and incompetent. He acts as if he is a commoner."

"Then you shouldn't be worried since he wouldn't pose a threat to Daeso or Youngpo for the crown."

The queen stopped speaking when footsteps neared the royal chambers. 

"Your Majesty, Prince Daeso and Prince Youngpo, wish for an audience," said a eunuch behind the sliding door.

"I'll meet them in the royal hall." 

"As you wish, Your Majesty" the eunuch replied, walking away.

The king then headed toward the royal hall. As soon as he arrived, he noticed the two princes, along with a number of troops and ministers, and a disheveled looking Chumo.

"Father, he's a disgrace to the crown. After disappearing for more than a week, a servant found him sleeping in the wine room earlier."

Chumo appeared confused. He had indeed been secretly sipping some wine before he had been transported to the Magus Academy. He tried to explain about him being in a different world but no words came out of his mouth.

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[Restriction to say any information related to the academy]

He tried to say the same thought again and again, but he looked like a fool. Hence, in the end, Chumo made up a story that made no sense wherein a lot of the ministers started whispering to themselves. 

"He's a drunkard, father. Look at him," said Daeso, the crown prince.

"He reeks of alcohol too," said Youngpo, the second prince, covering his nose.

"I am not drunk! Father, I confess that I had been drinking some wine but—"

"Silence!" the king roared. "Bring me my sword!"

The murmuring grew louder while the queen and two princes exchanged knowing glances. The king received a sword and pointed it at Chumo.

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" said Chumo's mother who had arrived barging in.

Chumo couldn't bear the look of disappointment in his father's eyes. He kneeled before the king and bowed his head almost touching the floor. Inside him, he indeed felt guilty as he could also hear the whispering. He knew that a punishment was long due along with other things that he had done before but his father had managed to give some excuse one way or another. Tonight, however, was an important night.

Chumo steeled himself, ready to accept whatever punishment would be given, his life included, when the king threw the sword down beside Chumo and said, "Y-You are banished. Take this sword and never set foot here again until you have brought enough honor to the crown."

"No! Please, Your Majesty, I beg that you reconsider," said Chumo's mother, also kneeling on the ground.

"That is my final decision..." said the king, and Chumo couldn't help but notice the slight shaking of his father's voice at the end.

After hearing the command, the queen and her two sons, the princes, had a big smile on their faces.

Chumo bowed deeper in silence with all his heart, worshipping his father. He then got up and walked out of the palace with his mother. Once they were out of the royal palace's gate, he said to his mother, "I am sorry for bringing shame to you. I'll definitely return and bring back honor for you."

"My dear son, all I care about is your happiness. Don't worry about me. I am worried for you. I didn't allow you to learn martial arts and forbade you from showing off your intelligence so you won't have to be involved in the court's politics. But it seems that I was wrong," said his crying mother. 

Chumo understood all of that, but he didn't actually know whether to feel happy or depressed. On one side of his thoughts, this punishment was like a freedom from all of the rules in the royal palace, which made him feel confined. Not being able to see his two stepbrothers and the queen who always found a way to make his life difficult one way or another was also nice. On the other hand, he indeed felt filial piety toward his father but what laid heavy on his heart was his mother. She may be a concubine of the king but without him there, he somewhat feared what the queen and her two sons would do to his mother.

He gave her a salute and a hug before heading out of the palace. This wasn't the first time he stepped outside alone, so he wasn't a bit worried because he had spent seven days at the Magus Academy and had gained some insight in battling. He took one last look at the royal palace while holding the sword his father gave him. 

Back in the royal palace, Chumo's father was pacing left and right in his study, half-doubting the decision he had made. Even though he wore the crown, the queen and the two princes' supporters were too influential to excuse Chumo against such solid evidence. He was about to get out of his study when the door slid open and a woman wearing white dress came inside. 

"Shrine Priestess Youmiel, what's wrong? Can it not wait for tomorrow?"

"Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty, but the reason for my arrival is urgent."

"Speak."

"I was praying in the shrine when I received a vision. A vision of a black three-legged bird flying away from the Dongbuyou Kingdom."

"Do you know what it means? Is it a blessing or a curse?"

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, for I do not know the answer. What is certain, however, is that this is a sign of a big change in our kingdom."

After the shrine priestess had left, the king fell into deep thought. The Dongbuyou Kingdom was actually under the control of the Han Dynasty for several decades now even though they had retained the rights to govern themselves. Could the big change be referring to them finally breaking away from their overlord? That was the only thing he could think but after considering it, he thought it impossible. The Han Dynasty was a powerful country that was the overlord of many other nations aside the Dongbuyou Kingdom. He gave it a few more thoughts but couldn't come up with a conclusion. Never it had occurred to him that the prince he had just banished would make waves in the future.

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