<div align="center"><strong>Lǎo Fáng (老防)</strong></div>(http://kongming.net/11/i/p/port_lg/Created-Male-091.jpg)<br/><br/>Fang emerged from his quarters, dressed in the blue robes of his office. Even for such a festivity, Fang would never hang his ministerial robes up in favor for something more majestic. He was not a very social creature; He would only make an appearance to satisfy the Emperor and garner favor with the younger man. His eyes were instantly drawn to the elaborate throne, where the emperor sat with his slave boy and his friend, Master Feng. More than words were being exchanged between the three; Fang turned his head away, his mood soured by what he had seen. It was not his place to judge the emperor, but when it came to lovemaking, Fang preferred the fairer sex...<br/><br/>He looked among the various party-goers. There were prefects, governors, and even more vassals seated, along with their wives and their precious advisors. Some of the women were very fair, some were less pleasing to his eye. He quickly approached a dining table and sank to his knees, pouring himself some rice wine. To his right was a lovely woman, and to her right, her husband, a man he did not recognize by eye, but the man's robes indicated he was of only minor importance. He grinned, and nodded his greetings to the young woman, who recognized Lao Fang.<br/><br/>Fang was a visible hand of influence in the Emperor's politics. When conducting official policy, Lao Fang was always reading over Shun's shoulder, whispering into the younger man's ear. "My lord, this will displease the farmers in the Shouzhou region..." "The Governor of Yan would find great insult if the imperial guard lingers too long in his capital city." But today was the Emperor's party, and Fang decided he would 'socialize'. He sipped gently on his rice wine, content to leave the foods in front of him alone as he scanned the crowd.