<div align="center"><strong>Lǎo Fáng (老防)</strong><br/><br/>(http://kongming.net/11/i/p/port_lg/Created-Male-091.jpg)</div><br/>Lao Fang took his humiliation without words, as he knew he deserved the scolding he had gotten. If it had been Emperor Bue sitting in that seat, Fang would have found himself being caned across the back at the very least. He could even imagine it now, could foresee the irony of having himself caned with his own walking stick... Thank the gods the old Emperor was dead, Fang thought wryly to himself.<br/><br/>"I am unworthy of your forgiveness, but I am glad it was given," Fang responded when the younger man had finally ceased to speak, and he reached for his cane, slowly lifting himself to his feet. He had not been quick enough; When the princess returned to the court room, he was still wobbling to regain his balance, and probably appeared to a weak-kneed fool to her, which made him flush with more humiliation than any words the emperor could say. If she were unattractive, that might not be the case... But there was something wild and alluring that tempted Lao Fang and made him look at Shun Midori with such guarded curiosity and eagerness. He wanted to possess her and make her his own creature... Even though she was nearly half of his age, it made him jealous that Shun Tai was intended to marry her even though the two of them obviously felt no feelings for each other and might not share each other's bed.<br/><br/>Fang could have smirked if he were not playing the part of the humbled and berated minister. He anticipated warming the soon-to-be-Empress's bed, late at night, sometime in the future... If the emperor, who was held to a God's standard, could be so promiscuous, why could not the loyal prime minister too? "Milady," he greeted to her, bowing his head. He moved past them, intending to return to his quarters for a private meal... He was not too fond of these social gatherings. As he moved towards the hallway though, he saw the slave boy, Ethan, with the Eastern handmaiden at his side. Ahh, a delicate little irony. Lao Fang had enjoyed her many times before, though it had been some time since his last. It was much more fun when she could not speak a word of his own language... Then, the slave boy had taught her the Western tongue, and from then on Ethan had began to give Lao Fang shrewd and openly suspicious looks. He imagined that Sumi, at least that was what Lao Fang thought her name was, must have told the little blond man everything about what he had done to her.<br/><br/>With one final smirk, one he wore right on his face, he turned and left the party, intending to satiate his hunger alone.