The dinner that evening was nothing like Jian had expected.
The Emperor sat at the head of the long table, while Jian, Li Wang, and Nansich sat together on one side. Xing Yu and Celaus sat opposite them, leaving the Emperor with a clear view of everyone.
The table itself was filled with dishes he had never seen before.
Some of them looked vaguely familiar, while others looked like they had come straight out of an alien ocean.
One dish in particular looked almost like a giant lobster, except its shell was a deep silver-blue and faintly translucent. Thin golden lines ran across its body, glowing softly beneath the shell. When it was opened, the meat inside was white and tender, surrounded by a warm golden sauce that smelled faintly sweet.
There were also small crystal bowls filled with something resembling pearls, except when Jian picked one up with his fork, it burst softly in his mouth, releasing a warm, savory broth.
