The Mu estate whose coffers could buy mountains and their soldiers guard the northern passes. The Xie clan, masters of ink and law whose words can crown or condemn. The forbidden pavilion whispered in shadows , where secrets and poisons are traded in equal measure. The Fang fortune, merchants of silk and salt, whose ships touch every shore and whose ledgers hold the kingdom's debts and tonight, their hosts the moonlight shade . The moonlight shade opens their gates of pearls and jade, musicians play the guqin, dancers move like mist across the yard . Wine flows like a river , golden in crystal cups. The kingdom knows why they have come .The mistress of moonlight shade carries twins in her womb,and the stars have already named them dangerous two souls,two destinies,days away from birth. And so the other four families come with gifts of jade , silk and blessings. They bow,they laugh, they drink. But beneath the smiles , beneath the music and dance is lethal tension. A glance lasts too long,a toast is drunk too deep and every hand near a sleeve might be reaching for a blade . For if moonlight births twins, the balance of the five shatters .And someone will not survive the night. At the banquet, Lord Sylas Mu (Mu estate): the warlord with gold hands .Tall armored even under silk black and gold robes , wine cup never leaving his hand ,his hair is bound with a heavy crown ,scars are hidden at his collar. He controls the Northern passes and the kingdom's iron. People say the Mu estate could feed an army for ten years without blinking. Ye smiles at the mistress of the moonlight shade and says ," twins are a blessing from heaven " but he means if those twins live,my sons lose their command at the border. Madam Willa Xie ( Xie clan) The brush that writes fate. Pale blue robes, hair pinned with jade.Shw doesn't drink, doesn't dance,she watches,a scroll rests on her lap and every guest knows she's memorizing who sits where ,who speaks to whom . Xie writes the law,the imperial edicts one sentence from her and the whole family will be erased. She lifts her cup" May heavens grant peace to the next generation" but she means I will decide which twin is legitimate and which one is a bastard. Pavilion master Lekki Shen ( Forbidden pavilion) The smile with no eyes. Rust red and black . Young,too young to command such fear . He plays a game alone when others talk , placing black stones one by one . The forbidden pavilion doesn't own land. They own secrets, poisons and assassins. Everyone at this banquet has owed them a favor . He doesn't toast,he just says "Children are so fragile, aren't they?" But he means I can make sure only one is born. Sean Fang( Fang fortune) The merchant who bought a Kingdom. Lavish,loud, dripping in pearls and fur trim even in summer. He bought 100 chests of gifts and made sure everyone saw them being carried in. Fang fortune owns the salt,the ships ,the debt.The other four families borrow from him. He laughs the loudest, pour wine for everyone " Two heirs , double the prosperity for all of us!" He means, whoever wins, will owe me . And I intend to collect.

Chapter 2