When the palace gates opened in the early morning, King Luo Rong and the Marquis Murong, who he had called back overnight, immediately entered the palace. The Emperor had not slept all night, seething with anger. Wang Shijing had stayed in the palace all night, waiting for some news. Guo Zimu stayed at the Loyal and Brave Marquis Mansion, spending the night together with Shao Yunan. Today was the day the Emperor hosted a palace banquet for the envoys of the four countries. The Emperor did not change the schedule, so tonight, both Shao Yunan and Guo Zimu would attend the banquet. Elder Weng returned to the capital last night, and he also entered the palace overnight and was still there now.

The entire imperial palace, and even the capital, was filled with a certain tension due to the bloody conflict that occurred yesterday. The “Qingyuan” was temporarily closed as it was the scene of the conflict. Guo Zimu woke up very early; he couldn’t sleep. Shao Yunan also woke up early; naturally, he was affected as well.

At this moment, King Luo Rong, who saw the Emperor, presented a confidential letter to Emperor’s desk. After reading it, the Emperor exploded in anger.

“It turns out someone has leaked information to the barbarians!”

The Emperor was so angry that he smashed the jade cup on the table.

“Your Majesty!” King Luo Rong knelt down, and the Marquis Murong followed suit. King Luo Rong knocked his head: “The barbarians insulted your subject’s main wife. Even if your subject’s life is forfeited, I will not rest until the barbarians are vanquished!”

“Uncle, please rise.”

Guo Xun hurriedly entered from outside with his head down: “Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived.”

The Emperor restrained his anger: “Who has been gossiping in front of the Empress?”

“Your Majesty, can you think that your subject can sleep peacefully at this time?” The empress held the hand of Eunuch Jin and walked into the East Hall. Wang Shijing went forward to help King Luo Rong up and then bowed. The empress was about to give birth in less than two months, and her belly was slightly larger than Shao Yunan’s, but apart from the high and bulging belly, the empress wasn’t fat elsewhere.

The empress sat down beside the throne and asked: “Have you found out anything?”

After hesitating for a moment, the Emperor still handed the confidential letter to the empress, saying: “You may look at it, but don’t get angry.”

The empress looked at it, but indeed, she didn’t get angry. In the Great Hall, Wang Shijing, Elder Weng, General Dai, General Dai Zhanxiao, King Lyo Rong, and the Marquis Murong were all present. It could be said that all the confidants of the Emperor were here.

The empress handed the confidential letter back to the Emperor, who then handed it to General Dai. After General Dai finished reading it, he handed it to Elder Weng, and then Wang Shijing and General Dai Zhanxiao also read it.

The contents of the confidential letter were the confessions of the captured Huhar people. In their confessions, they admitted that someone in the capital had leaked information to the Huhar country about the Loyal and Brave Marquis and Madam Wang Shao, detailing the matter of the Immortal Fruit and Immortal Water, as well as the rumored unparalleled beauty of Guo Zimu, the main wife of King Luo Rong, and his close relationship with the Loyal and Brave Marquis Mansion. They did not come this time for real peace talks, but they did not know the specific reason for their visit. They also didn’t know who leaked this information to the Huhar country. Only Khan Keqin and Su Charshan knew. Now that Su Charshan was dead, only Khan Keqin knew the inside story.

General Dai said: “Your Majesty, it is inevitable that we will fight with the Huhar country. As it seems, the barbarians came this time for the Loyal and Brave Marquis and Madam Wang Shao.”

Wang Shijing also understood this implication, frowning. The empress said lightly: “When the enemy comes, we will meet them head-on. Since an inevitable battle is at hand, there is no need to fear. This is ultimately the heartland of our Great State of Yan. Can those few hundred barbarians really shake our Great State of Yan?”

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An hour before the sumptuous banquet began, the city gates were closed. No one was allowed to leave the capital unless authorized by the emperor himself. Shao Yunan, accompanied by Wang Qing and Wang Nizi, entered the palace with Guo Zimu, Su Chenyi, and other members of the Dai family at noon. Cen Jueyuan was injured by Khan Keqin while protecting Guo Zimu, but his injuries were not serious, just a minor head injury. The Emperor allowed Elder Cen to accompany his wife into the palace to attend the banquet. Elder Cen was the adoptive father of Wang Shijing and Shao Yunan, and with Cen Jueyuan’s incident, no one questioned it.

The envoys from Dasi, the Great Mountain Tribe, Xianlu, and Huhar countries entered the palace one after another, with each country’s embassy allowed to bring a maximum of five people into the palace. Khan Keqin selected five skilled individuals to accompany him into the palace. Khan Keqin naturally didn’t want to bring only a few people, but the Emperor consistently refused to meet him alone. With Su Charshan dead and the bodies of his subordinates removed from the city gates, the humiliation inflicted on Khan Keqin was something he couldn’t swallow. Moreover, the fate of those subordinates now imprisoned was uncertain.

Ignoring the Emperor’s request, Khan Keqin forcibly brought twenty people into the palace, fearing for his safety. Khan Keqin’s entourage was stopped at the palace gate, but later Eunuch Jin intervened and allowed them entry. Khan Keqin did not hide his anger. After receiving permission to enter, the contempt on his face made Eunuch Jin almost want to slap him.

The Huhar envoy brought twenty people into the palace, and the Dasi envoy protested against the Emperor’s differential treatment. The impact of this incident was that the Emperor still feared the Huhar people, and his concession indicated his efforts to avoid war with the Huhar country. The Emperor’s “attitude” worried some officials in the court and indirectly boosted Khan Keqin’s prestige. Khan Keqin was already prepared to challenge the Emperor at tonight’s banquet.

The Dasi envoy protested, but ultimately only brought five people into the palace. Members of the embassy and the Great Yan Palace staff took their seats one after another. The embassy members sat on the right side of the throne, while the officials sat on the left. Khan Keqin “consciously” took the first seat. Of the twenty people he brought, only five took their seats, while the other fifteen stood behind him. Next were the envoys from the Great Mountain Tribe, Dasi, and Xianlu. Princess Wu Uzhen still had bruises on her face. No one entering the palace was allowed to carry weapons. Although Khan Keqin was arrogant, he had to abide by this rule, though it was unknown if they had concealed weapons.

The first three seats on the Yan side were empty, followed by Elder Weng, who did not bring his wife. Below Elder Weng were General Dai and his wife, Madam Dai, the Elder Zhengjun, General Dai Zhanxiao, Su Chenyi, and other members of the Dai family, who were already seated. Then came two dukes. The next five seats were empty, and the remaining marquises and their families had also taken their seats.

The atmosphere in the hall was tense. The embassy members didn’t speak to each other, and Khan Keqin appeared visibly gloomy. General Dai closed his eyes to rest, while Madam Dai and Madam Zhengjun whispered to each other too quietly to be heard. Elder Weng looked at the papers in his hand without speaking to anyone, and his focused appearance deterred anyone from disturbing him. General Dai Zhanxiao seemed thirsty and kept drinking tea with his head down. Princess Wu Uzhen occasionally observed the surroundings, especially the twenty subordinates of Khan Keqin.

As the time for the sumptuous banquet approached, a eunuch announced loudly:

“King, Madam, and Crown Prince have arrived——”

“Marquis Loyal and Brave, Madam Wang Shao, Marquis Loyal and Brave’s son and only daughter have arrived——”

Everyone’s eyes immediately lit up. General Dai opened his eyes, Elder Weng raised his head from the papers and folded them into his pocket, and General Dai Zhanxiao stopped drinking tea.

Khan Keqin clenched his fists tightly, and all the Huhar people, including himself, glared disdainfully at the three insects who swaggered behind the husband and wife. Their arrival made Khan Keqin a bit more wary. Guo Zimu wore a mask on his face, and the intimate gestures between him and King Luo Rong did not escape the notice of some astute observers.

Khan Keqin glanced at the intertwined hands of the two, suppressing the chilling intent in his eyes. That man would be his sooner or later! When that time comes… the thought of how he would torture that man, who possessed such unparalleled beauty, sent a surge of heat rushing to his lower body. Khan Keqin even thought about whether to invite the Great Khan to enjoy it with him.

“Khan Keqin, didn’t your mother teach you that staring at someone else’s wife is very impolite?”

Gasps were heard. Everyone, including Princess Wu Uzhen, turned in shock towards the speaker. Khan Keqin’s eyes turned cold as he snapped out of his lewd thoughts.

Shao Yunan, who had been mostly staying at home since becoming pregnant, was now dressed in loose robes, his belly visibly swollen. Many thought he was mad for daring to provoke Khan Keqin. His words struck many as somewhat odd.

Wang Shijing helped his wife to a seat, saying only: “Be careful with your body. Don’t get angry with brutes.”

Shao Yunan sat down, with Wang Qing and Jiang Moxi sitting protectively around him. Jiang Moxi’s status as the head of a private workshop was a secret, known only to those aware of his connections with Loyal and Brave Marquis and the King Luo Rong.

Shao Yunan had warned King Luo Rong and Wang Shijing beforehand, leaving the talking to him. King Luo Rong had Guo Zimu sit on his left side, a seat originally meant for the king himself. Usually mild-mannered, King Luo Rong now wore an angry expression, his protective stance over Guo Zimu drawing sighs from some. Those who had seen Guo Zimu’s face the previous day were now dazed by the sight of his mask.

With a mocking smile, Young Master Murong chimed in: “Madam Wang Shao, you must not know this, but the Huhar people are savages who understand nothing of etiquette and decency.”

A burly Huhar man behind Khan Keqin stepped forward and shouted: “How dare you!”

Khan Keqin raised his hand, and the man stepped back. Khan Keqin looked Shao Yunan up and down, especially lingering on his belly, then said: “Loyal and Brave Marquis’s consort? Your Emperor’s palace banquet actually allows inner courtiers to speak out.” He paused deliberately, then with a knowing expression added: “Oh, I forgot. Your Emperor always listens to his consort.”

The implication was that Emperor Yongming was afraid of his consort, suggesting that the Emperor allowed the inner court to meddle in politics. General Dai slammed his hand on the table, and Khan Keqin sneered. Shao Yunan laughed, not a cold laugh, but a genuine chuckle.

 “The mutual respect between husband and wife is something you illiterates wouldn’t understand. There’s no point explaining, it’s like playing the lute to a cow. Oh, I almost forgot.” Shao Yunan slapped his forehead.

“Among the Huhar people, wives are passed from father to son, grandson, great-grandson, and great-great-grandson. Of course, you don’t understand mutual respect, you only know incest. But you have quite the taste, by the time it reaches the great-great-grandson, the wife would be a toothless old woman, and you still manage to stomach it. Remarkable appetite.”

“Poof!”

 “Hahaha…”

 After the first burst of laughter couldn’t be held back, Young Master Murong was the first to laugh out loud. Following him, the officials of Great State of Yan couldn’t hold back either, and even Guo Zimu, who had been feeling down, couldn’t help but laugh. With Great State of Yan side laughing, Princess Wu Uzhen laughed, the delegation from Xianlu Country laughed, and the members of the Dasi Kingdom delegation bit their lips to suppress their laughter. The only ones who couldn’t laugh were the Huhar delegation.

Khan Keqin sprang up, and the twenty warriors he brought exuded a murderous aura. Jiang Moxi pulled Nizi into his arms and covered her eyes to prevent her from being affected by the laughter. No one noticed that Jiang Moxi looked at the Huhar delegation as if they were already corpses.

“His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress are here—”

This announcement interrupted the tense standoff between the two sides. Khan Keqin snorted heavily in anger.

He would never let those two go! When they attack capital of Great State of Yan the first people he would kill would be those two! While their bastard children would become the lowest slaves of the Huhar nation!

Emperor Yongming supported the Empress as they appeared, walking slowly, with Emperor Yongming carefully considering the Empress’s condition. Khan Keqin suppressed the rising violence in his chest, this was the Great State of Yan Imperial Palace, and he had to be cautious. It wasn’t Emperor Yongming, the new ruler of Great State of Yan, that he feared, but rather General Dai and his family sitting opposite him. But once he returned to the Huhar Kingdom, it would be the end for these people!

Ministers and delegation members bowed. After Emperor Yongming helped the Empress to his seat, he allowed everyone to dispense with formalities. Among those present, only Shao Yunan and the Empress were visibly pregnant. It wasn’t that no one else was pregnant, but in noble families, pregnant members were extremely cautious and wouldn’t attend such occasions unless necessary. The Empress and Shao Yunan’s presence indicated special circumstances.

After sitting down, Emperor Yongming spoke some formal words, without mentioning the previous day’s events. But just because Emperor Yongming didn’t bring it up, it didn’t mean others wouldn’t. As soon as Emperor Yongming finished speaking, Khan Keqin stood up.

 

 

Edited by: Jaisland

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