Chapter 74: State Banquet, Undercurrents

After passing through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, they arrived at the yard in front of the throne room.

It was different from the usual solemn atmosphere. Today, the drums in the yard were playing. There were about 300 tea-tables placed on both sides of the main road. Right behind the tables were cushions for the guests to sit on.

steps behind the tea table were 300 palace guards. All of them had their hands on their swords and their backs were straight.

In front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, there was a long table facing the gate. The empress was sitting behind the table, wearing a black robe embroidered with golden dragons and a nine-dragon crown on her head. She looked around with supreme dignity.

On the right side of the long table, there was a mahogany table. Its position and height were all equal to the long table. This meant that the status of the person at this table was not inferior to the current emperor!

When it was almost noon, a young eunuch rushed in from outside the Gate of Supreme Harmony. After whispering a few words into Li Tianyi’s ear, he bowed and left.

Li Tianyi raised his head to look at the sky again. Then, he bowed to the empress and said, “Your Majesty, there’s still 15 minutes before noon. There are 261 martial artists waiting outside the gate.”

The empress nodded and said calmly, “Open the gate.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Li Tianyi bowed. Then, he stood up and faced the Gate of Supreme Harmony. He raised his voice and shouted, “His Majesty has decreed that the martial artists of the martial world are allowed to enter!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the yard was filled with music. Two young eunuchs walked in front with a signboard and led the way. 261 martial artists cupped their fists and bowed. They knelt in front of the long table and said, “Greetings, Your Majesty!”

“Everyone, rise!”

Everyone stood up. However, they still lowered their heads and did not dare to look around.

If they lifted their heads without being asked to do so by the Emperor, it would be considered a crime punishable by death.

Although most of these people were sect masters, at this moment, they had to abide by the rules of the palace.

After everyone stood up, Li Tianyi took out a roll of yellow silk from his sleeve and unfolded it.

“Sect Master Sun of the Dark Cloud Sect! Please take a seat in the first row.”

“Master Liu of the Eight Directional Mountain! Please take a seat in the second row.”

“Elder Li of the Time Immemorial Cave! Please take a seat in the third row.”

…

Every time Li Tianyi called a name, the corresponding people would walk out of the line and walk to their seats after cupping their hands in gratitude. However, no one sat down. They only stood beside their seats with their hands by their sides.

This was also a rule in the palace. Only when the emperor gave the order would they be allowed to sit down. However, when Li Tianyi was about to announce the seventh guest, an accident happened.

“Elder Song of the Thousand Peak! Please take a seat in the seventh row.”

As soon as Li Tianyi called out his name, a white-haired old man was about to thank the empress when a rough voice suddenly shouted from a few feet away, “Your Majesty! I have something to say!”

At this moment, the empress was resting with her eyes closed. When she heard the voice, she opened her eyes and looked over. She realized that the person who spoke was a burly man.

This person looked to be in his forties. He had a tall nose and a wide mouth. His abnormally tall figure was very eye-catching in the crowd. He knew that he was entering the palace to meet the emperor, but he was only wearing a tattered shirt. The muscles on his arms and chest were bulging, shining under the sun.

Although this person cupped his hands and lowered his head, anyone could tell that he was not sincere in doing that.

The empress thought to herself, “What should come has come.” Then, she asked, “What do you have to say?”

The burly man cupped his fists again and replied in a low voice, “I wonder how the sears are arranged.”

Li Tianyi frowned. “How dare you! You have to use honorifics when replying to His Majesty. Did no one teach you?”

The burly man was not intimidated when he heard that. He raised his head and glared at Li Tianyi. “I’m a boor! I can’t learn your rules!”

Li Tianyi was so angry that his face turned red. He widened his eyes and was about to call for the guards when the empress raised her hand to stop him.

“Eunuch Li, this martial artist must be used to being carefree. It’s understandable that he’s unfamiliar with palace etiquette. It’s fine.”

The empress smiled, then looked at the burly man and replied, “The seats are arranged according to the ranking on the Sacred Martial Roll. Is there a problem?”

The Sacred Martial Roll was the ranking of the sects in the Heavenly Saint Dynasty. Every July, an arena would be set up in the capital. The various sects would go on stage to spar and determine their status in the martial world.

Although some sects deliberately lost or forfeited in order to hide their strength, overall, the rankings on the Sacred Martial Roll were still relatively reliable.

The burly man laughed when he heard that. “Your Majesty! I have something to say about this! My name is Tie Niu! I’m the chief disciple of the Northern Mystic Gate! Last year, in the arena, my sect tied with the Thousand Peak sect. Why are they given a seat in the seventh row while I have to sit behind them?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere became strange. It was as if there was an undercurrent under the calm lake.

The martial artists knew for a fact that today’s state banquet was not held to thank them for offering a hand in the rebellion. Now that the Ten Miles Sword God had come out of seclusion, this state banquet was most likely an occasion to test their loyalty.

However, the Sword God’s coming out of seclusion had always been a rumor. None of them had seen him with their own eyes. Now was a good opportunity to find it out.

How could the empress not know what these people were thinking? She sneered in her heart and looked at the white-haired old man who was about to bow. “Elder Song, is what he said true?”

historical

The Thousand Peak Sect had always supported the royal family. When Elder Song heard this, he immediately said, “Your Majesty! Everything Tie Niu said is true!”

The empress nodded. “Then are you willing to change seats with him?”

Elder Song cupped his hands. “As you command, Your Majesty!”

“Pfft! What a bootlicker!”

Someone in the crowd sneered. The empress pretended not to hear it. She raised her hand and instructed, “Since Elder Song has no objections, TIe Niu, take the seat in the seventh row.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Tie Niu agreed and walked to his seat. He sat down and began to scratch his feet. The sect masters and elders frowned when they saw this, but since His Majesty did not say anything, they naturally did not dare to say anything.

When Elder Song walked up to his seat, Li Tianyi continued announcing the remaining seats.

After about ten minutes, the 216 seats were allocated. During this period, there were a few people who stood up to cause trouble. Although they were not as rude as Tie Niu, they were clearly trying to test the empress.

The strange thing was that the empress was not angry at all. Instead, she calmed them down one by one.

Some people could not help but suspect if the rumor about the Sword God was real, but little did they know that the empress had remembered everyone who dared to challenge her just now.

At the same time, outside the Gate of Supreme Harmony, Lin Ran and Huo Qiyun had already arrived. They had heard and seen everything that happened in the yard.

“Huo.”

Lin Ran called out and his cold gaze landed on Huo Qiyun’s sword. “Are you ready?”