Chapter 6: The Emperor's Grand Banquet (Part 1)

  The Forbidden City was exceptionally prosperous, far beyond what Tang An could imagine. The palaces and pavilions were brightly lit, shining like daylight. Guards stood every five steps, their right hands on the hilts of their swords, standing tall and proud on either side of the road.

  Tang An was not interested in these at all, he just followed Ming Xiao into the palace. He knew that this time coming to see the Emperor was not a sudden whim of the Emperor's. Probably the Emperor wanted to make good use of himself to suppress the prestige of the Shu Mountain door threshold families. The decisive battle on June 6th, he didn't know who spread it before, but now thinking about it, the possibility of the imperial court is the greatest.

  Tang An followed Ming Xiao along the winding path, and Ming Xiao was very familiar with this place. After seven twists and eight turns, the two arrived at a side hall. There were already many people waiting in this side hall, who made a secret gesture when they saw Ming Xiao. Ming Xiao understood and they retreated with their heads bowed. Seeing their respectful appearance, afraid to make any noise, Tang An already knew that there must be some extraordinary big shot inside.

  Ming Xiao and Tang An stood outside the door, when a eunuch-like person ran to report, in less than a moment, that yellow-robed little eunuch hastily came out, apologetically smiling at Ming Xiao: "Master Ming, Knight Tang, His Majesty has invited you two to enter." Unintentionally, a silver note slipped into the eunuch's hand without leaving any trace. The eunuch immediately revealed a smile and slowly retreated to one side with his head lowered.

  The Great Yan Emperor Zhao Yuanhao was about to turn sixty, but looked no more than forty years old. He wore a purple mountain-water long shirt, not the bright yellow imperial attire. His appearance and demeanor were youthful and elegant, if Tang An hadn't already known his identity, at first glance, he would have thought this warm middle-aged uncle was just a Hanlin scholar attending the banquet.

  As soon as Tang An entered, he felt a substantial beam of light falling on his body. The light was sharp and left him almost nowhere to hide. Suddenly, the Qinglong strength in his meridians surged up like encountering an old friend.

  "Huh?"

  The Emperor Zhao Yuanhao let out a surprised cry, having only heard of Tang An's great name a few days ago. It was said that there was a young man who had killed over a hundred disciples of Mount Shu. At the time, he just smiled and thought that this young man was very hot-blooded, taking up his sword to right the wrongs of the world. But in less than half a month, this young warrior who could take on a hundred men alone had already grown into a top master of the world.

  Tianjing, a Tianjing strongman who is not yet sixteen years old! Whoever hears it will raise their thumbs in admiration and exclaim, indeed a hero in his youth!

  When he saw Tang An coming in, the emperor began to size up Tang An's appearance.

  Tang An's physique was tall and majestic, his face although young and inexperienced, but it was cold and stern, at a glance he looked like a strong and unyielding person. This kind of person is worthy of great responsibility!

  Zhao Yuanhao admired him in his heart, and he liked Tang An's introverted temperament even more. In Zhao Yuanhao's view, a young man who is proud of himself should have a temperament that shines like the tip of his sword, illuminating the nine states. But what was rare was that Tang An actually restrained all his aura, making him look just like an ordinary person. The ancient well had no ripples, and his mentality was stable. This mentality made Zhao Yuanhao appreciate Tang An even more.

  Just now, Zhao Yuanhao suddenly discovered that the true yuan flowing in Tang An's body had a subtle connection with his own Nine Dragons Qianyuan Gong. Tang An's was the Green Dragon Power, while Zhao Yuanhao cultivated the Central Unmoving Golden True Dragon Power. Of course, there is a relationship!

  Nine dragons emerge, Heaven and Earth are established!

  Tang An is indeed extraordinary! It seems that the rumors about him understanding the meaning of Qinglong are true!

  "I have seen Your Majesty." Tang An suppressed the surge of true yuan in his heart and said with a slight bow.

  This kind of person will never kneel down no matter where he goes! Even if it's heaven and earth, they are not something he would kneel to!

  He wants to defy heaven, how can he kneel to heaven? Since even heaven and earth are not knelt to, what is the Son of Heaven, what is the Emperor?

  "How dare you!" Seeing Tang An's behavior, the eunuch beside him suddenly changed his face and a sharp voice rang out, "When seeing the imperial carriage, how dare you not kneel?"

  "Kneel down!" The eight eunuchs shouted in unison! These eight eunuchs were also masters, and they too practiced a secret technique. The eight of them shouting together was enough to shake one's heart and soul. If Tang An hadn't entered the Heavenly Realm and transformed his spirit, he would have been unable to withstand their shout and would have knelt down!

  Tang An didn't say a word, gave a sidelong glance, and his icy gaze swept past!

  At that moment, the eight eunuchs felt as if a sharp sword had stabbed into their hearts, and their entire bodies were stimulated by this chill, causing them to shiver involuntarily. In their minds, they all exclaimed in surprise: "What an overbearing sword intent!"

  Zhao Yuankui saw the eight eunuchs' faces change greatly, their foreheads covered in cold sweat, and knew that this was Tang An's divine will suppressing them. He lightly shouted: "Withdraw!" The eight eunuchs immediately felt a sense of relief, looked at Tang An with lingering fear, bowed their heads and left, not daring to say a word.

  "The name of the Heavenly Sword, I have also heard of it. What I see today is even more extraordinary than what I've heard! My heart is filled with joy, and I wish to reward you with high office and rich emoluments. How does the young master of the Tang clan feel about this?"

  Tang An cupped his hands and thanked him, but declined: "I have no merit, so I will not accept the reward! Your Majesty just has an order, as long as it does not contradict what is in my heart, I am willing to share worries with you!"

  "Good!" Zhao Yuanhao laughed loudly: "Tonight's banquet, there will be a good show, and it may require Tang An to take the stage for me to make our Great Yan proud. The barbarians say that our Great Yan has no one, saying that if we remove Nian Wushuang and Yuan Wanli, our Great Yan has no one who can fight. Tang An, are you willing to share my worries and boost our national prestige? If you win tonight's duel, I will also formally appoint you as the Deputy Commander of the Tiger and Leopard Guard, with a first-class official rank, and let you return home in glory. What do you think?"

  "As for the Tang family jewelry store and the Tang family mansion, I have already instructed to take care of everything. I am waiting for you on June 6th, one battle will shock the world! I believe that the loser will absolutely not be you!"

  Tang An's heart skipped a beat, and indeed it was so! The Emperor first wanted to dampen the morale of Shu Shan, use Wang Rui as a sacrifice to raise the flag, and then carry out the killing. Tang An bowed his head and said: "Please wait for a moment, Your Majesty, I'll go get my sword!" It turned out that when he entered the door, his sword had been left with the guards for safekeeping, but it was not allowed to be brought into the imperial palace.

  Zhao Yuanhao burst out laughing and said in a loud voice, "How can the emperor's tiger guards be without swords? Bring me my sword!"

  The sword was in the emperor's hand, with a faint chill, and a thread of cold air emanated from the ten-thousand-year-old cold iron. Zhao Yuanhao admired it for a while, saying: "Good sword! The treasure of Rongdi Youxian King is indeed not bad. A precious sword should be paired with a brave warrior! Tang An, accept the sword!"

  "Clang......"

  The sword in Tang An's hand was different from the one in the emperor's hand, and suddenly a burst of cheerful chirping sounded, as if it would jump up at any moment.

  The sword has been spiritualized, and the spirit and energy have merged. In a flash of thought, the sword energy is unleashed in all directions!

  Ming Xiao shrugged helplessly and said with a half-joking tone, "Uncle Zhao, you're being unfair. I've been coming to your place for over a decade, but you've never given me an official position. And this time, when the envoy from Rongdi came, it was a great opportunity to show my face in front of everyone, but you didn't even leave a spot for me? Tang brother may be capable, but I, Ming Xiao, am not bad either. You're being unfair by doing this."

  Zhao Yuanhao pointed at Ming Xiao and laughed: "You little brat, why don't I adopt you as my son and grant you the title of Duke?"

  Ming Xiao smiled and listened to the king, but immediately waved his hand: "This official is too big. If my old father knew, I would be abolished. You can't tease me like this. Forget it, forget it, I'm not jealous anymore. I've already grown very handsome and rich enough, if you give me another high-ranking official position, I'm afraid all the unmarried girls in the world will remember Ming Xiao's name. The hardest thing to bear is the favor of beautiful women, my body is too small, can't bear it..."

  After Ming Xiao finished speaking, the Emperor was stunned for a moment, but then burst out laughing loudly, his laughter echoing far and wide. Tang An also followed with a faint smile. Ming Xiao was indeed a person full of joy. Under the sky, it's probably impossible to find a more perfect friend than Ming Xiao.

  Just then someone came to report that the time had arrived and asked His Majesty to go out and comfort his ministers. The banquet began...

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