Chapter 102 Secrets of Entering the Capital
"The capital city is just ahead!" Li Tiankuo finally returned to a familiar place after a long time, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
Despite the dangers along the way, and the fact that there was no one in the palace he truly cared about, now that he was finally standing on his homeland, Li Tiankuo, who was usually reserved, broke into a smile. He wanted to introduce them to every flower and plant in the capital, the terrain and buildings, where the busiest markets were, where the best wine was, and where the most white-skinned, green-eyed foreigners were...
As they drew closer to the city gate, Li Tiankuo hesitated, his face filled with apprehension, and a sudden feeling of trepidation welled up within him as he approached home.
Bai Yuheng and the others noticed his hesitation, exchanged glances, and laughed, "I haven't visited the capital city yet. I wonder if Xiao Kuo would be willing to lead the way so we can also admire the prosperity of the Great Zhou imperial city?"
Upon hearing this, Li Tiankuo smiled and said to them, "Of course!"
Let's go!
We've arrived in the capital!
"Hey, have you guys heard?"
Several roadside teahouses were scattered around, and at one table, three people were having a chattering session, deliberately lowering their voices to talk to their companions.
"What? What?" His companion, also a gossip, was intrigued by this classic opening line.
Although they tried to keep their voices down, the three men's voices were really loud, and the bored people at the next table all perked up their ears to listen.
The oilcloth used in the teahouse was thick enough, and since winter had already arrived, it was unusually quiet except for the bubbling tea, the hot steam that stung the eyes, and the sighs of tea drinkers.
"Brother Chen, stop looking for trouble! Tell me quickly!" Another burly man scratched his head.
The person who started the conversation chuckled. Seeing that they were all so interested, he knew his words had worked, so he stopped trying to keep them in suspense.
"When I was in Bingzhou, I heard a rumor that the current emperor is not the late emperor's biological son! But rather the child of the current empress dowager and her lover before she entered the palace!"
"Smack!"
The sound of shattering earthenware drew everyone's attention in the teahouse. Before anyone could react, a golden-armored guard appeared out of nowhere and tied up the person who had spoken. The man didn't even have a chance to cry out his innocence before being dragged away. The others in the teahouse were left looking at each other in disbelief, while his companion trembled and looked ashen-faced.
A high-ranking general walked into the teahouse, his hawk-like eyes sweeping over the crowd. He said coldly, "How dare you lowly commoners spread rumors about royal affairs? I'd like to see who dares to gossip!"
With a wave of his hand, the man surnamed Chen, who was being held down outside the teahouse, was instantly decapitated, his blood gushing out and splattering all over the ground.
The people in the teahouse were so frightened that their faces turned pale, and they almost fainted. They wanted to cry, but under the general's eagle eyes, they trembled and bit their lips, not daring to even breathe.
"This is what happens."
The escort team arrived silently and left with lightning speed, leaving the teahouse in a long silence, unable to recover from the shock.
In the blink of an eye, the person who was just talking so eloquently had become a corpse. No one dared to ask any questions or stay there any longer. They all put down their money and ran away. After a few stumbles, the lively teahouse was deserted.
Only the table where the teacup had just been smashed remained.
Having witnessed this bloody scene, Cui Mingcan felt nauseous, the warm smell of blood still lingering in his nose. He had to drink two large gulps of tea to suppress it.
“Xiao Kuo…” Cui Mingcan frowned. Everyone looked at Li Tiankuo, whose face was pale and dark. Everything happened too fast. They didn’t even have time to react before those words fell into their ears.
Li Tiankuo took the handkerchief Cen Ying handed him, wiped the blood off his hands, his expression deep and serious, and said in a cold voice, "It's nothing, let's continue on our way."
The four of them had no objections; they were just taking a break, and who knew they would encounter such a thing.
However, as they approached the city gate, the number of golden-armored guards suddenly increased, with a new team rotating every few breaths. This was even more pronounced at the city gate, where guards checked names and household registrations one by one. Anyone found suspicious was immediately taken away. Panic gripped the city as everyone pondered the rumors they had heard.
As he got closer to the city gate, the overwhelming excitement he felt that morning dissipated. At this moment, Li Tiankuo wished he could sprout wings and fly back to the palace to find out what was going on.
Upon reaching the city gate, rows of people waited in turn for the guards to check their identity documents. Cen Ying suddenly gagged.
Bai Yuheng turned back with concern and asked, "What's wrong with Xiaoying?"
“It’s nothing…” Cen Ying waved her hand, half-covering her mouth and nose, and whispered, “I smelled a very strong smell of blood…” She paused, as if judging the time, “It’s been about two or three days. The blood has seeped into the soil and mixed with the smell of mud, which is quite unpleasant.”
Because Cen Ying had been studying medicine since childhood, her nose was more sensitive than the average person's. As soon as she got close, a pungent stench hit her head, making her feel dizzy.
"Why is there such a strong smell of blood?"
Bai Yuheng sniffed carefully and could vaguely smell it too. She wondered, "Has there been a fight here recently?"
"Could it be the execution of criminals?" Cui Mingcan wondered, covering his mouth and nose as if the strong smell of blood still lingered in his mind.
Li Tiankuo shook his head: "No, criminals are usually beheaded at auspicious locations designated by the Imperial Observatory, not at the city gate..."
"That's strange..."
After the five people had their name cards checked one by one, they were also searched. When the guards saw their name cards, several of them subtly sized them up. Perhaps it was because few cultivators would come to the mortal world, or perhaps it was because they had outstanding appearances and otherworldly temperaments, which made them quite different from the dusty and weary people around them.
Li Tiankuo brought up the rear. The guard was stunned for a moment after seeing Li Tiankuo's nameplate, looking back and forth between the man and the nameplate. It wasn't until the people behind urged him that he reacted. He was about to shout "Your Highness, the Prince of Xian" when Li Tiankuo stopped him with a look. Then, he respectfully handed the nameplate to Li Tiankuo, called someone next to him to do it for him, and then struggled to catch up with Li Tiankuo, kneeling down to pay his respects: "Greetings, Your Highness!"
"Are you Wei Li'an?" Li Tiankuo thought for a moment and called out the man's name.
Wei Li'an exclaimed excitedly, "Indeed! I never expected Your Highness to still remember my name!"
Li Tiankuo frowned: "Weren't you in the Imperial Guard? Why are you working as a city gate guard here?"
Wei Li'an gave a wry smile, but considering that they were outside, he said solemnly, "This is a long story. I will come to see you after I finish my duty."
Li Tiankuo knew he was in office and didn't care about such things. He waved his hand and said, "Go ahead. I'll be in the capital these days. Come to the Prince Xian's residence to find me when you have time."
"Yes!" Wei Li'an was overjoyed, both because His Highness the Prince still remembered him and because he was so considerate and thoughtful. He returned to his post with great excitement.
The five of them went to the Prince Xian's residence together. It was their first time entering a prince's mansion, and everything was new and exciting to them.
After they were settled in, the steward of the Prince Xian's residence prepared a sumptuous meal for them.
Where is your prince?
The four waited for a while but Li Tiankuo didn't come over, so they asked.
The steward, a kind-looking old man, smiled and said, "His Highness was invited away by the palace staff as soon as he returned. His Highness said that the time of his return home was uncertain and that you need not wait for him."
"Distinguished guests, please enjoy this. This is His Highness's treasured Autumn Osmanthus Wine."
The steward politely poured wine for them, secretly pleased that his lord had made friends and was no longer all alone.
As I thought about it, I thought of the deceased Empress, and I felt a mix of relief, heartache, and love.
As she thought about it, she became even more enthusiastic towards them, so enthusiastic that it seemed she wanted to give them all the good things in the entire palace.
The four were both amused and exasperated by his enthusiasm, and repeatedly declined, telling him to rest and that they could eat by themselves without needing to be served.
The steward thought to himself: Those who can catch His Highness's eye are truly extraordinary; they are all good children, such good children...
*
A royal banquet.
Singing and dancing filled the air, laughter and conversation flowed freely.
Although it was supposed to be a welcome banquet for the Prince Xian's return home, recent events have cast a heavy shadow of silence and gloom over the joy.
No one dared to speak openly about the royal family, and those golden-armored guards who appeared and disappeared without a trace were not to be trifled with.
But no one knew what they were thinking, though they didn't say it. The royals felt that there were many "suspicious" eyes watching them lately, as if they were being laughed at. Although they were furious and wished they could skin the gossips behind their backs and execute them, they were powerless to rage and could not catch the mastermind behind it all.
The meal was rather dull.
Prince An said, "I've heard that the Tianyan Sect is a renowned sect in the cultivation world, and the techniques they practice are truly breathtaking. I wonder if my royal brother would do me the honor of adding some fun to this welcoming banquet?"
The wise king was already used to his sarcastic and difficult behavior, and he remained calm and composed.
"What? Does the Emperor think that we, his brothers, sisters, uncles, and even Father, are not worthy to see this?"
"..."
Li Tiankuo frowned slightly, finding Prince An's lack of common sense hopeless. He looked at the silent emperor, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "According to the sect's rules, all techniques must not be displayed in front of outsiders, lest we frighten others."
"Are you saying we're all outsiders?!" Prince An already deeply resented him, and now that he wasn't responding to him, he became even more annoyed and interrupted before the other could finish speaking.
Li Tiankuo gave him a cold look and continued, "Father is the ruler of the world. The magic I have learned is just a child's play in front of Father, the true dragon emperor. All the land under heaven belongs to the emperor. I am the son of the true dragon. I can still present my little magic to Father."
Having said that, he raised his wrist, and a golden dragon soared out from his wrist, flying towards the emperor and bowing its noble head a few meters away from the emperor.
"The Golden Dragon submits to Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty is truly the Son of Heaven! Even the Golden Dragon is willing to submit to Your Majesty!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
A chorus of congratulations and submissions erupted in the hall. The old emperor, his recent gloom lifted, finally burst into laughter and exclaimed "Good!" three times in a row.
"This Great Zhou belongs to our Li family! I am the rightful ruler of the Great Zhou!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"Your humble servants pay homage to the Emperor of the Great Zhou! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
One call and a hundred responses; everyone knelt down in agreement.
The old emperor laughed heartily, his fondness for Li Tiankuo growing even stronger. He was very satisfied and, with a wave of his hand, bestowed upon him many gifts.
The golden dragon circled behind the emperor and gradually dissipated. The expressions of the crowd below changed in various ways, some envious, some jealous, some curious...
This greatly satisfied the old emperor, and seeing the throne he was sitting on securely, his worries were greatly relieved.
A smile played on Li Tiankuo's lips as his fingers flew across the page. A ferocious giant tiger charged toward Prince An, transforming into a dazzling firework just before reaching him. It soared into the sky, bursting into color in the darkness, its brilliance immediately drawing everyone's attention away.
Prince An was so frightened that he wet himself, completely flustered and embarrassed. He could only glare angrily at Li Tiankuo before fleeing in disarray. After Prince An left, Li Tiankuo smiled, a somewhat smug and childish smile.
"His Highness the Prince has truly grown up and is exceptionally capable. I am quite envious."
Li Tiankuo glanced sideways at the person speaking; it was Princess Jing'an.
Princess Jing'an smiled gently at him, her innocent eyes blinking playfully. She uttered the word they used to use when they were close friends, and said, "I wonder if Brother Yangzhi could teach me?"
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