banquet
The emperor dismissed Lu Chaowen, as he had something to say to Mo Liangcheng. While chatting with Mo Liangcheng, black lines faintly appeared in the emperor's hand, attempting to enter Mo Liangcheng's body. However, they encountered an invisible barrier, and the black lines vanished instantly. The emperor's expression immediately darkened. He looked at Mo Liangcheng with an unreadable expression, thinking: Who exactly are you?
Mo Liangcheng knew about the emperor's affairs. When the emperor looked at him, he pretended to be nonchalant, wondering if he could fool him. At first, he thought he had just transmigrated to ancient times, but he hadn't expected it to involve fantasy. The emperor slowly withdrew his doubts and casually said, "I've heard you have a subordinate named Tang Siyuan. Remember, show him to me at the victory banquet later. After all, he's quite a talent." Mo Liangcheng had no choice but to agree. He wondered what was wrong with this world, why it felt so strange.
The emperor waved his hand, dismissing him. Mo Liangcheng bowed to the emperor and then turned to leave the hall. The emperor, shrouded in black mist and blending into the darkness, watched Mo Liangcheng's departing figure. His deep voice echoed in the dim hall, "The soul inside this body looks incredibly delicious. Just thinking about it excites me!"
Lu Chaowen waited for Mo Liangcheng to come out. Seeing Mo Liangcheng slowly walk out of the main hall with a frown, he hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen?" Mo Liangcheng shook his head and pretended to be relaxed, saying, "Nothing, I'm fine!" Lu Chaowen looked at Mo Liangcheng, feeling unhappy. He couldn't express his feelings, and the person in front of him was destined never to understand.
Lu Chaowen silently stayed with him until Mo Liangcheng entered the inn where Shen Muchen was resting. He told Shen Muchen about the emperor's matter, and Shen Muchen nodded in agreement.
It was New Year's Day, and the emperor held a grand banquet to welcome back the general who had returned from afar. Even before the emperor arrived, a crowd had gathered around Mo Liangcheng, with officials exchanging compliments. Lu Chaowen watched silently from the side, while Xu Zixie noticed. He stepped forward and asked, "Aren't you happy that he's back?" "Happy? How could I not be happy? After all, I can still walk alongside him. And you, do you regret it now? To extricate him from the court's intrigues, you've turned him into a villain hated by everyone. As for me, at least I'm doing a little better than you." Xu Zixie sat down. "This court is like a whirlpool. Once you're trapped, you can never escape. If you want to gain a foothold in this court, you must be ruthless and show no mercy. Over time, you'll slowly forget your original intentions when you first entered the court."
Meanwhile, on the other side, someone was secretly watching Mo Liangcheng, muttering to himself, "What a show! I can't wait!" The emperor, following the eunuch's voice, slowly entered. The officials knelt in obeisance. The emperor walked into the main hall, sat on the dragon throne, and slowly said, "Rise, my lords. The protagonist of this banquet is our victorious general, not me. Please make yourselves at home." For a moment, the hall was filled with singing and dancing. Mo Liangcheng went from initial amazement to feeling sleepy. Cao Wenzhong followed Lu Chaowen's gaze and saw Mo Liangcheng. The deep affection in his eyes was undeniable, and a bitter feeling welled up in Cao Wenzhong's heart.
Mo Liangcheng found it incredibly boring, while the emperor watched his every move. Seeing his anxious expression, the emperor asked, "General Mo, are you dissatisfied with what I've arranged?" Startled, Mo Liangcheng quickly explained, "Your Majesty, I am very satisfied with everything you've arranged." "Oh? Is that so?" the emperor said slowly. Mo Liangcheng felt a chill run down his spine. The emperor, however, didn't get angry but chuckled, "My dear minister, there's no need to be nervous. I was just teasing you!" Three black lines instantly appeared on Mo Liangcheng's forehead. At this moment, someone suddenly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this banquet is quite boring for me. It's all the same old stories. I'd like to see if General Mo, being from a military background, can perform a sword dance. I wonder if I could use Your Majesty's name to satisfy my curiosity?"
Lu Chaowen looked towards the source of the voice. It was Ling Jingxia, a recently emerged prodigy from the Ling family. The emperor seemed to value the Ling family highly, but to make a dignified general stand before the palace like an actor, brandishing swords and spears, was clearly a blatant humiliation. Yet the emperor had agreed to it. Lu Chaowen was about to stand up when Cao Wenzhong stopped him. He didn't understand Cao Wenzhong's actions. Cao Wenzhong simply said, "No matter how much the emperor values Mo Liangcheng, he will still be suspicious of him because of his high position and power. The Ling family's idea is the emperor's will; how can we persuade them?" Lu Chaowen clenched his fists, unable to hide his anger. How many soldiers would be disheartened by this action?
Seeing that Mo Liangcheng didn't move, Ling Jingxia whispered, "Hurry up and get ready, don't spoil everyone's fun. Or are you trying to disobey the imperial decree?"
Mo Liangcheng said he dared not, and Ling Jingxia handed him the sword and returned to his seat, watching Mo Liangcheng perform the sword dance with great interest. Lu Chaowen, watching Mo Liangcheng perform the sword dance on the stage, kept drinking heavily. He had always known that Mo Liangcheng had always wanted to become a great general who would protect his country. Later, the Mo family was destroyed overnight, and Mo Liangcheng suddenly grew up on that night. He resolutely stepped into the border and single-handedly supported the huge Mo family. Now he is a great general with great military achievements, but he has been humiliated to this extent because of a word from the Ling family.
Cao Wenzhong, watching with great concern, kept advising, "Drink less; too much is bad for your health." Lu Chaowen ignored the advice and continued drinking heavily until Mo Liangcheng finished. The Emperor praised, "General Mo, your sword dance was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed it, hahaha, reward me!" Everyone else fawned over the praise, but Lu Chaowen remained silent. Mo Liangcheng only wanted to return to his seat. At this moment, Ling Jingxia left her seat and walked to Mo Liangcheng's side. The Emperor was quite surprised and asked, "Minister Ling, is there anything else?"
Ling Jingxia slowly took Mo Liangcheng's hand. Ignoring Mo Liangcheng's shocked expression, he said to the emperor with neither arrogance nor servility, "Your Majesty, I have an important matter to discuss." The emperor immediately became interested: "Oh~ I wonder what this important matter you speak of is? Please tell me! Perhaps I truly have granted your permission!"
Then, Ling Jingxia's words shocked everyone present: "General Mo and I hit it off immediately. I would like to ask Your Majesty to grant us a marriage, but would Your Majesty agree?" Before the Emperor could say anything, Lu Chaowen, unable to contain his temper, stood up and said, "You're talking nonsense! What do you mean by 'hit it off immediately'? You clearly have ulterior motives..." Cao Wenzhong quickly covered Lu Chaowen's mouth and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, Brother Chaowen didn't mean it. He's drunk and spoke without thinking. Please forgive him, Your Majesty." "I can understand. He and General Mo have a deep friendship, and I can understand his worries and concerns. Since he's drunk, let's take him away to rest." Cao Wenzhong led Lu Chaowen away from the banquet. The Emperor watched them leave and then said, "Let's end the banquet here today. Tang Siyuan, and the two of you who came with me, everyone else may leave."
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