"Haha~, really? Look at how I walk, doesn't it resemble those talented scholars outside?"
Hearing Jian Shuo's flattery, Liu Hong couldn't help but laugh smugly, and as he walked, he imitated the mannerisms of Tang Bohu in Stephen Chow's movies.
Jian Shuo bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler. Those talented scholars outside can't match your demeanor!"
"Haha~, good, you know how to talk..."
Liu Hong laughed loudly, patted Jian Shuo on the shoulder, and then continued walking outside.
Seeing the emperor so close to him, Jian Shuo was clearly no longer angry. He couldn't help but show a happy expression and finally felt relieved. Unconsciously, he began to imitate Liu Hong's walking gait. Shi A, who was watching from the side, had to purse his lips to keep from laughing out loud.
Liu Hong had met quite a few scholars and students, but those who stood before him all behaved with humility and politeness.
Therefore, he didn't really understand the true nature of those playboy sons and romantic talents.
This time, Liu Hong's real intention in leaving the palace incognito was to relax. Since he was pretending to be a talented scholar, he should naturally look like the talented scholar he remembered.
Meanwhile, Xi Zhicai, having returned to his residence, changed into a white robe and hurriedly went to the outside of the Nangong Palace.
After waiting for a short while, the emperor, also dressed in white, walked in from the palace gate with an air of indifference.
Outside the palace, Xi Zhicai rubbed his eyes hard, looking at Liu Hong, who was swaying over, with some disbelief.
Xi Zhicai had lived in Luoyang for so long and had seen quite a few scions of wealthy and powerful families, but this was the first time he had ever seen such an arrogant and bizarre gait.
Once he came to his senses, Xi Zhicai quickly went to greet him.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"
Liu Hong chuckled as he helped Xi Zhicai up, not forgetting to remind him:
"Zhicai, you may dispense with the formalities. I am traveling incognito today, so you should address me as 'Young Master,' understand?"
"Yes, young master!"
Xi Zhicai smiled and nodded, then looked at Liu Hong and asked:
"Where does the young master plan to go today?"
Liu Hong thought for a moment, then looked in the direction of the Martyrs' Shrine.
"Hmm~, let's go check out the Martyrs' Shrine first!!"
"Please, young master!"
"Okay, let's go!"
As he spoke, Liu Hong abandoned his ruthless gait and walked forward.
Seeing this, Xi Zhicai shook his head helplessly and quickly followed behind Liu Hong. The group headed towards the Martyrs' Shrine.
Following last year's winter festival, and with the emperor and court officials personally participating in the worship, the Martyrs' Shrine has now become one of the most bustling places in Luoyang.
Countless students who come to Luoyang will come here first to commemorate those virtuous and famous officials of the past and to admire their deeds and achievements. It can be said that the Martyrs' Shrine has now become a sacred place in the hearts of young students.
"Zhicai, look at all these people heading to the Martyrs' Shrine...!"
Along the way, watching wave after wave of students walking toward the Martyrs' Shrine as if on a pilgrimage, Liu Hong couldn't help but admire them.
"Yes, young master, the Shrine of Loyalty and Martyrs enshrines virtuous and famous officials from ancient times to the present, and their deeds naturally inspire countless students to admire them!"
As Xi Zhicai echoed, he looked at the Martyrs' Shrine not far away, his face showing a look of reverence.
"Haha~, Zhicai, don't worry. With your abilities, as long as you wholeheartedly help me, you'll be enshrined in the Martyrs' Shrine and admired by future generations! It's nothing!"
Seeing Xi Zhicai like this, Liu Hong couldn't help but burst out laughing, and patted Xi Zhicai on the shoulder.
"Then I thank you in advance for your kind words, young master!"
Upon hearing Liu Hong's words, Xi Zhicai couldn't help but reveal a confident smile. He believed that as long as he followed the emperor, he would surely have a place in the Temple of Loyal Martyrs in the future.
"Hmph, how arrogant of you...! The Martyrs' Shrine is a sacred place for scholars from all over the world, how dare you spout nonsense here?"
Just as Liu Hong and Xi Zhicai were chatting and laughing, a cold voice came from the side.
Liu Hong and Xi Zhicai couldn't help but turn their heads to look, only to see a simply dressed young student glaring at them, clearly annoyed by what Liu Hong and Xi Zhicai had just said.
Just as Liu Hong was about to speak, Jian Shuo stepped forward, pointed at the student, and angrily rebuked him:
"How dare you!! Who are you? How dare you be so disrespectful to His Majesty... and to my young master!"
"Hmph, what right do you have to tell me who I am? Your master hasn't even spoken yet, and you, a mere steward, dare to bark like this?"
The student snorted coldly, looking at Jian Shuo dressed as a butler with disdain in his eyes.
The student then bowed respectfully towards the palace, before turning to Liu Hong and Xi Zhicai, and angrily rebuked them:
"The Shrine of Loyal Martyrs was established by His Majesty and the officials of the court so that students across the land could remember and emulate the sages of the past, learn from their deeds, and serve the country with utmost loyalty."
Which of the figures enshrined inside is not a great sage of ancient times who made immense contributions to the country? How can just anyone enter?
"What kind of nonsense and incompetence do you two have, spouting such arrogant and nonsensical remarks, and blaspheming the sages? What kind of logic is this?"
In the student's eyes, Liu Hong and Xi Zhicai's gorgeous clothes and the guards beside them clearly indicated that they were scions of noble families or rich playboys.
These two were just laughing and discussing their future entry into the Martyrs' Shrine, clearly not taking it seriously. This greatly angered him, who regarded the Martyrs' Shrine as a sacred place, so he didn't hold back at all in his words.
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