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"Have the people from Jiangnan arrived in Capital City yet?"

Rarely seen, the Emperor had attended the court session...

This might be the first time in half a year since he had attended court, and it was only to formally announce the construction of the Divine Temple after the incident at the Dragon Palace in Jiangnan.

Despite calling it a Divine Temple, everyone knew it was actually a Ghost Temple, and many noble families were aware of the kind of entities it enshrined.

The Emperor’s reason was to counter Jiangnan, but how was this any different from luring a tiger to drive away a wolf?

Jiangnan at most threatened royal authority, but this Ghost Temple, once its power grew, could threaten much more than royal authority.

"Your Majesty..." From the Ministry of Personnel, as usual, stood nine white-robed First Rank Magicians, although almost all were new faces. For example, the current head of the Magicians, who used to be Chen Baifeng, was now the newly-appointed Old San of the Chen Family, Chen Baiye.

The people around looked at Chen Baiye, who had taken the initiative, with mild surprise.

Ever since Family Head Chen Baifeng of the Chen Family took many of his clan’s younger members to Nanhai City, there had been no intention to return, and while the Chen Family in Capital City had not openly relocated, many were aware that the Chen Family had long been deserted, leaving only a few elders behind for symbolic reasons.

For example, Chen Baiye, among the five brothers of the Chen Family’s head generation, had the least talent.

He was barely a First Rank at the age of seventy.

Previously, he was an elder in charge of foreign affairs in the Chen Family.

With the family’s relocation, only Old San remained to manage the Chen Family’s affairs.

When the Imperial Court continued to appoint a member of the Chen Family as head of the Ministry of Personnel, Chen Baiye reluctantly accepted the position. ..

Considering qualifications and abilities, how could he possibly have landed such a post?

He was supposed to be keeping a low profile, yet unexpectedly, he dared to take the initiative.

"General Chu Tianhe has already sent a letter, predicting the Jiangnan Delegation will arrive today. According to the letter from General Chu, the delegation from Jiangnan this time only consists of a twenty-person team, and Chen Qing... has come in person!"

As these words were spoken, the entire Imperial Court went quiet for a moment, whether it was the Magicians of the Ministry of Personnel or the Military Generals of the court, they all exchanged meaningful glances. Chen Qing... really dared to come?

Capital City was fraught with strangeness now, and many noble families were stealthily fleeing.

The Emperor of the Siao Family had completely changed from his former demeanor of respecting the virtuous and promoting the capable, clearly allying with some cryptic force and colluding with the Southern Barbarians.

The once human-supremacist, Central Plains-centric ambition had vanished without a trace after the Empress’ death.

In this context, family heads and direct descendants of major clans did not dare enter the city for fear of being kidnapped and coerced, yet Chen Qing was bold enough to come himself?

All for a woman? For the sake of face?

"Good!" The Emperor clapped and laughed heartily, his face, once cool and handsome, was now somewhat ghoulish and sinister. His laugh didn’t seem human, making the clear daylight feel oddly chilling.

"Excellent, excellent. That young man dared to negotiate terms with Us in his presence, and We knew he was a promising child. A promising child wouldn’t stay indifferent to such matters. Indeed, he’s got the look of a real man."

The many officials remained silent, heads bowed, not in the mood to discuss such an affair at court.

"Have Wutu Gu enter!"

"Announce, the Second Prince of Wutu Country: His Highness Wutu Gu!"

Following the eunuch’s nasal announcement, the hall’s guards called out in their robust voices, layer upon layer outward, as everyone quietly watched the entrance.

It was the Emperor’s first court session in half a year, and he had Wutu Gu waiting outside early on.

It seemed the rumors of the Siao Family’s collusion with Wutu Gu were true. ..

About a quarter of an hour later, even deeper voices resounded from outside the hall: "Wutu Gu of Wutu Country, seeks an audience with Your Majesty!"

The voice boomed like a war drum, deep and dull, sending shivers down one’s spine. Not just the civilian officials, but even those Military Generals who had seen many battles frowned, feeling their blood stirring uncomfortably.

This Second Prince of Wutu Country... was not simple at all!

Soon after, everyone saw this being, who had been the subject of much controversy recently.

The nine-foot-tall man was dressed in black martial attire favored by warriors of the Central Plains.

His burly figure was quite obvious, and his features sharp and tough.

Frankly, if not for the somewhat villainous-looking triangular eyes and hooked nose, his appearance was not bad at all, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him handsome.

Dressed in clothes of the Central Plains, one could hardly tell he was a barbarian from the Southern Lands, that is, if one disregarded the eerie chain of bones hanging at his waist...

The Second Prince of Wutu Country was not reputed for being a pleasant character, especially famous was the chain of bones at his waist, which was said to be fashioned from the skulls of worthy opponents he defeated, particularly the hardest occipital bone used to make this willow-leaf-shaped bone chain.

And now, this chain already bore many notable bones.

The famed generals, sovereigns, and princes of the three Southern Barbarian kingdoms include one said to be his father, the former premier warrior of Wutu Country, the sovereign: Wutu Xionglie!

"What a fine warrior!" The Emperor, beholding the man who stood nine feet tall, showed a face full of admiration, "I have long heard that Wutu Country has produced an unparalleled warrior, unrivaled throughout the Southern Barbarians, and indeed he is as exceptional as the rumors suggest, worthy of his reputation. Someone... bring wine!"

Soon, a eunuch presented a pot of fragrant wine on a sandalwood tray.

As soon as the wine was brought out, Wutu Gu and the others’ eyes lit up. After taking the pot, Wutu Gu took a glance and said with a smile, "The color of this wine is as red as blood, and its aroma is rich and strong; it must be the recently popular Blood Ginseng Wine from Jiangnan, right?"

"Ah, indeed it is a fine wine from Jiangnan," the Emperor smiled and said, "Nowadays, there are many popular wines in Jiangnan. It is said that there are hundreds of varieties as exquisite as the Blood Ginseng Wine, and even I am tempted by their flavors."

"Your Majesty is wealthy and commands all under heaven; Jiangnan is Your Majesty’s realm, what fine wine doesn’t reach the Royal Family first?

It seems Jiangnan is yet to grasp the concept of precedence.

.." Wutu Gu said with a wide grin, inhaling the wine’s fragrance and showing a hint of intoxication on his face: "With such a fine wine, there should also be the company of beautiful women.

Please, Your Majesty, let Princess Mingxue come forth and meet us, and if she could dance as well, that would be even better. "

"How presumptuous!!"

Before the Emperor could speak, a deep, angry rebuke interrupted the other party.

"The princess of Great Jin, of what lofty status she holds! To dance for entertainment? Outside of the Central Plains, barbarians truly are crude and uncouth!"

Wutu Gu looked over and saw that the one who spoke was an elder. Despite his age, the old man’s stature was tall and robust, standing upright even in armor. His presence was as solid as a mountain, clearly indicating that he was a formidable figure.

"May I ask who this is?"

"This is the Duke of Ningguo," the Emperor sitting on the throne said in a gentle tone.

"Oh, it turns out to be the famous Lord of the Maritime Kingdom," Wutu Gu smiled broadly: "I’ve heard of you. You personally led the Eastern Sea Army and broke the Eastern Sea Twenty Island Nation Alliance, ordering seventy thousand alliance troops to be drowned alive. The Waterborne King of Hell, Chu Xingba—it’s you, isn’t it? "

"So even a Southern Barbarian child has heard of me?" the old man said with a smile.

"Actually, a good war trophy..." Wutu Gu nodded slightly.

"Oh?" the old man’s smile turned fierce: "Would you like to try and see if you could add my skull to your collection, tied around your waist?"

Wutu Gu smiled: "The elder must be joking.

I am soon to be a son-in-law of the Royal Family, or as you say in the Central Plains, a relative by marriage.

Unless you rebel, I will not have such an opportunity, right?

As for having the princess dance, it is quite normal in our land.

Even the most noble women exist to serve men of higher nobility.

My wife, why should she not dance to entertain? "

"Ha..." Chu Xingba burst into laughter infused with anger, not the type to squabble verbally, he was about to personally give a lesson and shut up this barbarian with a couple of slaps, showing him what can and cannot be said.

Just as they were about to come to blows, the Emperor, who seemed to have been watching the drama unfold, finally spoke up: "Enough..."

As he spoke, he looked at Wutu Gu: "Mingxue is not necessarily your wife."

"Is Your Majesty having second thoughts?" Wutu Gu looked towards the Emperor, his expression growing cold, an action that stirred anger among the many military generals.

"It is not a change of heart, but an unexpected turn of events," the Emperor said with surprising patience: "You have also heard that my Princess Mingxue was originally promised to Chen Qing, the King of Qin.

Over the years, Chen Qing has made no movements.

I thought he had no intention of marrying the princess, so I decided to find another hero for my daughter, and I was very pleased with you, as was the Empress Dowager. "

"What does Your Majesty mean?"

"I did not expect that now Chen Qing would actually come in person. I originally thought he had no intention of marrying the princess, but I did not expect that he would come to the Capital City for this matter. Now there has been a mix-up. Both of you have the decree from me. What’s your view on this? "

"That is indeed interesting..." Wutu Gu said with a laugh: "Are you saying that the King of Qin wants to steal my woman?"

The members of the Imperial Court exchanged looks, bewildered. Although what the Emperor said seemed preposterous, the conclusion the other party reached was indeed... creative.

"Why not invite Princess herself to come and share her thoughts?" Wutu Gu proposed with a smirk.

"Alright!" the Emperor agreed quickly: "Announce, let Mingxue enter the hall!"