Chapter 105: Chapter 90: Title and Reward [First Update]
The day after the Li Family banquet concluded.
In the distant Yuzhou, Imperial City.
That luxurious palace, which gathered countless gazes from across the world yet remained insurmountably walled.
An ancient temple—solemn and august—stood for a thousand years, a dark gold carpet adorned with dragon scales stretched from the entrance to the steps before the Dragon Throne.
Civil and military officials residing in Yuzhou lined up on either side.
From First Rank officials such as grand tutors and supreme generals, to Fourth Rank governors and directors of the National Academy, all stood with bowed heads and hands lowered.
The least of these officials could cause tens of cities’ inhabitants to prostrate with a mere stomp of their feet.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
“The Qingzhou Li Family held a family banquet yesterday, proclaiming to all under heaven, another divine being has emerged from the Li Family!”
Someone respectfully reported.
Seated on that profound and solemn Dragon Throne, the imposing figure, although aged, was erect and wore the Black Robe with Nine Dragons; his gaze, fiery and intense, surveyed the ministers.
Upon hearing this, his face seemed to show a hint of a smile.
“Your Majesty, it is said that this Qilin descendant is none other than Li Hao, whom you named and blessed fourteen years ago!”
“He is also the son of the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, who had come here a few days ago to receive his mandate!”
“Your Majesty’s wisdom shines brightly!”
The rest of the ministers couldn’t help but acclaim with joy.
“Your Majesty, you foresaw this child’s peerless talent fourteen years ago, truly as if a star descended from the heavens, indeed a fortune for our great Dayu!”
Someone said excitedly, thrilled.
“Fourteen years ago, Lord Zhen Guo quelled the century-old Demon calamity in Cangzhou, slaying the Great Demon and massacring the Demon King, unfortunately entangled in the Youdu Level Meng River, his heroic spirit failed to find refuge, forever lost to Cangzhou.”
“Perhaps, this Li Hao is the reincarnated star of Lord Zhen Guo, a new blessed general bestowed upon our great Dayu by the heavens!”
Someone passionately stated.
Facing the ministers’ congratulations, the figure on the Dragon Throne’s eyes seemed to dart back to that tragic day many years ago.
That baby, once granted a treasure of dragon blood by himself, had now grown into a youth, achieving so much?
Hints of a faint smile appeared on his face as his gaze seemingly swept outside the palace, toward the distant Qingzhou.
“Your Majesty, this child possesses exceptional talents, yet had never been known before; I believe the Li Family owes an explanation.”
Once the congratulatory addresses ceased, someone suddenly stood up and declared: “Concealing from Your Majesty should be punished!”
The crowd was slightly surprised and shifted their gaze, noticing it was Lord Helian of the Divine General Mansion, realization dawned, and this response was not unexpected.
Among the Five Great Divine General Mansions, those with close relationships, like the Wang Family and the Li Family, even held marital alliances.
Where there’s closeness, there also exists aloofness or even disdain; such was the relationship between the Li Family and the Helian Clan.
Seeing that His Majesty did not speak, another military general stepped forward; he was a First Second Rank General who had campaigned with the Li Family, and respectfully said:
“Lord, in my opinion, Mr. and Mrs. Xingwu, having battled in Northern Yan for many years, leaving their young child alone at home, naturally desired to conceal his cultivation level to avoid assassination or spying, which is completely understandable!”
Helian Boya coldly snorted: “The child may be young, but within the Divine General Mansion, guarded by many generals, who could assassinate him? Could it be that you are questioning the loyalty of the Li Family’s conferred ladies, suggesting they would harm the child?”
Ms. Li of the Li Family, many of whom had been conferred ranks, such as the senior Ms. Li, He Jianlan, who was a Lady of the State.
Though they held no actual power, their status was supremely high, they could enter the palace to see the emperor at any time, and even if they committed offenses, the Ministry of Punishment could not directly punish them.
“In my view, the Li Family has been subduing demons for many years, having slain countless demons, bearing numerous grudges, thus, such precaution is without fault.”
The General continued, still bowing.
Helian Boya scoffed: “Are you suggesting that in Qingzhou, demons still dare to invade, do you look down on the Li Family?”
“Lord, I think the Li Family’s cautious approach is somewhat reasonable. Now that Li Hao has reached the Fifteen Li Realm, possessing the strength to defend himself, if he continues to progress and attains Grandmaster status in a few more years, he will be unrestricted by these concerns.”
Another civil official stepped forward, smiling as he spoke: “Furthermore, since General Xingwu has just returned and proclaimed this fact to all under heaven, there is no heart of deception toward His Majesty, merely a minor matter, Lord, why fuss over it?”
“If it’s a minor matter, it’s even more improper to deceive.” Helian Boya still argued.
The crowd internally shook their heads, finding no sense in the lord’s accusation, but they had grown accustomed to it.
Over the years, whenever the Li Family received titles, except for that event fourteen years ago when the Li Family True Dragon fell, causing universal grief, and the Helian Clan remained silent, at other times, they typically had something to say.
Even this time, when General Xingwu returned victorious from Northern Yan, pacifying the demon chaos and repelling the Holy Palace, having earned formidable merits, Lord Helian also scrutinized his prolonged campaigns and severe logistical strains during a lengthy court debate.
During the decade and a half of campaigning in Northern Yan, many civil and military officials close to the Helian Clan found fault in the rear, and even proposed impractical impeachments against Marshal Xingwu.
However, everyone knew, only the Helian Clan could get away with such comments; had anyone else made similar criticisms, they would have been branded as traitors and executed long ago.
And the Helian Clan, possessing countless merits, may have strained relations with the Li Family, notorious to all, but could not be labeled traitors.
After all, the blood of the Helian Clan spilled beyond the frontier was not scant, enough to dye several cities red.
“This Lord Boya is too hasty; given General Xingwu’s achievements, even if troubles arise now, they won’t be punished, let alone over such a trivial matter…”
Many officials internally commented.