บท 22: Cultivators' Restricted Area Above the Xia Palace
บรรณาธิการ: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In the wilderness, the Northern Barbarian army fled in a panic. They had never thought that they would be defeated by Xia. Previously, they were still talking about the gentleness of Xia beauties. Now, they could not wait to escape.
The 3,000 Great Snow Dragon Cavalry gathered behind Lu Bu, and he turned to Xue Wanqing. "General Xue, follow me into the Northern Barbarians and make a name for yourself. When the war is over, you will definitely be conferred the title of a great general."
"I'm willing to follow you to kill the enemy and protect Xia. As for becoming a great general, I dare not think about it," Xue Wanqing said.
Lu Bu's face was solemn. "How can a man live under someone for so long?"
It was as if he was telling Xue Wanqing that if he didn't want to be conferred the title of a great general, he was no different from a salted fish.
The Deputy General said in a deep voice, "General, the enemy suffered heavy losses in the battle at Lieyang Pass, but we only have 13,000 men. If we attack the Northern Barbarians, our chances of winning are not high. The Northern Barbarian army consists of 500,000 soldiers. This trip is too dangerous. General, please think twice."
Lu Bu looked at the Deputy General, but he did not get angry. He knew that he was also worried about the safety of the army. "It's fine. Although there are ten million people, I will go."
The Deputy General looked at Lu Bu's back as he rode away, and he was deeply shocked. "General Lu, you're so overbearing!"
...
The imperial capital.
The Eastern Palace.
Ye Xuan read through the documents sent by the head of the Secretariat and had a new understanding of the various places in Great Xia. A cult had appeared in Anyang County in the West, bewitching the people and seriously threatening the local safety.
The governor of Anyang County submitted a document, hoping that the imperial court could send troops to suppress the cult.
Putting down the document in his hand, Ye Xuan shook his head. Xia was in a period of trouble. It was like a house that was leaking when it rained overnight. The war in the north had not ended yet, and a cult had appeared in the west.
The local problems were serious, and the imperial capital was not peaceful.
Although he had not left the palace these days, he knew that many martial world powerhouses had gathered in Chang'an City. Their intentions were not clear.
The embroidered uniform guards and Dragnet were secretly monitoring them. He was not worried that there would be any problems, but he knew in his heart that something big would happen in the imperial capital soon. It would set off a storm of blood.
Outside the main hall, a series of footsteps could be heard as Gao Ying entered the main hall and bowed. "Your Highness, tomorrow is the Empress Dowager's birthday. His Majesty will also be present."
Ye Xuan saw him hesitating and said in a low voice, "Eunuch Gao, if you have anything to say, just say it."
Gao Ying continued, "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager's birthday is being held in Eternal Peace Palace. The Ministry of Rites is not involved. Instead, Li Zhongxian is the one who has been handling it. Many underworld experts have entered the palace on the grounds of praying for His Majesty and expelling the poison. I'm worried that they have ulterior motives."
Ye Xuan nodded. "Don't worry about it. I'll go to Eternal Peace Palace tomorrow to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday."
The entire Xia Palace was under his control, and the Empress Dowager could do whatever she wanted. Since she could not escape from his grasp, he could take this opportunity to see the experts of the Nine States Alliance hiding behind her.
Since they had taken the initiative to come to his door, he naturally had to entertain them well and let them know the enthusiasm of Great Xia.
As the saying went, "If a friend comes from afar, he must be killed even if he is far away."
....
The next day.
Early in the morning.
In the main hall of the Eastern Palace, Ye Xuan was immersed in cultivation when Jin'er's voice suddenly came from outside the hall. "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager's birthday is about to begin. His Majesty and the officials have all gone over, and Eunuch Gao has told me to help Your Highness change."
Ye Xuan stopped cultivating and let out a long breath. He pushed open the door and walked out. "I don't need to take a bath or change clothes. I'm just attending a birthday celebration, so there's no need to be too grand."
Jin'er looked at Ye Xuan, who was dressed in white. "Your Highness, you're dressed in white and silver, and you look suave and elegant."
Ye Xuan smiled indifferently. "Jin'er's mouth is getting sweeter and sweeter."
Jin'er bowed, her cheeks blushing. Seeing Ye Xuan leave the Eastern Palace, she quickly chased after him and walked behind him.
They arrived at Eternal Peace Palace.
The music and dance moved with the wind and floated above the hall. As Li Zhongxian's voice sounded, Ye Xuan entered the hall with Jin'er. At this moment, the officials had arrived and sat on one side of the hall.
There were quite a few people on the other side. Ye Xuan didn't know any of them, but he knew they came from the martial world.
Empress Dowager He was sitting at the head of the table, with two tables below her. On one side was Emperor Xia, and on the other was an empty seat.
Ye Xuan was just about to walk towards the empty seat. Li Zhongxian's sharp voice was heard again. "The Mohists of Donghai are here to attend the Empress Dowager's birthday."
When Empress Dowager He heard this, she quickly stood up and walked out of the main hall with the help of an inner servant. Ye Xuan was puzzled. Donghai was not in the great Han Empire, so why would they come to attend the Empress Dowager's birthday?
The Empress Dowager's network was quite wide. She had even made friends within the great Han Empire.
"White Emperor City's Xiao Clan has come to attend the Empress Dowager's birthday!"
"The Chu Clan of the Green Emperor City is here to attend the Empress Dowager's birthday!"
"The Kong Clan of the Heavenly Lake has come to attend the Empress Dowager's birthday!"
As the voices fell, the martial artists in the hall smiled, but the officials were terrified. The forces mentioned by Li Zhongxian were all world-famous existences. They had come from thousands of miles away to attend the Empress Dowager's birthday, which made the officials very curious about the Empress Dowager's identity.
Ye Xuan knew that it was not because the Empress Dowager had a wide circle of friends. These forces were able to come because they were all part of the Nine States Alliance.
At this moment, Gao Ying came to Ye Xuan's side and bowed. "Be careful, Your Highness. Why don't you go out and take a look?"
Ye Xuan turned his head and looked at Emperor Xia. He knew that it was Emperor Xia who had asked Gao Ying to come. "Let's go out and take a look!"
Empress Dowager He stood outside the main hall and looked up into the void. Flying swords appeared one after another. The people from the various forces stood proudly on the flying swords and looked down. They didn't care about the royal family of Great Xia at all. Their eyes were full of contempt.
"Gao Ying, tell them that above Xia Palace is a restricted area for cultivators. Tell them to quickly leave and enter through the palace gates."
"I understand."
Just as Gao Ying was about to leave, he was stopped by Li Zhongxian. The latter had obviously benefited from the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager turned to look at Ye Xuan. "Crown Prince, do you know that they are all my distinguished guests?"
"It's precisely because they're the Empress Dowager's distinguished guests that I'm giving them a chance," Ye Xuan said. "Otherwise, if they dared to stand above Xia Palace, they'd be dead bodies by now."
He paused for a moment and continued, "Since they are the Empress Dowager's distinguished guests, then please have them follow the rules of the Xia Palace."
The Empress Dowager's expression was extremely unsightly. "Are you deliberately embarrassing me? Do you know the consequences of offending them?"
"Gao Ying, what are you waiting for?" Ye Xuan asked.
Li Zhongxian once again tried to block Gao Ying, but the latter directly attacked and pushed him back with a palm. His feet fell on the ground, and he rose into the air, appearing in the void. "Everyone, above Xia Palace is the restricted area for cultivators."
"Everyone, quickly retreat and enter through the palace gates!"
Hearing this, the crowd was disdainful and didn't take Gao Ying seriously at all. At this moment, Ye Xuan put his hands behind his back and flew into the air. "You are guests, but you must follow the rules of Xia Palace."
A white-robed man on the flying sword said coldly, "And who are you? How dare you meddle in our business?"
"I'm Ye Xuan," Ye Xuan said casually. "I'm the Crown Prince of Great Xia, Ye Xuan. Everyone, please retreat."
"The Crown Prince?" the white-robed man asked. Anyone can become the Crown Prince now. Why do I see that you will have a bloody disaster?"
"Really?" Ye Xuan asked. I also see a bad omen on you, and it's a big... bad omen."
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