As Wang Chong was leaving the practice ground, deep within the palace, Fifth Prince Li Heng was pacing back and forth with his head lowered, his heart brimming with apprehension.
In front of him was a threshold not even a foot high. But this threshold was like an invisible wall, firm and boundless, exuding a suffocating pressure as it stood in front of Li Heng.
All was quiet, but Li Heng's forehead was covered in cold sweat and his heart was filled with indescribable anxiety.
More than two hours had passed since the audience, but even now, Li Heng still had not received the summons.
Li Heng was well aware that his fate would be decided by this tiny threshold.
"Buzz!"
Suddenly, the gate opened and a sharp voice came from deep within the hall.
"Summon Fifth Prince Li Heng for an audience! "Buzz!
It was like a heavy hammer had struck his heart, causing Li Heng's entire body to tremble as he came to his senses. The summons he had waited so long for had finally arrived.
Li Heng took in a deep breath, calmed himself, and tidied up his clothes. Only then did he raise his foot and nervously step over the threshold.
Thump!
The sound of his foot landing on the ground made Li Heng feel like he was stepping on a mountain.
The hall was deep and serene, seemingly without end. Beneath his foot was a cold and icy sensation. Other than the solemn and cold Guards of Imperial Insignia, each fifty zhang tall, there was no one else in the passage.
The passage was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
After what seemed like only a moment, but also like countless eons, when Li Heng felt like he would never reach the end, his vision suddenly opened up and a bright light came from up ahead.
At the same time, a boundless, noble, divine, and immeasurably vast Qi emerged.
In front of this Qi, the pressure on Li Heng's body suddenly became thousands of times heavier.
"Your son pays respects to Imperial Father!"
Li Heng stepped over the threshold, not daring to raise his head as he respectfully and fearfully kneeled on the ground. Even though he was already twenty, Li Heng still felt the same reverence for that god-like figure in the hall, even more so than when he was a child.
Huo Guang shook his head. The figure above the hall remained motionless.
Below that figure, Li Heng sensed many weak but equally powerful auras.
They were the princes in the depths of the palace. It was obvious that he was not the only one who appeared here today.
The hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. Cold and callous gazes came from all around, landing on the kneeling Li Heng near the gate.
There was no kinship in the royal family!
It didn't matter if it was a wise ruler or an incompetent ruler. Dynasty after dynasty, generation after generation, this was an iron law that no one could change!
In the palace, Li Heng felt no warmth, only a deep chill.
"Get up!"
After an unknown period of time, a dignified and vast voice finally resounded from above the hall.
Li Heng trembled in fear as he stood up, but he still did not dare to raise his head. Following his usual custom, he lowered his head and walked to the very end of the hall.
Although he was the esteemed Fifth Prince, Li Heng had the least background and was the weakest of the princes. Thus, in terms of seniority, he would always stand at the very end.
The princes had never cared about his status as the Fifth Prince, and the Holy Emperor had never cared about such things.
Contrary to what Li Heng had imagined, the Holy Emperor did not immediately question him after he entered the ranks, as if he had forgotten about him.
The other princes also retracted their gazes. The air seemed to have suddenly returned to normal, and everything returned to normal.
Li Heng was like a ball of air, standing at the very end of the line, no one paying any attention to him.
An enormous Qi, as heavy as a mountain, towered closest to his father. Although it was as bright as the sun, it was inconceivably powerful to the other princes.
Li Heng knew that this was the First Prince's Qi.
In terms of seniority, no matter which method was used, the First Prince, as the future heir apparent, would always stand at his father's feet, the person closest to him. This was a fact that no one could change.
Every time he was summoned, his father would ask him about the politics of the court, the maintenance of armaments, the cultivation of martial arts, the livelihood of the common people, and so on.
Every time they met, it was a test. It was not just him. The other princes were the same. While each of them was being tested by their father, they were also displaying their talents.
The imperial household lacked the warmth and warmth of ordinary fathers and sons. This was also why Li Heng had avoided the Imperial Palace.
The politics of the court, foreign affairs, irrigation works … Li Heng did not understand any of the things the princes discussed.
It was not that he was too shallow, but that he had never had these resources, not even a teacher to teach him these things.
Li Heng did not dare to hate, nor did he dare to complain. Just like before, he stood there with his head lowered, trembling in fear and motionless.
The First Prince, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, the Fourth Prince … and then the Sixth Prince, the Seventh Prince, and all the princes stepped forward to accept the Holy Emperor's test.
When it was finally his turn …
"Okay, let's end it here for today!"
The dignified and majestic figure at the top of the hall suddenly waved his hand.
Li Heng had been mercilessly skipped. A hint of disappointment flitted through Li Heng's eyes. He was a little disappointed and a little glad, but he quickly regained his composure.
He had experienced this sort of thing many times in the court.
"… Today, we father and son have gathered together, so let's not talk too much about politics. Come, bring on the music! Feast! "
This order was like a sluice gate had been opened. Countless maids and eunuchs immediately rushed in through the door of the side hall, carrying plates of fruit, tables, chairs, wine pots, and incense burners with smiles on their faces.
In just a few moments, the princes were surrounded by tables and chairs brimming with an ancient charm, laden with fruits, pastries, wine, and dishes.
Once the princes were seated … Clang! The chimes of the bells and the sounds of musical instruments could be heard. Several beautiful maids dressed in white dresses with fair skin and white bones walked in like fairies.
"Imperial Father! … "
Just when the maids were preparing to enter the center of the hall and perform a palace dance, a voice interrupted the music.
"Imperial Father, this sort of soft palace music is a bit lacking in the iron-blooded style of our Tang Dynasty. Your son has heard that Fifth Brother has prepared a sword dance for Imperial Father to entertain his brothers, and it was with Imperial Father's permission. Fifth Brother, don't you think so? "
The Third Prince suddenly stood up from his seat and spoke to the ceiling of the hall. He then turned his head to look at Li Heng at the very back of the line, his cold eyes shining with a domineering light.
"Buzz!"
For a moment, time seemed to freeze. All the music, dancing, talking, breathing, chewing … everything vanished.
The relaxed and relaxed atmosphere suddenly became tense, brimming with the silent glint of swords.
All the maids and eunuchs in the palace lowered their heads at the same time, apprehension in their eyes. The other princes sneered and turned to look at Li Heng at the very back.
Even the First Prince, who was seated at the top of the banquet table, put down his chopsticks and turned his head to look over, even though he did not have the same sarcasm as the other princes.
The entire hall was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
"It's here!"
Li Heng sensed the suffocating pressure that followed him like a shadow, and his entire body paled.
He had originally believed that he could escape this calamity. He hadn't expected his Third Imperial Brother to still let him go. The fact that he hadn't made trouble at the start wasn't because he hadn't noticed Li Heng, but because he had left this opportunity for now.
As he sensed those gazes of ridicule, sneer, malice, or hostility, Li Heng's forehead suddenly became covered in cold sweat.
He had never experienced this sort of feeling before.
For the first time, he was the center of attention, but it was not what he wanted.
Third Brother really isn't willing to let me go!
Li Heng quietly said to himself. He had never learned a sword dance, nor did he know how to do it. None of the princes had ever performed a sword dance.
Li Heng knew that the Third Prince was doing this on purpose.
"Your Highness, you must remember that in the Palace, the more you speak, the more mistakes you make. The less you speak, the less mistakes you make. This is the result of this old servant's decades of experience. Your Highness, you must remember this. "
Li Jingzhong's words before entering the palace once more rang out in his ears.
No one could predict what would happen after entering the palace, and Li Jingzhong would not be able to enter. These were his final words before Li Heng entered the palace.
"Imperial Father, I …"
Li Heng was just about to refuse when he heard the Fifth Prince's voice.
"Hmph, Fifth Brother, what's wrong? Why are you so hesitant in front of Imperial Father? Do you want to go back on your word and suddenly become unwilling? "
His voice was cold and tinged with a sneer, as if he had long ago seen through Li Heng's thoughts.
"Third Brother, you …"
Li Heng straightened his body, but just when he was about to speak, bzzz! It was like an ancient mountain was pressing down on him. Li Heng suddenly felt a majestic and awe-inspiring gaze fall upon him.
Imperial Father!
Li Heng's heart trembled, and he immediately swallowed the words he had been about to spit out. But before he could speak again, he heard the Holy Emperor wave his hand and speak in an indifferent and calm voice.
"Enough, Bao 'er, don't make things difficult for your Fifth Brother!"
"Buzz!"
A bloody aura suddenly rushed to his head. This was not the first time Li Heng had been ignored, but this time, Li Heng found it extremely difficult to endure. The words Wang Chong had said outside the Kunwu Training Camp suddenly appeared in his mind.
"Your Highness, how can you catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger's den? You have no path of retreat. If you want to change your situation, change His Majesty's view of you. You can only take the initiative and dare to fight for it.
"After entering the palace, the Third Prince and the others will definitely do everything they can to make things difficult for you. In normal circumstances, you will definitely shrink back. So, no matter what, you must do the exact opposite. You must take the initiative to display yourself in front of His Majesty. This audience is your best chance. No matter what, you must grasp it well. Only by putting yourself on the line can you be reborn. If you want to obtain His Majesty's favor and attention, this might be your last chance! "
… …
Blood continued to gush to the top of his head. Li Heng could endure the ridicule, cruelty, apathy, attacks, and assassinations of the princes, but the one thing he could not endure was the disregard of his most respected and beloved father.
"Imperial Father, I'm ready! Your son truly has prepared a sword dance that he wishes to offer to Imperial Father! "
This sentence was loud and clear, and the rumbling sound reverberated throughout the entire hall.
Li Heng kneeled on the ground, his body trembling, but his voice was firm.
For a moment, the hall was silent. All the princes were dumbfounded. Even the Holy Emperor's gaze froze for a moment. He turned his head, his gaze once more falling on Li Heng.
"Permitted!"
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