Autumn was in the eighth month. The air was fresh, the water was clear, the wind was gentle, and the fruits were plentiful. It was the perfect time for an outing. The Sumptuous Fruits Banquet finally arrived.
Mengqi and Su Ziyu were not like the vast majority of the important ministers of the court and the sons of the aristocratic families who directly went to the Jade Forest Garden in the outer city. Instead, they followed Su Li and Su Yue to the Imperial City. Although Su Li had temporarily stopped his duties as the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, he had not lost the Emperor's trust. He still needed to accompany the Emperor, and Su Yue was the intermediary force that protected the Emperor.
The heavy dragon-patterned door, the deep doorway, the oncoming wind, and the slightly cold Qi made Mengqi feel the majesty and alienation of the Imperial City.
This was his first time stepping into the imperial city of the Great Jin Dynasty. Apart from the terrifying restrictive power, there was no substantial difference between this place and the imperial palace in the world of the Sword Emperor and the Devil Empress. The people's worship of power and the Emperor was no different.
"Fifth Uncle, have you found any clues about the Luo Denomination and the Immortals recently?" Mengqi pretended to ask casually. He was a little worried that the Luo Denomination and the Destruction Sect would ruin the Sumptuous Fruits Banquet.
Su Yue smiled bitterly and said, "No, they seem to have vanished from the face of the earth. It's strange that the Luo Denomination people are still hiding without a trace even though their identity as the Yu family has been exposed."
"This kind of evil sect that has been passed down for who knows how many generations is definitely a crafty rabbit with three burrows, no, at least nine burrows. Otherwise, it would have been exterminated by the Righteous path long ago." Su Li looked ahead and casually said.
Mengqi nodded thoughtfully. He would find a chance to ask Primogenitor Guangcheng later.
The Imperial City was very large. It was paved with white jade, not for the sake of luxury, but for the purpose of setting up formations. Mengqi followed Su Li and Su Yue through the Imperial City and into the Imperial Palace. In the Taiji Palace, he saw the current Emperor, the ruler of the Great Jin, Zhao Mingyu.
Compared to the last time they met, Zhao Mingyu seemed to have aged quite a bit. The bags under his eyes were loose, revealing clear exhaustion. However, Su Li and Su Yue turned a blind eye to this, as if it was only natural.
After they saluted each other, the aged Emperor smiled and looked at Mengqi. "Don't disappoint me at the Feast of Sumptuous Fruits today."
"If it's martial arts, I will not disappoint Your Majesty's trust." Mengqi was not modest at all.
For the sake of the Samsara task, he had to get first place!
Not to mention Su Ziyuan's wish to boast in front of the emperor!
"Haha, as expected of the Frenzied Blade." The old emperor stretched out his hand and placed it on the arm of a eunuch who was even older than him.
The eunuch's Yin Qi was extremely heavy. It was not the sinister Yin Qi of a ghost, but rather a gentle and cold Yin Qi. Although he was old, his skin was delicate like that of a woman's. His strength was hidden deep within, and it was difficult to see through. However, just a glance from him made Mengqi feel like his Primordial Spirit was being pricked by countless fine needles.
Of course it was the Minister of Internal Affairs, Gao Jinzhong … Mengqi recalled Su Li's introduction before setting off.
The crowd stood on both sides, waiting for the Emperor and Gao Jinzhong to pass by. The Commander of the Imperial Guards and the Flying Dragon Super Arrester followed closely behind, followed by Su Li, Su Yue, and the rest of the escorting masters. Finally, Mengqi, Su Ziyu, and a few other disciples of the aristocratic families.
Just as he was about to step out of the entrance of Tai Chi Hall, Mengqi suddenly felt his chest heat up, and his footsteps immediately stopped.
Gu Xiaosang?
The talisman given by Progenitor Doumu was heating up!
Could it be that Gu Xiaosang was nearby?
Mengqi lowered his eyelids, covering his contracted pupils. He discreetly sized up Tai Chi Hall, only to see the majestic imperial guards. There was no sign of Gu Xiaosang at all.
If it was not for the heat from the talisman, Mengqi would have thought that he was hallucinating!
Gu Xiaosang was actually hiding in the palace?
The most dangerous place was the safest place?
No wonder the Six Fan School could not find her!
Mengqi's heart was in turmoil, but he did not show it on his face. He pretended that he did not notice anything, but when he stepped out of Tai Chi Hall, he looked back as if nothing had happened.
It was quiet inside, and the imperial guards stood as straight as pines. The golden throne was magnificent, with nine dragons coiling around it. No one was sitting on it.
Was it a trick of the demoness, or was she really here?
If it was true, who helped her to hide in the palace?
Could it be some big shot here?
With so many questions unanswered, Mengqi did not expose them, lest he fell into a trap. He obediently followed the team in front of him.
Outside the palace, the two Super Arresters, Liu Shengming and Yuan Lihuo, led many imperial guards and arresters to welcome the Emperor. They then guarded the periphery in a clear order.
When passing by Yuan Lihuo, Mengqi opened his right hand, revealing the talisman, and pointed at the palace behind him with his left hand.
There was no verbal communication, but Yuan Lihuo's expression suddenly changed slightly. As Primogenitor Guangcheng, he naturally knew that the talisman drawn by a wild Taoist referred to Gu Xiaosang.
Gu Xiaosang was hiding in the palace?
The Luo Denomination was hiding in the palace?
His expression returned to normal, and he quietly went back to check the arrangement of the team.
Outside the palace, Sima Shi was waiting in person, riding a horse side by side with the Emperor's imperial carriage.
After the news was spread, Mengqi was relieved. He adjusted his state of mind and slowly climbed his momentum and state to the peak.
He only needed to deal with the Sumptuous Fruits Banquet and leave the rest to the Immortals. Even if the sky fell, there would be someone stronger to hold it up!
The Jade Forest Garden was located in the northeast of the outer city, near the canal. This section of the river in the city was winding, extremely beautiful. It was known as one of the ten sceneries of Luoyang, and was designated as a royal garden.
The garden was full of exotic trees and flowers, fragrant and fruity. There were lakes, rivers, mountains, forests, and all kinds of beasts.
Outside the garden, important officials of the imperial court and children of the aristocratic families stood on both sides to welcome the Emperor. Dozens of people in the front did not kneel. They were the representatives of the top aristocratic families, including Minister Zuo Pushe, Cui Yan and Cui Yan of the Cui family, and Song Shouren of the Song family of Luyang.
The Political Affairs Hall of the Great Jin Dynasty usually consisted of 11 people, with Minister Zuo Pushe as the Prime Minister. He was usually a member of the strongest aristocratic family at that time. This generation was controlled by the Cui family, with Cui Qinghe and Cui Qingyu's uncle, who was also a grandmaster. Minister Zuo Pushe was the second Prime Minister, which was held by several top aristocratic families in turn.
In general, the Political Affairs Hall always maintained one of the eight top aristocratic families. For example, after an old man of the Wang family from Zhou County returned to his hometown, Wang Wenxian naturally filled in as the Political Affairs Hall. Because of the Emperor's trust, he also served as the Minister of Revenue. For example, Ruan Yushu's ninth grandfather, Ruan Kang, held the title of Political Affairs Hall and was the representative of the Ruan family of Langya in Luoyang.
The remaining three places belonged to the Zhao family of Luoyang. They either arranged grandmasters or introduced courtiers loyal to the Emperor, like Sima Shi, the chief of detectives of the Six Fan School.
Other than the 11 people of the Political Affairs Hall, there were also Cui Qingyu and other masters or important members of top aristocratic families who did not kneel.
With Mengqi's status, he naturally could not be at the front, so he had nothing to do at the back. Suddenly, his gaze froze because there were two monks following the Crown Prince. One of them had an ordinary face with drooping eyes and brows. He was wearing a yellow frock that was spotless. It was Xuan Zhen, the Buddha Heart Palm. He had already stepped into the Half-step Exterior Scenery and was not on the Ranking List of Young Masters!
"Youngest Uncle and the Crown Prince are together?" "Is Shaolin showing its position and supporting the Crown Prince with other Buddhist sects?" Mengqi took a light breath. "This is an extremely important bargaining chip!"
"There are three Dharmakayas in the Great Jin Dynasty. Apart from Dharma King of the Luo Denomination, there is Cui Qinghe with the Noble Purple Qi and Kong Wen with the Dragon-subduing Arhat!"
"Is the quiet Shaolin Temple finally going to be involved in the secular world?"
Not only him, but the Emperor's eyes also twitched. Su Li, Su Yue and the others all looked gloomy. This was a situation that the Six Fan School did not know before!
It was really a sudden clap of thunder on the ground!
The other monk beside the Crown Prince was in his thirties. He wore a plain robe and was spinning prayer beads. His facial features were soft and his face thin. His mouth was tightly shut and his eyes were fixed on the ground as if he was worried about hurting an ant. Mengqi could only vaguely tell that he had reached the realm of Oneness of Heaven and Men, but he did not know his identity.
Prince Jin, Zhao Yi, looked slightly gloomy. Behind him followed Yan Chong, the Unstoppable of Knife Qi.
Zhao Heng's expression was as usual. Next to him was a Foreign Official of the Mansion. He was close to 50 years old and had reached the Heaven-man Connection. It seemed that he had no subordinates.
The rest of the people were Purple Pole Sword Cui Zhe, Fan Changmiao, Ruan Yushu of the Ruan family, Wang Zai of the Wang family, and Qi Zhengyan of the Huan Hua family.
Mengqi's eyes wandered and suddenly met someone.
"Aunt Bai?" It was Bai Lianxiang, who had a good figure and above average looks. She had entered the Imperial Court with the help of an elder of the Bai family.
Aunt Bai nodded slightly. Her eyes were full of fighting spirit. It seemed that she wanted to measure Mengqi, the champion of the Ranking List of Young Masters!
The Emperor drove into the Jade Forest Garden. Everyone was seated on a high platform. Below them was a gurgling river, flat land, and a mirror-like lake. In the distance was a fruity forest.
On the platform where Mengqi was seated were the Wang family from Zhou County and a few other aristocratic families in Luoyang. They greeted him again.
"It's been a long time. Brother Zai, you're close to achieving Oneness of Heaven and Men. Congratulations." Mengqi smiled and cupped his hands.
Wang Zai's square face was a little darker, as if he had been weathered by the sun and rain. He returned the greeting with a smile. "It's not as fast as you, Meng. You've achieved Oneness of Heaven and Men in such a short time."
"Everyone has a different path." Mengqi and Wang Zai chatted as they sat down and listened to the Emperor's genteel speech.
After a series of superfluous formalities, the old Emperor laughed and said, "I've heard that there have been many talents emerging recently. I'm very happy. Therefore, I'm holding this Sumptuous Fruits Banquet to observe the talents."
"... I have four questions, and I invite everyone to compete for the best."
"The first is the art of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The path of talents cultivates one's emotions and polishes one's soul. I wonder who among you can claim to be the first?"
The corner of Mengqi's mouth twitched as he listened. He suddenly felt that boasting in front of the Emperor at the Sumptuous Fruits Banquet was a little risky. If he didn't compete in kung fu, what else could he bring out?
Wang Zai nodded and smiled. "Does Meng have any talents?"
"Does whistling count?" Mengqi's face twitched.
Wang Zai said seriously, "If you can make a hundred birds sing and the celestial music echoes, then of course it counts."
The two of them asked and answered, which made the people around them smile.
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