Chapter 412: Welcomed by All Officials

As the first light of dawn broke through the darkness, the sky gradually took on a faint golden hue. Before the grand gates of the Great Wu capital, the majestic city gate appeared even more solemn in the morning light.

In front of the gate, Emperor Ye was dressed in a dragon robe embroidered with a lifelike five-clawed golden dragon, the golden threads shimmering brilliantly under the sunlight, exuding supreme nobility and authority.

He sat atop a lavish carriage, his expression calm yet dignified, gazing into the distance toward the official road, where the high-flying banner bearing the character for “Yan” fluttered in the wind.

Behind Emperor Ye’s carriage stood a great assembly of civil and military officials, all in their respective robes, arranged in neat ranks by official status. The civil officials held hu tablets, appearing poised and dignified, while the military officers stood tall in gleaming armor, looking heroic and valiant.

Woooo––

With the long, drawn-out sound of a horn, dust was kicked up in the distance by galloping horses, forming swirling yellow clouds rushing swiftly toward the imperial city.

As Monarch Yan’s procession slowly arrived at the palace gate, all eyes turned to the man riding a tall steed—Monarch Yan himself. He wore bright silver armor and a black crown, with an imposing air about his brows and eyes that carried a natural authority even without anger.

Emperor Ye slowly stepped down from his carriage, and Monarch Yan dismounted as well, striding forward.

“Monarch Yan!”

“Emperor Ye!”

The two men exchanged formal bows, both with faint smiles on their faces.

In the next moment, the entire assembly of civil and military officials unexpectedly knelt in unison before Yan Wuyong.
“We pay our respects to Monarch Yan!”

This scene stunned not only Monarch Yan’s soldiers but even Yan Wuyong himself. He hadn’t expected Emperor Ye to personally come out of the city to welcome him, let alone have the officials bow to him.

After all, until recently, he had been branded a rebel in Great Wu, and only joined forces temporarily to deal with the demon race.

To someone unaware of the situation, this might have looked like the emperor was personally welcoming home a victorious general of his own.

“No need to be so formal,” Yan Wuyong waved his hand. The kneeling officials responded, “Thank you, Monarch Yan,” and rose together.

“Monarch Yan, will you share the carriage with me?” Emperor Ye reached for Yan Wuyong’s hand, intending to lead him aboard.

Caught off guard by such enthusiasm, Yan Wuyong quickly waved his hands. “No need—I’ll just ride alongside on horseback.”

Hearing this, Emperor Ye didn’t insist. He simply ordered his attendants to settle the ten thousand soldiers Yan Wuyong had brought and prepare a banquet. Then he returned to the palace in his carriage.

Not far behind, General Niu approached Yan Wuyong and murmured, “Monarch Yan, don’t you think this Emperor Ye is being a little too courteous?”

“Anyone else might think you’re his blood brother.”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Yan Wuyong replied quietly. “Tell the brothers: even inside the city, we must not let our guard down.”

General Niu nodded. “Rest assured, Monarch Yan. I’ve already given the orders…”

…

Great Wu Imperial Palace, Linde Hall.

Inside the hall, gold and jade glimmered. At the center stood a massive jade table, laid out with an assortment of exquisite delicacies, steaming hot and fragrant.

On either side of the jade table were long tables for the officials to be seated. Each place was set with fine tableware and good wine.

Emperor Ye, clad in a dragon robe and wearing his imperial crown, sat at the head seat. Across from him, a special seat had been added for Monarch Yan. At this moment, Yan Wuyong had removed his outer armor, leaving only a battle axe by his side.

Technically, one should disarm completely at such a banquet, but Emperor Ye had taken the initiative to allow him to keep his weapon for peace of mind.

This saved them from any awkwardness over protocol.

At an appropriate moment, Emperor Ye raised his cup, first to toast Yan Wuyong, then gestured to the officials and said loudly:
“Today, I host this banquet in honor of Monarch Yan. It is to affirm our shared rule over this realm and to weather these trying times together!”

“May we act with one heart and swiftly annihilate the immoral Great Tong Dynasty and drive out the demon race!”

With that said, Emperor Ye drained his cup. Yan Wuyong followed suit, and the officials all lifted their cups in response.

During the banquet, graceful palace maids danced in the hall, while skilled musicians played elegant melodies, adding refinement and cheer to the event.

Emperor Ye, Yan Wuyong, and the officials ate and chatted, discussing matters of state and occasionally exchanging personal stories. At a glance, the scene was one of perfect harmony—there was no trace of a banquet meant for betrayal.

Even General Niu, who had remained alert and refused to part with his weapon, began to lower his guard and drink a few more cups of wine.

After the feast had gone on for about an hour, many of the officials—and even Emperor Ye and Yan Wuyong—showed signs of intoxication.

A burly military officer stepped forward with a cup, first toasting Emperor Ye, then dragging Yan Wuyong into a drink.

“Monarch Yan! You don’t know this, but within the Great Wu army, the admiration our soldiers have for you is like the endless flow of the Yangtze River—unceasing and vast!” he said with a hearty laugh.

Hearing this, Yan Wuyong humbly waved his hand. “There’s nothing to admire. We’re all just risking our lives to protect the people—every one of us is a hero.”

Hero?
How rustic.

A flicker of disdain flashed in the officer’s eyes, but he continued cheerfully, “Monarch Yan, are you still taking disciples? That mountain-splitting strike of yours—we’ve all been jealous of that! If you’d take me, I’d kneel and bow to you as my master right now!”

As he spoke, the burly officer really looked ready to kowtow.

Seeing this, Yan Wuyong quickly pulled him up with a chuckle. “It’s not that I don’t want to teach—it’s that no one but me can use this skill. Otherwise, wouldn’t my old brothers have learned it by now?”

“Aw, come on, Monarch Yan, teach me! A teacher for a day is a father for life—if not that, then just be my father!” The burly officer, feigning drunkenness, kept pestering him.

“Guards!”

“Minister Zhou has had too much to drink. Escort him back to his seat to sober up.”

At Emperor Ye’s command, the burly officer suddenly looked as if he’d sobered up from fright. He quickly bowed several times, saying, “This humble general has overstepped,” then hurried back to his place.

Yan Wuyong, raising his wine cup, smiled and said, “Emperor Ye, about this co-ruling pact—best not wait until I’m too drunk to sign it. Wouldn’t want people laughing at us.”

“Haha!” Emperor Ye laughed heartily, then waved a hand. “Bring forth the pact!”

Soon, an old eunuch cleared the tableware on Yan Wuyong’s side and brought over writing tools and an imperial edict.

Yan Wuyong picked up the brush with one hand and unrolled the document with the other, carefully reading its contents.

As his eyes moved across the page, the smile on his face gradually faded.

Clack.

He set the brush down firmly and stared straight at Emperor Ye, speaking in a low, cold voice.

“Emperor Ye, there’s not much written in this pact, is there?”

“This supposed shared rule—how did it become King of Northern Garrison?”

“So, you’re just trying to grant me a noble title and make me your subordinate?”

“Oh?” Emperor Ye’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he replied with a smirk,
“What, you think becoming a king is beneath you?”