Regarding the phrase "Your Majesty", Fang Zhengzhi was familiar with it. In his previous life, he encountered this word multiple times. From the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty to the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Pu Yi.
In the annals of history, there never was a lack of outstanding national leaders nor was there a lack of corrupted dictators.
However, those would always be just something he read in the books. This would be the first time he saw a real emperor in this world, and he got a small case of nerves.
King Duan, with all the officials and nobles, stood up.
His Majesty coming to Ping Yang's birthday banquet was no surprise.
Chi Guyan maintained a calm composure, and so did Ping Yang. Within their calm was a trace of elation. However, they did not possess any extreme emotions towards the arrival of His Majesty.
Not long later, a storm of footsteps echoed down.
A group of figures slowly walked towards them from a distance.
There was so soldiers making a path, nor any extravagant layout. There were not even any concubines following in procession. Only a total of nine people came.
At the front was a man, garbed in a gold Royal Robe. A five-clawed dragon was stitched on it with gold threads. His head was adorned with a golden crown. It was the standard dressing of an emperor.
Behind this man followed eight young men clad in different silk robes. Every one of them was oozing extravagance. They emitted a supernatural kind of aura.
When that line of people appeared, a young man, with a pair of sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, wearing traditional Chinese clothes walked out from the crowd and came in front of the row.
"Welcome, Father!"
"Welcome, His Majesty!"
"Welcome, Princes!"
After that young man in the traditional clothes kneeled, all the officials and nobles followed suit.
Chi Guyan did not kneel. She only bent forward slightly, showing her respects to the front man. Ping Yang similarly did not kneel, she did not even bother bending forward.
Fang Zhengzhi wanted to kneel. However, it was as if his heart was zapped by lightning, his two legs totally could not bend.
"This is the current Sacred Lord?!"
Fang Zhengzhi's jaws dropped in stupefaction. This was the first time he was this stupefied. He was not shocked to this extent even when Chi Guyan publicly announced her engagement with him at the Divine Constabulary.
He subtly glanced at Ping Yang beside him, then at the young man who was kneeling on the floor.
The was only one thought running through his head.
"Ping Yang and the young man at the front of the line... She can't be his blood daughter, can she?!"
Fang Zhengzhi was not someone who could not accept reality but the emperor before him was just too young. Terrifyingly young.
If not for that standard emperor garb, Fang Zhengzhi definitely would not have pegged him as the current ruler.
In the living quarters, Fang Zhengzhi figured out Ping Yang's identity. The current princess and the kneeling young man was at least twenty-four to twenty-five years old.
But…
The current Sacred Lord looked no more than twenty years old!
A pair of brilliant eyes radiating vigour, a full head of black hair without a single silver hair, his skin was smooth and unblemished. How could this be the Sacred Lord that sired so many royal children?
Fang Zhengzhi's face revealed the confoundment he felt in his heart. This sight eventually was spotted by the current Sacred Lord, Lin Mubai. After all, beside Fang Zhengzhi were his two most favourite people.
Chi Guyan and Ping Yang.
However, the Sacred Lord's face did not show any change, as if he did not see anything. He merely scanned past Fang Zhengzhi and shifted his focus to the young man kneeling in front of him.
"That's very considerate of you, Xingjue! You arrived even earlier than me. Quick, rise!"
"Thank you, Father!" The young man rose.
"Tianrong, on most days you are busy with the political work but you should take a walk outside sometimes. It's not good to hide inside your Eastern Palace. Regarding this point, you should learn from King Duan!" The Sacred Lord advised. His gaze turning to a young man behind him who was wearing a silver silk robe with a white dragon imprint.
At this point, Fang Zhengzhi noticed the young man behind the Sacred Lord. He was a man with eyebrows fine like a willow and a pair of long narrow eyes. His features made him look slightly feminine. However, he wore the white dragon silk robe and also held the post at Eastern Palace. This was without a doubt the current crown prince of the dynasty.
Crown Prince, Lin Tianrong's face straightened up instantly after hearing his father's advice.
"Father's advice was indeed filled with wisdom. I will definitely learn from Brother Xingjue in future!" The crown prince was prepared to kneel after finishing but was blocked by the Sacred Lord's outstretched hand.
Then, the Sacred Lord stopped his interactions with his sons behind and turned to his kneeling subjects.
"All rise. Today, I'm here for a banquet. All of you need not stand on ceremony!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" All the officials and nobles rose after hearing his words.
Seeing all his subjects rising, the Sacred Lord gave a gentle nod and smile with warmth.
"Father!" Pung Yang called out delicately, pulling Chi Guyan with her as she went forward.
"Haha...Ping Yang, you have once again grown one year older. You are really getting more beautiful as you grow. You might even surpass your mother soon! Oh right… I came here bearing a gift. Now you can't chase me out like last time, can you?"
"Then I have to see what kind of gift is it!" Ping Yang curled her lips.
"Blazing Qilin Spear. How do you like that?" The corner of the Sacred Lord's lips lifted as he mentioned the Blazing Qilin Spear.
When the rest of his subjects heard of, "Blazing Qilin Spear", these three words, all of them lost their colour. The Demoness of Yan Capital possessing one of the Ten Great Treasures of the Great Xia Dynasty, Blazing Qilin Spear…
How would they survive the days to come?
"Father is really giving me the Blazing Qilin Spear? Hahaha… Father sure dotes on me!" The moment Ping Yang heard about the Blazing Qilin Spear, she looked absolutely delighted. She could barely contain her smile from breaking out.
"Guyan greets His Majesty!" Guyan found that this was an appropriate time to open her mouth.
"En... Guyan, this is where you are wrong. One year ago, you visited Heaven Dao Pavillion and did not even allow me to have an audience with you. Now that you have come down from there, and even come to Yan Capital. After seeing me once, why did you never visit me ever again?" Although the Sacred Lord's tone seemed blameful, his expression was similar to that of the familiar love of a father.
Fang Zhengzhi felt uncomfortable seeing such a sight.
A twenty years old young man giving such an expression was just too hard to imagine.
"Your Majesty was right in scolding me," Chi Guyan slightly bowed. She only answered back but she gave no promises about going to the palace to visit him.
The Sacred Lord's face betrayed a tiny amount of disappointment but he did not say anything and turned to Fang Zhengzhi.
Following the Sacred Lord's gaze, everyone attention was focused on Fang Zhengzhi.
At this point, people realised…
Fang Zhengzhi had been standing the whole time and did not kneel at all.
"So you are Fang Zhengzhi?" The Sacred Lord slowly analysed Fang Zhengzhi, it seemed like he was thinking about something.
"Yes," Fang Zhengzhi was indeed stunned by the arrival of the Sacred Lord and therefore, forgetting to kneel. However, now that everyone had risen, did he still need to kneel?
"Audacious Fang Zhengzhi. Why did you not kneel in the presence of His Majesty?" One official saw that Fang Zhengzhi refused to kneel and immediately highlighted his disrespect.
The Sacred Lord looked at that official in the eye and waved him off. After that, he walked forward to Fang Zhengzhi.
"I've heard your story. Born in a mountain village, and have never stepped foot into a Hall of Dao. Yet, at the age of six, you deciphered the Illustration of All Creation. Furthermore, you are a Double Roll Champion at the Law of Dao Examinations at Huai An County and River of Trust Province. Now, you are just fifteen years of age and yet you have already broken through to the Heavenly Reflection State. Such tremendous achievements for someone so young. It's the fortune of my Great Xia Dynasty to have you!"
The Sacred Lord praised Fang Zhengzhi openly, with a hint of admiration on his face.
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty!" Fang Zhengzhi immediately paid his respects.
He was not sure about the traditional mannerism in this world but he felt that his reply was adequately respectful.
"En, although you have obtained such achievements, you must remember to always revise the sagely words within the "Law of Dao"! Since I inherited the throne at the age of eighteen, it has been more than thirty years already. I have seen quite a few young men bursting with potential to only shine for an instant and ruined their bright futures after maturing into greedy adults that only knew to satisfy their own mortal desires. They wasted such an incredible foundation they possessed. You must learn from the past mistakes of your predecessors. Continue to polish yourself, don't stop improving. Make yourself an asset to the dynasty!" The Sacred Lord saw Fang Zhengzhi paying his respects and nodded in approval.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty!" Fang Zhengzhi once again answered back.
However, his mind was brewing up a storm. Inherited the throne at eighteen and had been on the throne for more than thirty years?
Adding that up…
That would be at least fifty years old?!
Just as he thought about this, he once again studied the young man that had a complexion similar to him. He silently berated in his heart, "You purposely messing with me?"
The Sacred Lord naturally could not read Fang Zhengzhi's mind. After hearing his words, he nodded again and turned into the banquet to find a seat.
From the start till the end, in his conversation with Fang Zhengzhi, not once did he mention about Fang Zhengzhi's engagement to Chi Guyan nor did he give out any Divine Message.
He merely gave him a piece of advice to maintain an attitude of continuous self-improvement.
The officials looked on as the Sacred Lord took his seat in the banquet hall, and at the same time thought of the few sentences he said just now. One by one, different emotions coloured their faces. Some were green with envy, while others to softly snickered at Fang Zhengzhi.
Han Changfeng's eyes concealed his swirling emotions. He seemed as if he was slowly dissecting the advice that the Sacred Lord gave to Fang Zhengzhi.
On the other hand, King Duan had a cold smile that threatened to break out, "Fang Zhengzhi, even my father did not approve of your engagement to Chi Guyan. Can you still pass the Imperial Examinations?"
[1] Qilin (麒麟) - an ancient Chinese mythical beast.
Regarding the phrase "Your Majesty", Fang Zhengzhi was familiar with it. In his previous life, he encountered this word multiple times. From the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty to the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Pu Yi.
In the annals of history, there never was a lack of outstanding national leaders nor was there a lack of corrupted dictators.
However, those would always be just something he read in the books. This would be the first time he saw a real emperor in this world, and he got a small case of nerves.
King Duan, with all the officials and nobles, stood up.
His Majesty coming to Ping Yang's birthday banquet was no surprise.
Chi Guyan maintained a calm composure, and so did Ping Yang. Within their calm was a trace of elation. However, they did not possess any extreme emotions towards the arrival of His Majesty.
Not long later, a storm of footsteps echoed down.
A group of figures slowly walked towards them from a distance.
There was so soldiers making a path, nor any extravagant layout. There were not even any concubines following in procession. Only a total of nine people came.
At the front was a man, garbed in a gold Royal Robe. A five-clawed dragon was stitched on it with gold threads. His head was adorned with a golden crown. It was the standard dressing of an emperor.
Behind this man followed eight young men clad in different silk robes. Every one of them was oozing extravagance. They emitted a supernatural kind of aura.
When that line of people appeared, a young man, with a pair of sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, wearing traditional Chinese clothes walked out from the crowd and came in front of the row.
"Welcome, Father!"
"Welcome, His Majesty!"
"Welcome, Princes!"
After that young man in the traditional clothes kneeled, all the officials and nobles followed suit.
Chi Guyan did not kneel. She only bent forward slightly, showing her respects to the front man. Ping Yang similarly did not kneel, she did not even bother bending forward.
Fang Zhengzhi wanted to kneel. However, it was as if his heart was zapped by lightning, his two legs totally could not bend.
"This is the current Sacred Lord?!"
Fang Zhengzhi's jaws dropped in stupefaction. This was the first time he was this stupefied. He was not shocked to this extent even when Chi Guyan publicly announced her engagement with him at the Divine Constabulary.
He subtly glanced at Ping Yang beside him, then at the young man who was kneeling on the floor.
The was only one thought running through his head.
"Ping Yang and the young man at the front of the line... She can't be his blood daughter, can she?!"
Fang Zhengzhi was not someone who could not accept reality but the emperor before him was just too young. Terrifyingly young.
If not for that standard emperor garb, Fang Zhengzhi definitely would not have pegged him as the current ruler.
In the living quarters, Fang Zhengzhi figured out Ping Yang's identity. The current princess and the kneeling young man was at least twenty-four to twenty-five years old.
But…
The current Sacred Lord looked no more than twenty years old!
A pair of brilliant eyes radiating vigour, a full head of black hair without a single silver hair, his skin was smooth and unblemished. How could this be the Sacred Lord that sired so many royal children?
Fang Zhengzhi's face revealed the confoundment he felt in his heart. This sight eventually was spotted by the current Sacred Lord, Lin Mubai. After all, beside Fang Zhengzhi were his two most favourite people.
Chi Guyan and Ping Yang.
However, the Sacred Lord's face did not show any change, as if he did not see anything. He merely scanned past Fang Zhengzhi and shifted his focus to the young man kneeling in front of him.
"That's very considerate of you, Xingjue! You arrived even earlier than me. Quick, rise!"
"Thank you, Father!" The young man rose.
"Tianrong, on most days you are busy with the political work but you should take a walk outside sometimes. It's not good to hide inside your Eastern Palace. Regarding this point, you should learn from King Duan!" The Sacred Lord advised. His gaze turning to a young man behind him who was wearing a silver silk robe with a white dragon imprint.
At this point, Fang Zhengzhi noticed the young man behind the Sacred Lord. He was a man with eyebrows fine like a willow and a pair of long narrow eyes. His features made him look slightly feminine. However, he wore the white dragon silk robe and also held the post at Eastern Palace. This was without a doubt the current crown prince of the dynasty.
Crown Prince, Lin Tianrong's face straightened up instantly after hearing his father's advice.
"Father's advice was indeed filled with wisdom. I will definitely learn from Brother Xingjue in future!" The crown prince was prepared to kneel after finishing but was blocked by the Sacred Lord's outstretched hand.
Then, the Sacred Lord stopped his interactions with his sons behind and turned to his kneeling subjects.
"All rise. Today, I'm here for a banquet. All of you need not stand on ceremony!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" All the officials and nobles rose after hearing his words.
Seeing all his subjects rising, the Sacred Lord gave a gentle nod and smile with warmth.
"Father!" Pung Yang called out delicately, pulling Chi Guyan with her as she went forward.
"Haha...Ping Yang, you have once again grown one year older. You are really getting more beautiful as you grow. You might even surpass your mother soon! Oh right… I came here bearing a gift. Now you can't chase me out like last time, can you?"
"Then I have to see what kind of gift is it!" Ping Yang curled her lips.
"Blazing Qilin Spear. How do you like that?" The corner of the Sacred Lord's lips lifted as he mentioned the Blazing Qilin Spear.
When the rest of his subjects heard of, "Blazing Qilin Spear", these three words, all of them lost their colour. The Demoness of Yan Capital possessing one of the Ten Great Treasures of the Great Xia Dynasty, Blazing Qilin Spear…
How would they survive the days to come?
"Father is really giving me the Blazing Qilin Spear? Hahaha… Father sure dotes on me!" The moment Ping Yang heard about the Blazing Qilin Spear, she looked absolutely delighted. She could barely contain her smile from breaking out.
"Guyan greets His Majesty!" Guyan found that this was an appropriate time to open her mouth.
"En... Guyan, this is where you are wrong. One year ago, you visited Heaven Dao Pavillion and did not even allow me to have an audience with you. Now that you have come down from there, and even come to Yan Capital. After seeing me once, why did you never visit me ever again?" Although the Sacred Lord's tone seemed blameful, his expression was similar to that of the familiar love of a father.
Fang Zhengzhi felt uncomfortable seeing such a sight.
A twenty years old young man giving such an expression was just too hard to imagine.
"Your Majesty was right in scolding me," Chi Guyan slightly bowed. She only answered back but she gave no promises about going to the palace to visit him.
The Sacred Lord's face betrayed a tiny amount of disappointment but he did not say anything and turned to Fang Zhengzhi.
Following the Sacred Lord's gaze, everyone attention was focused on Fang Zhengzhi.
At this point, people realised…
Fang Zhengzhi had been standing the whole time and did not kneel at all.
"So you are Fang Zhengzhi?" The Sacred Lord slowly analysed Fang Zhengzhi, it seemed like he was thinking about something.
"Yes," Fang Zhengzhi was indeed stunned by the arrival of the Sacred Lord and therefore, forgetting to kneel. However, now that everyone had risen, did he still need to kneel?
"Audacious Fang Zhengzhi. Why did you not kneel in the presence of His Majesty?" One official saw that Fang Zhengzhi refused to kneel and immediately highlighted his disrespect.
The Sacred Lord looked at that official in the eye and waved him off. After that, he walked forward to Fang Zhengzhi.
"I've heard your story. Born in a mountain village, and have never stepped foot into a Hall of Dao. Yet, at the age of six, you deciphered the Illustration of All Creation. Furthermore, you are a Double Roll Champion at the Law of Dao Examinations at Huai An County and River of Trust Province. Now, you are just fifteen years of age and yet you have already broken through to the Heavenly Reflection State. Such tremendous achievements for someone so young. It's the fortune of my Great Xia Dynasty to have you!"
The Sacred Lord praised Fang Zhengzhi openly, with a hint of admiration on his face.
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty!" Fang Zhengzhi immediately paid his respects.
He was not sure about the traditional mannerism in this world but he felt that his reply was adequately respectful.
"En, although you have obtained such achievements, you must remember to always revise the sagely words within the "Law of Dao"! Since I inherited the throne at the age of eighteen, it has been more than thirty years already. I have seen quite a few young men bursting with potential to only shine for an instant and ruined their bright futures after maturing into greedy adults that only knew to satisfy their own mortal desires. They wasted such an incredible foundation they possessed. You must learn from the past mistakes of your predecessors. Continue to polish yourself, don't stop improving. Make yourself an asset to the dynasty!" The Sacred Lord saw Fang Zhengzhi paying his respects and nodded in approval.
"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty!" Fang Zhengzhi once again answered back.
However, his mind was brewing up a storm. Inherited the throne at eighteen and had been on the throne for more than thirty years?
Adding that up…
That would be at least fifty years old?!
Just as he thought about this, he once again studied the young man that had a complexion similar to him. He silently berated in his heart, "You purposely messing with me?"
The Sacred Lord naturally could not read Fang Zhengzhi's mind. After hearing his words, he nodded again and turned into the banquet to find a seat.
From the start till the end, in his conversation with Fang Zhengzhi, not once did he mention about Fang Zhengzhi's engagement to Chi Guyan nor did he give out any Divine Message.
He merely gave him a piece of advice to maintain an attitude of continuous self-improvement.
The officials looked on as the Sacred Lord took his seat in the banquet hall, and at the same time thought of the few sentences he said just now. One by one, different emotions coloured their faces. Some were green with envy, while others to softly snickered at Fang Zhengzhi.
Han Changfeng's eyes concealed his swirling emotions. He seemed as if he was slowly dissecting the advice that the Sacred Lord gave to Fang Zhengzhi.
On the other hand, King Duan had a cold smile that threatened to break out, "Fang Zhengzhi, even my father did not approve of your engagement to Chi Guyan. Can you still pass the Imperial Examinations?"
[1] Qilin (麒麟) - an ancient Chinese mythical beast.
