Chapter 649: Audience at Court II (1/2)
Chapter 649: Audience at Court (II)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Suddenly a shrill voice like that of a duck rose from behind the doors to the palace. ”The Sage Emperor has ordered that Wang Chong enter for an audience!”
Rumble! The gate opened, banners unfurled, and Imperial Guards, dressed in red-tasseled armor, lined the path all the way from the gate to the depths of the palace.
Wang Chong was not able to tell at a glance how far this line extended.
Crack! With the crack of a whip, a silk-robed and white-haired eunuch, standing in the distance on the imperial steps of white jade, shrilly shouted, ”Wang Chong has arrived for his audience!”
From the gate to the depths of the palace, cries of affirmation rose one after another.
Wang Chong tidied his ceremonial robe and hat, and began to stride forward through the two rows of Imperial Guards. His steps were very measured, not too large or too small, too rushed or too slow. His back was erect as he advanced with confidence.
In terms of expression, demeanor, and actions, Wang Chong was flawless.
”This boy… Someone clearly taught him.”
In a place that Wang Chong couldn't see, several officials from the Chamberlain of Dependencies, dressed in crimson robes, stood on the high palace wall, their eyes twitching.
From the moment Wang Chong left, they had been keeping watch on him. They had even privately hired painters to draw his every action and expression.
Alas, whether or not there were people around, Wang Chong's conduct and actions were spotless, with no error to be found. It would truly be strange if no one had taught him this.
”There's no rush. At the last moment, he'll definitely encounter a problem. Everything has already been arranged,” another official sneered, turning his head toward the Taiji Palace at the very end of the path.
In the Imperial Palace, all was solemn and serene. Wang Chong walked along the path lined by Imperial Guards for a full hour before finally reaching the coiling dragon pool at the end.
Turning his head, Wang Chong was greeted by the Imperial Stairway, thousands of steps long, each step made from white jade. The sides of this path were lined by golden-armed guards, each of them exuding a powerful aura.
Their hands were pressed against golden sabers while their gazes were fixed straight ahead. It appeared like they were ready to strike at any time and cleave any person who appeared before them in two.
The Golden Guards were the elite of the palace's elite, all of them possessing formidable mental and physical fortitude. Those of weak will could easily end up frightened to death by this array of forces.
Wang Chong only glanced at them and smiled before beginning to ascend the Imperial Stairway, walking between the Golden Guards.
Wang Chong had experienced mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the southwest. His tempering on the battlefield meant that not only did these Golden Guards have no effect on him, some of them were so affected by that invisible aura he exuded that they almost lost their grip on their golden sabers.
Every several hundred steps was a platform twenty-some zhang long. Each of these platforms was full of civil and military officials attending the ceremony, with the higher-ranked standing on platforms further up the stairway.
All of them had most solemn expressions.
”This is the Qilin son of the Wang Clan?”
On these viewing platforms, the officials dressed in crimson ceremonial robes began to look over. Many people were already familiar with Wang Chong's name from the Regional Commanders incident, but this was their first time seeing him in the flesh.
”No wonder he was able to defeat Dalun Ruozan and Huoshu Huicang. He truly is a dragon among men. Just based on his admirable demeanor, none of the other scions or wastrels of the capital can compare.”
As countless gazes observed Wang Chong's ascent, many people, whether they liked Wang Chong or not, had to admit that Wang Chong's demeanor as he walked was not something that any normal person could compare to. He was truly an outstanding individual.
”Chong-er, your big uncle is truly happy for you.”
In the crowd, Wang Gen stroke his beard and smiled, a blissful expression on his face. He had left very early in the morning, skipping a visit to the Wang Clan and heading straight to the Imperial Palace to attend the ceremony.
For the victorious Wang Chong to be able to meet the Sage Emperor deep within the palace was an enormous honor, and he wished to personally witness the sight.
What might delight one could repulse others. Higher up on the Imperial Stairway, two loathing gazes had been watching Wang Chong this entire time.
”Hmph, so it was you. Don't get happy too early.”
On a high observation platform, the Tongluo Great General Abusi, dressed in a full suit of armor, peered down the stairs, his stare fixed on the blazing figure of Wang Chong.
A fierce snowstorm was slowly building up in his eyes.
Unlike Geshu Han or Gao Xianzhi, Abusi did not wield authority over any particular region, and his influence was not as powerful. However, as the leader of the famed Tongluo elite cavalry, Abusi still wielded significant power.
Purely in terms of martial arts, Abusi was a truly well-qualified Great General, on the same level as Geshu Han and Gao Xianzhi.
In the Regional Commanders incident, Wang Chong's memorial had been aimed at all the Hu of the world. Abusi was a Hu Great General, but for the sake of his ideals, he had been forced to kneel before the assembled officials.
Abusi's youngest son, Abutong, had challenged Wang Chong but ended up being hung from the banner of Deflecting Blade Manor, suffering a complete humiliation.
After these two incidents, how could Abusi not resent Wang Chong?