A quarter of an hour later, Liu Lang's sedan chariot left Tianhe Hall and marched toward Jiu'an Hall.
Liu Lang was sitting on the sedan chair, followed by Chai Yan and Gu Zhengbang besides Pei Yang, Xu Mao and a few other eunuchs.
As for Funing, he followed the honor guard procession.
As he walked, Chai Yan looked at the emperor's ceremonial guard and numerous entourage, and couldn't help but ask Gu Zhengbang: "Master Gu, the emperor comes out for a visit. This battle array is really luxurious and magnificent!"
Gu Zhengbang smiled, but before he could reply, Liu Lang, who was sitting on the dragon chariot, spoke.
"Do you think this happens every day? It's just today, but you think about it on weekdays!" Liu Lang glanced at Chai Yan and then looked straight ahead.
Chai Yan smiled and said: "Your Majesty, your ears are really good, you can hear all this."
"Nonsense, I have a good ear!" Liu Lang replied.
Chai Yan was happy but didn't answer.
After walking a few steps forward, Liu Lang suddenly waved to Chai Yan.
Chai Yan understood and immediately came closer and said: "Your Majesty, I am here."
Liu Lang asked softly: "Is there an explanation for the death of the deputy envoy of the Muyue Kingdom?"
"Go back to the emperor and commit suicide by cutting your wrists." Chai Yan replied in a suppressed voice.
Liu Lang asked: "Has it been verified?"
Chai Yan said responsibly: "Back to the emperor, Wei Chen and Chief Hang carefully inspected the scene. It is indeed a suicide. There is no doubt!"
"Well..." Liu Lang nodded, paused and said, "I will tell you the details later when I have time."
Chai Yan immediately raised his hands and said, "Wei Chen understands."
Then, Liu Lang raised his hand and waved lightly, and Chai Yan immediately stepped away from the sedan chariot, returned to Gu Zhengbang's side, and followed the team towards Jiu'an Hall.
.....................
The word "Jiu'an" in Jiu'an Temple refers to the word "Jiu'an", which simply means long-lasting peace and stability.
Usually, if there are any major festival celebrations or sacrificial activities in the country, whenever a large banquet is needed, they will choose to hold it in Jiu'an Hall, because the place here is spacious enough, and with the open area in front of the hall, hundreds of civil and military officials can gather there.
It can sit down.
When Chai Yan followed the emperor's sedan chair to the front of Jiu'an Hall, all the officials had already taken their seats.
Seeing the arrival of the sedan chariot and the ceremonial guard, everyone immediately became quiet, and then everyone bowed and saluted Liu Lang's sedan chariot, respectfully welcoming the arrival of the holy driver.
At this moment, the scene was huge and majestic.
Chai Yan experienced such a scene for the first time and was immediately shocked.
Soon, Liu Lang got down from the sedan chair with Pei Yang waiting on him.
"Gu Aiqing, Chai Yan, you follow me." Liu Lang turned around and ordered.
Gu Zhengbang and Chai Yan immediately raised their hands and responded in unison: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Next, Liu Lang, accompanied by Chai Yan, Gu Zhengbang and others, walked along the straight passage in the middle towards Jiu'an Hall.
During this period, many officials sitting outside the palace noticed Chai Yan. Many people had questions in their minds, wondering who this young man in ordinary and even shabby clothes was and why he could follow the emperor with Commander Gu.
Where did it come from?
But the officials could only ask themselves these questions in their hearts. The only thing they could do was to steal a few glances at Chai Yan and cast a confused look.
Chai Yan was not unaware of these strange looks, but he could only pretend to be nonchalant and follow the emperor quietly.
While walking, Chai Yan saw that the dishes were already placed on the table where the officials were sitting. Although the types and portions of the dishes were not many, they looked very delicate and exquisite.
Chai Yan thought curiously: These must be the state banquet, and he doesn’t know how the food tastes.
While thinking about it, Chai Yan followed Liu Lang and quickly entered Jiu'an Hall.
The seats in Jiu'an Hall are high-ranking state ministers, such as the ministers of the six departments, ministers, generals with outstanding achievements, etc. They all have a place.
Chai Yan had just walked a few steps into the hall when he saw the figure of his future father-in-law, Jimoshu. He was sitting very close to the front, in the first row below the dragon table. At this time, he was standing outside the table, like everyone else.
He bowed and raised his hands to greet the emperor's arrival.
Chai Yan looked at Jimoshu for a while and found that he always maintained a saluting posture and did not even raise his eyes to look at him during the process.
Looking away, Chai Yan looked to the other side and suddenly found that Sun Luochang and the old generals were sitting in the front row. They were also saluting respectfully to welcome the emperor's arrival.
Amidst the sound of instrumental music and the respectful greetings of the ministers, Liu Lang, dressed in imperial robes, walked through the crowd of ministers, climbed a few steps and came behind the dragon case.
Gu Zhengbang and Chai Yan stopped at the bottom of the steps. Only Pei Yang followed up and stood beside Liu Lang with his head bowed.
Liu Lang turned around and stood still, then raised his hands in an extraordinary manner and said loudly to the hall: "Without courtesy, all ministers, please take your seats!"
After saying that, Liu Lang sank down and sat on the dragon chair. However, his sitting posture seemed to be a little more upright, so he must be a little tired.
At this time, Pei Yang, who was standing next to him, sang loudly at the top of his voice: "The emperor has decreed that all ministers, without courtesy, please take your seats immediately!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty for your grace!"
A uniform reply immediately sounded in the hall.
Afterwards, there were waves of chairs moving and crashing in Jiu'an Hall, and the ministers returned to the desks one after another and took their seats one by one.
Liu Lang did not forget Gu Zhengbang. He smiled slightly at Gu Zhengbang who was standing under the dragon case and said calmly: "Gu Aiqing, please take a seat too."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Gu Zhengbang thanked him, took three steps back, then turned around and sat down in his seat.
"Chai Yan."
Chai Yan was looking at Gu Zhengbang when he suddenly heard Liu Lang calling him.
"Wei Chen is here." Chai Yan responded quickly and immediately turned his attention.
Liu Lang said in a gentle tone: "Chai Yan, there is no place for you in the palace today, so I can only ask you to stand next to me."
"Your Majesty, I am not aggrieved. It is too late for me to be happy." Chai Yan cupped his hands and replied happily.
Liu Lang nodded with satisfaction and said, "Come closer to me."
"Yes." Chai Yan did not hesitate and immediately climbed up the steps and came to Liu Lang's side.
This scene made most of the officials in the palace secretly surprised. Everyone was wondering who this young man in ordinary clothes was, and why the emperor favored him so much. He actually named him and followed him!
Jimoshu, who was sitting in the seat, understood this situation and turned his eyes to Gu Zhengbang opposite.
Gu Zhengbang, who happened to be opposite him, was also looking at Jimoshu. After their eyes met, Jimoshu shook his head slightly and smiled, and Gu Zhengbang also smiled.
As for Sun Luochang and the old generals, their expressions did not show any surprise, only nervousness and expectation.
Chai Yan just stood next to the dragon case for a while and found that his and Pei Yang's positions were somewhat symmetrical. He immediately felt a little awkward and thought to himself, "What's going on with you, Your Majesty? How can you arrange a eunuch position for me?"
Just as I was thinking about this, the music in Jiu'an Hall stopped...
Then, Liu Lang's voice was heard: "My dear friends, before the banquet begins, there will be a duel between the warriors of our country and the warriors of Pitz..."
This is something that everyone knows, cares about and expects. Therefore, the palace is very quiet, and the expressions of the officials are also extremely serious.
"...I think my dear friends have been waiting for a long time, so I don't have much to say! Pei Yang, please ask someone to call the warriors of the Piz Kingdom to come into the palace!" Liu Lang said loudly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Pei Yang immediately responded, then walked aside and whispered a few instructions to a young eunuch, who immediately trotted away.
As soon as the young eunuch left, a minister stood up in front of the palace and asked, "May I ask, Your Majesty, if you can tell your ministers who the warrior we are going to send is?"
This question was also something that many people wanted to ask. Immediately, many people nodded their heads, and all curious eyes fell on Liu Lang's face.
Liu Lang smiled slightly, stretched out his hand to Chai Yan beside him, and said: "Here, the man I brought here is the warrior who will fight against the people of Piz!"
With a "boom", the Jiu'an Hall exploded.
Except for a few insiders, no one expected that the person who was going to represent the country in a duel with the people of Pitz would actually be a weak scholar.
"Your Majesty, are you kidding us?"
"Your Majesty, it concerns the country's reputation, so please think twice about your selection!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, this matter is important and cannot be so hasty!"
Immediately, many ministers could not sit still. While speaking one after another, they all cast questioning glances at Chai Yan.
---------------------------------------
PS: 2020 will be here in two days. I wish you all a Happy New Year in advance! Also, don’t forget to give DaMi a monthly ticket and a tip, hehe...