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The next morning, Guo Huai got up, washed up, and after having breakfast, arrived at the palace of the Eastern Dragon Empire under the escort of his guards. At this time, Shangguan Ji was already waiting at the palace gate with a full court of Cui Wenwu officials.
When he saw Guo Huai's sedan chair, Shangguan Ji bowed towards it and said, "Shangguan Ji of the Eastern Dragon Empire, along with the Cui Wenwu officials, is here to welcome the arrival of the Imperial Envoy."
Guo Huai maintained his composure and did not lift the curtain of the sedan chair. He simply said lightly from within, "Your Majesty, you have worked hard. Please have someone take me to your study. I have a confidential matter to discuss with you, so it would be best if no one else is present."
Seeing Guo Huai's demeanor made Shangguan Ji very angry. He thought to himself: Who do you think you are to act so high and mighty? You're just a Chief Steward. How dare you put on airs in front of me? Just wait and see how I shatter your arrogance. However, after years of being an emperor, Shangguan Ji had cultivated a calm demeanor in the face of chaos. Although he disliked Guo Huai's attitude, he still smiled and said to the sedan chair:
"Understood, Imperial Envoy. Someone, please escort the Imperial Envoy to my study. The rest may disperse."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Most of the Cui Wenwu officials were quite dissatisfied with this Imperial Envoy Guo Huai. After all, their king had personally come to greet him; even if he was a high-ranking official, he could at least show his face. However, these ministers dared not voice their anger since Shangguan Ji had not said anything. They could only leave in frustration, and among them were many military officials, which was exactly what Shangguan Ji hoped for. After all, if conflict arose between the two nations, these military leaders would be the main force in battle.
In a moment unnoticed by others, Shangguan Ji revealed a smile that others could not comprehend.
Then Shangguan Ji led people to accompany Guo Huai until they reached the door of his study. Throughout the entire process, Guo Huai did not get out of the sedan chair. Even Mountain Uncle, who accompanied Shangguan Ji, frowned at this moment but did not show any excessive reaction under Shangguan Ji's signal.
As Guo Huai's sedan chair slowly descended, the guards beside him lifted the curtain. At this moment, Shangguan Ji respectfully said, "Imperial Envoy, this is my study; please enter."
After Guo Huai got out of the sedan chair, he looked up at the sky and said with his nostrils flaring slightly, "Except for Shangguan Ji, no one else is allowed to enter."
At this time, Mountain Uncle stepped forward: "Imperial Envoy, I am His Majesty's personal Chief Steward; may I..."
"Not even you as Chief Steward! Don't you know your own status? Shangguan Ji, how do you educate your subordinates? Don't they understand such basic rules?"
"Yes, it is my failure in managing my subordinates. Shanzi, you stay outside and await summons." Then Shangguan Ji gave Mountain Uncle a look; Mountain Uncle quickly understood what Shangguan Ji meant. So when Shangguan Ji and Guo Huai entered the study together, Mountain Uncle immediately gathered five hundred Imperial Guards.
At this moment, the thirty guards following Guo Huai were stunned. One of them stepped forward and asked, "This Eunuch, may I ask why you have summoned so many Imperial Guards?"
"This General, both the Imperial Envoy and our Majesty have entered the study. Shouldn't we strengthen our defenses? If something unexpected happens, those thirty men of yours won't be enough. Besides, isn't it the Imperial Guards who are responsible for security in the palace?"
The Three Eunuchs made a valid point, and the General had nothing to say. He could only lead his soldiers to stand a bit further away to avoid suspicion.
Guo Huai and Shangguan Ji entered the study one after the other. Once inside and seeing that there was no one else around, Guo Huai cleared his throat and said to Shangguan Ji, "Shangguan Ji, receive the Emperor's decree."
Shangguan Ji knelt down. "I, Shangguan Ji, King of the Eastern Dragon Empire, am here to receive orders. Today, a Rebel has assaulted the City Defense General in Bixi City, offending the Emperor's dignity. You are hereby ordered to urgently capture this Rebel and hand him over to Guo Huai for return. According to my investigation, this Rebel is a subject of your Starfall Kingdom named Liu Guanfeng. You have one month to deliver this person. This is an imperial command."
Shangguan Ji did not respond with "I accept the decree" but stood up instead. "Imperial Envoy, may I ask what crime Liu Guanfeng has committed that warrants his capture?"
"Your Majesty, did I not make myself clear? He injured the City Defense General in Bixi City and acted disrespectfully towards His Majesty. That is a serious offense."
"The crime is indeed serious, but I would like to ask you, Imperial Envoy. I have met this person and he does not seem like someone who would commit such acts."
"Hmph, what can you tell from appearances? If it were just about appearances, how would you know who is loyal and who is treacherous?"
"However, regarding Liu Guanfeng's incident in Bixi City, I have also heard some details. It does not seem as chaotic as Your Majesty described. During his time in Bixi City, he only went to Ruitian Auction House; how could he have had an unprovoked conflict with the City Defense General? When did he offend His Majesty?"
Guo Huai's expression immediately darkened. "Your Majesty, this matter does not seem to fall under your jurisdiction. You only need to carry out His Majesty's orders properly."
"Imperial Envoy, I should indeed follow His Majesty's orders; however, Liu Guanfeng is a subject of our Eastern Dragon Empire. If I do not clarify the circumstances of this matter, I cannot explain it to my people. Moreover, the person you wish to take away is not an ordinary subject but a prince of our Eastern Dragon Empire. Shouldn't I inquire about this?"
"A prince? Hmph! Your Majesty, how can that thief Liu Guanfeng be considered your prince? Are you trying to deceive me?"
"Deceive you? Imperial Envoy, this is my appointment letter. I appointed Liu Guanfeng as a prince of our Eastern Dragon Empire when he returned from Bixi City."
"Liu Guanfeng, how could someone so young and inexperienced be appointed as a prince by Your Majesty? Do you intend to show favoritism towards the Rebel?"
"Liu Guanfeng helped me eliminate the traitor Qin Hongguan, preventing an internal conflict in our empire. His contributions are significant. Moreover, I have heard that Qin Hongguan secretly colluded with certain high-ranking officials of the Guardian Nation to seek protection, which gave him such audacity. You say Liu Guanfeng has done me such a great service; shouldn't I confer a title upon him?"
What Shangguan Ji said was pointed, and the person he referred to was Guo Huai. Guo Huai had a great fondness for gold and silver jewelry. To find a protector for his rebellion, Qin Hongguan used a large amount of gold and silver to win over Guo Huai and learned from him about what Guo Xiaotian needed: the Game of the Supreme God. Thus, Qin Hongguan tasked Yelv Chuxing with helping to find it. However, just as he had found one and hadn't yet delivered it to Qin Hongguan, Liu Guanfeng defeated him with soldiers from Starfall City, and the hard-earned black token fell into Liu Guanfeng's hands.
Upon hearing Shangguan Ji's words, Guo Huai's expression changed dramatically, but he quickly regained his composure. "Your Majesty, do you mean to say you want to protect the Rebel?"
"I do not dare to protect the Rebel, but I need an excuse."
Guo Huai secretly laughed: finally starting to negotiate with me.
"What kind of excuse do you want, Your Majesty? His Majesty once promised that as long as you could hand over Liu Guanfeng, you would be exempt from tribute for three years from the Eastern Dragon Empire. How about that?"
"Three years is indeed considerable, but Imperial Envoy, this is not an excuse."
"Your Majesty, isn't your appetite a bit too big? Exempting you from three years of tribute should be enough for you to find an excuse."
"An excuse cannot be found through tribute; what I need is a genuine excuse."
"Shangguan Ji, aren't you being a bit ungrateful? His Majesty only asked you to capture someone, and you're showing such resistance? Do you wish to rebel?"
Guo Huai's mention of rebellion ignited Shangguan Ji's anger. He sneered coldly: "Rebel? Who am I rebelling against? Guo Xiaotian? He is merely the spokesperson of the Guardian on this continent; does he really think he is the Guardian? Let us not forget that the peace of the Knight Continent was bought with the lives of our four empires' ancestors alongside the Guardian. If there is rebellion, then I would rebel against this unjust spokesperson. For his own selfish desires, he wants me to bind our nation's contributors and send them away. What kind of spokesperson for the Guardian is he? Even if I were to reach the Guardian, I would have my say.
And you are just a mere Chief Steward of internal affairs, coming to my empire under the guise of Imperial Envoy to act tyrannically. Do you really think you are Guo Xiaotian? Even if Guo Xiaotian himself came here, he would not be as arrogant and rude as you are. Today, I will teach his subordinates a lesson on behalf of Guo Xiaotian."
"Shangguan Ji, what do you intend to do? I am an Imperial Envoy." Although Guo Huai was Guo Xiaotian's Chief Steward of internal affairs, he himself had no martial skills. It was precisely because of this that he became Guo Xiaotian's Chief Steward; he relied on his intelligence and ability to adapt to earn Guo Xiaotian's favor.
At this moment, he saw Shangguan Ji coming to teach him a lesson, and he panicked. However, Shangguan Ji was already burning with rage. Although he did not use the Fighting Qi within him, his fists were still not something Guo Huai, who had no martial arts skills at all, could withstand. With just one punch, Shangguan Ji broke Guo Huai's nose, causing blood to flow, and with two more punches, he knocked out four or five of Guo Huai's teeth.
Outside, the people suddenly heard a scream from the study that sounded like a pig being slaughtered. Mountain Uncle stood firmly with the Imperial Guards around the study. At the same time, a brilliant smile appeared on Mountain Uncle's face. However, the guards who had come with Guo Huai changed their expressions; they recognized that the scream had come from Guo Huai.
The leader of the guards immediately approached Mountain Uncle and said, "Mountain Uncle, what exactly happened in the study? It sounded like it was the voice of Guo Huai, the Imperial Envoy."
"General, please remain calm. If something were to happen to the Imperial Envoy, our Majesty would surely issue an order. However, since we have not heard any command from His Majesty, it is likely that the Imperial Envoy is just facing a minor issue that is not serious."
At this moment, the screams in the room continued unabated. The leader of the guards could no longer stand still. He brought all his guards to Mountain Uncle and said, "Mountain Uncle, please let us in."
"The Imperial Envoy personally instructed that no outsiders are allowed inside. Do you wish to defy this order?"
Just then, Guo Huai's voice cried out for help. The leader replied, "Even if it means disobeying orders, I must go in today."
Mountain Uncle sneered, "This is the palace of the Eastern Dragon Empire; do you dare to force your way in?" With those words from Mountain Uncle, five hundred Imperial Guards behind him immediately surrounded the thirty guards of Guo Huai outside. Each one held a gleaming Steel Blade; if these men dared to take another step forward, they would likely be met with bloodshed.
Meanwhile, Mountain Uncle smiled at the leader. After assessing the situation around him, the leader had no choice but to withdraw his men. He glanced at the study and thought to himself: Chief Steward Guo, you can only hope for your own good fortune now. We truly cannot help you anymore. He shook his head with a sigh and stepped back.
Inside the study, Shangguan Ji was already covered in blood; however, all this blood belonged to Guo Huai. At this point, Guo Huai was far from resembling the dignified Imperial Envoy he had been at first; both his nose and mouth were bleeding as he crawled under the desk. No matter how much Shangguan Ji cursed and beat him, he refused to come out and his tone had drastically changed:
"Your Majesty, please spare me! I promise I won't dare again. Just let me live!"
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