However, deep in his heart, he was in a gloomy mood. These events were no less than a series of slaps on his face.
Rong Jiangyu pursed his lips and looked at the people at the door. At this moment, a chorus of gasps and whispers came from them, even louder than when Rong Jiangyu had first arrived.
No need to guess. The person outside was most likely Rong Xun.
That narcissistic fellow was always the center of attention wherever he went.
Meanwhile, Tang Youyou sat calmly in her seat, quietly watching Rong Xun strut up to Rong Jiangyu. His demeanor was neither overbearing nor humble.
He didn't look the least bit like a guest in a foreign land.
This truly astonished all the ministers.
The Western Region ministers had long known that the emperor of the Great Ming Empire was a cold - blooded tyrant. Under his iron - fisted rule, there had never been any uprisings or unrest.
The reason was simple. Beneath his amiable exterior lay a cruel heart.
Tang Youyou watched as Rong Xun stood upright, showing no sign of sitting down. There was a hint of mocking playfulness in his eyes.
"Long time no see. Big brother has now become an emperor," Rong Xun said, his purple heterochromatic eyes locking with Rong Jiangyu's. A faint smile played on his lips.
Hearing Rong Xun's words, even Rong Jiangyu, with his usually good temper, felt his composure cracking.
In front of everyone, he forced a smile and, looking at the flamboyantly arriving Rong Xun, said respectfully, "It is truly an honor for the Western Region to have the emperor of the Great Ming Empire here."
"Since my younger brother has traveled such a long way, please take your seat."
Saying this, Rong Jiangyu motioned for Rong Xun to sit on the left side, directly below his own seat and closest to the dais. This was the seat reserved for the most honored guest.
One could say that Rong Jiangyu had shown as much tolerance as he could towards Rong Xun. However, the man in front of him showed no intention of sitting down.
He still stared at Rong Jiangyu, as if waiting for him to make a decision or give up something.
For the first time, Rong Jiangyu felt the real pressure from Rong Xun. He had thought that since he had become the khan of the Western Region, he had achieved something. But now, in front of Rong Xun, he felt like a joke.
He looked around at the pavilions and towers. There were several black - clad men in each corner, and it was obvious that they had been brought by Rong Xun.
If a fight were to break out, even on his own turf, his chances of winning were only thirty percent. Each of the men in Rong Xun's retinue was no ordinary person.
They were all death - servants who had survived countless hardships. Rong Jiangyu didn't even know their origins. He had no idea what had happened to Rong Xun during the time he had disappeared.
Rong Jiangyu was on pins and needles. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, forced himself to calm down, and then said with a smile, "Big brother has traveled a long way. Since you're tired, you should take your seat at the banquet earlier. We can have a good chat then."
His words were as gentle as possible, but for Rong Xun, who was impervious to persuasion, it was all in vain. Rong Xun still stood there motionless.
This left all the ministers stunned. They whispered to each other, voicing their own opinions. Some even said that Rong Xun was being ungrateful.
Tang Youyou, on the other hand, sat in her chair, munching on the food served by the beautiful maids and savoring the fragrance of the osmanthus cakes. She calmly watched the two tigers square off.
If either of them fell, it would be beneficial for her.
Just then, Tang Youyou suddenly felt a strange discomfort in her stomach, as if something was constantly hitting her abdomen.
Ouch!
It hurt!
However, the pain only lasted for a moment. Tang Youyou gently rubbed her stomach. With a haggard face covered in sweat, she looked at Rong Xun.
She knew that it was the baby in her belly causing a ruckus. This was something she had to go through as the baby grew.
She endured the pain and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. At that moment, she noticed that Rong Xun had already fixed his eyes on her.
Rong Xun sneered, "You and I are both rulers. But this seating arrangement is a bit inappropriate, isn't it? Shouldn't we be equal?"
Just when Rong Jiangyu was at a loss, he saw Rong Xun, who had stopped mid - sentence, walking step by step towards Tang Youyou in the distance.
At this moment, Rong Jiangyu's face turned completely black. He knew that Rong Xun had recognized Tang Youyou.
But he wouldn't allow this man to have any contact with Tang Youyou.
Rong Jiangyu quickly said, "Since big brother has said so, I'll arrange a seat right next to mine. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Rong Xun didn't stop his steps. Instead, he got closer and closer to Tang Youyou until he stopped right in front of her.
Rong Xun asked, "What's your name?"
Tang Youyou remained unmoved and silent. She just sat there, looking straight ahead.
Rong Xun then smiled, flicked his sleeve, and sat directly next to Tang Youyou. The two of them were now sitting openly on the same bench.
Seeing this, a hint of unease finally appeared on Tang Youyou's usually calm face. She frowned and looked at Rong Xun beside her.
Rong Xun also looked up at Rong Jiangyu, who was clenching his fists under the table. He laughed arrogantly and said, "No need. I'll just sit next to this young man. Since this is your Western Region's way of treating guests, I won't follow the rules."
"Social constraints are only for those who have no ability to resist. I'm someone you can never even dream of reaching."
Rong Xun's words instantly ignited Rong Jiangyu's anger. Rong Jiangyu had been competing with him for a lifetime. He had pretended to be crazy and endured humiliation for years to achieve his current status. But in front of Rong Xun, all his efforts seemed like a joke.
How ironic!
Hearing this, Rong Jiangyu slapped the table angrily and roared, "How dare you! Since big brother is in my Western Region, you must follow the rules. Could it be that the wise emperor of a great nation wants to be a debauched and disrespectful tyrant?"
Facing Rong Jiangyu's public accusation, Rong Xun calmly replied, "When have I ever claimed to be a wise emperor? I've always liked a debauched life. What's wrong with being a tyrant? What do the common people of this world matter to me? What does this world matter to me?"