"Lu Yan, if you're not confident of victory, it doesn't matter. I'll send someone else." King Xia Jie's voice was cold. He stood in front of Lu Yan, and behind him, Xing Tian, the god representing Li Xia, stood gilded all over.
For a moment, against the golden light, King Xia Jie fully showed the majesty of an emperor, looking like an all - powerful sovereign.
But who could know that this seemingly all - powerful monarch had already been devoured by the pedantic and antiquated Li Xia court.
Factional strife, greed, corruption... King Xia Jie had long lost the shrewdness and open - mindedness he had when he first ascended the throne. Beneath his majestic appearance, all that remained were suspicion, doubt, and some inexplicable arrogance.
Lu Yan looked at him and suddenly felt a bit sad.
Despite this, he still knelt on one knee and said firmly, "Your subject... accepts the order!"
Lu Yan knew he had no choice. Since King Xia Jie had said so, if he refused, the tiger tally would be taken back on the spot.
Once the tiger tally was taken back, it would sooner or later fall into the hands of Li Yanqing. To ensure that Xia Chuli could smoothly inherit the throne, Li Yanqing must not be allowed to obtain too much military power.
As for the likes of Qi Shuhuan, they first sent Xing Zhiyuan to Lu Yan's side as a so - called "military supervisor" with ulterior motives, and then forced Lu Yan directly into the spotlight and sent him far to Qimen. It seemed that Lu Yan's battle was fraught with danger, with internal traitors and external powerful alien enemies. However, in fact, Lu Yan wasn't really worried.
After all, when it really came to the battlefield and he held the military power, whether Qi Shuhuan wanted to use the power of the Donghu to weaken his strength or wanted him to die at the hands of the Donghu, Lu Yan wouldn't let him have his way.
Lu Yan had been a warrior all his life. He had been taken to the battlefield by Lu Jiang since he was a child and had experienced hundreds of battles, big and small. The battlefield was ever - changing, all depending on the general's strategic planning. Qi Shuhuan thought he could restrain Lu Yan with just a little trick in Lige City. He was being overconfident.
Seeking victory in danger and making a comeback from desperation - a wild glint flashed in Lu Yan's eyes. This was something that could excite any soldier. And this kind of challenge gave Lu Yan great stimulation invisibly. Just like a wolf that belonged to the battlefield smelled the flying snow in the north and slowly raised its unruly head. In the far - reaching gaze, the long - silent blood in his veins began to boil.
The title of "Cold - faced Hades, Marquis of Dingbei" was not unfounded.
It was a pity that Lu Yan had his head down all the time, so King Xia Jie couldn't see his expression clearly.
"Good." King Xia Jie looked at Lu Yan kneeling in front of him, then flicked his sleeve and turned around. "The great god Xing Tian is here. I've already prayed for you. Now it's your turn."
Lu Yan nodded slightly, stood up, and strode towards one of the three kneeling cushions in front of the statue of Xing Tian. Then he flicked his robe and knelt down gracefully.
He was like a majestic war god. His back was straight, his eyebrows and eyes were resolute, and his cold eyes held the sharpness condensed from years of wind and frost in the north. That sharpness was like cold iron and frost. Many petty officials had been crushed in front of him, but he became more and more valiant in battle and stood firm as ever.
"Great god Xing Tian is here. Please accept your subject's worship." Lu Yan was neither overbearing nor humble as he bowed his head.
Unexpectedly, King Xia Jie suddenly stepped forward. Just as Lu Yan stood up, he put a hand on Lu Yan's shoulder and asked, "Lu Yan, do you miss your father?"
Lu Yan was stunned. He didn't know why King Xia Jie would suddenly say this. He looked up and saw that King Xia Jie, who was talking to him, was slightly tilting his head and staring intently at the golden statue of Xing Tian.
Lu Yan paused for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Your subject's younger brother will inherit his father's legacy. Your subject's younger brother will guarantee with his life that he will defend the mountains and rivers of Li Xia."
"Well said." King Xia Jie suddenly laughed silently. He didn't laugh often, and perhaps because of this, his smile seemed to carry some other meaning.
"The Lu family is loyal and heroic. I keep it in mind, especially your father." King Xia Jie looked at the statue of Xing Tian, moved his lips, and said, "So I'll fulfill your wish and bestow Shen Qingfeng to you in marriage. When you return victorious, we'll start preparing for the wedding... Recently, I've heard that Shen Qingfeng and you have been in close contact. It seems that you two get along well?"
Lu Yan paused, and his whole body stiffened immediately.
Did King Xia Jie know about his relationship with Shen Qingfeng?
Was it discovered, or was it a trap set by Xia Yonglin? Or was he just testing him?
"Your Majesty... Your subject..."
Just as Lu Yan was about to say something, King Xia Jie suddenly interrupted him: "Don't worry. This marriage was bestowed by me. When you return victorious, I'll surely celebrate for you!"
Lu Yan's heart was pounding wildly. In the blink of an eye, he quickly reacted, composed himself, stood up straight, put on an excited expression on his face, and bowed to King Xia Jie. "Your subject's younger brother thanks Your Majesty for your kindness!"
-
Lu Yan's back disappeared at the palace gate. King Xia Jie watched expressionlessly and said, "Chen Qi."
Chen Qi, who had been standing at the gate, heard the order, quickly stepped in, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, do you have any orders?"
King Xia Jie shifted his eyes and said, "Draft an imperial edict - I appreciate that Minister Qi has dedicated himself to his duties, and his youngest son is filial and virtuous. Also, Li Yanqing, the military advisor, is both civil and military, and he has now reached the age of twenty. So I bestow them in marriage and they shall get married soon."
Chen Qi paused and said, "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Dingbei hasn't left Lige yet. Isn't it a bit too early to issue this imperial edict?"
King Xia Jie glanced at him, seemingly waiting for Chen Qi to continue.
Chen Qi understood and said, "Your servant thinks that it would be better to announce the news of the bestowed marriage to the common people as soon as the Marquis of Dingbei leaves Lige. This can also dampen the marquis's spirit."
King Xia Jie nodded in satisfaction and said, "Alright. Then issue the edict as soon as he leaves Lige. And don't delay the wedding. Let them get married immediately!"
Chen Qi raised his eyebrows and said in a shrill voice, "Your servant obeys the order."
King Xia Jie stood with his hands behind his back, turned his head to look at the statue of Xing Tian behind him, and the corner of his mouth curled up into a strange smile again. Then, as if he was suddenly in a great mood, he turned to Chen Qi and asked, "Do you think I should give Lu Jiang a posthumous title?"
Chen Qi knew King Xia Jie's mind best and quickly flattered him, "Your Majesty is wise. Surely the Marquis of Dingbei will be grateful."
King Xia Jie asked again, "Then what posthumous title do you think is suitable?"
Chen Qi thought for a while and said, "Your servant thinks the character 'loyal' is very good."
"Loyal?" King Xia Jie repeated. He paused for a moment, and the next moment, he suddenly burst into a fit of laughter.
Seeing King Xia Jie getting excited, Chen Qi quickly advised, "Your Majesty, take care of your health."
"Good! What a 'loyal'! Hahaha!" King Xia Jie covered his head and laughed uncontrollably. He didn't care about Chen Qi at all. He just kept laughing. Finally, he covered his mouth and coughed, scaring Chen Qi into quickly stepping forward to pat his back. But King Xia Jie seemed not to care. He pushed Chen Qi away and said maniacally, "Chen Qi! Draft an imperial edict for me!"