Today was a day of great importance for the Great Yan Imperial Capital.
From dawn till dusk, the people of the Imperial Capital could see enormous wooden carts laden with goods, entering the Imperial City through the Divine Martial Gate one after another under the protection of the Imperial Capital Brocade Clothing.
These were all rare treasures and exotic artifacts offered as tribute from various kingdoms, their significance immense.
When night fell, the Imperial Capital grew even more lively.
The Bright Lamp Bureau and the Imperial Guard patrolled the streets to maintain order, while soldiers kept watch from the high watchtowers to prevent any incidents.
The streets were a boiling sea of people. Beneath the black-eaved roofs, sedan chairs and fine horses navigated the crisscrossing lanes of the Hundred Treasures Workshop district where gentry and officials gathered in droves. White horses pulling carved carriages flowed in an endless stream, and lanterns formed a sea of light. Flower boats drifted on the river that ran through the Capital, with numerous Dancing Girls aboard, swaying their slender waists in graceful dances.
The Courtesans from the brothels in the eastern, southern, western, and northern districts sat in pavilions, holding pipas and displaying their musical talents. It was the new year holiday, so Confucian Scholars and students from the great Academies loved to gather in elegant private rooms. There, they would critique performances, request their favorite girls, and admire calligraphy, paintings, music, and chess, all while discussing the grand matters of life.
Drunken patrons crowded into inns and taverns, listening to storytellers recount all sorts of strange and bizarre tales from across the Central Plains World. For instance, there was the tale of a poor scholar who traveled far for the imperial examinations. He returned home successful and renowned, filled with righteous qi, only to discover that his wife was actually a Cyan Snake Demon. Or the story of how, within the Buddhist Heaven, a beautiful and pure nun—one who ate only vegetarian food and spent her days chanting scriptures to the rhythm of morning bells and evening drums—fell in love with a spirited young man of Taoism. Tales like these were endless.
This was all just the tip of the iceberg of the Great Yan Imperial Capital.
Only upon arriving did the envoys from many smaller kingdoms realize that the famed Era of Yong'an was truly worthy of its name.
As evening snow began to fall, the Royal Family and Nobility, along with high-ranking officials, flowed like a tide toward Changle Palace within the Imperial Palace. This was where the Emperor of Great Yan would host a banquet for the foreign envoys and representatives of the Three Religions.
Outside the gates of the Imperial Palace, snowflakes danced down. Thousands of palace lanterns hung in the air, illuminating Changle Palace as if it were daytime. Among the arriving guests were Martial Artists in mysterious bamboo hats following their masters, and Great Scholars and Gentlemen stroking their beards, conversing happily as they strode into Changle Palace. A Daoist in green robes holding a Duster, followed by several young Daoist Children, and a young Mage with one hand in a prayer gesture and the other holding a Zen Staff, all quietly took their seats. All the while, rings of the Imperial Guard patrolled every exit of the Imperial Palace.
The Eighth Prince, Lu Yunqing, also stepped down from his carriage. He tightened the white fox-fur cape around his shoulders. His gentle, jade-like scholar's disposition could not hide the green Python Pattern robe he wore beneath it.
"Eighth Brother!"
Lu Yunqing heard someone calling his name from a distance. Looking up, he saw a tall and sturdy giant of a man, nine feet tall and dressed in a dark green Python Robe. His bulging arm muscles strained the fabric of his clothes, giving him an extremely intimidating presence.
"So it's you, Third Brother."
Lu Yunqing immediately recognized the man and greeted him with a slight smile.
The newcomer was the Third Prince, Lu Guangyao.
He had shown immense talent for the Martial Dao from a young age, dedicating himself completely to his training. At five, he mastered External Force; at eight, he began Inner Cultivation. At just fifteen, he achieved Rebirth. By the time of his coming-of-age ceremony, he had successfully become a Grandmaster. Now, he was ranked among the highest echelons of Grandmasters—a true genius of the Martial Arts.
He was one of the few princes entrusted with great responsibility by their father, the Emperor, and was in command of the elite Tiger Camp within the Great Yan Imperial Guard.
"Hahaha, long time no see!"
Lu Guangyao let out a hearty, booming laugh and stepped forward to give Lu Yunqing a bear hug.
"Third Brother... I can't breathe!"
Held in the giant's embrace, Lu Yunqing's chest felt crushed to the point of suffocation. His face was a mask of exasperation.
Lu Guangyao immediately let him go, scratching his head with a huge hand and grinning sheepishly. "I got too excited. I've been with the army and haven't been back to the palace. It's been years since I've seen any of you."
His voice was like thunder, making Lu Yunqing's ears ring.
He had no choice but to summon the Confucian Taoist Righteous Qi within his body to protect his ears.
Lu Yunqing said, his interest waning, "Sixth Brother isn't here. This banquet isn't going to be much fun."
"That dandy? Why do you even care about him!"
Lu Guangyao shook his head, clearly looking down on this Lu Mingyuan fellow.
"Come on, let's go in together. I heard the Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh have all arrived."
The towering Lu Guangyao slung an arm over Lu Yunqing's shoulder and guided him toward Changle Palace.
Palace Maids were already waiting and led them to their designated seats.
The vast hall was flanked on both sides by envoys, Cabinet Ministers, and all the civil and military officials. The Dragon Throne sat in the very center. Their seats were fixed and located toward the back.
The seating arrangement was deeply meaningful; kingdoms that needed to be won over were given honored seats at the front, while those with already good relations were placed further back.
Lu Guangyao noticed many Great Scholars, Monks, and Daoists sitting opposite them and clicked his tongue. "I didn't expect representatives from the Three Religions to come as well."
Lu Yunqing shook his head and corrected him. "They aren't exactly representatives of the Three Religions, but rather from the Vajra Department Institute, the Thunder Pool Daoist Academy, and the Drumming Institute. These Three Academies are the institutions Great Yan uses to manage the Buddhist Dao, Taoism, and the Confucian Dao. They hold a rank equal to the Six Ministries. Their attendance at the state banquet is to give Great Yan face, and also to show these smaller kingdoms the strength of our nation's Cultivators."
Soon, a man in a Python Robe tailored in the style of a Daoist Robe sat down next to them. He was thin, with his long hair tied up in a crown. The moment he was seated, he closed his eyes to rest and began forming a Taoist Technique with his fingers.
Lu Guangyao let out a soft, sarcastic laugh. "Fourth Brother, you still haven't changed, have you? All day long, all you know is how to perform Alchemy in your residence, obsessed with Daoist Skills. That's not how Cultivation is supposed to be done."
The man in the Daoist Robe kept his eyes closed, showing no anger. His voice was light and airy as he replied, "What does it have to do with you, Third Brother? Aren't you overstepping?"
Lu Yunqing glanced at the man in the Daoist Robe. The ethereal, standoffish aura he exuded, which kept others at a thousand-li distance, made Lu Yunqing dismiss the thought of greeting him.
'In my memory, my Fourth Brother has always been like this.'
The Fourth Prince, Lu Guangren.
He was obsessed with Daoist Skills and practiced the Dharma Gates of a Qi Cultivator. He preferred peace and quiet, and seemed to be without any desires, locking himself in his residence all day to perform Alchemy.
Although the Second, Third, and Fourth Princes were all of the "Guang" generation and had similar names, their personalities were completely different.
They were not cut from the same cloth at all.
Soon, the other princes arrived and slowly took their seats.
Among them, the most eye-catching were the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince, who drew the gazes of everyone present.
Almost everyone knew that the vast foundation of Great Yan would most likely fall into the hands of one of these two.
The Eldest Prince, Lu Changfeng, was dressed in a purple Python Robe. He had a handsome face and was frequently conversing with an old man in a Confucian Shirt beside him, his expression deferential as he seemed to be asking for guidance on some matter.
The Second Prince, Lu Guangjing, held a wine goblet in his long, slender fingers. The way he swirled the cup was elegant and noble. Paired with his handsome features and fair, jade-like complexion, he drew squeals and shy, covered faces from countless young ladies of Noble Families and princesses from smaller kingdoms.
Seeing this neat lineup of his brothers, but with one person conspicuously absent, Lu Yunqing couldn't help but sigh again.
"The Sixth actually didn't come this time?"
The voice came from the Fifth Prince, Lu Mingkong, who was seated next to the Second Prince.
He had a playful look on his dark-complexioned face, a hint of ridicule surfacing:
"Oh, I almost forgot. That fellow is still in the Cold Palace. I'm afraid he can't get out."
"Sigh, what a pity. Today was supposed to be a day for brothers who haven't seen each other in a long time to reunite, yet someone couldn't resist the temptations of a beautiful woman and did such a foolish thing."
His tone was filled with regret.
Hearing these words, Lu Yunqing gritted his teeth. Even someone as mild-mannered as him couldn't help but clench his fists upon hearing such gloating, hypocritical remarks.
"Forget it, forget it. Let's not talk about him. A good-for-nothing like that can only spend the rest of his life in the Cold Palace."
Lu Yunqing could no longer hold back. He shot to his feet. Normally mild-tempered, he questioned Lu Mingkong, "What is the meaning of this?!"
"The Saint said: 'A Gentleman is inclusive, not factional; a petty man is factional, not inclusive.' What are you trying to stir up with those words!"
Lu Mingkong chuckled. "How impressive. Trying to use the Saint to pressure me again. But am I not speaking the truth? Would the Saint really protect a scoundrel like that? A guy who abducts women and frequents brothels every day? So the Saint is that magnanimous. I've certainly learned something today."
Hearing this, Lu Yunqing wanted to retort, but he realized that the other party was right. His Sixth Brother's reputation in the Capital was "infamous," to say the least. It was difficult for him to even say a few words in his defense.
As he fell silent, the surrounding representatives from smaller kingdoms and Immortal Influences began to whisper amongst themselves.
"That's right, all eight of the other princes are here for this grand banquet. Why didn't the Sixth Prince come?"
"You don't know? He let that Demoness from the Demon Country escape and was thrown into the Cold Palace by the Emperor of Great Yan. He's been confined for thirty years and is forbidden from leaving."
"What? The Demoness of the Demon Kingdom escaped and went back?! This is terrible! Great Yan fought hard to gain an advantage in the Northern Territory, and now it's been thrown away."
Seeing everyone bring up the case of the Demoness of the Demon Kingdom, the Eldest Prince, Lu Changfeng, looked quite displeased.
He could have used this matter to seize the upper hand in the struggle for the throne. If the Sixth hadn't let that Demoness go, his advantage would have been even greater.
"Enough, Eighth Brother. Don't make a scene. Sit down."
Hearing the coldness in his Eldest Brother's voice, Lu Yunqing froze.
He quickly realized he had been used as a pawn by Lu Mingkong.
He could only obey and sit down, glaring coldly at him.
'That guy… what a sinister mind.'
'He actually used me to provoke Eldest Brother.'
At that moment, however, a slight smile touched the lips of the Second Prince, Lu Guangjing.
After sitting down, Lu Mingkong also revealed a triumphant smile and sent a voice transmission to Lu Guangjing:
"Second Brother, a fine plan. First, you use the Eldest Prince to knock the Eighth Prince down a peg. We absolutely can't let that kid steal your thunder at the poetry gathering. Truly killing two birds with one stone."
Lu Guangjing replied coolly, "Eighth Brother and Sixth Brother have been the closest since childhood. I heard he even paid a visit to the Cold Palace not long ago. I just wanted to test their bond. I didn't expect it to still be this strong. We'll have to be wary of him."
"Alright, Eighth Brother, don't be angry. Your main event is coming up. Who doesn't know of your poetry? You'll have plenty of chances to get back at the Fifth later."
The Third Prince, Lu Guangyao, comforted Lu Yunqing from the side.
"I've long heard that your poems are the talk of the Imperial Capital, sung even in the brothels. Why not sell one to me so I can get through this poetry gathering? What do you say?"
A chubby man across from them, with thick brows, large, round eyes, and clad in a bright yellow Python Robe, asked with a wide grin.
"I'll pay one thousand taels of Gold."
Lu Yunqing shook his head firmly. "Not for sale."
"Five thousand taels, then. That should be enough."
"Not for sale. How can something like poetry be traded? Wouldn't that tarnish it? Seventh Brother, if you really need one, go ask someone else."
Lu Yunqing recognized him. It was the Seventh Prince, Lu Yunwan.
He was skilled in the art of maneuvering and had established merchant guilds, brothels, and casinos in the Imperial Capital and across Great Yan. His wealth was astonishing, with millions of taels of silver coming in every year.
Hearing that his eighth brother was unwilling to sell, Lu Yunwan's face showed a flicker of disappointment, but he quickly composed himself and put on a smile.
"No matter, no matter. I'll just enjoy the show then."
Soon, the entire hall fell silent.
Because the master of this Dynasty had appeared.
Emperor Yong'an appeared, draped in a Nine Dragon Emperor Robe with a Red Gold Flow Pattern. He wore the Jade and Algae Imperial Crown on his head and walked with the gait of a dragon and the stride of a tiger. With a eunuch by his side, he slowly took his seat on the Dragon Throne in the center. He radiated an intimidating aura without being angry, and as his gaze swept over everyone present, no one dared to meet his eyes.
"Let the poetry gathering officially begin!"
With a cry from the Imperial Eunuch, the grand banquet truly began.
「At that very moment.」
Among the contingent from the Taoist Sect, a woman in a Daoist Robe—her eyebrows slender like willow leaves, her dark hair coiled in a high chignon, her green robes making her look like a figure from a painting—swept her cold gaze past Emperor Yong'an.
It finally came to rest on the Fifth Prince, Lu Mingkong.
A frigid light flashed in her eyes.
...