Aurelian Dragon watched Zuo Lanxin walk into the house, muttering to himself, "This little girl, she won't even let me in the door, what an outrageous thing to do! Hmph, do you think I'd eat you up?"
But there was no other way. Since he had already acted like a hero in front of the beauty, he couldn't use the same methods he used to use to woo women and shamelessly follow her in.
Thinking about it, it's really funny. Lynette Quill and Obsidia Shade are both beautiful and charming, not to mention the stunning Phoenix Vane. Even Ba Feng, who is currently serving me, is just as beautiful as Zuo Lanxin. Yet, I still have designs on her. Maybe that's just a man's nature. Because what you can't have seems especially desirable.
Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over him, making him feel as if someone was spying on him in the dark, and as if he were prey being watched by a wild beast, causing him to feel inexplicably palpitations.
Aurelian Dragon took a deep breath, channeling his inner energy into his meridians, and focused his mind to examine everything closely. In that instant, his mind became like a still ancient well, reflecting every movement and event around him in minute detail.
The footsteps and conversations of pedestrians in the distance, the sounds of people moving around nearby, the laughter of children, and even the faint chirping of birds in the trees all painted a vivid picture in his mind.
To his disappointment, he found nothing unusual; everything was quiet and peaceful, filling the space he had created in his mind with a serene atmosphere.
As he tried to examine the scene further, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and his body swayed slightly. All the images receded like the tide.
Aurelian Dragon knew this was due to overexertion; her power couldn't sustain it for too long, and forcing herself to continue would cause immense harm to her body and mind.
He shook his head, a small question lingering in his mind, and walked away from the place.
As soon as Aurelian Dragon returned to Flying Phoenix Palace, Lynette Quill rushed up to him and said urgently, "I was just about to send someone to find you."
Aurelian Dragon asked, "What is it?"
"What is it? Have you forgotten that His Majesty wants to see you?" Lynette Quill said.
Obsidia Shade and the Eight Guards carried the clothes out from the back hall. Obsidia Shade said gracefully, "Master, congratulations!"
Dafeng stepped forward to help Aurelian Dragon remove his robes, saying, "I think His Majesty's audience with the young master this time is to bestow upon him the title of Commander of Ten Thousand Cavalry."
Lynette Quill said, "That's natural. The Commander of Ten Thousand Cavalry is appointed by His Majesty himself, which is why we have this audience!"
Sanfeng chuckled, "It's not just about being the commander of ten thousand cavalry, is it? There might be other rewards as well!"
Wu Feng was squatting down to change Aurelian Dragon's boots when she heard this, and looked up at him with her pretty face and said, "Perhaps it's a reward like a beautiful woman or gold and pearls."
Aurelian Dragon chuckled and said, "That would be ideal!"
Lynette Quill playfully punched him lightly, saying in a slightly reproachful tone, "With so many of us here, aren't you still not enough?!"
Aurelian Dragon said in a serious tone, "I always appreciate more beautiful women!"
These words caused an uproar among the women. Lynette Quill was the first to retort, coquettishly asking, "Things? You're saying we're those kinds of things?"
Only then did Aurelian Dragon realize that he had offended everyone with his careless words. He quickly apologized with a smile and tried to appease them. Through his silver tongue, he managed to doodle and persuade the women to stop being angry and start laughing. Even so, Aurelian Dragon still received a few light punches and countless eye rolls during this time.
After a period of laughter and merriment, with the help of the women, Aurelian Dragon finally donned her magnificent attire and rode off with Lynette Quill towards Sanssouci Palace in the eastern part of the capital.
※ ※ ※
Sanssouci Palace in Fast is actually a colossal castle located within the city of Esnia. Enclosed by walls eight feet high and three feet thick is a magnificent and imposing complex of palaces, vast in scale and imposing in its grandeur. The entire complex consists of elevated platforms, offering a sense of overlooking all living beings from atop them.
It was originally named Sanssouci Palace for two reasons: first, the palace itself was free from worries and wouldn't be conquered; second, it was hoped that its inhabitants would live carefree and happy lives. But are the inhabitants truly happy now? Only they themselves know.
Passing through the Xuan Yue Gate, one arrives at a large plaza capable of holding tens of thousands of people. At first glance, Aurelian Dragon was truly astonished to find such a magnificent and spectacular space inside.
Sanssouci Palace is a standard example of bilateral symmetry, with the main buildings situated on the central axis.
Only after crossing the white jade bridge over the Jinshui River can you reach the true main hall.
Lynette Quill waited in the entrance hall of Sanssouci Palace, while Aurelian Dragon, led by an attendant, proceeded to the audience hall.
Upon arriving at the spacious and elegant reception hall, one finds more than a dozen ministers already chatting and laughing.
Upon seeing Aurelian Dragon enter, a handsome man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven, dressed in magnificent aristocratic attire, greeted him with a smile, saying, "This must be Aurelian Dragon Ye Qianqi, who rose to fame in the Battle of Tianfeng?" He then took Aurelian Dragon's hand, sizing him up, "Meeting you today, you are indeed a rare talent!" The man's voice was extremely pleasant, carrying a strange, penetrating power.
"Who are you...?" Aurelian Dragon asked, looking at the enthusiastic and handsome man before her with a hint of confusion. The man's eyes were the most striking feature; his deep blue eyes, like the sky, shone with a captivating light, revealing his shrewdness and resourcefulness.
At this moment, a burly man in his forties, who was following behind the handsome man, introduced him: "This is His Highness Prince Elnario, the Third Prince of the Empire!"
Aurelian Dragon quickly bowed and said, "This humble general, Aurelian Dragon, pays respects to Your Highness!"
Before Aurelian Dragon could bow, Prince Elnario grabbed his shoulders and said repeatedly, "No need for such formalities!"
Looking at Prince Elnario before her, Aurelian Dragon couldn't help but feel jealous. Undeniably, Prince Elnario was incredibly handsome, with slightly wavy blond hair, skin as smooth as white jade, and a tall, straight figure, only slightly shorter than Aurelian Dragon. Adorned in magnificent and noble attire, he was truly a refined and elegant gentleman, a rare gem in this turbid world.
Aurelian Dragon is actually a very charming man, but he feels like a boor when he's with Prince Elnario.
I'd heard of Aurelian Dragon before; the third prince of Fast was both scholarly and martial, his skills honed under the tutelage of the Snow Mountain Elder, one of the three greatest masters of the continent. His twin dragon spears were virtually unmatched. I never imagined he was so handsome; the Creator truly favored him. I imagine Prince Elnario would be the center of attention at any time and in any place.
Just as Aurelian Dragon was racing through his thoughts, Prince Elnario introduced him to the imposing man, who turned out to be Count Marco Bwe, the Governor of the Southern Capital and a very influential figure in the capital. The man had long arms and legs, a square face, and large, piercing eyes; one look was enough to tell he was a formidable character.
Marco Bwe took Aurelian Dragon's hand with a smile and whispered, "Thousand Riders are celebrities now, we should get closer to each other!" As he spoke, he tightened his grip on her hand.
Aurelian Dragon secretly cried out, "My God!" He felt the tiger's hand gripping his hand become like a hot iron, the sharp internal force containing it threatening to crush his hand bones. He knew that the man in front of him was a formidable expert who wanted to humiliate him.
Aurelian Dragon endured the excruciating pain, straining his strength to hold on, waiting for an opportunity to counterattack, while maintaining a composed smile on his face: "Your Excellency, the Southern Governor, you have such great strength! Such enthusiasm is truly unbecoming of this humble official!"
Marco Bwe felt a continuous internal force emanating from the hand being held, making it impossible for him to subdue the other party for the time being. He couldn't help but strengthen the internal force in his hand again, attempting to crush Aurelian Dragon in one fell swoop. Instantly, a red light appeared between their tightly clenched hands, flowing between their palms and fingers.
A series of excruciating pains shot through his hands, filling Aurelian Dragon with intense hatred. At the same time, he realized that the capital was teeming with experts, and this annoying fellow was a cut above him in terms of strength.
But why did this guy suddenly give him such a hard time, deliberately trying to embarrass him? Had he offended him in some way? Aurelian Dragon couldn't figure it out no matter how much he thought about it, but he still had to put on a brave face.
Fortunately, when he used to be a local tyrant, he often fought with others. He believed that even if he lost, he should not lose face. Fighting is all about momentum and endurance. That period of time cultivated his abilities in these two aspects, which prevented him from making a fool of himself on the spot.
Aurelian Dragon gritted her teeth and struggled to withstand Marco Bwe's terrifying internal energy, enduring wave after wave of attacks. She couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect that the Southern Governor would like me so much. Let's find some time next time to have a friendly chat!"
Prince Elnario, noticing the unusual interaction between the two, chuckled and said, "You two seem to hit it off immediately. Let's have a proper chat another time! Now, I'll introduce Ye Qianqi to the other gentlemen." With that, he placed his hands on Marco Bwe and Aurelian Dragon's arms, secretly channeling his inner energy, and a tremendous surge of internal force struck their palms.
Aurelian Dragon and Marco Bwe both trembled slightly, and their clasped hands separated.
Aurelian Dragon was secretly alarmed. Prince Elnario had actually managed to separate their intertwined internal energies, meaning his strength was at least twice that of the two of them. It seemed appearances could indeed be deceiving; he needed to work harder to establish himself in the capital. Unbeknownst to him, Prince Elnario possessed a clever method, a secret technique of the Old Man of the Snow Mountain, and his strength had indeed surprised Prince Elnario. Prince Elnario knew he needed to reassess Aurelian Dragon.
The ministers nearby were completely unaware that the two had already clashed in secret, and continued their lively discussions. Meanwhile, some observant individuals were secretly sizing up Aurelian Dragon, judging him based on their own perspectives and opinions.
A sharp glint flashed in Marco Bwe's eyes. "Ye Qianqi has excellent skills. He truly deserves to be the person General Feifeng has taken a liking to."
Aurelian Dragon chuckled and said, "Your Excellency the Southern Governor is quite skilled! I almost made a fool of myself." In his heart, however, he had already cursed Marco Bwe's ancestors for eight generations.
At this moment, Prince Elnario patted Aurelian Dragon on the shoulder and said, "Ye Qianqi, you should know that the Southern Governor's strength is enough to rank among the top in Esnia."
Marco Bwe hurriedly replied, "Your Highness is too kind. That's just someone's flattery. There are countless experts in the capital; there's no place for me!"
Aurelian Dragon thought to himself, "That was close! I almost made a fool of myself! It seems the capital isn't a safe place to be!" As far as he knew, Prince Elnario and Phoenix Vane were both far more powerful than Marco Bwe, and according to Phoenix Vane, Aeron Skyrend, the commander of the Aeron Legion, was almost on par with her. He wondered how many other hidden masters were still lurking in the capital.
Just as Aurelian Dragon was about to speak, the attendant at the door announced, "Lord Left Minister, Governor Jeff of the West has arrived!"
Prince Elnario and Marco Bwe's smiles vanished instantly, with Marco Bwe even letting out a cold snort. Aurelian Dragon then realized how deep the rift between them was, a rift that seemed irreconcilable. It seemed that behind Fast's prosperity lay many problems unknown to outsiders.
Accompanied by Jeff, who was dressed in a light green battle robe, a tall, stout man strode in. The man was about forty years old, wearing an official robe with gold trim. His fleshy, round face wore a businessman's smile. At first glance, he was just an ordinary bureaucrat, but his small eyes occasionally flashed with a cunning glint, making Aurelian Dragon feel that he must be a cunning and suspicious person.
Upon seeing Aurelian Dragon, Jeff's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed with delight, "Aurelian, you're here early!" Before he finished speaking, the fat man strode towards Aurelian Dragon, enthusiastically extending his chubby hands, and said, "This must be Aurelian Dragon Ye Qianqi, who made a name for himself in the Battle of Tianfeng! Truly a hero!" His voice was loud and clear, carrying an air of authority that naturally inspired goodwill. Aurelian Dragon couldn't help but think to himself that this man must possess extraordinary abilities, the kind of person who hides a sharp edge beneath a gentle exterior.
Aurelian Dragon quickly bowed and greeted, "Lord Zuo Zai!"
As Zuo Zaijilimans strode toward the Aurelian Dragon, Prince Elnario and Marco Bwe immediately turned and left.
Gilmans and Jeff quickly approached Aurelian Dragon. Gilmans warmly took Aurelian Dragon's hands, shook them a few times, and said, "After the Battle of Skywind, the Thousand Riders are renowned far and wide!"
Aurelian Dragon quickly replied modestly, "Not at all! It's because General Feifeng's military strategy is so brilliant; I was merely following orders!"
Gilmans chuckled and said, "Qianqi is too modest!" Then he lowered his voice and asked, "How is General Feifeng in health?"
Aurelian Dragon was taken aback, but replied, "Okay! Okay!" Only after saying this did he realize something was amiss. Why was this guy asking the question in such a tone? Did he know something?
Sure enough, Gilmans glanced coldly at Prince Elnario, who was talking quietly with Marco Bwe, and said softly, "Thousand Riders, don't blame me for being nosy, but you should be careful of the Third Prince. He used to pursue General Fei Feng, but was rejected by her, so he is particularly wary of the men around General Fei Feng."
Aurelian Dragon was secretly alarmed, but said aloud, "Lord Zuo Zai is overthinking it. I am just a junior officer under General Fei Feng."
Gilmans chuckled and said meaningfully, "Is that so? General Fei Feng gave you her Fei Feng Mansion to live in, and even sent her closest Golden Phoenix Guard captain, Lynette Quill, to accompany you. Is all this just because of your meritorious service this time?"
Aurelian Dragon was speechless, only able to manage a bitter smile. He cursed inwardly, "That old geezer, so many schemes!" However, he also secretly regretted being so ostentatious; it seemed many observant people had already discovered his secret. Thinking of Phoenix Vane's unparalleled beauty, he knew how many rivals in the capital were sharpening their knives, hating him to the core.
Thinking of this, Aurelian Dragon couldn't help but look up at Prince Elnario, thinking that if this man were among them, it would really give him a headache.
Lost in thought, Aurelian Dragon didn't hear what Jeff was saying. Jeff then put his arm around his shoulder and whispered intimately in his ear, as if speaking to an old friend, "It's settled then. Those girls from the Dark Fragrance Pavilion are delicate, tender, sweet, and beautiful—you'll be satisfied! Hahaha!"
A strange light flashed in Prince Elnario's eyes as he looked at them. Aurelian Dragon suddenly realized what was happening and was about to ask when a golden bell suddenly rang out.
Eight heavily armored, imposing palace guards, wielding axes and halberds, emerged from the back hall and stood in two rows before the steps of the throne.
The crowd quickly divided into two rows, knelt down, and waited for the emperor's arrival. Aurelian Dragon was naturally last in line, but unlike the other ministers, he didn't behave himself. He slightly raised his head and peeked at the commotion above.
The sound of jade pendants jingled. Eight beautiful and charming women stepped out solemnly, all dressed in colorful embroidered robes with piping trim, and wearing gold-threaded headdresses that signified their status as female officials. Aurelian Dragon knew they were all palace ladies-in-waiting, responsible for the emperor's official documents.
After the ladies-in-waiting stood in front of the throne, they announced in unison, "The Emperor has arrived!"
Footsteps sounded, and Emperor Andre III, who had ruled Fast for nearly sixty years, wearing a yellow robe with a dragon motif and a tall crown, walked to the dragon throne and sat down. Aurelian Dragon was greatly disappointed upon seeing him; His Majesty the Emperor was actually an unremarkable old man, quite different from the imposing portraits of him outside.
Andre III said in a gentle voice, "Rise, my lords!"
The crowd shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times before finally standing up.
A female official standing to the left of the throne stepped forward and asked in a sweet voice, "Where is the Aurelian Dragon?"
Aurelian Dragon hurriedly stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "Your humble servant Aurelian Dragon pays respects to Your Majesty!"
"Raise your head!"
"Yes!" Aurelian Dragon looked up and met the eyes of the emperor who was carefully examining him.
The emperor's eyes lit up as he looked at Aurelian Dragon, and he nodded repeatedly in praise, "Such a talent, Aurelian, you have truly not disappointed me!" Aurelian Dragon was completely taken aback that the emperor would address him by his given name so directly, and with such a warm tone as if he were addressing a nephew. Moreover, he could faintly see a hint of affection in the emperor's eyes, which puzzled him greatly, but he was also very happy and quickly kowtowed in gratitude.
The ministers standing to the side were filled with mixed emotions, all astonished by His Majesty's special treatment of Aurelian Dragon.
Prince Elnario and Marco Bwe exchanged a glance, both their eyes flashing with murderous intent. Meanwhile, Gilmans became even more determined to win over the Aurelion Dragon. Although he didn't yet understand why His Majesty treated the Aurelion Dragon differently, he knew that if the Aurelion Dragon joined his ranks, he would have more power to contend with the Third Prince.
After a long series of formalities, Aurelian Dragon received the seal of the Commander of Ten Thousand Cavalry and the medals of an Imperial Baron from the Emperor. Gilmans knew perfectly well that His Majesty's purpose in bestowing Aurelian Dragon the title of Baron was to ensure his smooth ascension to the position of Governor of the Eastern Capital. So he and Jeff exchanged a knowing glance and waited patiently for the Lady Scribe to announce Aurelian Dragon's appointment.
Unexpectedly, the lady-in-waiting did not announce Aurelian Dragon's appointment as Governor of the East; instead, the lady-in-waiting read out His Majesty's imperial edict:
"Baron Aurelian Dragon, the newly appointed commander of ten thousand cavalry of the Fast Empire, is appointed as the wedding envoy, leading five hundred cavalrymen to depart in three days to welcome the wedding procession from the Wu'an Kingdom."
Gilmans was startled. What was going on? Had the emperor changed his mind again? When his gaze fell on Prince Elnario on the other side, he immediately understood.
Looking at the strange smile on Prince Elnario's lips, Gilmans couldn't help but think, "After all, they are father and son. My influence over the emperor is not as great as Prince Elnario's."
※ ※ ※
Stepping out of Sanssouci Palace, Aurelian Dragon looked at Lynette Quill beside him, her face beaming with joy, and he was overjoyed. He never expected to be knighted. Fastia practiced a strict class system, with slaves at the bottom, followed by commoners, knights, nobles, and royalty. There were significant differences between each class, and people of different statuses possessed vastly different rights.
Becoming a nobleman meant entering high society, exempt from taxes and corvée labor, and even if one broke the law, the title provided protection. Aside from a few serious crimes like treason, one was rarely convicted and punished. Therefore, being granted a noble title was the goal of every knight; the honor was unparalleled, almost like ascending to the heavens in one step.
Although Aurelian Dragon wasn't quite at that level, his joy was indescribable. He didn't care at all about welcoming the envoy in three days. With his troops in the country of Fast, wouldn't it be easy to handle?
Aurelian Dragon was chatting and laughing with Lynette Quill, eagerly anticipating mounting his horse. Suddenly, a large cloud of steam gathered above his head, and before he could understand what was happening, it transformed into a water sphere with a "whoosh," as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.
Soaked to the bone, Aurelian Dragon looked up at the cloudless sky in bewilderment, completely baffled. Lynette Quill beside him was already doubled over with laughter, and the palace guards, seeing Aurelian Dragon looking like a drowned rat, smiled secretly, but were also on edge, fearing that the little devil might come after them.
Wiping the water droplets from her face, Aurelian Dragon asked blankly, "Lynette, what's going on? It's not raining, so where did this water come from?"
Lynette Quill took out a silk scarf to wipe the Aurelian Dragon as she laughed, "What do you think is going on?"
Aurelian Dragon stamped her foot, half angrily saying, "If I already knew, would I still be asking you?"
"My dear young master, it was just a joke played on you by someone with great magical abilities!" Lynette Quill said coquettishly. "Only someone skilled in water magic would send down this light rain when the sky is clear."
Aurelian Dragon turned and looked around, saying fiercely, "Who, who, who? Which boring bastard did I catch? I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget!"
Lynette Quill tugged at his wet clothes and said, "Do you think she'll let you catch her? Be careful she doesn't hit you again! You'd better go back and change your clothes!"
Aurelian Dragon knew he wasn't skilled enough to find out who had tricked him, so he had no choice but to accept his bad luck and, filled with anger, mounted his horse and rode off.
After riding a few steps, Aurelian Dragon suddenly pulled on the reins, turned to look at Lynette Quill, who had a smile on her face, and said, "You're smiling so happily, you know who it is, don't you! Tell me quickly!"
Lynette Quill's eyes darted around, and she nodded with a smile, saying, "You only just thought of asking? As far as I know, there's only one person in the capital who does this kind of thing, and that's her..."
"Aurelian Dragon!" A loud shout interrupted Lynette Quill's words. Aurelian Dragon and Lynette Quill turned in surprise to look in the direction of the voice. There, a tall, long-legged young nobleman strode towards them, glaring angrily at Aurelian Dragon.
Aurelian Dragon looked at the newcomer's bloodshot eyes and haphazardly tied blonde hair with a puzzled expression. Just as she was about to ask a question, Lynette Quill beside her suddenly exclaimed, "Cliff?!"
Cliff forced a smile at Lynette Quill, "Hello, Miss Liu!" Then he turned to look at Aurelian Dragon, his eyes filled with deep hatred, "Aurelian Dragon, you... well..." the words seemed to escape through clenched teeth.
Before Lynette Quill, who had noticed something was wrong, could take any action, Cliff suddenly took off the leather glove he was wearing and threw it in front of Aurelian Dragon's horse. Then he drew a short sword and threw it, which accurately stuck into the glove on the ground.
Looking at the still trembling dagger, Lynette Quill dismounted, her heart sinking. This was a common practice in Fast, a signal to challenge someone. Fast, a nation founded on war, had a strong martial spirit, and heroic duels were most popular. Over the years, this had developed into a set of rules for duels. The Empire prohibited unprovoked duels and opposed duels between different classes. A good reason was sufficient to refuse a challenge, but for hot-blooded young people, running away was seen as cowardice, and one would never be able to hold their head high in front of others again. Although she didn't yet understand why Cliff had challenged the Aurelion Dragon, she figured the Aurelion Dragon wouldn't back down.
Sure enough, Aurelian Dragon glanced at the short sword on the ground in front of his horse, a flash of anger in his eyes. But this sudden challenge left him bewildered. He dismounted, picked up the short sword, walked up to Cliff, and asked in confusion, "Why?"
Cliff glanced bitterly at Lynette Quill, who was looking at the Aurelian Dragon with concern, then steeled himself and mocked, "Look at you, you look like a drowning dog, so pathetic! What? Are you scared?"
Upon hearing this, Lynette Quill frowned, about to speak in displeasure, when Aurelian Dragon, already furious at being tricked, laughed in exasperation and exclaimed, "Fine! Fine!"
Seeing the situation was turning against her, Lynette Quill was about to speak when Aurelian Dragon suddenly snapped the short sword in her hand in two, threw one half of the sword at Cliff's feet, and stared at him coldly.
Cliff said, "Alright!" Lynette Quill turned pale; Aurelian Dragon's action meant that he had not only agreed to the duel, but it was a duel to the death.
She couldn't help but exclaim, "Aurelian!"
Cliff gazed intently at Lynette Quill's beautiful face, which haunted his dreams, for a moment, only to find that she didn't even glance at him. Heartbroken, he abruptly turned to Aurelian Dragon and said, "Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, at the Chrysanthemum Pavilion." With that, he turned and hurried away.