Eunuch Gao who was standing next to Li Yun Zheng was displeased when he heard this. He was about to reprimand Nie Qing Yun for being discourteous when Li Yuzheng raised his hand.
Smack!
A loud and crisp sound when Li Yunzheng’s hand struck Eunuch Gao’s face.
Everyone was taken aback.
Eunuch Gao was clearly stunned by the slap. The flames of fury in his heart were instantly swept away by Li Yunzheng’s slap. It felt as though someone had just poured a bucket of ice-cold water on him. Nevertheless, in just a brief moment, the flames of fury that had just been put out in his heart roared back to life.
Li Yunzheng asked, “Am I the emperor, or are you the emperor?”
Eunuch Gao bowed immediately. “Of course, it’s you, Your Majesty.”
“I came here with the intention to have a peaceful discussion, not to look for trouble. Are you trying to stir up trouble for me with your attitude?” Li Yunzheng said sternly.
Although Li Yunzheng was only a puppet emperor, he was well-read and understood profound theories. He was not a fool. Even Wang Shizhong and Eunuch Gao together were not a match for him in regard to eloquence.
Meanwhile, Wang Shizhong only felt that the emperor was slightly too full of youthful vigor. ‘What good would acting on a whim do?’
After a moment, Wang Shizhong finally said, “Your Majesty is right. Eunuch Gao, as an official, you should keep quiet once His Majesty has spoken. You’d be in trouble if His Majesty decides to charge you with revolting.”
Eunuch Gao nodded. “You’re right, Lord Wang… I’ll keep that in mind. Forgive me, Your Majesty.”
Li Yunzheng scoffed. He was in a much better mood since he managed to vent his dissatisfaction with that slap.
There was nothing wrong with a master hitting his servants.
Despite being a puppet emperor, Li Yunzheng knew Eunuch Gao would not dare to disregard the hierarchy in public. Eunuch Gao had no choice but to swallow his resentment.
Li Yunzheng looked at Nie Qingyun and said, “It’s my first time on Cloud Mountain. The scenery looks wonderful. Would you care to show me around, Sect Master Nie?”
Nie Qingyun was unaware that Lu Zhou was late because Lu Zhou was currently observing Ji Liang. Despite how much he wanted to wait for Lu Zhou’s arrival, he knew he could not possibly refuse the emperor. Hence, he said, “Of course.”
As they walked east, Nie Qingyun explained, “Your Majesty, from the east to the west, there are 12 peaks along the mountain range…”
Wang Shizhong wore an expression of disapproval on his face as Nie Qingyun spoke. He did not seem to be paying attention to Nie Qingyun. Instead, he was looking at the peak where Ji Liang had appeared. He could not help but feel puzzled. It was difficult to tame a wild horse. Although his daughter’s cultivation base was only average, he had many elites in his mansion. He even had elite horse tamers in his mansion. What was so special about this horse? Why was it so difficult to tame?
Time continued to pass as Li Yunzheng and Nie Qingyun continued chatting.
When Wang Shizhong felt it was nearly time, he stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, we should get down to business.”
Li Yun Zheng and Nie Qingyun turned to look at Wang Shizhong.
A complicated expression appeared on Li Yunzheng’s face as he said, “I know what I’m doing.”
Nevertheless, everyone began to take their seats in the center of the cloud platform.
After everyone was seated, Wang Shizhong was the first to speak, “Sect Master Nie, His Majesty has shown great sincerity by personally visiting Cloud Mountain. Please release the Sky Martial Court disciples right now.”
Nie Qingyun completely disregarded Wang Shizhong. Instead, he looked at Li Yunzheng and said, “Your Majesty, it’s not that I’m unwilling to release the Sky Martial Court disciples, but they colluded with the Flying Star House to annihilate Cloud Mountain. This is a conflict between the sects in the cultivation world and has nothing to do with the royal palace. Most importantly, I don’t have the authority to make the decisions regarding this matter.”
“So, Senior Lu has the authority?” Wang Shizhong asked.
“That’s right,” Nie Qingyun answered honestly.
“I’ve heard rumors about Senior Lu. He killed Ye Zhen and Chen Tiandu. Indeed, he’s a remarkable person. However, it’s difficult to make peace once someone has turned into your enemy. His Majesty decided to visit because he wishes to solve this problem. Moreover, Yu Chenshu is merely the Master of the Sky Martial Court Master, after all. He’s been ill lately and couldn’t come. Nevertheless, in terms of status and prestige, His Majesty is superior to Yu Chenshu… Isn’t this show of sincerity enough?” Wang Shizhong said.
Nie Qingyun nodded slightly.
Wang Shizhong had a point. It did not matter if Li Yunzheng was only a puppet emperor.
‘Why isn’t Senior Lu here yet?’ Nie Qingyun could not help but wonder again as he looked at Xie Changqiu and the others who were still waiting for Lu Zhou’s arrival.
Li Yunzheng only sighed; he did not say anything.
Nie Qingyun asked, “Why are you sighing, Your Majesty?”
Li Yunzheng said lightly, “I’m just lamenting to myself… Cloud Mountain has such majestic sceneries; it made me wonder how many more majestic places there are in Great Tang. Yet, as the emperor, I don’t even have the chance to see all these places. It’s just a lie when everyone says the land under the heavens belongs to me.”
Naturally, Wang Shizhong heard the implications in Li Yunzheng’s words. He said with a smile, “Your Majesty, you’re still young. Moreover, there are many things in life that are out of our control.” There was a slight edge to his voice when he spoke. Based on the hidden barbs in his words, he was clearly not as easily bullied like Eunuch Gao.
Li Yunzheng sighed before he replied, “I understand. However, the adults you spoke about were once young as well. How many of them are like me? Was my father like me when he was young as well?”
“You have a point, Your Majesty,” Wang Shizhong said expressionlessly. Then, he bowed and cupped his fists together before he said, “Please do something for the 2,000 Sky Martial Court disciples, Your Majesty.”
Li Yunzheng sighed.
At this moment…
Neigh!
Ji Liang’s neigh rang in everyone’s ears.
Wang Shizhong leaped up in excitement. “Father, my horse! I see it! My horse!”
Wang Shizhong glared at Wang Shu to silence her.
Upon seeing the look on her father’s face, Wang Shu fell silent.
“Sect Master Nie, how did this horse come to Cloud Mountain?” Wang Shizhong asked.
Nie Qingyun heard Ji Liang as well. He replied with a smile, “To tell you the truth, Senior Lu lives on that peak. As for the horse, I’ve never seen it before. If you’re interested, you can ask Senior Lu when he arrives.”
“Thank you.” Wang Shizhong cupped his fists.
At this moment, Xia Changqiu finally saw Lu Zhou, Yu Zhenghai, Yu Shangrong, Little Yuan’er, and Conch flying toward them.
In a show of respect, Nie Qingyun had vacated the east-facing peak, which was also the first peak. He and his three disciples took up one peak. Cloud Mountain was huge, and space was aplenty. They did not mind.
When Lu Zhou and his disciples were slowly descending on the cloud platform, the few thousand Cloud Mountain disciples bowed in unison.
“Senior Lu.”
When Li Yunzheng looked over, he frowned slightly. ‘Why does the old man look so familiar?’ The more he looked at the old man, the more familiar the old man became.
Once Lu Zhou landed, Xia Changqiu and the others bowed. “Senior Lu.”
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and nodded in response. He looked at the royal chariot in the air before he walked to the center of the cloud platform.
The crowd parted and made way for Lu Zhou. Whether it was the people from the palace or the Sky Martial Court, no one stopped him.
At this moment, realization finally dawned on Li Yunzheng. He was shocked. If it were not for his identity and his habit of hiding his emotions, he would have leaped to his feet to greet Lu Zhou. As he forced himself to remain calm, he wondered inwardly, ‘Is this what they call fate?’
When Lu Zhou arrived in front of everyone, he said, “Li Yunzheng, I knew you’d come.”
“…”
Wang Shizhong, Wang Shu, the soldiers of the palace, and the Sky Martial Court disciples frowned.
‘Is this the way to speak to the emperor? Is he trying to offend the emperor?’
Wang Shu was about to lose her temper, but her father was quick to hold back.
Wang Shizhong glared at his daughter again before she sat down.
Eunuch Gao and Wang Shizhong had more experience than the young Wang Shu, after all, They knew how to hide their emotions. Moreover, at the end of the day, it was the emperor who should feel offended, not them.
Wang Shizhong even thought this was a good opportunity to teach and show the young emperor how sinister men could be.
Li Yunzheng cupped his fists awkwardly before he said, “Old mister.”
Everyone was rendered speechless by Li Yunzheng’s tone, bearing, and expression.
‘Was the young emperor not filled with youthful vigor earlier? Didn’t he have a quick temper? Why is he so meek in front of this old man?’
