amaotonovel Chapter 1368 It seems we won't be able to drink this wine.
Chapter 1368 It seems we won't be able to drink this wine.
Imperial Palace, Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Tonight, this place is even more lively than the morning assembly on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The gilded palace lanterns illuminated the entire hall as bright as day, and the smooth white marble floor reflected the excited, flushed faces.
Civil and military officials, imperial relatives, and nobles gathered together.
They held their wine glasses, gathered in small groups, and discussed only one topic—the black fleet anchored outside the port of Beijing, resembling a mountain of steel.
“Lord Zhang, you are the Minister of War, please tell me, what exactly is the design of that ship? I have lived for sixty years and have never seen an iron ship that can travel a thousand miles a day without sails!” An old censor with white hair and beard tugged at the sleeve of the Minister of War, his eyes filled with shock at what he had never seen before.
Minister of War Zhang Jianzhi gave a wry smile. How could he possibly know?
He went to the port today and saw those thirty-six huge black ships, moored there like thirty-six breathing iron mountains. Just looking at them made it hard to breathe.
The dark muzzle looked smaller than the red-coated cannons of the Shenji Battalion, but the indescribable aura about it sent chills down his spine, even though he was a seasoned veteran who had spent his entire life in the Ministry of War.
“Imperial Censor Li, this matter… is a secret of the Imperial Family, and I dare not speak of it.” Zhang Jianzhi could only laugh it off. “We only need to know that this is the national treasure that the Prince retrieved for our Great Qian, and it is the cornerstone of our Great Qian’s eternal peace. That is enough.”
These words drew agreement from those around him.
Yes, it's okay if you don't understand it.
As long as you know that this thing belongs to your family, that's enough.
Just as everyone was discussing and filled with endless imagination and awe for the fleet that had descended from the sky like divine soldiers.
A loud, clear voice called out from outside the hall.
"His Highness has arrived! His Majesty has arrived!"
In an instant, the entire noisy hall fell silent.
All the officials immediately straightened their clothes, turned around, and bowed respectfully in the direction of the palace gate.
Two figures slowly entered the main hall under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Walking in front was Lin Zhen.
He wasn't wearing that mysterious pure gold mask today; his handsome, otherworldly face was casually exposed to everyone.
He was still dressed in simple black casual clothes, without a dragon robe or crown, but just by standing there, he exuded an aura of profound composure and unwavering dignity.
Beside him was, of course, Murong Yan.
Today, she is still wearing that legendary black and gold phoenix descending to earth dress, with a shawl draped over her shoulders.
The ultra-black Suzhou brocade gown seemed to transform into a profound universe within the magnificent Hall of Supreme Harmony, swallowing all the brilliance, while reflecting an even more majestic and sacred light from every inch of the golden phoenix feathers on the hem.
The conjoined train, with its five-zhang-long (approximately 10 meters) long train, was carefully carried by eight palace maids and poured down from the high threshold like a flowing black galaxy.
On the hem of the skirt, a giant phoenix embroidered with real gold thread, its eyes gleaming under the palace lanterns, looked incredibly lifelike.
Its cold phoenix eyes swept over the officials below, with the indifference of a god looking down on ants.
An invisible, supreme majesty belonging to the Empress instantly enveloped the entire hall.
All the officials instinctively lowered their heads even further.
They dared not look directly at it.
They feared that their mundane eyes would desecrate this peerless empress.
"My lords, rise."
Murong Yan's voice was clear and cold, yet it carried a hint of triumphant joy that was hard to detect.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The officials rose, but still dared not raise their heads.
Lin Zhen took Murong Yan's hand and walked step by step up the nine-story dragon platform. They sat side by side on the dragon throne, which symbolized supreme imperial power.
"Today is a family dinner."
Lin Zhen's voice rang out, calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"No need for formalities, please sit down."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The officials bowed again before returning to their seats, trembling with fear.
The banquet begins.
As the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, palace maids, like butterflies flitting among flowers, brought up a continuous stream of delicacies meticulously prepared by the imperial kitchen.
The atmosphere gradually became more lively.
A group of princes and ministers took turns stepping forward to offer toasts to Lin Zhen and Murong Yan, each filled with respect and admiration.
Lin Zhen listened with a smile, occasionally raising her glass in a gesture of respect.
Murong Yan, on the other hand, substituted tea for wine.
She looked down at the faces below, filled with awe and obsequiousness, but felt no emotion whatsoever.
She knew that what these people truly revered was not her, the empress, but the extraordinary man beside her who could bring an invincible fleet to the Great Qian Dynasty with a mere laugh.
However, she didn't care.
She simply reveled in the unparalleled glory of sitting side by side with the man she loved at the pinnacle of the world, receiving tributes from all nations.
Just as this harmonious atmosphere of singing, dancing, and joy among the emperor and his subjects was about to reach its climax.
A messenger dressed in the uniform of an urgent messenger, covered in blood and with tattered armor, tumbled and crawled into the Hall of Supreme Harmony!
Before he could even bow, he collapsed to his knees below the dragon platform with a thud, and cried out in a hoarse voice filled with terror and despair:
"Your Majesty! Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"
"Urgent report from the northern desert!"
"The northern desert...has fallen!"
what? !
These four words, like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploded in everyone's ears!
The sounds of string and wind instruments throughout the Hall of Supreme Harmony abruptly ceased.
The expressions of "joy" and "excitement" on everyone's faces froze instantly.
Instead, there was an indescribable shock and... horror!
Has the northern desert fallen?
How can it be? !
The troops stationed in the northern desert are the most elite of the Great Qian Dynasty, two hundred thousand iron cavalry personally commanded by General Li Jing!
That was an invincible army that once trampled the entire grasslands under its feet!
How could this be? It fell just like that!
"What did you say?!"
Zhang Jianzhi, the Minister of War, was the first to react.
He suddenly stood up from his seat, rushed to the messenger, grabbed him by the collar, and his face, which always wore a "warm" smile, was now filled with "ferocity" and "disbelief"!
"Explain yourself! What exactly happened in the Northern Desert?!"
"It's those barbarians..."
The messenger's body trembled violently, and his eyes, filled with fear, seemed to still hold some extremely horrific image.
"They somehow acquired a group of monsters, each three zhang tall and possessing immense strength! These monsters were clad in heavy armor, impervious to swords and spears, and immune to fire and water! Our arrows were like tickles to them! General Li has already died in battle to cover our retreat!"
"An army of 200,000 men, completely annihilated!"
"Now, those barbarians, leading that horde of monsters, are charging towards our Jade Gate Pass!"
boom--!
The messenger's words were like a real bomb, exploding throughout the Hall of Supreme Harmony!
Everyone's mind went completely blank.