amaotonovel Chapter 193 Who is Conferring the Title of King?
Chapter 193 Who is Conferring the Title of King?
The earth-shattering noise outside, like a tidal wave, reached Huayulou from a great distance.
When Xiao Xingchen and the others stood on the high railing and looked towards the Imperial Palace, their pupils all contracted sharply.
"What's going on? Why are so many people following?"
Yan Yi asked, her face full of astonishment.
Because in their line of sight, the ground was covered with a dense mass of people, some of whom didn't even have a place to stand and were directly lifted into the air.
This caused people to gaze intently at the void above, with those who possessed cultivation standing in the air, silently watching the advancing procession.
This scene immediately struck everyone with a powerful sense of awe. Moreover, as the crowd moved, it seemed to be surging towards the Flower Language Building.
"There are hidden experts lurking in the shadows, watching with predatory intent."
Huangfu Lingxue spoke with a solemn expression. The Ghost Sword's special ability made her sense several powerful and suffocating auras appearing and disappearing.
"Could this be targeting my Flower Language Pavilion? Is someone planning to raze it to the ground? Otherwise, why would there be so many experts..."
Ruoxue felt uneasy. Even if Huayulou had been exposed, was it really necessary to go to such lengths to wipe it out?
"It seems they really came here... This kind of scene seems familiar."
Xiao Xingchen frowned, as memories flashed through his mind like lightning.
Suddenly, he shouted,
"Damn, could it be my imperial edict of investiture for the title of king?"
What are you daydreaming about in broad daylight?
"This is the first time I've ever met such a narcissistic person."
"Are you so desperate to become an official?"
The three women exchanged knowing glances, responding with a hint of disdain.
However, when she saw Xiao Xingchen's unwavering gaze, the princess was stunned as if struck by lightning. She wondered to herself: In that dark and gloomy prison, Xiao Xingchen's words... could this man really have the ability to foresee the future?
If this team really came for Xiao Xingchen, then the man in front of them is truly terrifying.
In fact, they didn't have to wait long; the surging crowd eventually stopped at the entrance of Huayulou.
The moment the Dragon-Patterned Army stopped, the entire city seemed to be under a spell, instantly falling silent.
People looked around in bewilderment, their hearts filled with doubt and confusion: Why would a prince come to this place of pleasure?
Is the new king indulging in pleasure in this brothel?
The crowd's eyes were like spotlights, all turning to the man and horse at the very front of the Dragon Pattern Imperial Guard. Who else could it be but Wang Mang?
Wang Mang's heart was filled with mixed feelings, as if a bottle of mixed emotions had been spilled.
The thought of having to read the contents of the imperial edict himself made him feel a lump in his throat, a sharp pain in his teeth. His gaze, as sharp as a hawk's, swept over the people gathered around him, filled with disdain, as if to say, "Is that all you've got? You'll be astonished in a moment!"
However, even those who are well-informed would probably find it hard to imagine the contents of this imperial edict.
He sighed helplessly, utterly unable to understand why Emperor Wu would make such a decision.
"Wang Mang, the Imperial Guard with Dragon Pattern, has come to deliver this decree on the orders of Emperor Wu. All members of Huayulou, come immediately to receive the imperial edict!"
His voice was like a resounding bell, echoing throughout the city, and the reverberations were like thunderclaps, reaching everyone's ears.
The conferment of a royal title was a grand event in the prosperous era of the Great Qian Dynasty. At this moment, everyone was eager to hear the news, as if it were heavenly music.
However, after the announcement was made, everyone held their breath, waiting for the person who would receive the decree to appear.
Surprisingly, there was no response from Huayulou, as if it were a sleeping castle.
"Wang Mang, the Imperial Guard with Dragon Pattern, has come to deliver the imperial decree on the orders of Emperor Wu. All members of Huayulou, come and hear the imperial decree!"
Wang Mang frowned and read it aloud again, but all he got in return was deathly silence.
"Is there a mistake? It seems that even Huayulou doesn't know who is to receive the imperial decree?"
someone asked doubtfully.
"How could that be? This is the Dragon Pattern Grand Commander. If we make a mistake, wouldn't the Dragon Pattern Army be doomed?" someone retorted.
"Interesting. This title of 'King' is truly brilliant. We just left the Flower Language Pavilion. Is there anyone else inside?"
Li Jinxian sneered, with Nan Jian beside him, his gaze fixed on the very top of Huayu Tower.
There stood several people, their figures like statues, yet they did not look like kings at all.
"Perhaps we really have come to the wrong place. Surely it's not Feng Wang Xiaoxingchen?"
Nan Jian replied incredulously.
"Pfft!" Li Jinxian and his entourage couldn't help but laugh. The joke was just too ridiculous. The facts were right in front of them. Apart from the man and three women at the top of Huayu Tower, no one could imagine that there was any other special person here.
Wang Mang naturally saw Xiao Xingchen standing at the top, looking around. He suddenly realized why no one had reacted; the person in question probably didn't know that he was the one about to be granted the title of king. Moreover, he hadn't called out Xiao Xingchen's name.
Thinking of this, he shouted again, "Xiao Xingchen, receive the imperial decree and listen to the summons!"
"So it's Xiao Xingchen? What? Wait, why is it Xiao Xingchen?"
A gasp of surprise erupted from the crowd like a volcanic eruption. People's expressions were even more shocked than before, as if they had witnessed the most unbelievable thing in the world.
"Did I hear that right? Why is it Xiao Xingchen?" Questions rose and fell, as if they were about to overturn the entire Huayulou.
Li Jinxian stood there, dazed and confused, while Nan Jian didn't even notice that he had spilled his wine. They looked at each other with expressions that said, "Has the Martial Emperor gone mad?"
"Xiao Xingchen, why aren't you coming down to receive the imperial decree?" Wang Mang repeated, a satisfied smile spreading across his face as he looked at the nearly frenzied crowd around him. Only he knew how bewildered he had been upon hearing this decree himself.
Meanwhile, atop the Flower Language Pavilion, the three women stared at him in utter shock. He had indeed been right; the title of King had indeed been bestowed upon Xiao Xingchen.
"Why?" Huangfu Lingxue asked.
"Naturally, it's because of my value. Alas, what I feared most has come to pass. This title of king is a death warrant."
Xiao Xingchen sighed helplessly, looking quite disgusted.
This immediately unsettled the three women.
"Then why don't you hurry up and receive the imperial decree? This is Emperor Wu's edict of bestowing a title upon you, yet you stand here and watch. Aren't you afraid that Emperor Wu will punish you for a grave offense of disrespect?"
Yan Yi kindly reminded him, but Xiao Xingchen shook his head in response.
His gaze was lowered, staring intently at the ground, and he was muttering to himself.
"Commander Wang? What brings you here? I have never met His Majesty before, what decree do you wish to receive?"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"Xiao Xingchen, come down quickly! This is His Majesty's decree conferring a title upon you. Hurry up and receive the decree."
"What? Conferring a title of king? Who will be conferred the title?" The crowd's gazes shifted like weather vanes, looking this way and that. How did they end up talking about this?
"Who are you saying you're going to appoint? If it were someone else, why would I have summoned you here?"
Wang Mang snorted indignantly, unsure whether Xingchen was feigning ignorance or genuinely clueless.
"What exactly do you intend to do?" Ruoxue asked, her face full of doubt. Xiao Xingchen remained silent, only glancing towards the direction of the Imperial Palace.
He pondered to himself whether there was a way to refuse the imperial edict bestowing the title of king.
After all, given his tragic past life, this imperial edict was nothing short of a deadly curse to him.
"Is there any way for me to refuse this imperial edict?"
He turned his gaze to Huangfu Lingxue and Yan Yi, and his words struck them like a thunderbolt, leaving them stunned once again.
The idea of being granted the title of king is already baffling, but now you're refusing the imperial edict?
"What exactly do you intend to do? To be granted the title of King! You are the fifth King of the Great Qian Dynasty, why do you refuse?"
Huangfu Lingxue blurted out her question.
"Don't ask any more questions. I can't explain it right now. Quickly help me think of a solution. How about I pretend to be sick?"
Seeing that Xiao Xingchen was not joking, the three women stood there dumbfounded. Refusing the imperial edict to confer the title of king was a feat that would go down in history, and it was undoubtedly a slap in the face to Emperor Wu. Such an action would have serious consequences that no ordinary person could bear. If they were not careful, they might lose their heads.