nashuaworldcup #485 - The Heavenly King Guards Peace Talisman
#485 - The Heavenly King Guards Peace Talisman
About a quarter of an hour or so later, several more groups of guests arrived in the main hall, but still only half of the seats opposite were occupied.
During this time, the palace maid serving beside Liang Yue also collected the birthday gift he had prepared for the emperor today, and had him personally write the name of the gift on the gift list.
It wasn't until an old eunuch slowly walked in from outside the door and announced to everyone, "His Majesty has arrived."
A man in a crimson official robe and golden hat, and a woman wearing a phoenix crown and emerald clothes, slowly walked onto the dragon platform under the escort of the crowd.
Following him were a group of officials and members of the imperial clan, who finally filled the hall.
Everyone stood up and paid their respects. The old emperor, who looked very kind at first glance, very amiably granted them seats and started the banquet, followed by the inevitable opening remarks.
During this period, a group of eunuchs and palace maids carried food boxes in batches to various parts of the hall. After the palace maids had served almost all the dishes,
the emperor on the dragon throne very perceptively stopped his meaningless pleasantries, raised his wine glass, and invited all the guests present to drink together.
Then, the banquet began~
Compared to the slightly cold atmosphere at the table of Liang Yue and the other masters of various sects, the officials on the opposite side were obviously better at creating an atmosphere.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and mutual invitations, the hall quickly became lively, with laughter echoing incessantly.
During this time, a team of palace dancers were invited to the hall, and under the accompaniment of the musicians, they performed a passionate but elegant dance.
After about three rounds of wine, the atmosphere in the hall gradually began to rise.
On the opposite side, a relatively young official stood up on his own initiative at this time, raised his wine glass, and offered a series of compliments to the emperor on the dragon throne.
His words were full of praise for Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen's benevolence, and he summarized the official's lifelong achievements and virtues. His flattery made the emperor beam with joy.
Just as the atmosphere was intense, this official, who knew how to please, took out a palm-sized, exquisitely crafted wooden box from his arms.
Then, he turned the box over in public, revealing a pearl that was at least the size of a ping pong ball, completely round and flawless, and constantly emitting cold air.
"…This is a precious item that I obtained from Western Region merchants by chance! It is said that this item originated in the far north and was conceived in a thousand-year-old clam that had become a spirit.
After the pearl was taken, it was hidden by a strange person in ten-thousand-year-old cold jade, absorbing the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, and nurtured for a hundred years to achieve its current form! If it can be worn on the body at all times, it will calm the mind, purify the qi, and prolong life, without a doubt~"
…
With the official on the opposite side taking the lead, the hall quickly entered a long-lasting discussion of offering treasures and boasting.
Obviously, in order to celebrate the late birthday of the Zhao family's emperor, the ministers in the court and the members of the imperial clan who hoped to inherit the throne had put a lot of thought into it.
They racked their brains and searched all over the world for various rare and exotic treasures, and pearls left behind in the mountains and fields.
Some offered thousand-year-old precious medicinal materials, some offered ancient relics, and some offered famous calligraphy and paintings, antiques, jade stones.
There were even those who were curious and specifically found a batch of rare and exotic beasts from some remote mountain corners.
Liang Yue heard from a member of the imperial clan that a batch of iron-eating beasts with black and white fur had been found in the bamboo sea and dense forests of the Land of Abundance for presentation to the emperor for his enjoyment.
Of course, such animal gifts could not be brought to the main hall openly, especially since bears like pandas, which had considerable combat abilities, had to be strictly guarded against.
In short, the treasure offering ceremony was lively and lasted for more than half an hour before gradually subsiding. And this was only the work of the officials and members of the imperial clan on the opposite side.
The "Young Grandmasters" hidden among them, and the Grandmaster team on Liang Yue's side, had not even opened their mouths yet.
"I have long heard that there are countless strange people and strange things in this world. On this occasion of universal celebration, the imperial palace hall has gathered all the Grandmasters of the Great Song Dynasty.
I wonder, do we have the honor today to witness the methods and intentions of all the schools in the world?"
Sure enough, after the officials and members of the imperial clan on the opposite side had presented their birthday gifts to Emperor Renzong, before they had rested for long, another relatively young busybody stood up.
Well, this time the speaker was obviously a member of the imperial clan dressed in luxurious clothes.
Seeing this, the corners of Liang Yue's mouth also unconsciously curved slightly.
To be honest, the scenes being played out at the banquet now were like the emperor and his ministers working together to act in a play.
However, all of this did not make people feel embarrassed. Being in it, you could also fully feel a certain atmosphere of harmony and concord.
Although it cannot be said that these were all pre-arranged scenes, in this hall, a tacit understanding had long been formed between the emperor and his ministers.
Of course, to some extent, this was not necessarily a good thing.
And when Liang Yue and these people from the folk three teachings and nine streams received the invitation to this royal birthday party, who could really come empty-handed?
The palace maid who was originally responsible for serving Liang Yue had quietly gone outside the palace gate at this time.
Through his Reincarnation Eye, which had been suppressed by the world rules of this public world, Liang Yue could clearly see at this time.
This palace maid was now holding the wooden box he used to hold the gift in both hands, standing in line outside the palace gate waiting there.
Waiting for an order, she would bring the birthday gift into the venue and present it to the old emperor on the dragon throne.
Therefore, after receiving the signal from the venue, Liang Yue and the other reclusive sages did not dare to neglect.
Under the leadership of a Grandmaster-level figure from the national religion of the Great Song Dynasty, Taoism, the scene quickly entered another process of birthday congratulations and gift-giving.
…
"I, Yiyangzi, currently reside in the Lushan Taoist Temple, and accidentally obtained a piece of ten-thousand-year-old warm jade. After spending various means, I finally made it into a pair of Heavenly King Guardian Amulets, which I now present to Your Majesty.
I wish Your Majesty good fortune and longevity, happiness and well-being."
Following the old Taoist's words, a palace maid also came in at the right time, holding a wooden plate.
Under the encirclement of a piece of cyan silk, a pair of translucent jade pendants exuding a light orange luster were lying quietly on top.
They were warm and smooth, without too many patterns or carvings. There were only a few uncommon talisman fonts, which were integrated with the jade talisman and complemented each other.
From this pair of jade talismans, Liang Yue could feel a strange energy wave slowly flowing.
Obviously, this was not an ordinary jade ornament, but truly a pair of Taoist amulets with some special function!
The old emperor and Empress Cao on the dragon throne were obviously also connoisseurs. The two of them seemed very satisfied with the birthday gift sent by the old Taoist, and immediately took one jade talisman each in their hands.
Their love for it was overflowing.