nashuaworldcup Chapter 846 The reception banquet
Chapter 846 The reception banquet
In the Qiming Hall, one could hear musicians playing lively music and dancers dancing gracefully with their sleeves fluttering in the middle of the dance floor.
Envoys from various countries sat on both sides, with the tables in front of them filled with delicacies and wine in their glasses. It was a very joyful scene.
Important ministers such as Grand Tutor Pan and Grand Tutor Jiang also took their seats, and everyone seemed to be toasting each other just to celebrate the wedding of the Emperor and Empress.
The envoys from various countries were stunned by such a grand banquet and marveled at the wealth and prosperity of the Great Zhou.
Jiang Huai had a good alcohol tolerance. He was responsible for toasting the envoys. He drank one cup after another. The envoys were almost unable to bear it. They did not expect that the wine of the Great Zhou Kingdom was so strong.
Xie Shang sat high in the main seat, his bright yellow dragon robe shining brightly under the light. He wanted all other countries to see the power of the Great Zhou and not to dare to attack it easily.
These people came together because they all wanted to get a piece of the pie from the Great Zhou. There must be someone instigating or planning behind the scenes, otherwise they would not dare to easily confront the Great Zhou.
Jiang Fenghua sat beside him. She also drank some wine with Xie Shang. She had a smile on her face, looking graceful and elegant.
She looked in the direction of Sang Yupianpian, only to see her taking the initiative to sit next to Jiang Jinyan and toasting with him. She didn't know what her brother and she talked about in private, but the two seemed to get along well.
She was sure that Sang Yu Pianpian came for her eldest brother. In this way, would the relationship between her eldest brother and Zhang Yumo be affected?
The concubines of the harem and the families of ministers did not attend the welcoming banquet this time. Only the six ministers and vice ministers were present.
Dada, the envoy of the Northern Owl Kingdom, suddenly stood up. His rough voice rang out in the hall, "Your Majesty."
Xie Shang looked at him and raised his hand to signal the musicians to stop.
The music in the hall also stopped abruptly. Everyone put down their wine glasses and looked in the direction of Dada. What did he want to do?
Xie Shang asked, "What's the matter, Envoy Dada?"
Dada said, "With all the delicious food and wine, wouldn't it be a pity if there were no martial arts to help? I remember your generals from the Great Zhou said they wanted to compete in martial arts. I wonder if that still counts."
His tone was full of provocation.
Xie Shang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, but his face was smiling. "Since Envoy Dada has such a refined interest, I will certainly fulfill it. However, it is a bit inappropriate for Envoy Dada to say that he wants to compete. Da Zhou and Bei Xiao Nation are allies. The two countries can sit together and learn from each other. The final win or loss is not important. What is important is to be happy. There is no need to compete to see who is better."
Dada was confused. When did Beixiao Kingdom and Dazhou Kingdom become allies?
He did not give the Great Zhou Emperor face either. "Since we are going to compete, we must compete to see who wins and who loses. Otherwise, what is the point of a competition? You people in the Great Zhou Kingdom are hypocritical. You clearly want to win, but you still say some high-sounding polite words for the sake of face."
This was the first time in Xie Shang's life that he was confronted by someone, and he, the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, could not refute and punish him for disrespect.
Xie Shang's eyes flashed with a cold look, "Since Envoy Dada has such a refined interest, I will certainly fulfill it."
Jiang Fenghua's eyes flashed with a cunning look, and she suddenly said, "Your Majesty, our Great Zhou has always treated the envoys with courtesy, how can we really use real swords and guns? In my opinion, it is better to compete with wooden swords and stop when the time is right."
As soon as she said this, she seemed to be showing weakness, making Dada think that the people of the Great Zhou Kingdom were weak. Dada was tall and strong, and she couldn't tell how good this person's martial arts were.
When Jiang Fenghua said this, Dada almost sneered out loud, feeling that everyone in Da Zhou was weaker than the other.
He suddenly walked into the hall, and people found that he was covered with muscles and had a ferocious and terrifying look on his face. He drew the scimitar from his waist. The blade shone coldly under the light, which made people unconsciously terrified.
The ministers and envoys from other countries in the hall were angry and frightened when they saw this.
Dada said, "Are you afraid, Queen? My Beixiao men never use children's toys! Don't worry, Queen. My Beixiao men's scimitars cannot be placed on a woman's neck."
Xie Shang sneered and said to everyone present, "Who will come out to compete with the envoy of the Northern Owl Kingdom?"
Dada looked at the ministers of the Great Zhou, all of whom were full of literary talent. He was full of disdain and said, "Your Majesty, can't you find a few warriors to compete with us..."
At this moment, several clear voices rang out at the same time. Jiang Jinyan and General Peng Fei stood up at the same time, "Your Majesty, we are willing to compete with the Dada envoy."
Dada saw the handsome looks of Jiang Jinyan and Shangguan Li and laughed again. He pointed at Peng Fei and said, "Let's pick him! I won't compete with a weak scholar."
However, before Peng Fei could agree, Shangguan Li jumped into the hall with a big knife in his hand and said in a deep voice: "To compete with the Dada envoy, why do you need General Peng to take action? I am willing to compete with the Beixiao generals."
He had long disliked Dada and had long wanted to test his skills.
Everyone also looked at Shangguan Li, and saw that he was wearing the uniform of the Imperial Guards. He had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and a red tassel was tied to the sword in his hand, which seemed to have been tied there for him by someone with a purpose.
Jiang Fenghua stared at Shangguan Li and thought to himself, "He is quite courageous. He was humiliated in the Golden Palace. Now it depends on his ability whether he can get back at it or not."
Xie Shang did not expect Shangguan Li to suddenly stand up.
Xie Shang nodded slightly, "Okay."
Unexpectedly, Shangguan Li suddenly handed the knife in his hand to the guard next to him and said to another guard: "Bring the wooden sword."
After these words were spoken, everyone was stunned. What was Shangguan Li going to do? How could he use a wooden sword to confront Dada's scimitar?
Everyone's nerves were tense as Shangguan Li walked towards the center of the hall, holding a wooden sword in his hand. Compared with the rough and sturdy people of Beixiao, Shangguan Li looked particularly thin and frail.
Dada grinned, revealing his yellow teeth: "Little kid, it's not too late to admit defeat now."
Shangguan Li did not answer, but just made gestures.
The next moment, Dada rushed towards Shangguan Li like a tiger pouncing on its prey, and the scimitar in his hand flashed a cold light...
Jiang Fenghua's heart ached as he watched Shangguan Li avoid his scimitar as nimbly as willow catkins in the wind. The blade passed by the corner of his clothes several times but never touched him.
Jiang Fenghua exclaimed in a low voice: "Shangguan Li's footwork..."
Xie Shang leaned slightly to the side and explained, "General Shangguan followed our grandfather in battles and made great achievements. Shangguan Li is General Shangguan's grandson. He has been learning martial arts since he was young, so he can be said to have inherited his grandfather's legacy."
Jiang Fenghua asked, "With such a talent, the emperor allowed him to stay in the palace as a guard?"
Xie Shang explained, "Anyone who can enter the palace to serve as a guard is no ordinary person. They all have some meritorious service in their family. Shangguan Li has only been in the palace for less than two years. He stayed here just to gain experience first. If there is a chance in the future, he will definitely be allowed to go to the battlefield."
What Jiang Fenghua didn’t know was that in his previous life, Shangguan Li had also defeated many powerful enemies for Xie Shang and made great military achievements.