Chapter 118 Gifts, Entering the Court

“Is our shopkeeper not coming back?”

“Tsk~ It’s hard to say. Although His Majesty won’t let me go, the Northern Emperor is not someone who is easily persuaded.”

“Even if he comes back, he probably won’t have time to come here.”

“Master Ming is truly a remarkable man… I’ve met him before~”

……

The building was filled with fragrance, and the storyteller was telling a story that he had told many times.

Regular customers were toasting each other and talking about the meal.

As the weather gets colder, the novelty wears off and there are fewer customers at Xiangmanlou.

But compared with ordinary inns and restaurants, it still has many advantages. The business is at a just right stage. If it continues to operate, it will surely become famous in Yueyang.

However, the name Mingchen has a special meaning to this restaurant and the people here.

In a sense, it was that magical person who created this place.

Now that man is famous throughout Yueyang, and the regular customers in this restaurant also feel a sense of honor.

Today is the same as before, and there seems to be no difference.

As the sky gradually darkened, plum blossom petals fluttered and fell, landing in front of the door.

Just then, the white flower was stepped on.

A figure walked in. The setting sun illuminated his figure, which was tall and well-proportioned. He was pitch black against the light, so his appearance was a little unclear.

However, the next moment, a petite figure flashed by and threw herself into the man’s arms.

“Brother~”

The child was still wearing a mask and did not pinch her face, but this time she, who was usually taciturn, took the initiative to speak.

She stood in front of the counter every day, staring at the door.

The diners who came and went always told bad news, which made the child more depressed.

She would rather her brother not have that reputation and come back safely.

As time passed, her heart sank to the bottom.

however……

When that person stepped into the door of the restaurant, all the depression, all the worries… disappeared.

Xiudie threw herself into Mingchen’s arms and took a deep breath: “You are finally back.”

She doesn’t want the person who changed her destiny to disappear from her life.

Mingchen rubbed the child’s head and said with a smile: “I’m back~”

I don’t know if it’s because the food is nutritious or because the child has grown taller.

The child has grown a little taller than before he left.

“Humph!”

Unseen by others, the ghostly old man crossed his arms and snorted coldly.

The war was over, and this unfortunate disciple didn’t take him to the battlefield.

If Mingchen doesn’t coax him well, this matter will not be over.

The pitch-black cat lay on the beam, gently shaking its tail, its strange-colored eyes reflecting the handsome face of the person.

He had the bird on his shoulder, a child in his arms, and his whole body was full of things; there was nowhere for it to go.

The person who suddenly walked in seemed a little special, breaking the atmosphere of the restaurant.

Several regular customers looked at him and blinked, as if trying to confirm something.

The next moment, as if he remembered something, his eyeballs suddenly shrank, his mouth opened wide, and his face was full of disbelief.

Without any warning, this star-like person just appeared like that.

Mingchen, that extraordinary man who was known in the market, who could change half of the state with one strategy and who was the one who caused the two kings to fight, is back?

“Ming…Mingchen?!”

“Master Ming!”

“This…this…Master Ming is back!”

……

Unknowingly, a thick barrier had been created between Mingchen and the guests.

People can’t calmly communicate with people who are completely different from their own class. Even the waiters in the restaurant are the same.

They looked at Mingchen, feeling a little awkward, a little eager, and a little humble and flattering… and watched him return to the room on the second floor with the child.

Everyone knew that this young man was not in the same world as ordinary people like them.

After Mingchen disappeared, it took some time before the restaurant became a little more lively.

People were whispering and talking.

It is foreseeable that in a few days, this name will become a hot topic in the whole city.

“Hahaha, it’s only been two months and the shy butterfly has grown taller!”

Mingchen didn’t care about what others said. He just rubbed the child’s head and said with a smile.

The child took off his mask, looked at Mingchen, and said softly, “You’ve grown three centimeters taller.”

The child’s face was still ugly, but it was much better than when I first saw him, and many of the pimples had disappeared.

She would only show her true self in front of Mingchen.

“Hahaha~Okay~”

Mingchen produced a monkey mask from nowhere and handed it to the child: “Here, this is a gift.”

“Um…thank you, brother!”

The child was stunned and took the mask Mingchen handed him without saying any polite words.

His gray eyes seemed to be slightly watery, and he unconsciously curled up the corners of his lips.

This mask was just bought casually at the market and was not expensive, but to Xiudie, it seemed to be more valuable than a fortune.

“Meow~”

The black cat seized the opportunity and finally broke into Mingchen’s arms when Fuyao was not paying attention.

Mingchen rubbed the cat’s head and said with a smile: “You have it too, you have it too~”

As he spoke, he took out a small bell and hung it around Mo Xing’s neck.

The cat kicked its legs, seeming a little disgusted.

“Ahem~Hmm~”

This scene is so harmonious.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of an old man coughing deliberately.

Mingchen raised his eyebrows and looked at the old ghost who was acting as if nothing had happened, as if he had just realized that there was another ghost here: “Teacher, you are here too.”

Guo Chongyun: …I’m going to chop this filthy body of yours into pieces! Cut it up! Chop it into pieces!
He was really crazy at the time to choose such a disciple.

“What’s the matter with you?”

Guo Chongyun coughed lightly. “Ahem~ Disciple, look at you. You’re out there and you’re still preparing gifts for everyone~ You’re so polite. You must have prepared some for me too, right?”

“I told you not to make it so troublesome.”

“However, considering your filial piety, it’s okay to prepare it for your master. It won’t happen again.”

Mingchen was stunned and looked at the old man strangely: “Teacher, what are you talking about?”

Guo Chongyun:?

There seems to be a clown in this room.

The wind was howling, the old man’s beard was flying, and his face turned a little red.

Someone got red and warm.

“Hahaha~”

Seeing the old man puffing his beard and glaring, Mingchen said with a smile: “Yes, yes~”

He took out a bunch of tasseled sword tassels and said to the old ghost, “Teacher, this is a specialty of Beilie, a standard item for warriors.”

As he said this, he tied the sword tassel to the tattered flag on the side.

The exquisite sword tassel forms a sharp contrast with the mottled and torn flag that has gone through the vicissitudes of time.

“Humph! You little brat are making fun of me, aren’t you?!”

The old man snorted coldly, glancing at the flag from time to time: “It’s just average.”

Returning to the familiar room, I met familiar people and familiar monsters.

Mingchen smiled unconsciously.

There are few places in the world where he can feel at ease, and this place is half of it.

……

Mingchen’s return was like a small stone falling into a calm lake, causing ripples.

The matter is not big, but not small either.

At the Qianyuan Grand Court Meeting, all the ministers arrived, and civil officials and military generals were placed on both sides, with civil officials on the left and military generals on the right, arranged from front to back according to the size of their official positions.

Crown Prince Xiao Zhengyang sat at the head of the ministers, wearing a thick fur coat, with dark circles under his eyes and a pale complexion.

A beautiful woman with a noble temperament stood beside him one day, with high eyebrows and bright eyes, revealing some of the spirit and vitality that the prince lacked.

The second princess Xiao Xinyue.

At the top of the hall, Xiao Yu sat on the throne, facing south. His face was calm, and he said in a calm voice, “I will attend the court.”

This month, Xiao Yu was much more diligent and attended court again.

“Your Majesty, Shengzhou is short of food, and the victims are rebelling. Governor Lu Ruixuan requests that the court allocate funds for relief…”

“Your Majesty, a tsunami has struck Nazhou, flooding the city. Governor Lai Boxuan implores the court to provide disaster relief…”

“Your Majesty, the Blood-Cloaked Army has captured another city. Tizhou is in imminent danger…”

“His Majesty……”

……

The world is so vast, and great things happen every day.

As the hub of power in the world, it is natural that there are a lot of things to deal with every time he goes to court.

The ministers submitted memorials one after another, telling of all sorts of messy things.

When Xiao Yu heard these people shouting, he felt his temples throbbing and waved his hands casually.

Signaled the prince to solve it.

Xiao Zhengyang nodded slightly and took over the presidency of the court, listening to the ministers’ chattering, which also implied the open and covert struggles and conflicts of interest between various factions.

He carefully sorted out the context and made the most reasonable decision.

Xiao Xinyue beside him was also listening quietly, frowning slightly from time to time and giving Xiao Zhengyang a few suggestions.

Time passed slowly and the affairs were almost completed.

The messenger at the door shouted loudly,

“The Hanlin Academy will compile tomorrow. General Wude Ling Yu has returned to the court and is awaiting your Majesty’s summons.”

For a moment, the entire court became quiet.

All the ministers were shocked.

These two people are not ordinary!

Ling Yu, that general was extremely powerful. He blocked the tigers and wolves of Bei Lie and killed more than 10,000 enemies. Her master was a general and did not kill a single person. However, she was the complete opposite. She killed more than a thousand enemies by herself.

The other person is even more amazing.

Mingchen, just exchanging one person for half a state and fighting between two kings is unprecedented in history, and it is unlikely that the person who came here can be found.

Both of them entered officialdom this year and were not even qualified to serve in the court. However, they had made such great achievements and stole the limelight.

It is conceivable what they will get now that they have returned to the court.

In today’s court, talent is not a necessity for being an official.

But if your talent turns into fame, spreads and is recognized, that would be a different story.

The newcomer, a dark horse, rushed in arrogantly. He had no faction and no background. He was bound to be wooed and pursued by all the officials, and was bound to turn the muddy water in the court upside down.

Xiao Yu raised his eyes and said, “Xuan.”

He went to court today just for this matter.

He had previously promised Mingchen that he would personally reward the other party. He showed his sincerity in order to win back the heart of this evil star.

This is a matter of longevity, so we cannot be careless.

As for Ling Yu, that was just by the way.

“Xuan Mingchen, Ling Yu, enter the hall~”

As the summons officer shouted loudly, two figures walked into the sight of everyone in the court.

The ministers unconsciously shifted their gaze and looked towards the entrance of the hall with some curiosity.

Many of them had only heard the legends about these two people and had never even seen their faces.

The general was wearing black armor and had a cold and stern temperament. He walked with a tremendous force, full of murderous aura and breathtaking.

The scholar was wearing a dark blue official uniform and an official hat, with a bright smile on his face. He looked handsome and unrestrained, and looked very proud.

A person with a completely different style became everyone’s focus as soon as he appeared on the stage.

The general killed thousands of enemies, and the scholar changed the world.

What a pair of talented men in both literature and martial arts.

(End of this chapter)