Chapter 540 Duke Protector of the Nation

"Not from the Central Plains?" Zhao Yan's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart sank.

He suddenly raised his head and looked north. A terrible thought slithered into his mind like a venomous snake—could it be the northern barbarians? Those savage barbarians who have long coveted the wealth of the Central Plains?

Upon realizing this, Zhao Yan's face instantly turned ashen.

He immediately turned around and sternly ordered a general of the Imperial Guard behind him: "Quickly! Go to the Ministry of War immediately and convey my imperial edict! Review all military reports concerning the northern border, especially the movements of the various tribes and the troop concentrations in the last two days, no matter how small, and report them all! Go now!"

The order was given, but Zhao Yan remained standing, gazing at the northern night sky, his eyes flashing with a complex light.

Fear, anger, suspicion... all sorts of emotions intertwined.

Shen Mo, standing quietly beside him, still wore that chivalrous look of concern for the country and its people. Only in the depths of his unfathomable eyes did a cold smile flicker, unnoticed by anyone.

......

The following morning, in the Golden Palace, the incense burner with its nine cauldrons emitted wisps of smoke, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and reverence.

The civil and military officials stood in two rows, wearing crimson and purple python robes and magnificent crowns, waiting for the emperor to arrive at court.

However, an unusual restlessness and whispers permeated the court today.

All eyes were subtly drawn to the outside of the palace gates, as if awaiting a storm that would shake the very heart of the empire.

"Summon—Sword God Shen Mo, to an audience!" The eunuch's high-pitched, drawn-out voice broke the silence of the hall.

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure in black slowly entered the hall from outside.

His posture was as upright as a lone pine tree, and his steps were as steady as a deep pool and a towering mountain. Every step he took on the gleaming blue bricks seemed to strike the hearts of everyone present.

He walked down to the foot of the steps, facing the supreme ruler who sat high on the dragon throne and held the power of life and death. Instead of prostrating himself on the ground like an ordinary person and performing the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows, he simply clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and said loudly, "This humble subject, Shen Mo, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

At this scene, all the civil and military officials in the court gasped in shock!

"This man is incredibly audacious! How dare he disrespect His Majesty!"

"How dare these lowly outlaws be so arrogant?"

"To not kneel before the emperor... what kind of decorum is this!"

Countless gazes filled with surprise, anger, and disdain shot towards Shen Mo like sharp arrows.

In their deeply ingrained belief, imperial power was supreme, and all under heaven were subjects of the emperor. For a martial arts practitioner, let alone kneeling in worship, simply being allowed to enter this imperial palace was an immense favor. How dare he be so arrogant? It was utterly disrespectful to the emperor, a crime deserving of death!

However, Zhao Yan, sitting upright on the dragon throne, showed no displeasure whatsoever; instead, his eyes were filled with undisguised gratitude and appreciation.

His gaze was gentle yet ardent, as if he were looking at a national treasure that had been lost and found again. He even nodded slightly in response.

Standing to the side of the courtiers, Ruan Xiaotian took in all of this.

He glanced at the bewildered civil and military officials whispering amongst themselves, a cold smile creeping onto his face. If you, who spend your days scheming and armchair strategizing, had witnessed that scene last night in the palace—the ghostly assassin, the devastating attack, and Shen Mo's godlike protection—you wouldn't be surprised in the slightest. Before absolute power and the grace of being saved, what is a mere act of kneeling?

Just as the court was in an uproar, Zhao Yan cleared his throat, his voice loud and firm, instantly silencing all the noise: "My ministers, silence!"

The hall fell silent immediately.

Zhao Yan stood up, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials before finally settling on Shen Mo. He announced, word by word, with absolute clarity: "The Sword God, in his moment of crisis, stepped forward and, single-handedly, turned the tide, rescuing me from dire straits. Such merit is unprecedented and cannot be rewarded with ordinary gifts! Therefore, I hereby proclaim to the world: effective immediately, Shen Mo is hereby conferred the title of—Duke Protector of the Nation!"

The moment the words "Duke Protector of the Nation" were uttered, they resounded like a thunderclap in the Golden Palace!

The entire court, both civil and military officials, were stunned, as if struck by lightning. Their faces were filled with disbelief and shock, as if they had heard the most absurd joke in the world.

Duke Protector of the Nation! What does that mean? It's an honor that transcends even the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, a privilege reserved only for founding heroes! Though they hold no real power and are not involved in politics, their status and privileges are second only to the Emperor! In the entire dynasty's three hundred years, no one who is neither a member of the royal family nor a descendant of a meritorious official has ever received this title! Moreover, this person is merely... a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person of the martial arts world)!

Even Ruan Xiaotian, the national advisor who had accompanied Zhao Yan for many years, was completely stunned at this moment.

He had originally thought that His Majesty would at most bestow upon Shen Mo ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand acres of fertile land, or a nominal but idle title. But he never expected that Zhao Yan would directly drop the bombshell of "Duke Protector of the Nation"!

Shen Mo himself was stunned. He had been prepared to accept gold and silver treasures or a common title, but he did not expect Zhao Yan to give such an astonishing reward.

His heart skipped a beat, followed by an indescribable surge of joy. This was not merely personal glory, but an unprecedented elevation of the Martial Alliance's and even the entire martial world's status! This meant that from this day forward, Emperor Zhao Yan would completely abandon his fear and suppression of the martial world's forces, instead seeking cooperation and reliance on them. The invisible barrier between the martial world and the imperial court was being shattered by his own hands!

But outwardly, he had to decline. This was both a matter of etiquette and a gesture.

Shen Mo immediately knelt on one knee, his tone trembling with fear: "Your Majesty! This humble subject is utterly unworthy of such an honor! I am but a commoner, and my actions yesterday were merely fulfilling the duty of a subject. The position of Duke of Protector of the Nation is the pillar of the nation; how could someone as insignificant as myself possibly attain it? I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree!"

Zhao Yan had already anticipated his reaction, and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

He stepped down from the dragon throne, took a few steps forward, and gently helped Shen Mo to his feet. His tone was resolute and brooked no argument: "Sword God! Do not refuse any longer! It is my good fortune and the blessing of all people that the nation has a Sword God! You are renowned throughout the world as the 'Sword God,' and you uphold the responsibility of 'protecting the nation.' This is a match made in heaven, and you should not shirk your duty! My mind is made up, and there is no need for further discussion!"

The emperor's attitude was so resolute that he even went so far as to personally descend the steps to help her up. This was no longer a simple reward, but a declaration of a political stance.

The entire court, composed of astute officials, immediately grasped the changing winds. Those who had just moments before looked on with disdain now wore smiles and vied to offer their advice:

"Yes, Sword God, His Majesty's grace is boundless, please do not refuse any longer!"

"The title of Duke Protector of the Nation belongs to you alone! We are all completely convinced of your worth!"

"The Sword God serves his country and its people; he deserves this honor!"

In an instant, flattery filled the air, and the doubts and dissatisfaction from before had long since vanished.