landbeastnovel Chapter 575 The Emperor's Summoning
Chapter 575 The Emperor's Summoning
Chapter 575 The Emperor's Summoning
Once we arrived at the back hall of Qingyang Temple, it became much quieter.
The Taoist priests in the temple recognized Yun Xiao immediately.
After giving a series of instructions, Yun Xiao arranged a large courtyard for Lu Zheng and the others, fully equipped with living necessities, and even a quiet room for refining pills and setting up formations for cultivation...
Yun Xiao busied himself with the handover and learned about the current situation at Qingyang Temple.
Although he was put in charge of Qingyang Temple, he didn't actually need to do anything. Just sitting in the temple and acting as a figurehead was enough. There were hardly any things that required him, the Taoist master, to do personally.
However, not everyone can be in this position. After all this time, it's his turn.
After the handover was completed, Yun Xiao went to the courtyard where Lu Zheng and the others were.
The three people were gathered around the flower bed, studying the blooming hibiscus trees.
Qingwan's eyes were full of curiosity. She wondered how many varieties of hibiscus these plants had been improved. Each one was very different and they were all extraordinary flowers and trees.
Yun Xiao chuckled and said, "Have you never seen hibiscus flowers like this before? These are high-quality hibiscus, much better than the ones outside the city and along the streets... If you want them, you can uproot them and plant them in the inner world. The government has no say in the flowers and trees in our Taoist temple..."
Qingwan couldn't help but say, "Forget it, these flowers aren't edible, they look quite delicate, I don't have time to take care of them."
Compared to these hibiscus flowers, Qingwan was more curious about just how many methods those royal gardeners were proficient in cultivating plants.
However, this is someone else's cooking skill, and it's probably not so easy to know.
Furthermore, the royal gardeners are people that outsiders would likely have very little contact with.
Outside, footsteps approached from afar, followed by the soft call of a Taoist priest from the temple.
Upon opening the gate, they saw several palace servants arriving.
Upon seeing Yun Xiao, the head palace servant bowed respectfully and said, "This humble servant pays respects to the True Immortal! His Majesty, having learned of the True Immortal's emergence from seclusion, wishes to reminisce with him..."
The palace attendant paused, then looked at Lu Zheng and the others, and said, "These guests from afar will also be brought into the palace."
Yun Xiao thought to himself that he hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath before the Emperor sent someone to find him.
Without even needing to do any calculations, Yun Xiao could guess that Wang Qianyang must have gone to the palace and informed the Shu Emperor that he had returned.
Lu Zheng was somewhat surprised to learn that the emperor of Shu wanted to summon him.
He felt that he still benefited from Yun Xiao's influence, after all, his deeds should not be enough to warrant a special audience with the emperor of a country.
Yun Xiao looked at Lu Zheng and asked, "Are you going or not?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Zheng pondered, "How can one refuse an audience with the emperor?"
However, seeing that Yun Xiao could say this in front of the palace servants, if he really didn't want to go, Yun Xiao could probably cover for him.
Lu Zheng felt there was nothing he couldn't do under these circumstances, so he nodded slightly.
Upon seeing this, the palace servants quickly made way and then followed behind Yun Xiao and his group.
Outside the Taoist temple, four horse-drawn carriages were already parked on the wide road.
Each carriage was luxuriously decorated and pulled by two strong horses.
The horse pulling the carriage is a dragon-horse with the blood of a dragon. It has prominent horns and scales on its body and a strong, tiger-like physique.
Lu Zheng and his three companions each boarded a carriage, and then palace guards led the way, speeding towards the palace.
Although Yun Xiao could bring all his troops directly to the outside of the palace with just a thought, the proper etiquette and ceremony still had to be observed, and the emperor's carriages and horses could not be ignored.
It didn't take long for the group to arrive at the palace. Without even being checked by the palace guards, the palace servants who went to fetch them led them directly into the palace – a privilege enjoyed by Master Yunxiao.
Yun Xiao said to Lu Zheng and the others, "You don't need to be nervous. Our Emperor is very easy to talk to."
Lu Zheng remained calm, Qing Wan's eyes held curiosity, and Qing Yi seemed oblivious to the danger; none of the three showed any sign of nervousness.
After passing several magnificent palaces, the group arrived at a garden.
The garden features spacious jade pavilions.
Inside the pavilion, a man and a woman sat there, attended by palace servants.
The man was imposing and wore a blue dragon robe. He exuded an aura of imperial power, and was none other than the emperor of Shu.
The Shu emperor looked to be in his thirties or forties, but there was a maturity in his eyes that did not belong to his age, indicating that his real age was a little older than he appeared.
The woman sitting next to the Shu Emperor looked even younger.
The woman possessed a stunningly beautiful face that could topple kingdoms, and her simple yet exquisite clothing accentuated her dignified and noble temperament, giving her an aura of imperial majesty.
Even those who meet her for the first time would have no doubt that she is an empress of noble birth.
And this woman was none other than the famous Empress Furong, renowned throughout the world.
Yun Xiao stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This humble Taoist, Yun Xiao, pays respects to Your Majesty and Empress Furong..."
Lu Zheng and the other two followed suit, bowing respectfully with neither servility nor arrogance.
The Shu Emperor chuckled and said, "No need for formalities, everyone! Bring me a seat!"
Nearby, several palace servants quickly prepared seats for the group.
The Shu Emperor looked at Yun Xiao and said leisurely, "The True Man has emerged from seclusion so quickly. It seems he has broken through to a higher realm. Given time, I believe our Great Shu will produce a true sage!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Xiao replied, "Your Majesty flatters me. I am still far from being a sage."
The Shu Emperor smiled and said, "No need to be modest! I summoned you here because I wanted to see you properly! You have resolved a worry for me in the Southern Frontier!"
A few days ago, the Shu Emperor received news from the Southern Frontier. After learning about the situation, he was in a very good mood and had been looking forward to meeting Yun Xiao and Lu Zheng.
Upon learning that the group had appeared in Furong City, he sent palace servants to fetch them.
Yun Xiao said, "At that time, I was just an avatar. The main contributors were Friend Lu and his group, as well as the local Zhennan soldiers."
Upon hearing this, the Shu Emperor turned to look at Lu Zheng, scrutinizing him with his bright eyes.
The main reason he summoned Lu Zheng and the others to the palace was that Empress Furong wanted to meet these young people and hear about their interesting travel experiences.
The Shu Emperor and Empress Furong knew many of Lu Zheng's deeds, but ultimately it was all hearsay and they didn't know much about them.
The Shu emperor had a good impression of this scholar from Anguo who dared to slay a righteous god in Chu, but he didn't take him too seriously.
However, since his empress had mentioned it, the Shu emperor did not hesitate and summoned everyone. In order not to lose the dignity of a great nation, he even sent out the imperial dragon horse carriages, one carriage per person.
The Shu Emperor lowered his gaze and said leisurely, "Young and promising!"
Lu Zheng said, "Your Majesty flatters me."
(End of this chapter)