Chapter 667 The Anger Dinner with the Emperor lasted more than an hour.In front of Yan Liqiang on the table were dishes cooked by the best chef in the world with the most premium ingredients. But in his mouth, it all tasted like nothing.
The Emperor’s attitude said it all. Yan Liqiang was not stupid. Normally, he knew he should oppress that thought in his heart completely, but as he answered the Emperor’s questions as he ate the food, he could feel something sticking out in his chest. He could feel his heartbeat increasing because of it and that he would never let it go if he did not spit it out.
No matter how smart a person was, he or she would at least make one mistake in his or her lifetime.
“…This is the meat mushroom donated from the northwest. I heard that these meat mushrooms grow in the ruins and deep underground. As long as there is one meat mushroom growing under the ground in the soil, the rest of the area within a ten-mile radius would not have anything growing out of it. Each year, all the meat mushrooms found in that land have been shifted into the palace, and there are only a few dozen of them. The doctors in the palace say that it is one of the most treasurable medicines. It is as powerful as the old ginseng, but it is not mild in terms of medicinal effect so it will not hurt your digestive system. I knew that you were coming today, so I asked the kitchen to specially prepare these dishes. Liqiang, taste this! You are from the northwest, but you probably have not tasted it yet…” the Emperor explained as he smiled.
“I heard that there are also some very unique ingredients in these dishes as well, back in the time that Qiyun Protectorate was here, each year I saw the donations from here, but since that time when the Shatu Seven Tribes took over the Gulang Plains, all the donations stopped. The Shatu people are full of ambitions — they wished that in a couple of more years, Liqiang, that your Qiyun Protectorate would help me see the harvest those plains. I heard that a couple of months ago, you took out the Tuli Tribe. News of you killing hundreds of thousands of them made me very happy — I knew I did not put high hopes on the wrong person.”
“I will definitely strive my best and take back the Gulang Plains. I will not disappoint you, Your Majesty.”
“Hahaha, you have to drink this medicinal soup as soon as possible — drink all of it. Don’t let it get cold, otherwise its medicinal effect would be affected.” As he said it, the Emperor demonstrated himself and drank it all from a small bowl in front of him without using a spoon. He placed the bowl back on the table again.
The Emperor chuckled. “Liqiang, if you like it then I will send someone to drop off some at Deer Villa and ask the chef there to make you more!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!” Yan Liqiang smiled, but that hand of his under the table was balled into a fist. “Your Majesty indeed treated me so well. I have been thinking of ways for me to return Your Majesty’s appreciation of me.”
“Haha, if you could take back the Gulang Plains from the Shatu Tribes for me, then it would be the best gift.”
“Taking back the plains would not be a short period time of effort, but I will strive to do my best. Right now, there is something else I would like to say to Your Majesty. The people in Imperial Capital are also the core of the capital. When the Heavenly Tribulation comes next year, Your Majesty, leaving these people here would mean ending their future. I humbly ask Your Majesty to rethink the departure of these citizens of yours. They would need money and food for the departure, and right now there might not be enough. An order can be carried out to ask for donations from the rich families and your loyal servants. As long as the whole land is working together, the Great Han Empire would definitely make it through this together!…”
Yan Liqiang said what he wanted to say after all.
In the beginning, the Emperor still had that smile on his face, but hearing Yan Liqiang, that smile of his slowly disappeared. Eventually, the expression on his face became cold and sharp. He looked at Yan Liqiang with an intense look, while Yan Liqiang welcomed that look. There was pure silence in Guanglu Hall. The atmosphere seemed to have frozen with time.
“Whether the Heavenly Tribulation happens or not, it has not been decided.” The Emperor’s voice was cold and emotionless. “Liqiang, are you implying that I am a corrupt emperor who does not care for his own people’s lives?”
“I do not dare. I just would like to help Your Majesty.” Yan Liqiang lowered his head.
“The donation request has already been sent out to the nobles and workers, but it was not effective. All of the money and food received from different provinces were not enough for all of the people to move at once. Liqiang, you have to know that the reason for me to do so is also for the Han Empire and all the people within!”
“Just give me a small army. It does not have to be much, just twenty riders from the Imperial Cavalry Unit and an Imperial Envoy, I will provide all of the donations from the noble families and local authorities. I will find a way to collect all the money and food needed for these people to move. If I cannot make it then I would be willing to die for my failure!” Yan Liqiang walked over from behind the table and spoke with one knee on the ground in front of the Emperor with a low voice.
Swoosh…
A loud noise echoed inside Guanglu Hall…
As an answer, the Emperor tipped over the table, smashing all the tableware on the ground.
The Emperor stood up suddenly, light shooting out from his eyes which were locked onto Yan Liqiang who was kneeling in front of him.
Hearing the loud noise echoing inside the hall, the warriors guarding in front rushed in immediately, almost hundreds of them. Two elders in black clothes appeared inside the hall as well like ghosts.
All of the weapons had been pointed at Yan Liqiang who was still kneeling on the ground. The two elders looked at Yan Liqiang as well, like eagles at their prey.
All of a sudden, if a needle had been dropped on the ground, it would have been heard. Everyone in the hall seemed to be waiting for His Majesty’s next command, and they would smash Yan Liqiang into meat piles within a heartbeat.
Yan Liqiang’s eyes were still locked onto the Emperor.
The Emperor breathed aggressively. The way he was looking at Yan Liqiang changed couple times, and the silence lasted at least half a minute. the Emperor’s breathing then finally calmed down. That sharpness in his eyes dimmed down as well. Eventually, he said with a cold voice, “Liqiang, you are loyal, I can see that. But this is a matter of the whole Han Empire, it is not as easy as you imagine. How can you deal with national matters with reckless emotions?”
As he spoke, the Emperor made a low hum, then he flicked his sleeves and left without looking at Yan Liqiang again…
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