aircannonsinc Chapter 18 This Yang Guang is different from what I imagined.
Chapter 18 This Yang Guang is different from what I imagined.
"Your Excellency, what brings you in such a hurry?"
Lu Xiao quickly got up and opened the door, glancing around instinctively. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Xue Liang following Yang Lin unharmed.
He was genuinely afraid that one day he would wake up to the news that his second brother had been accidentally killed by Yang Lin.
"His Majesty has returned victorious from his campaign. Follow me immediately to greet him!"
Lü Xiao then understood why Yang Lin was in such a hurry.
The visitor was none other than Yang Guang, the emperor of the Sui Dynasty, the supreme ruler.
A moment later, Lü Xiao followed Yang Lin to the official road north of Liyang.
In the distance, a large and impressive procession was slowly approaching.
At the very front of the procession were warriors clad in fine armor, with golden maces hanging from their waists.
As Yang Guang's personal guards, they carried weapons, their expressions solemn, and led the way.
"Old Thousand Years Old, what...what is that?"
Lu Xiao pointed into the distance, his eyes filled with astonishment.
That was clearly a palace, a palace that could move!
"That is His Majesty's Guanfeng Palace."
Yang Lin quickly explained to Lü Xiao.
This mobile palace was personally designed and built by the master craftsman Yuwen Kai. Its interior is spacious and luxurious, enough to accommodate more than a hundred people for living and discussing matters.
"They really know how to enjoy life."
As Lü Xiao gazed at the slowly moving Guanfeng Hall, he sighed inwardly.
It turns out that modern motorhomes are something that people in ancient times had already played with.
It must be said that Yang Guang's ideas were indeed ahead of their time and quite ingenious.
The commander of the Golden Melon Warriors rode up to Yang Lin on his steed, dismounted, knelt on one knee, and respectfully reported:
"Prince Kao Shan, His Majesty requests your immediate audience."
Yang Lin nodded slightly, raised his hand and carefully straightened his armor to ensure it was flat and wrinkle-free.
"Fourteenth brother, let your second brother help you tidy up."
Xue Liang also quickly stepped forward and carefully tugged at the brocade robe behind Lü Xiao.
He then gently adjusted the three-pronged purple-gold crown on his head, striving for symmetry and neatness to showcase his appearance.
"Alright, now you are ready to meet His Majesty."
Xue Liang, Luo Fang, and the others were genuinely envious of Lü Xiao's opportunity to meet the emperor.
How many people in the whole world have actually seen Yang Guang's true face?
The last time they saw His Majesty was the very last time.
"Zilie, come with me."
Yang Lin nodded in satisfaction.
This child was already a handsome and spirited young man, over nine feet tall, with an upright posture.
Now he is dressed in a robe adorned with a hundred flowers, covered with chainmail, and wearing a three-pronged purple-gold crown.
Just standing there, he exudes an imposing presence and leaves a lasting impression.
"Prince Yang Lin, who is known as the Mountain King, pays his respects to His Majesty—"
Accompanied by the loud announcements of the palace attendants, Lü Xiao followed closely behind Yang Lin and stepped into the Guanfeng Hall.
The palace had more than a dozen vermilion doors. Whenever the two approached, a palace servant would respectfully pull them open.
Along the way, palace servants stood respectfully on both sides, their hands at their sides, not daring to utter a sound.
As the last gate was slowly opened, Lü Xiao's heart tightened; he was finally about to meet the master of the Great Sui Dynasty.
However, before he could see the situation inside the hall, Yang Lin suddenly grabbed him.
The emperor's countenance is not to be casually spied upon by ordinary people.
"Your subject Yang Lin pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Yang Lin removed his helmet and handed it to the palace maid beside him, bowing deeply in a booming voice.
"Your subject, Lü Xiao, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Following Yang Lin's example, Lü Xiao bowed respectfully and answered politely.
"Rise."
A hoarse yet imposing voice rang out in the hall, its penetrating power undiminished.
"Old Imperial Uncle, is this the new adopted son you mentioned in your letter, the one who single-handedly captured Xuangan and quelled the rebellion?"
Upon hearing Yang Guang's words, Lü Xiao couldn't help but feel uneasy.
When did I become an adopted son?
He had clearly already politely declined Yang Lin's offer to adopt a son.
"Your Majesty, this is not my adopted son, but my fourteenth bodyguard, Lü Xiao."
Yang Lin quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and explained.
"Look at my memory, it's getting worse and worse, probably because I'm getting older."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a sarcastic voice rang out.
"Your Majesty is in the prime of life, how could you be mistaken? It must be that the old prince's letter was unclear and misled Your Majesty."
The speaker was Yuwen Huaji, the father of General Yuwen Chengdu.
He and Yang Lin were sworn enemies in the imperial court, and their constant confrontations were commonplace.
At this moment, under the pretext of flattering Yang Guang, he also took the opportunity to belittle Yang Lin.
"The defeat in this campaign against Goguryeo is largely the fault of the Left Guard General. The Prime Minister would be better off focusing on his own affairs."
Yang Lin had never tolerated Yuwen Huaji's tricks, so he immediately retorted, striking at his sore spot.
"Hmph, no need for the King of the Mountain to trouble himself."
Yuwen Huaji snorted coldly, his face instantly turning gloomy.
Yang Lin's words indeed hit him where it hurt.
When he led the eastern expedition against Goguryeo, his father, Yuwen Shu, was also one of the generals in charge, but he suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Goguryeo army.
This score will not be settled for now; once we return to Luoyang, Yang Guang will surely settle old scores.
Yang Guang did not take the dispute between Yang Lin and Yuwen Huaji to heart.
After all, every time the two met, the atmosphere was tense and hostile, and he was already used to it.
He fixed his gaze on Lü Xiao and slowly began to speak:
"Lu Xiao, raise your head and let me see you."
"Yes."
Lu Xiao slowly raised his head, and with Yang Guang's special permission, he finally saw the true face of the Emperor of the Sui Dynasty.
It must be said that this emperor's appearance was quite unbecoming of a monarch.
Instead of sitting properly on the dragon throne, he leaned back on it casually.
If he dared to sit like that, Yang Lin would have taught him a lesson long ago.
"Exceptionally brave and skilled, truly a young general!"
When Yang Guang first met Lü Xiao, he clapped his hands and exclaimed in sincere praise.
He had always been quite proud of his appearance, but compared to Lü Xiao in front of him, even he himself in his youth would pale in comparison.
"Zilie, quickly thank His Majesty for his praise."
Yang Lin nudged Lü Xiao with his elbow. This kid was usually quick-witted, but why did he become so reserved in front of Yang Guang?
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your praise."
Anyone who has ever met the emperor knows that few are not nervous when meeting him for the first time.
Lü Xiao was the same, even though he had seen quite a few big scenes in his daily life.
Even when facing the supreme ruler Yang Guang, one could not help but feel uneasy.
"Am I that scary-looking?"
Yang Guang straightened up from the dragon throne, and Lü Xiaogang thought to himself that he finally had some of the bearing of an emperor.
However, the next moment Yang Guang put his hands into his sleeves.
This sight caused Lü Xiao's preconceived notion of the emperor's majesty to gradually crumble.