Chapter 2000 - An Yaluoshan's Tribute

“May the Emperor live ten thousand years…”

“King of Foreign Lands…”

Wang Chong could even hear the common people cheering, and many of them were even excitedly shouting his name.

The area outside the walls was a sea of happiness, the atmosphere even more enthusiastic than within the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal.

Wang Chong was taken aback and forced to ponder this scene.

Bong!

At this moment, a bell melodiously rang. The audiences with the foreign emissaries were over, and the feast was entering its main event.

“Today’s feast of all countries is an occasion of unprecedented grandeur that cannot be wasted. The other countries have invested many days preparing for performances of singing and dancing. Everyone has gathered here today, so let us celebrate this feast and hope for the continued prosperity of the world and harmony and peace between all countries for all time!” the old eunuch in front of the throne loudly declared.

Bang!

Outside the walls, the common folk of the capital exploded with thunderous cheers.

They had been waiting ages for this moment.

The entertainment portion of the feast of all countries was something that both the sovereign and the people could delight in. The people of the capital could clearly see the performances in the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal over the walls, and even the ‘Sage Emperor’ on his throne. This was the time where the people of the capital could get closest to the Sage Emperor and his officials.

Moreover, according to custom, the foreign countries had not only prepared tributes, but also exotic performances from their countries for the Sage Emperor.

For the people of the capital, this was a wonderful show!

Bangbangbang!

Fireworks began to whistle into the air and brilliantly explode.

Harps, pipas, and bells began to make music as palace ladies stepped onto the stage and began to dance. After that, the various performance troupes prepared by the foreign countries began to take the stage.

The most surprising performance of all came from Goguryeo.

In the war of the northeast, Yeon Gaesomun had led hundreds of thousands of soldiers to invade Youzhou, causing a great stir within the Great Tang.

But for this feast of all countries, not only had Goguryeo Emperor Yeon Gaesomun taken the initiative to send an emissary with a message of submission, he had also sent a performance troupe.

“#%#… @@￥#Wuliliwa!”

A short and thin Goguryeon emissary with rather dark skin stepped into the center stage. After bowing to the Sage Emperor, he began to jabber in a different language.

Everyone broke out in laughter.

Goguryeo had made an enemy of the Great Tang and had destroyed Zhang Shougui’s Roaring Tiger Army. Naturally, there was no one here who would give them any respect.

“Your Highness, what is he saying?” Xu Qiqin curiously asked.

Wang Chong smiled and replied, “He is saying that Goguryeons are the descendants of the ancient Golden Crow, and in their hearts, the Sage Emperor is the sun that gave birth to the Golden Crow. The Goguryeo Empire feels the greatest reverence to the Sage Emperor and has prepared for him a special gift!”

“Ah?”

Xu Qiqin was clearly rather surprised, but she also felt a deep respect and admiration.

Wang Chong was born of a revered clan, but he had never become conceited because of his status. Rather, he studied many books and possessed erudite knowledge. In the entire court, Wang Chong was probably the only one who knew so many languages: Arabic, Tibetan, Mengshe Zhao, Turkic, Goguryeon… There was basically no language that he didn’t know. He could truly be considered an all-around genius.

Wang Chong simply chuckled. One had to both know oneself and know one’s enemies to defeat them.

He did not learn so many languages to flaunt his talent, but to defeat the formidable foes of the Great Tang.

Whoosh!

As the two were speaking, that short, monkey-like Goguryeon emissary opened his mouth and spat out flames!

“Ah!”

The crowd cried out in alarm as they saw the Goguryeon emissary disappear. At the same time, a large fireball like the sun appeared in the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal.

“Protect His Majesty!”

The Golden Guards swiftly came forward, but before they could charge onto the stage, caaaw! There was a bleak cry, and the fireball was replaced by a giant fire crow.

Its wings were unfurled, the flames seething as it floated in the air. Most striking of all were the three legs beneath its body.

The three-legged divine crow!

This divine bird was none other than the holy beast revered by Goguryeons.

The three-legged divine crow turned to the Sage Emperor and bowed its head three times, then it spoke in stiff and clearly unpracticed Han. “Congratulations to the Great Tang’s Son of Heaven!”

“Hahaha, withdraw! All of you, withdraw for Us!”

The Sage Emperor heartily laughed from his throne.

Meanwhile, the fiery light faded, and that Goguryeo emissary lightly drifted down to the ground as if he was weightless.

“So he was a sorcerer!”

Wang Chong’s eyes pensively gleamed.

Sorcerers were different from martial artists. They had ancient origins, appearing as far back as the Spring and Autumn Period. It was considered an offshoot that dabbled in all sorts of skills: martial arts tool creation, alchemy, magic, and unique skills that were passed down through lines of sorcerers.

But after the Qin, the sorcerers began to fade away, and the number of people who knew about them dwindled away until they had become the stuff of legends and tales. He had not expected that the Goguryeo Empire still had some hidden sorcerers living within it.

The Goguryeon sorcerer soon stepped off the stage, and the other countries began to exhibit their own performances.

The Eastern Turkic Khaganate performed for the Sage Emperor ‘Dancing with wolves, the Wolf King howls to the moon’. The sight of the Eastern Turks controlling hundreds of white wolves who stood on their hindlegs and howled at the moon left a deep impression on all the common folk.

Arabia and the countries bordering them had brought beautiful dancing ladies who moved their waists as flexibly as snakes, the many ornaments decorating their bodies melodiously jangling and creating their own music.

These performances were completely different from the dances and music of the Central Plains, as exotic as could be.

Once all the performances were over, a loud voice drew everyone’s attention. “Your Majesty, this lowly subject, An Yaluoshan, has prepared a great tribute. Your Divine Majesty, please kindly accept it!”

On the left side of the Pavilion of Petal and Sepal’s ‘U’, An Yaluoshan suddenly stood up and respectfully bowed to the Sage Emperor.

Whoosh!

Wang Chong instantly grimaced on hearing An Yaluoshan’s voice, his cold and vicious eyes swiftly moving toward him.

A thought flashed through Wang Chong’s mind. It’s begun!

The numerous performances at tonight’s feast had everyone cheering and clapping, but Wang Chong had kept most of his attention on An Yaluoshan.

He just knew that An Yaluoshan, by standing up at this moment, had ulterior motives.

Xu Qiqin, King Song, Zhangchou Jianqiong, and even Li Linfu turned to look at An Yaluoshan.

On his throne, the ‘Sage Emperor’ heartily laughed when he saw An Yaluoshan stand up.

“Hahah, An Yaluoshan, what do you plan to do?”

The ‘Sage Emperor’ had a glowing complexion, and he was at his happiest.

“Today, all the countries have gathered, but this lowly subject is foolish and slow. For the fortune of seeing the Son of Heaven’s divine countenance, this lowly subject is filled with gratitude. This lowly subject happened to obtain a treasure that he would like to offer as tribute to Your Majesty!”

An Yaluoshan gave a hand salute and laughed, his chubby face radiating innocence.

“Oh? What is it? We are very curious!”

The ‘Sage Emperor’ seemed very amused.

The ‘Sage Emperor’ had an excellent impression of this chubby Hu. He still had the nearly one hundred Hu beauties An Yaluoshan had gifted him in his harem.

“Haha, Your Majesty will not be disappointed!”

An Yaluoshan was different from the Han officials, and his lack of decorum would have had another thrown out long ago. But the ‘Sage Emperor’ found that he really didn’t care about such things when it came to An Yaluoshan.

Clap! Clap!

An Yaluoshan clapped his hands.

“Bring it up!”

Footsteps came from the stairs, and the officials and foreign dignitaries turned to look. A few moments later, two Youzhou soldiers in their violet-black armor came up with a gilded bronze chest.

Wang Chong’s brow twitched upon seeing this.

The rules of the Imperial Palace were incredibly strict. It was forbidden for border officials and generals to bring their personal soldiers into the Imperial Palace, particularly since this was the last night of the feast of all countries, with the Son of Heaven personally attending. Everyone had to enter the palace with a provided nameplate. These Youzhou soldiers would have never been able to enter the Imperial Palace, unless they had someone assisting them.

The Youzhou soldiers were completely different from the Imperial Army, and for them to appear here was far too abnormal.

Li Linfu!

Wang Chong coldly glared at the seated Prime Minister.

After King Qi’s fall, the Bureau of Rites had fallen almost entirely under Li Linfu’s control. An Yaluoshan would not have been able to bring in his soldiers unless he had Li Linfu’s permission.

But the Son of Heaven was so happy and enthusiastic that he clearly did not notice or care about this detail.

The Youzhou soldiers brought up the chest and stopped in the middle of the hall. This was as far as they could go.

No soldiers except those of the Imperial Army were allowed to get within one hundred feet of the Son of Heaven. To breach this limit was to commit rebellion!

Meanwhile, An Yaluoshan had stridden past his delicacy-laden table and begun making his way toward his subordinates.

Crack!

As everyone watched, An Yaluoshan opened the bronze chest and reached inside, removing from it a square, golden box.

“Your Highness!” Xu Qiqin suddenly shouted.

On the side, Wang Chong immediately frowned>