371: What can a man endure? What can he not endure?

In front of the majestic Imperial City, lights blazed brightly, and all the civil and military officials of the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty gathered there.

Whispers began to rise.

"In the middle of the night, His Majesty summoned us to gather in front of the Imperial City. What is it for? I was Cultivating at the time! I almost suffered Qi Deviation because of this!"

"That's right! I had just won first place at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and was about to have an in-depth exchange with the courtesan… *cough cough*, we were exploring, uh, how to make Great Yan more prosperous! Then, *bam*, it was gone… The feeling I had just gotten was ruined by those Yan Ling Guards…"

"Cultivating cannot be disturbed by outsiders, but these Yan Ling Guards, relying on being His Majesty's personal army, are reckless! After this matter is over, this old man will definitely impeach the commander of the Yan Ling Guards."

"…"

Most of the civil and military officials were dissatisfied with this sudden summons tonight.

According to custom, there would be no morning court tomorrow.

But tonight.

They were in the middle of Cultivating with beautiful women.

Midway through, they were abruptly stopped.

Anyone would be furious, but because it was the Emperor of Great Yan who personally issued the decree, even if they were full of resentment, they had nowhere to vent it.

The civil and military officials were noisy and clamorous; most were annoyed that their mood had been ruined tonight, with only a few discussing why the Emperor of Great Yan had summoned them to gather in front of the Imperial City.

Could it be… to receive a heavyweight figure?

"Enough!"

Just then, a steady and powerful voice silenced the entire scene.

The newcomer was armored and carried a saber, exuding an imposing Aura.

Although he had white hair, his Qi was incredibly long and profound, and his fierce eyes swept over all the civil and military officials, yet no one dared to meet his gaze.

The entire court of officials bowed their heads.

"Father! You… why are you here?!"

From the crowd, a young man in official robes stepped out. He was this year's top scholar of the Great Yan Immortal Dynasty, and he also had another identity: the seventy-second son of Duke Wu.

And the person he called Father!

It was not difficult to guess his identity.

That's right, the pillar of the Great Yan Immortal Dynasty, Duke Wu Zhuge Changde.

Zhuge Ye came before Duke Wu Zhuge Changde and respectfully bowed: "Child, greets…"

Before Zhuge Ye could finish his greeting, Zhuge Changde reprimanded him in an extremely stern tone.

"What did you call me?!"

Zhuge Changde glared at him, and an incredibly terrifying pressure, like a violent storm, washed over him.

Zhuge Ye felt a wave of suffocation, and then, the feeling of suffocation vanished without a trace.

He felt relieved, as if a great burden had been lifted.

However, he was now drenched in sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of a pool of water.

"Now, what should you call me?" Zhuge Changde still maintained that cold and ruthless demeanor towards his seventy-second son.

"Du… Duke Wu!" Zhuge Ye stammered, calling out. At this moment, he had lost all his composure, no longer appearing like the spirited top scholar, but more like an ox or horse who had made a mistake and was being scolded by a superior.

The scene of this gossip was incredibly quiet.

The civil and military officials looked down, not daring to lift their heads, nor daring to make any sound, even their breathing was significantly suppressed.

They were just afraid that Duke Wu would find them displeasing and slaughter them with a single stroke.

The prestige of Duke Wu Zhuge Changde in the court was evident.

At this moment, the area in front of the Imperial City was deathly silent.

Zhuge Changde, with his tower-like physique, took a step forward, placing him one body length ahead of everyone else.

"His Majesty sent so many people to the Imperial City; it must be to receive someone… It seems the First Prince has returned!"

Upon hearing the words 'First Prince,' the expressions of the civil and military officials couldn't help but change.

The First Prince of the Great Yan Immortal Dynasty, possessed exceptional talent, and his civil and military accomplishments were all of the highest caliber.

Such a person was surely groomed to be the Crown Prince, and would undoubtedly elevate the Great Yan Immortal Dynasty to a higher level in the future.

However.

The First Prince, Gao Yuan, had a peculiar hobby.

He enjoyed killing people.

He killed in the day, and he killed at night.

He killed while eating, and he killed while sleeping.

Of course.

Initially, the First Prince Gao Yuan only killed death row inmates, but as time passed and all the death row inmates were killed, he began to seize other prisoners to slaughter.

Even minor mistakes led to death!

How minor?

Spitting.

Saying a swear word.

Disrespectful behavior.

All led to death!

Whether it was commoners, civil and military officials, or even imperial relatives.

As long as it was a living being.

He killed them all!

Killed them all!!

Back when Gao Yuan was still in the Imperial City, he caused a bloody storm both inside and outside the imperial capital.

Even in the court, many civil and military officials spoke out to impeach Gao Yuan.

But what they got in return was…

Their entire nine generations of relatives were exterminated by Gao Yuan alone.

Furthermore, the First Prince even righteously claimed he was doing it for the country and its people.

This was truly unbearable!

Then, they endured.

They finally endured until the First Prince Gao Yuan left the Great Yan Immortal Dynasty to go to the Immortal-Demon Frontline battlefield.

But now, they had to face that lingering nightmare in their hearts once more.

Many civil and military officials were already contemplating what form of resignation letter they should submit to the current Emperor of Great Yan.

However.

Their thoughts were completely superfluous.

Because the person they were to receive this time was not the Great Yan First Prince, nor even a person from Great Yan.

Soon.

A group of people appeared in their line of sight.

"That is… it doesn't seem to be the First Prince!"

"Eunuch Wang is also by his side! And the Yan Ling Guards!" Someone exclaimed in surprise.

"The person we are welcoming is actually not the First Prince. That, that is truly wonderful!" Someone rejoiced.

"For us civil and military officials to gather at the Imperial City to welcome him, what kind of identity does he possess?!" Someone voiced their confusion, and this was the confusion of most people.

Of course, some also recognized Zhuge Rizhao, who was among the crowd, "Look, that's Duke Wu's ninety-ninth son, Zhuge Rizhao!"

But very quickly, they all stopped speaking, carefully looking at the majestic and extraordinary figure in front.

Duke Wu Zhuge Changde's gaze swept over the Yan Ling Guards and finally landed on a very unfamiliar figure.

As for Zhuge Rizhao.

He didn't even give him a proper glance from beginning to end.

"Is that the Emperor of Great Yan?"

Seeing a group of people in official robes gathered in front of the Imperial City, Chu Mo was not surprised.

Earlier, in the separate courtyard, Eunuch Wang had already sent a message back to the imperial palace.

He had witnessed all of this.

And, he did not stop it.

His purpose was to see if this Great Yan Immortal Dynasty could be used by him.

At this moment, a slightly awkward voice sounded beside him: "Master! That is, that is my old man…"

"Your father?" Chu Mo looked at Zhuge Rizhao with some surprise, "Is your father the Emperor?!"

"Uh…" Zhuge Rizhao choked a bit.

Eunuch Wang quickly came over, smiling apologetically, and said, "My Lord, that is not the Emperor of our Great Yan Immortal Dynasty; that is Duke Wu, Zhuge Changde."

After explaining, he even glanced at Zhuge Rizhao, as if to say: Didn't you introduce your family background before taking a master?

Zhuge Rizhao couldn't explain his situation, so he could only give an awkward smile in response.