MTLNOVEL Chapter 324: Let's See If You Can Do Anything to Me
Inside the painted boat, Emperor Wei and others noticed the belated arrival of Chen Yi, each with different expressions.
Especially Prince Zhenbei, Du Qing, who, if not for his deep scheming nature, surely wouldn't have maintained such a calm expression at this moment.
Yet, even so, a trace of wariness emerged in his eyes.
Throughout history, it has been said that great meritorious deeds might intimidate the ruler. Even though he is Prince Zhenbei, one of the three princes of different surnames in the Wei Dynasty, he is still overshadowed by the Wei Dynasty Royal Family.
However, the Duke Wuan, Marquis Taishan, and Duke Jingye, who guard Beixiong Pass, are under his command. If a Marquis under him gains influence in the Holy Emperor's heart, it naturally threatens him.
Particularly as Chen Yi, regardless of reputation or cultivation, has reached a zenith in the Holy Emperor's eyes, further provoking Prince Zhenbei's caution.
This caution, unrelated to Du Qing's demeanor or cultivation, pertains to alertness in a seemingly secure situation, and pondering on self-preservation.
Therefore, he endeavored to retain the Marquis succeeding Duke Jingye, at least ensuring there's no association with Chen Yi in the future.
But when his steward, dispatched to seek Chen Yi's opinion, returned, his plans fell through, and even the result became irrelevant.
Upon hearing the news, the Holy Emperor confirmed that the Marquis taking over the defense of Beixiong Pass was indeed Lian Lixuan, a great general under the current Duke Wuan Chen Taiping, who was bestowed the title "Marquis of Esteemed Martial".
Listen to this title,
not "Esteemed Northern Marquis", not "Esteemed Wei Marquis", but "Esteemed Martial Marquis", adopting the "Martial" from Duke Wuan and Heroic Marquis!
How could this not make Du Qing think more?
At this thought, Du Qing collected his thoughts completely, even revealing a slight smile, and asked:
"Esteemed Martial Marquis, have you previously interacted with Heroic Marquis?"
Lian Lixuan, who had just returned from Beizhi to Kyoto Prefecture to assume the title "Esteemed Martial Marquis", paused upon hearing, then cupped his hands and responded loudly:
"Reporting to His Highness, Lian only saw him once at Heroic Marquis's "Grab the Week" ceremony and has not seen him since."
In fact, the second time he saw Chen Yi from afar was when Chen Yi returned from Demon Court to reunite with Chen Taiping.
Yet at that time, he couldn't imagine how much things would change; after decades of diligent work, his fortunes soared overnight, becoming a Marquis with equal status as Duke Wuan Chen Taiping and Marquis Taishan Wang Xidu.
Until this moment, he still remembered what Chen Taiping said when seeing him off—Lixuan, at first, the Holy Emperor intended to let the Prince choose a Marquis, but Yi Er openly suggested promoting someone from my Wuan Army; do you know the pressure involved?
Lian Lixuan certainly understood the pressure.
The Chen Family of Duke Wuan had a thousand-year legacy, never dabbling in machinations like Zhou Tiance, always prioritizing Beixiong Pass. Now, due to Chen Yi's rise, it has achieved the grand status of "one family and three marquises".
Although Chen Yuan's defection caused a brief "three marquises" disruption, it was enough to make those aristocratic families, nobles, and the Imperial Family in Kyoto Prefecture wary.
Now, as this general from the Wuan Army assumes the Marquis title, if not done well, it would not only harm the Lian Family but inevitably implicate the Chen Family, involving Heroic Marquis Chen Yi.
He had to act cautiously.
"The 'Grab the Week' ceremony… oh," Du Qing looked towards the distant Chen Yi, who came fluttering as if imbued with Sword Dao Divine Intent, nodded with a smile, "Later, Marquis Lian should engage well with Heroic Marquis, after all, you…"
He subtly glanced at Emperor Wei, seeing that he too was looking over, merely smiled and ceased talking.
Lian Lixuan also looked at Emperor Wei but did not avoid eye contact, and respectfully cupped his hands, saying:
"Thank the Holy Emperor for trusting this humble subject, or I would still be rectifying military affairs in Beizhi at this moment."
Emperor Wei, seated loftily on his golden throne, smiled and offered some comforting words, "I've long heard about Esteemed Martial Marquis's bravery in the Wuan Army, hoping the future Esteemed Martial Army can reach greater heights."
"This humble subject shall do his utmost!"
"Alright, this is the final round of the grand banquet today, let's not discuss state affairs and solely focus on observing our Da Wei Dynasty's prodigies." Emperor Wei waved his hand, but his gaze turned toward Prince Zhenbei.
Du Qing hesitated briefly and cupped his hands, "The Holy Emperor is right."
Having said that, everyone turned their heads, looking at the two platforms on Qu Pond.
In reality, not only did the emergence of the Esteemed Martial Marquis displease Prince Zhenbei Du Qing, but it also discontented numerous civil servants and nobles.
After all, Duke Jingye's legacy decision left the Devoted Army leaderless, which was a perfect chance for civil servants to overshadow the Marquis's faction.
However, all because of Chen Yi, due to the Holy Emperor's bias and the concession of civil servant leader Xie Jing, Lian Lixuan, originating from the Wuan Army, ascended...
Except for the Chen Family, Chen Yi, and a few including Emperor Wei, others commented on this situation.
But regardless of their thoughts, facing Heroic Marquis Chen Yi directly now, none dared to express even a hint.
Meanwhile.
Chen Yi stepped forward smoothly, enveloped in a fierce Slaughter Sword Intent, like a sharp, unsheathed longsword, suddenly landed on the platform.
He looked around, his gaze falling on the prodigies ahead, his expression calm without a smile, wasting no words, he flicked his hand, setting the Thousand Mechanism Tower at the edge of the platform.
"Since it's a Martial Arts contest, let martial superiority be the rule."
"For this contest, this Marquis personally went to Demon Court to capture sixty demons, with the lowest cultivation at the lower rank of the Third Grade Heavenly Harmony Realm, and the highest at the upper rank of the First Grade Realm, but their techniques and Bloodline Divine Abilities are unknown, some are strong, others weak."
"The rule for this Martial Arts contest is that you prodigies choose your opponents based on your cultivation and techniques, whether selecting lower rank Third Grade or upper rank First Grade is entirely up to you."