Chapter 400: The Emperor of Ziyou
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Sun Chengfeng’s eyes radiated glee as he sucked in a deep breath and said excitedly, "Old Lan, you have to help me, no matter what! Only you can persuade the emperor to retrieve the core of siderite!"
Lan Wuxin’s brows were locked into a deep frown as he replied, "I really can’t promise anything. The imperial jade seal is related to the nation’s fate... still, there’s room for discussion. However, that siderite is a royal forbidden item and not only does it form the basis of this empire, it’s the foundation of the empire’s fate. I’m afraid… His Majesty might not take this chance. Besides, the core of siderite doesn’t necessarily mean the inner core of the founding empire meteorite. We don't know enough to make any firm conclusions."
Sun Chengfeng retorted anxiously, "What are you talking about? As long as there is a clue and a direction, we should give it a try. Elder Yun is Ziyou’s assurance now, the Old Forefather of the Empire of Ziyou. He is serving the country still; if His Majesty is reluctant about just a piece of meteorite, isn’t that just upsetting?"
Lan Wuxin said helplessly, "The problem is that this thing might not even exist now!"
Sun Chengfeng’s eyes were blown wide open. "What do you mean might not even exist? I think he just doesn’t want to give it up! Even if it might not be, it should still be taken out for a try!"
Lan Wuxin was speechless.
Sun Chengfeng paused and said again, "Since the founding emperor has borrowed the power of this piece of meteorite to build the empire, he must have benefited a lot from it. Since he benefited a lot from it, it can’t be an ordinary piece of a meteor."
"Since it’s not ordinary siderite, there must be a possibility that it contains something else. Even if it’s not an absolute certainty, there must be a high chance that it could be the real thing."
The more Sun Chengfeng thought about it, the more he felt that his inference was logical, thus making himself sound more righteous in forcing Lan Wuxin to seek for the siderite core.
Lan Wuxin looked helpless as he tried to evade the request, not daring to agree to it.
The item was, after all, the emperor’s heirloom that was also the Empire of Ziyou’s national treasure. How dare he take the responsibility?
Both men came close to blows over this subject. Sun Chengfeng was flushed with distress, stomping his foot in anger and said, "Are you going or not? Not going? I will! I don’t believe that I am unable to get this favor with what dignity I have. If I can’t, then Ziyou’s royalty and imperial officials can forget about consulting the Physician Genius Family in future!"
Lan Wuxin was forced to a corner. He finally decided, gritting his teeth and said, "I’ll go! Alright, I’ll go!"
Sun Chengfeng was yet to be placated as he continued angrily, "You’re obviously reluctant by the way you sound! It means that you didn’t want to do it at all. Lan Wuxin, I guess I finally know who you are. After so many years, I finally know what type of person you are today! You have not one bit of humanity left in you after you became the empire’s chancellor. Why didn’t I realize it earlier? You’re a cold-blooded one, taking everything you can. You old bastard, I’ve been blind, to be your brother for over a lifetime! Oh, how I regret it…"
Lan Wuxin was harrowed, gripping Yun Yang's arm to indicate his helplessness, "Old Forefather, say something. When did I ever say I would leave it be? This old thing is simply accusing people! this old man…"
Considering that it was rather inappropriate to address himself as an old man in front of the Old Forefather, Lan Wuxin corrected himself quickly, "This fellow has forced me into a corner, how can I be such a person? Sun Chengfeng is making an unreasonable fuss, what a bastard! Old Forefather, please punish him!"
Sun Chengfeng was enraged, springing up at once. "Lan Wuxin, you’ve become such an inhumane scum after being an official, yet you actually have the face to punish me with the home law! Being an official has turned your heart black, has it? That’s why people say that those with a sense of justice are often in the lowest hierarchy of the society, while literates are always the heartless ones! Lan Wuxin, you’ve studied too much that your heart has become black – you’re one black sesame glutinous rice ball, your heart is all black!"
"Your heart is the black one, you’re the black sesame glutinous rice ball, your whole family is black sesame glutinous rice balls… sorry, I’m not talking about you, Old Forefather!"
Lan Wuxin was so infuriated that he lost his ability to speak rationally. "Are you even f*cking reasonable? Your father is entering the palace right now, you old bastard, just you wait! When your father gets the core of siderite back, I’ll not speak to you for three whole years!"
In front of their Old Forefather, both men felt like they had become children; even their mental states experienced a shift. They had even managed to spew words like your father, old bastard and spoke about not talking to each other for three years.
It was exactly like two children who were fighting and one of them had made an earnest promise not to speak to the other forever!
Sun Chengfeng said with a flushed face, "I don't care if you’re not talking to me. Go to the palace first, remember to bring the item back."
Lan Wuxin picked himself up with a slap on the table and said, "I certainly will!"
With a huff and flap of his sleeves, he turned to leave, slamming the door with a loud bang on his way out.
Yun Yang sighed and said, "Oh, Chengfeng, this is really putting him in a tough spot. It is already inappropriate to use the power stored in the imperial jade seal; what’s more, the siderite is a royal treasure – it’s the foundation of the Empire of Ziyou. Truly, it can’t be simply shown around! Lan Wuxin is Ziyou’s official, but he has to go ask for the imperial gem… This is indeed inappropriate. Chengfeng, you’ve coerced him too hard just now! Both of you have been brothers for so many years, don’t allow a crack to appear. You’re still young, you don’t know how precious is the sentiment between brothers yet…"
"Old Forefather, don’t worry! It won’t happen!"
Sun Chengfeng, who was regarded as ‘young’, said with lifted chin, "If he can’t even manage this properly, I shall sever all ties with him! What else is worth risking his life for if he doesn’t even care about Old Forefather’s matter? If I can’t manage this right, how am I going to meet my ancestor when I pass on? I would truly die from the scolding I would receive then."
Yun Yang chuckled in amusement and said, "This is quite possible. Damao he… forget it, it’s not a good habit to speak ill of my brother."
Sun Chengfeng laughed as well. Old Forefather, haven't you already spoken about him?
On the same night, the Residence of Chancellor was suddenly securely guarded, tighter than ever – the emperor had arrived.
It was actually not the first time for His Majesty to be present in Residence of Lan, but it was indeed the first time he was here for someone other than Chancellor Lan!
The purpose of His Majesty’s visit was naturally to see Elder Yun.
This would be the first time Yun Yang would meet the Empire of Ziyou’s emperor.
The emperor’s stride was confident; he was well-built and ruddy, his gaze was lively; he had the natural grace of a majestic emperor.
Unfortunately, the slightly malicious-looking hooked nose and the overly sharp eyes made Yun Yang feel that this emperor was not going to be someone that was pleasant to deal with.
This should be a person who was reserved and suspicious.
To work under such a monarch must not be easy; other than being very controlling, he must also be very demanding – he would not allow anything to stray from his control.
Looking at Lan Wuxin’s aged persona and hunched body that did not match his age, Yun Yang could imagine the suffering the officials experienced working under this monarch’s pressure.
"This must be Elder Yun." The emperor was very friendly, chortling when he met Yun Yang.
"A pleasure to meet Your Majesty." Yun Yang bowed slightly before straightening up.
With the status he held being in disguise, he need not kneel down to the emperor; it was already in the other’s favor for him to bow and greet him.
"No need to be so courteous, Elder Yun. I’m here to visit Old Forefather, it isn’t much else." His Majesty had an easygoing manner; he was down-to-earth and amiable, even with great talents such as himself.
Of course, these were of no import to Yun Yang. To him, being down to earth and amiable to talents were never a compliment – it was a trick to fool others into servitude!
With Lan Wuxin’s solicitous reception, His Majesty took a seat. He sat casually, hinting at a relaxed and homely atmosphere that belied the impression that he did not consider anyone else as an outsider.
Yet, he had sat at the main host’s seat once he entered, which had exposed all he had done. Yun Yang could not help but deduct the emperor's marks in his mental scoreboard.
His Majesty seemed to really be only visiting like he had mentioned, bidding his leave after a slew of meaningless pleasantries. He had also warmly invited Yun Yang to visit the palace if he had time, to which the latter had agreed to with a smile.
Yun Yang was on his guard against the old eunuch who had been tailing the emperor. This old eunuch seemed to be very old and had white hair; even his body was hunched and his face was lined with wrinkles.He looked like he would keel over at any time.
In spite of this, Yun Yang could feel a lethal sense of danger from this old man.
He must be a superior expert, a level that exceeded one who was more than a peak and reached the realm of heaven!
Yun Yang was thoughtful.
Was this eunuch more powerful than Mi Kongqun and Jiang Zhong?