Marrying a White Snake Wife is Super Cool

Chapter 521: Chapter 284: The Second of the Second Month, A Grand Occasion

Of course, on the second day of the second lunar month, the Vassal Kings from across the land also had to pay their respects to their imperial father and report on their political achievements over the past year.

This was similar to how the County Magistrates of each province reported their official business to their respective Governors each year.

Therefore, after the New Year, the various Vassal Kings began their preparations to travel to the Imperial City.

King Jin, King Yan, King Qi, King Lu, Prince Ning, and the other princes, accompanied by their respective Crown Princes, had already arrived in the Imperial City by the end of the first month.

Lu Yuan, along with his wife Su Liyan, his daughter Lu Ruyan, and Gu Ziye, also arrived in the Imperial City at the end of the first month.

Lu Yuan’s family moved into a mansion on Prince’s Mansion’s Mansion Street, which was the residence of Princess Yue Ning, Gu Ziye.

Later, Lu Yuan also visited King Yan Gu Di’s mansion on Prince’s Mansion’s Mansion Street to pay his respects to the King, his Crown Prince Gu Gaochi, and his second son, Gu Gaoxu.

Gu Gaoxu even pestered Lu Yuan, demanding his golden melon seeds.

Lu Yuan refused him outright. "Just consider it the dividend from the Yandu factory for the second half of the year."

Lu Yuan reminded Gu Gaoxu that although he had lost all of his Martial Arts, he could cultivate them anew. He insisted that Gaoxu must reread the *True Martial* Secret Manual he had been gifted, starting from the very beginning.

On the second day of the second month, the entire Imperial Capital was filled with a unique, festive atmosphere.

The square within the Imperial Capital had already been decorated with fluttering, colorful flags, and the air was filled with the sound of drums and music.

Several times the usual number of Imperial Guards stood posted throughout the Imperial Capital.

Inside the Imperial Palace Hall.

Emperor Gu Yuanzhang sat high upon the Dragon Throne, his eyes glinting sharply as he scanned the Vassal Kings and the civil and military officials assembled below the dais.

The princes, along with the civil and military officials, shouted in unison, "Long live His Majesty, for ten thousand years, and ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

Lu Yuan was also mixed in among the officials. He hadn’t wanted to come, but His Majesty the Emperor had issued a decree summoning him to the Imperial City.

But after arriving in the Imperial City, Lu Yuan had not been summoned by the Emperor, and he couldn’t begin to guess what His Majesty was planning.

"My beloved ministers, you may rise!"

The Emperor’s voice, deep and powerful, echoed throughout the great hall.

The Vassal Kings began to report their political achievements one by one. The civil and military officials with matters to report presented their memorials, while those without simply stood in attendance.

Lu Yuan was among those with no business to report. Dressed in the robes of a Fourth Grade official, he stood motionless with his head bowed, like a statue.

After a long while, the Vassal Kings and the civil and military officials finally finished their reports.

The Emperor’s gaze fell upon Lu Yuan, who was lost in the crowd of officials. "Lu Yuan!" he called out.

Lu Yuan, whose mind was far from court affairs, was startled by the Emperor’s call and hurriedly stepped out from the ranks.

"Your servant is here!" Lu Yuan replied, clasping his hands in a salute.

With a trace of imperial authority, Emperor Gu Yuanzhang said, "What are you doing just standing there? Do you have something to report?"

’Weren’t you the one who made me come?’ Lu Yuan thought. ’What business could I possibly have!’

Forcing himself to speak, Lu Yuan replied, "Your Majesty, the lands under your servant’s jurisdiction have enjoyed favorable winds and timely rains. I have no urgent matters to report!"

The Emperor nodded and continued.

"The very foundation of our Divine Ling Empire’s strength is that the people live and work in peace, and those who till the soil have their own fields!"

"Today, We invite you all to join in this grand occasion to pray that our Divine Ling Empire is blessed with favorable weather, and that the nation remains prosperous and its people at peace!"

Gu Yuanzhang descended from the Dragon Throne with steady steps. His personal old eunuch immediately shouted at the top of his lungs, "Prepare the imperial procession for the Wangjing River!"

The Vassal Kings and the civil and military officials bowed and followed, filing out of the hall in a long, orderly line.

On both sides of the grand avenue leading from the Imperial Capital to the Wangjing River, an Imperial Guard was posted every few feet, holding back the onlooking crowds to ensure the Emperor’s safety.

The vast procession arrived at the bank of the Wangjing River. A massive Dragon Ship was already moored by the shore, accompanied by four medium-sized vessels.

This Dragon Ship was magnificently decorated, its banners snapping in the wind. The dragon head carved on its prow was so lifelike it looked as if it were about to surge through the waves.

Emperor Gu Yuanzhang was the first to step aboard the Dragon Ship. His gaze swept ahead as a gentle breeze rustled his dragon robes, adding to his imposing aura.

The Crown Prince, the various Vassal Kings, and a handful of high-ranking ministers followed Emperor Gu Yuanzhang onto the Dragon Ship.

Lu Yuan and the remaining ministers were assigned to the other four vessels.

"Launch the Dragon Ship!"

With the order given, the boatmen let out a unified chant and began to row with all their might.

The Dragon Ship slowly pulled away from the bank, gliding out onto the wide expanse of the river.

Emperor Gu Yuanzhang gazed out at the surging river, his heart swelling with immense pride.

Pointing to the bustling crowds and dense buildings on both banks, the Emperor said to Crown Prince Gu Biao, "Biao’er, this is the empire I have built for you!"

On the other vessels, the civil and military officials admired the scenery along the banks of the Wangjing River.

Lu Yuan, however, had found a seat at the stern of his boat, where he sat lost in thought.

Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Su Liyan, Gu Ziye, Gu Gaoxu, and the less-than-two-year-old Lu Ruyan were playing mahjong.

On the Wangjing River, just as everyone began to relax, dozens of armed figures leaped out of the water and onto the deck of the Dragon Ship.

"Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!"

Crown Prince Gu Biao threw himself in front of His Majesty the Emperor, shouting at the top of his lungs.

The Crown Prince’s younger brothers—the various other princes—were unarmed and thrown into a panic.

The civil and military officials on the other four vessels leaned over the railings, yelling, "Your Majesty, be careful!"

Every official was shouting hysterically, as if the one who yelled the loudest would be in line for a promotion and a fortune.

The dozens of assassins charged toward the Emperor.

The Imperial Guards on the Dragon Ship reacted with extreme speed, surging forward to form a protective wall in front of the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the others.

Under the protection of the Imperial Guard, the Emperor and his entourage retreated into the ship’s cabin.

Lu Yuan remained seated at the stern of his boat, not moving an inch. As he listened to the sounds of battle from the Dragon Ship, he seemed entirely unconcerned for the Emperor’s safety.

Lu Yuan could sense the presence of several Grand Celestial Masters on the Dragon Ship; he was certain they would ensure Emperor Gu Yuanzhang’s safety.

The two groups began a bloody battle on the deck of the Dragon Ship. Both sides were evenly matched, and the fight was soon locked in a fierce stalemate.

Many of the assassins and Imperial Guards were knocked off the Dragon Ship, falling into the water to sink to the riverbed.

From a corner of the Dragon Ship, several old Daoists in dark blue robes suddenly leaped into view.

These Daoists stood upon the Dragon Ship, appearing so inconspicuous that no one had noticed their presence.

The old Daoists struck as one, and in moments, they had struck down all the assassins, leaving them sprawled on the deck.

All the assassins who had not been knocked into the Wangjing River were captured alive, one by one.

The Imperial Guards swarmed forward, bound the downed assassins, and forced them to kneel on the deck at the ship’s prow.

Hearing that the sounds of fighting outside had ceased, Crown Prince Gu Biao announced, "Imperial Father, the assassins outside have been subdued!"

"Come, let’s go see!" Emperor Gu Yuanzhang said, striding out of the cabin first.

Their feet bound, the assassins knelt in two rows, longswords pressed against their necks.

The Emperor demanded, "Who are you? Why did you try to assassinate Us?"

"Hmph!"

The assassins snorted coldly and turned their heads away, pointedly ignoring the Emperor’s question.

’Well now,’ the Emperor thought with a sneer. ’These assassins are certainly arrogant. Do they not know of Our methods?’

"Use torture!" The Emperor did not ask a second time, directly ordering the Imperial Guard to begin.

The Imperial Guards slit the clothes on the assassins’ backs, ripping the fabric to expose their bare skin.

The guards half-knelt, drew short daggers in perfect unison, and began carving characters into the assassins’ backs.

The assassins’ faces contorted in agony, their mouths clamped shut, but the sound of sharp hissing—SSSSS—could still be heard.

The supposedly benevolent Crown Prince Gu Biao did not intervene, merely turning his head aside, unable to bear the sight.

Of all the princes present, only King Jin and King Yan continued to watch. The others either closed their eyes or turned their backs...

Fresh blood seeping from the assassins’ backs dripped onto the deck, pooling into a small stream that flowed toward the Emperor’s feet.

The Emperor lifted his foot and took a step back. The sticky, viscous feeling under his boot was repulsive.

This was supposed to be the auspicious day of the Dragon Head-Raising, and these assassins had ruined it. A truly unforgivable crime!

An expression of impatience crossed the Emperor’s face. He waved a hand at the Imperial Guard and said,

"These men have some backbone. We shall see which is tougher—your mouths, or Our knives. Cut their hand and foot tendons. If they still refuse to speak, then flay them alive!"

Upon hearing the Emperor’s command, the Imperial Guards showed no hesitation. Their daggers slowly plunged into the assassins’ ankles.

The assassins’ bodies began to convulse uncontrollably.

It seemed that in the next moment, a single, slight flick was all it would take to sever the tendons.

Unable to endure the pain, one of the assassins, his face slick with sweat and his body trembling, spoke in a weak, shuddering voice:

"Wait! I’ll talk... I’ll talk..."