"That bastard brat, how bold he dares to defy my will."
Inside a magnificent golden hall, on the dragon throne, a middle-aged man with a dignified face and square cheeks wore a look of fury.
This person's aura was as majestic as the sea, carrying the dignified and noble aura of an emperor. His eyes flashed like lightning, his face darkened. Inside the grand hall, dozens of powerful figures dressed in yellow splendid robes stood quietly on both sides, not daring to make a sound.
These dozens of experts were generally quite old, each with white hair. Though they were old, their aura was terrifying.
The middle-aged man was none other than Yu Xiaoyun, the emperor of the Vermilion Bird Empire. On his dragon throne sat a huge plaque inscribed with the three large characters "Imperial Palace."
The Imperial Attendance Hall was where the emperor handled family affairs. Anyone who could enter here was a highly respected figure in the royal lineage.
To put it bluntly, most of the elders here are the emperor's uncles. Usually, only when princes and princesses commit serious offenses does the Imperial Palace open to discuss royal affairs together.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. I have inquired. This Long Chen has no ordinary background. Young man, proud and ambitious is normal."
Next to Yu Xiaoyun's dragon throne, there were two more seats, each occupied by two beautiful women. One of them bore some resemblance to Yu Qingxuan—she was Yu Qingxuan's mother, and the speaker was her.
"Hmph, young man, you don't know your place. I want to see if he's got three heads and six arms to speak to me like that." Yu Xiaoyun snorted coldly.
Yu Qingxuan's mother and another woman beside Yu Xiaoyun exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of teasing in their eyes: This might be going to be interesting.
"Xuan Longchen enters the hall."
Following the eunuch's call at the door, Long Chen, dressed in black robes, slowly walked in under the watchful eyes of several people.
This time, without needing anyone to remind him, Long Chen put away the Minghong Blade. After all, he was here to propose, and bringing the knife was a bit inappropriate.
As soon as Long Chen entered, he felt the atmosphere in the hall suddenly turn surprising. Everyone's gaze swept over him like sharp blades, as if trying to see right through him.
The Imperial Palace was enormous, and Yu Xiaoyun sat on the dragon throne, looking down coldly as Long Chen stepped up step by step.
Long Chen glanced around. As others looked at him, he sized up the others. Such a behavior of looking around in the Imperial Palace was extremely rude. If a prince or princess dared to do this, he would be punished with twenty strokes of the cane.
But Long Chen didn't care about any of that. On one hand, he didn't understand; on the other, even if he did, he still wanted to see for himself. Otherwise, wouldn't he just look like he lacked presence? How could we talk about it later?
When Long Chen saw Yu Xiaoyun's face, the weight in his heart was greatly eased. Yu Xiaoyun was not the Yu Xiaoyun of the Tianwu Continent; his appearance and personality were completely different, so he felt relieved.
When he saw the woman beside Yu Xiaoyun, Long Chen immediately recognized her as Yu Qingxuan's mother.
"Junior Long Chen greets Auntie. I am honored to have your summons. I have come in such a hurry without preparing a generous gift, which is truly rude. Please do not take offense, Aunt." Long Chen ignored Yu Xiaoyun and instead bowed to Yu Qingxuan's mother.
Yu Qingxuan's mother looked at Long Chen, smiled slightly, and nodded, showing a friendly attitude toward him. However, she didn't say a word, as she couldn't speak at this moment.
"It's not just rudeness, it's simply disrespectful. Rituals have precedence, and there is no distinction between elders and juniors, respect?" An elderly man nearby said coldly.
Clearly, Long Chen did not first pay respects to the emperor but instead greeted the empress first, which was a grave disrespect to the emperor and a serious offense.
Only then did Long Chen look at Yu Xiaoyun, and Yu Xiaoyun looked back at Long Chen. The two of them said nothing, just stared blankly. For a moment, the aura in the grand hall seemed to freeze in an instant, as if a pin had dropped.
Long Chen was patient too, just stiffening his neck and staring at Yu Xiaoyun. Yu Xiaoyun's face darkened, and he said nothing, coldly looking down at Long Chen.
A full half hour passed, and in the end, it was Yu Xiaoyun who couldn't hold back any longer. He shouted coldly, "
You rude brat! Why don't you bow to me? What is the reason?" Do you think I am unworthy of you to bow? "
I, Long Chen, stand tall and upright. All my life, I have only knelt before my parents. I do not bow to heaven and earth. Since you have spoken, it means you have agreed. Father-in-law, please accept my son-in-law's bow..." Long Chen said, about to bow deeply.
"Stop! When did I ever agree?" Yu Xiaoyun was furious. With a wave of his hand, before Long Chen could bow, a powerful force pushed him backward.
"Thump, thud, thud."
Long Chen staggered back three steps, his body swaying before finally dissolving Yu Xiaoyun's power. Long Chen's heart tightened—Yu Xiaoyun's strength was truly immense.
His power was not only formidable, but also balanced firmness and flexibility, skillfully controlling and commanding him. With Long Chen's strength, anyone who could quietly push him like this was definitely a terrifying existence.
Long Chen only retreated three steps before steadying himself. Everyone in the Imperial Palace, including Yu Xiaoyun, looked shocked.
Given Yu Xiaoyun's strength, under normal circumstances, Long Chen should have been sent flying outside the hall in time for a moment's reaction.
Even if prepared, one should defend with all one's strength. The ground will activate defensive formations under immense force.
But Long Chen retreated three steps in a row. Not only did he not destroy the ground, he didn't even break the carpet beneath his feet. Yu Xiaoyun's power was actually neutralized within Long Chen's body and did not extend to his feet. This time, everyone looked at Long Chen with new respect.
"What's wrong?" Does Your Majesty intend to go back on your word? That doesn't seem to fit your status, does it? Long Chen smiled faintly.
Hearing Long Chen say this, Yu Qingxuan's mother couldn't help but smile. This Long Chen was very cunning, seizing an opportunity and shamelessly clinging to her—he really had thick skin.
"Nonsense! You perform the kneeling ceremony of the Vermilion Bird Empire. To enter the Vermilion Bird Empire means you must abide by its laws. I am the supreme ruler—am I not worthy of your kneeling?" Yu Xiaoyun said coldly. Whether he knelt or not, he didn't care, but Long Chen's expression made him very displeased.
"What does it have to do with me whether you're the supreme ruler or the ninety-eight supreme?" I bow to you because you are my father-in-law. Long Chen shrugged and said.
"You can even say such shameless things?" Your cultivation is average, and your looks are ordinary. What right do you have to marry the daughter I love most? Yu Xiaoyun shouted angrily.
"I look ordinary, nothing special? You've grown into a look like you, yet you can marry my stunningly beautiful mother-in-law. What right do you have to criticize me? Long Chen was also angry, looking at Yu Qingxuan's mother with a defiant expression.
At that moment, the entire Imperial Palace fell into a deathly silence once again, and the imperial relatives present were stunned like wooden chickens.