For Wang Chen, this audience with the emperor had been quite an interesting experience.
Emperor Shaowu was not the imposing sovereign people generally imagined. He did not even carry much of the lofty aura of an emperor; he seemed more like a Confucian teacher instructing students in a private school.
To be honest, Wang Chen had even suspected that the man before him was a fake emperor!
Emperor Shaowu was remarkably talkative, and it was clear that he held Wang Chen in high regard. He chatted with Wang Chen for a long time.
Interestingly, their conversation involved neither affairs of state nor anything related to the Blood-Clad Guard.
The emperor asked about Wang Chen's background. Learning of his past, he sighed in regret. He listened with relish to Wang Chen's tales of vanquishing demons, and even asked about the local customs and conditions of the various prefectures and counties.
When he had finished listening, his face was full of satisfaction.
"If I had the chance, I truly would like to travel across the land, to see the magnificent mountains and rivers of my Great Liang, and its common folk."
Emperor Shaowu spoke with a sigh. "What a pity..."
He did not say what was a pity. He merely shook his head wistfully, as though something had stirred old concerns within him.
Yet this emperor's moods changed quickly. In the next moment, he smiled again. "Wang Chen, at such a young age, it has not been easy for you to render so many merits. Is there any reward you would like?"
Wang Chen immediately perked up.
An audience with the emperor always came with imperial favor; that was customary. He had kept Emperor Shaowu company for so long precisely in anticipation of these words!
"Your Majesty, this humble subject is deeply