"The Great King has arrived!"
The lively Xianqing Hall fell silent at once as an Inner Official announced his arrival.
A moment later, the many court officials saw Di Xin, who should not have been there at this time.
Starting with King Zhou's wedding yesterday, a grand banquet was planned in Xianqing Hall for three days.
The feast had mainly been arranged for Di Xin's father-in-law, Su Hu.
The Marquis of Jizhou had entered the capital, Chaoge, as a rebel and offered his daughter to the court. King Zhou had laid eyes on the peerless beauty and was delighted. He restored Su Hu to his former position and increased his monthly stipend by two thousand shi. This banquet in Xianqing Hall was the entire court's way of entertaining the royal in-law.
The Crown Prince of the East Palace, Yin Jiao, was hosting the banquet.
The young Crown Prince was only twelve or thirteen, still a child. But his status made him the perfect figurehead.
"Greetings, Father King!"
"Greetings, Great King!"
Di Xin strode into the hall, and the Crown Prince and court officials immediately rose to greet him.
Yin Jiao alone observed the proper courtesies of a son without thinking much of it. The hundred or so other officials, however, sensed something unusual about King Zhou's arrival.
King Zhou had already announced at the morning court session that he would not attend the banquet. Otherwise, there would have been no need for the Crown Prince to host it.
Yet he had come, so uncharacteristically.
What did this mean?
"Please, everyone, be seated!"
As the others silently speculated, Di Xin swallowed audibly, surveyed the crowd, and gave a casual wave, pretending to be composed.
He could match all the faces in the hall to people in his memories, but meeting these legendary figures in person for the first time still made him a little nervous.
He had come here for two reasons: to avoid Daji, and to see whether he could trigger an option quest.
Improving his own strength was now his overriding goal.
He couldn't necessarily rely on others. His own strength was the only sure path.
After all, quite a few of the Shang Dynasty's generals had rebelled during the War of the Investiture of the Gods.
Like this father-in-law surnamed Su, and that father-in-law surnamed Huang, and the absent father-in-law surnamed Jiang...
Well, thinking of it that way, Di Xin suddenly realized: did King Zhou have some sort of curse when it came to his fathers-in-law?
The attendants rearranged the seats. Only after Di Xin had taken his place at the head of the table did the officials sit down again.
"Ahem. Court etiquette prevents Beauty Su from appearing in public here, so I'll entertain Marquis Su on her behalf!"
As soon as Di Xin spoke, a faint murmur rippled through the hall.
Everyone understood: the Great King had come to show his support for Su Hu. This was an enormous honor.
"Also, I've decided to promote Su Daji from Beauty to Noble Consort."
Compared with the previous announcement, this one set the hall ablaze.
Above Beauty came Talented Lady, above Talented Lady came Zhaoyi, and several more ranks stood between that and Noble Consort.
Su Daji had been made a Beauty just yesterday, and today she had been promoted straight to Noble Consort.
Su Daji had practically ascended to the heavens in a single step!
It showed just how deeply the Great King doted on her.
Needless to say, she must have pleased him last night.
The officials thought it absurd, but this was a matter of the inner palace, and they had no business commenting. Empress Jiang had surely approved as well.
Since that was the case, no one wanted to make trouble.
For a time, the hall echoed with thanks and congratulations.
Di Xin watched it all with a smile, gaining a new appreciation for the power of an emperor.
Promotions were a small matter, nothing more than an empty title.
As the saying went, give someone a slap, then offer them a sweet date. He had slapped Su Daji three times last night, so the sweet date had better be a big one.
That would appease Su Hu and keep Daji settled.
As for Empress Jiang, he hadn't given it much thought. He had made the decision himself, after all.
"The Great King's generosity toward the women of the inner palace shows that he is a benevolent ruler. We are deeply impressed. But the Great King bears the weight of the realm and labors day and night over state affairs. He should take care of his Dragon Body above all!"
King Wu Cheng of Zhenguo, Huang Feihu, felt deeply unhappy. He suddenly rose and spoke.
His younger sister had been in the palace for years, residing in the West Palace, yet had received little imperial favor. She still hadn't borne a child.
Why had Su Daji, as soon as she entered the palace, become the sole focus of the Great King's affection?
Wouldn't his sister be neglected even more now?
His words were tactful and not so tactful at once. Anyone with a bit of sense could understand what he meant.
Just as the officials expected the Great King to offer King Wucheng a few words of comfort, King Zhou instead slapped his forehead and said, "Minister Huang is absolutely right. I must take care of my Dragon Body. I hereby decree that all of you search far and wide for Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and other potent tonics to present to me. You'll be richly rewarded."
The moment he said this, the hall fell completely silent.
What a bizarre train of thought the Great King had!
He'd taken the opening and run with it, actually saying something like that?
Even Huang Feihu was taken aback, unsure how to respond.
The Great King seemed to be growing more and more absurd.
That was exactly the effect Di Xin wanted.
After spending the night thinking it over, he had settled on a rule for himself: from now on, he would be an absurd king. As long as he didn't harm the common people, persecute loyal officials, or endanger Shang's fortune, he could be as absurd as he liked.
That fit King Zhou's original reputation so well that it could fool the Chan Sect. It would let him lie low as long as possible and buy more time to grow in secret.
Besides, he really did need potent tonics.
The practice known as Refining Essence into Qi transformed the essence stored by the kidneys. With Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to assist him, he could greatly accelerate his cultivation, build a stronger foundation, and develop more powerful Magic Power.
But after searching his memories, he knew the Royal Palace had very few treasures of this sort. There weren't enough to meet his cultivation needs.
After a brief silence, the officials obligingly accepted King Zhou's absurd decree, though most of them did so halfheartedly.
The only one who said nothing was Huang Feihu. Ignoring the repeated warning looks from his elderly father, Huang Gun, he spoke again. "Great King, I meant that you should put state affairs first and not indulge in the pleasures of the inner palace. Focus your energy on governing. At the very least, don't take any new consorts for the next few years. I am a frank minister, so I speak frankly."
Huang Feihu really did dare to say anything!
Di Xin couldn't help admiring his courage.
Before he could respond, a portly official with a large head and ears rose to rebuke him. "King Wucheng, how dare you! The Great King is sovereign over all and rules the four seas. His virtue equals that of Yao and Shun, and all beneath heaven belongs to His Majesty. Whether or not he takes new consorts is no concern of an outsider like you! Great King, I urge you to punish King Wucheng for treason!"
Fei Zhong!
Di Xin recognized him at once. He was a notorious flatterer who had committed many misdeeds. He and another sycophant, You Hun, had even worked together to bring Daji into the palace.
Those two had played no small part in the fall of the Shang.
Di Xin had no liking for him whatsoever. In fact, he wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible.
"Fei Zhong, you flatter the Great King with your slander and disrupt the court! Great King, I urge you to punish him for misleading you!"
King Wucheng was just as unwilling to back down. The two traded barbs, arguing fiercely.
The hall immediately grew rowdy.
Just then, three options suddenly appeared before Di Xin's eyes.
[Option One: Firmly support Huang Feihu, promise not to take any new consorts for several years, and punish Fei Zhong. Completion reward: one Spirit Pill worth five years of cultivation.]
[Option Two: Firmly support Fei Zhong, declare your intention to continue taking consorts, and punish Huang Feihu. Completion reward: one Spirit Pill worth four years of cultivation.]
[Option Three: Have Huang Feihu and Fei Zhong fight it out, then support whoever wins. Completion reward: one Spirit Pill worth three years of cultivation.]
Before you continue