His interest in teasing the beauty had been interrupted.
Tang Yu slowly turned his face and glanced at Xue Ye with indifference.
It was only a look, completely devoid of emotion.
The smile on Xue Ye's face instantly froze, and he felt as if he'd fallen into an icy abyss.
In those dark eyes, he saw not the slightest reverence for imperial authority. All he saw was a hellscape of corpses strewn across the land and blood flowing like a river.
This was a terrifying fiend who had truly carved his way out of mountains of the dead. The shadow of death pressing directly upon his soul made the exalted emperor's throat tighten.
Fine beads of cold sweat instantly gathered on his forehead.
His heart pounding, Xue Ye didn't dare ask another question.
To ease this deadly awkwardness, he could only jerk his head back and force out a dry laugh.
"Come, come! My ministers, join me in a toast!"
He hurriedly turned and raised his cup to the ministers below.
Yet behind the cover of the broad wine cup, a sinister shadow was rapidly growing in his murky old eyes.
Time passed, and the lavish victory banquet gradually drew to a close.
Xue Ye took a deep breath, composed his expression, and rose from the throne. His gaze swept across the hall.
The noisy hall fell silent at once. The assembled officials set down their cups and held their breath.
"Marquis of Wuyang's campaign has shaken the world, and he has accomplished an unprecedented feat for our Heaven Dou!"
"Today, at this victory banquet, I hereby formally issue an imperial decree: I confer the title of King upon Tang Yu!"
"The prosperous lands of the Empire's Northwest Three Provinces shall all be granted to him as private fiefdoms, exempt from taxes and entirely under his own administration!"
At these words, the entire hall fell into deathly silence.
The ministers stared in shock, and gasps rose one after another.
A king at eighteen!
In the entire history of the Heaven Dou Empire, this was absolutely unprecedented.
And to directly carve out three full provinces as private fiefdoms was tantamount to acknowledging the existence of another kingdom within the Heaven Dou Empire.
After their brief shock, the hall erupted into a clamor.
The high-ranking officials and nobles could no longer care about court etiquette. They hurried forward, bowing and offering congratulations to Tang Yu, afraid that falling even half a step behind would displease the newly appointed king.
Listening to the noisy congratulations around him, Tang Yu leaned back in his chair and lightly tapped the tabletop with his long fingers.
The Northwest Three Provinces.
He quickly traced the Heaven Dou Empire's borders in his mind.
The region had complicated terrain and exceptionally rich mineral resources.
Most importantly, that vast territory lay right beside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects.
The hall was filled with the scent of wine.
After the investiture, the ministers soon recovered from their shock and raised their cups, repeatedly toasting Tang Yu at the head of the hall.
He was the youngest non-imperial king in the Heaven Dou Empire, and an absolute overlord who held the power of life and death over the Northwest Three Provinces.
Anyone who could build even a little rapport with him now would be able to throw his weight around at court in the future.
Faced with their hypocritical flattery, Tang Yu merely held his cup and took a casual sip. He didn't even look the ministers in the eye, seeming utterly nonchalant.
Had anyone else behaved this way, they would have been charged with gross disrespect. But when it came to Tang Yu, the ministers thought it only natural.
A lilting melody of strings and pipes drifted through the hall from both sides.
Dozens of willowy dancers stepped lightly into the center of the hall.
The woman leading them was especially striking.
She wore a bright yellow dance dress with daring cutouts, and her skin was as smooth and pale as jade.
Her delicate features were flawless, and her brows held an innate air of nobility.
This woman was none other than the Heaven Dou Empire's treasured princess, Xue Ke.
As the orchestra played, Xue Ke danced gracefully in the center of the hall.
With every turn and every bend, she displayed her stunning figure to perfection.
As she danced, Xue Ke repeatedly glanced toward Tang Yu, seated in the highest place.
She knew better than anyone why her father had arranged this dance.
Xue Ye wanted to use a beauty to win over Marquis of Wuyang and marry her to him, binding this god of slaughter to the chariot of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
Xue Ke had not the slightest objection to this plan.
And that was without even mentioning Tang Yu's sharp brows and starry eyes, his striking, heroic bearing.
Just the peerless achievement of leading the Black Horse Iron Cavalry to conquer ten cities of the Star Luo Empire and forcing the Star Luo Emperor to cede territory and pay reparations was enough. What woman in the world wouldn't want to marry him?
Becoming the woman of a peerless powerhouse like him was every woman's ultimate dream.
Yet before tonight, Xue Ke had been filled with helplessness.
No matter how openly or subtly she tried to show her favor, Tang Yu had always seemed utterly uninterested in her.
But tonight, everything had changed.
As her dance steps shifted, Xue Ke keenly noticed that Tang Yu was watching her with keen interest.
His gaze even held a few traces of undisguised desire.
Does he like me?
The realization sent a surge of delight through Xue Ke's heart.
To keep his eyes on her, she danced with ever greater vigor.
As her skirt swirled, her long, pale legs flashed in and out of view, radiating a fatal allure.
She wore no shoes that day, her bare feet treading on the soft Western Regions Carpet.
Her delicate, dainty feet possessed a beauty all their own, and every time her toes touched the floor, it was like a caress against the heartstrings.
"Xue Ke."
Tang Yu rested his chin on one hand, his gaze roaming over Xue Ke in the center of the hall.
He quickly made up his mind.
The princess was a rare beauty, both in face and figure.
Since she was making such an effort to impress him, he might as well take her into his chambers.
Xue Ye, seated nearby, took in every change in Tang Yu's expression. A flicker of surprise crossed his old face.
Before this, he had tried to win Tang Yu over with gold and silver, then with rare herbs, but neither had made much of an impression.
He had thought this killing star was interested only in slaughtering enemies on the battlefield.
Now that Tang Yu had finally revealed his masculine nature, Xue Ye immediately leaned closer and asked in a teasing tone:
"Marquis of Wuyang."
"What do you think of my daughter?"
Tang Yu turned his head and gave his opinion without reservation.
"Born beautiful, a rare treasure."
Hearing those words, Xue Ye was overjoyed.
As long as Tang Yu had designs on Xue Ke, the whole game could be brought back to life.
The banquet lasted until late at night before finally coming to an end.
The ministers filed out of the hall one after another.
Xue Ye cleared his throat and called Xue Ke over.
"Ke'er."
"Marquis of Wuyang has had quite a bit to drink tonight. Go with him and see him back to his residence."
As the old emperor spoke, he frantically signaled to his daughter with his eyes.