Inside the main hall, the emperor was about to praise Wei Zi, but before the words could leave his mouth-
Hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside, boots clacking as they headed straight for the Vermilion Steps.
A court messenger, his forehead drenched in sweat, knelt and reported urgently,
"Your Majesty! Disaster! The envoys from the various foreign states are fighting in the side hall!"
"The foreign envoys are fighting?" The officials exchanged looks, their expressions varied.
"Fighting?"
Emperor Jing of Zhou's brows drew sharply together. His hand had already pressed against the armrest as though he meant to rise, and he intended to order at once:
Summon the palace guards to the side hall to restore order.
But before "summon" could pass his lips, he pressed them shut.
Then he slowly relaxed, remained seated, and looked at the kneeling messenger.
"Er... do you know who is beating whom?"
At this question, the messenger prostrated himself, his face creasing. Not daring to raise his eyes, he could only answer honestly,
"Your Majesty! The Tangut envoy, Yeli Wangrong, has been surrounded by the envoys from Ryukyu, Joseon, and Annam.
"The Ryukyu envoy struck first. The Joseon and Annam envoys rushed in together and have pinned him to a table.
"Then the other foreign envoys all swarmed over, one after another. The sounds of blows have not stopped!
"At first, Yeli Wangrong could still scream. After three screams, his voice gradually faded."
"Ah, the Tangut~~"
The emperor's voice rose slightly at the end of those words. Then he leaned forward and asked again.
"How exactly are they beating him?"
The messenger: "???"
Bewildered or not, he still had to answer the emperor's question!
And so the messenger could only continue his account:
"I watched from a distance outside the door. All I could see