The Khitan officials on either side also studied Huang Xiao and his two companions with some curiosity. Khitan and Great Song had fought year after year, and envoys had all but ceased traveling between them. This time, the envoy was actually a prince of Great Song, which surprised these ministers somewhat, so they gave the three a few extra looks, especially Zhao Yuankan.
"Zhao Yuankan, envoy of Great Song, greets His Majesty the Emperor of Khitan." Zhao Yuankan bowed slightly as he spoke.
Zhao Yuankan privately muttered to himself, for the Khitan emperor, Yelü Longxu, was somewhat different from what he had imagined. Though he knew Yelü Longxu should be a little younger than himself, the emperor possessed a commanding presence he could not match.
There was really nothing unusual about that. Though Zhao Yuankan's status was also highly distinguished, Yelü Longxu was an emperor, after all. There was still a gulf between their positions, so naturally their bearing and presence were different.
After Zhao Yuankan saluted, Huang Xiao and Lord Wu, standing a step behind him, also bowed.
"How dare you! Why do you not kneel before His Majesty?" a military officer at the side shouted.
"Insolent!"
"How dare you!"
Quite a few ministers beside them also shouted. Whatever else, they had to display their might before the people of Great Song.
Yet neither Huang Xiao, Zhao Yuankan, nor Lord Wu showed the slightest change of expression. After saluting, they simply stood there as though the ministers around them did not exist.
"Silence!" the eunuch beside the Khitan emperor cried at the top of his voice.
At those words, the Khitan ministers in the hall quieted down.
"You are Zhao Yuankan?" Yelü Longxu asked, looking at Zhao Yuankan from the Dragon Throne.
"I am," Zhao Yuankan replied, neither servile