After the news of the Dragon Palace opening ahead of schedule was confirmed, Chen Qing sent messages to all four directions at the same time, but he did not expect that the imperial court would be the first to arrive.
Based on distance and manpower estimates, the imperial court was the furthest away and had the most complex personnel deployment, so logically they should have arrived last.
Leaving aside the distance factor, the main force of the imperial court this time consisted of families of sorcerers. However, the families of sorcerers in the imperial court were not a unified entity. Outsiders only knew about the Nine Ministers, but only insiders knew that the Nine Ministers of the imperial court were rotated among themselves. Including the Ten Great Sorcerers of the Palace, there were seven positions, all of which came from different ancient families with a history of thousands of years.
Chen Qing has limited the number of slots available to the Dragon Palace, allowing only four Above First Rank sorcerers to enter. Each Above First Rank sorcerer can only bring two subordinates, and the subordinates cannot exceed First Rank of First-Rank. This rule applies to both martial artists and sorcerers.
Therefore, the various prominent families must have gone through many rounds of negotiations regarding the personnel who came here.
After all, those who can come in person definitely have the biggest advantage, so how can the other powerful families who can't come be content with that?
This involves various guarantees and resource compromises.
For example, if this family can't come, we guarantee that we will try our best to distribute the things we obtained in the Dragon Palace to you. As for how to distribute them, that depends on how we form the spell.
And now, your family has gotten the chance to go to the Dragon Palace, while ours hasn't. We're about the same size, so why should we? What are you offering in exchange?
Is it a spot in the Warlock Academy?
Or is it the time frame for the Nine Ministers?
In any case, there will be a lot of discussions and compromises. In Chen Qing's view, the capital city should be the most complicated place. Compared with it, the power of the Eldest Princess, although it is autocratic, is also much more convenient.
The situation is somewhat troublesome with the powerful clans and factions in the north, especially on the Duke of Wei's side. However, at least the Duke of Wei of Wei can maintain order and coordinate with all parties, sending whichever faction he chooses. In contrast, who in the capital can hold the fort?
If Chen Qing's prediction is correct, that person in the capital has long been plotting to activate something, just waiting for those top sorcerers to leave, wishing they would all get lost.
But now, is the efficiency really that fast?
Chen Qing considered a possibility, but kept it to himself and greeted the man with a smile.
The imperial ships were magnificent and grand, but compared to the ships of Liuzhou, they looked like chicks. Chen Qing stood on the deck, almost looking down at the ships opposite, which made the people on the opposite deck look rather unpleasant.
"Gentlemen, you've arrived quite early." Chen Qing looked at an elderly man in white. "Senior Chen, you've arrived too?"
Chen Qing still vaguely remembered the old man at the head of the group. Before leaving the capital, at a banquet hosted by Liu Yu, the Duke of Song of Song, the old man had questioned him about his relationship with the Duke of Qin. Later, he learned from Wang Ye that the old man was one of the previous generation's Nine Ministers: Ministry of Rites: Chen Baifeng.
He shares the same surname as himself. After stepping down, he is now one of the three vice deans of the Yin-Yang Academy, the chief elder of the Chen Household's elder council in the capital, and the only sorcerer in the Chen Household capable of inheriting the Heavenly Dipper Spells: [ Mind Monkey ]. He is practically the face of the Chen Household!
"It's been two years, and the changes in Young Lord Chen, are truly astounding!" Chen Baifeng stroked his beard and looked at the person opposite him with a smile.
The other members of the aristocratic families all had strange expressions when they heard this. Back then, they all had different guesses about Chen Qing, the young man who caused a sensation in the capital. But no matter what, they never expected that this young man would be able to carve out a region and force the court to such a point in just three years of service in the capital.
The crucial point is... that Lu Ming, actually fell into his hands too?
Even the Imperial Capital of the Xiao Household probably couldn't have imagined this, after all, just three years ago, Duke Lu Ming of Duke of Qin was the most powerful duke in the world, a nobleman who could rival the royal family!
"You flatter me, senior." Chen Qing bowed modestly. "I have never forgotten your guidance back then."
"No need for such formalities," Chen Baifeng said with a smile. "According to your rules, the imperial court has sent four highly respected officials to participate in this Dragon Palace incident, and each official will be accompanied by a maximum of two deputies, as you mentioned. Some guards have also been brought, and the leader is Old Master Hong Yue of the Hong Household in the capital. You have no objections, do you?"
" Hong Yue?" Chen Qing was taken aback. He had naturally heard of this name. Hong Lie, the garrison Hong Lie of Liuzhou, had lived a carefree life in Liuzhou for nearly a year before Yuchi Peng arrived, and was eventually forcibly taken away by Yuchi Peng.
Just then, a rather tall figure stepped out of the ship. He was about the same height as Hong Lie, and both of them were the type with a strong and slightly muscular build. His face was more serious Hong Lie than Hong Lie's. His aura was incredibly solid, like a volcano gathering momentum. Even from several meters away, you could feel the heat emanating from him.
"Uncle Hong," Chen Qing called out shamelessly.
The other person paused slightly upon hearing this form of address, but then grinned and said, "I entrusted Hong Lie with your care during his year in Jiangnan."
Chen Qing smiled. Hong Lie seemed honest and simple, but he was actually incredibly cunning. He had no intention of helping the court deal with him. He was well-fed and cared for, and kept inquiring about the so-called Divine Path path, but he was also wary of joining. Although he didn't join, Chen Qing hadn't mistreated him in Liuzhou.
With high-quality meat and medicine, and fed for free, his health improved significantly when he returned home!
Hong Yue was naturally satisfied with the result, and he couldn't very well keep a straight face in the face of Chen Qing's smiling face and address.
"Uncle Hong, you're too kind," Chen Qing said with a smile. "Hong Lie and I rescued the Hong Lie together on the Yin-Yang Road back then; we're sworn brothers. Now that he's in Jiangnan, I naturally want to treat him well."
"Hahaha, very good, very good, I remember."
Hong Yue knew that the other party was reminding him of his gratitude to Hong Lie. He was not ambiguous about it. As long as Chen Qing did not deliberately target them, he would not take action against Chen Qing. In fact, he would even help him in a critical moment. In his opinion, Chen Qing was a capable person with cooperative value. It is always good to have more options in life.
Seeing the two chatting so enthusiastically, the expressions of the others in the cabin turned rather unpleasant.
Which side is this guy from?
Chen Baifeng shook his head with a wry smile, then interrupted the two to introduce the others, "Let me introduce you first, this is the current head of the Pang Family: Pang Xingyun!"
"Oh?" Chen Qing was taken aback, and quickly cupped his hands in greeting. "I've heard so much about you!"
The Pang Family is said to be one of the most deeply rooted families in the capital, a fact evident from this allocation.
The Ministry of War was previously the head of the Pang Family. After being murdered by that vicious woman from the Shen Family, the Pang Family still had the power to snatch the spot, which shows how many candidates this family had and how deep its foundation was.
However, he looks rather young.
Chen Qing frowned as he looked at the other party. Minister Pang looked to be about sixty years old, but his actual age was probably over one hundred. He might even be at the limit of age for a sorcerer, just like the others from the Shen Family.
But is this one well-maintained?
The man, addressed as " Lord Chen," bowed respectfully and said, "My father was murdered, and you immediately helped us severely punish the murderer. You have done my Pang Family a great favor, and I, Pang Xingyun, will forever remember this kindness!"
"Is Minister Pang your father?"
While Chen Qing was surprised, he secretly sized up the other party. The Pang Family had actually sent their second generation?
Sorcerers are not martial artists, so the concept of youth over strength doesn't apply to them. Generally, the older they are, the more powerful they become. This time, with the patriarch murdered, the Pang Family sent a representative who was actually a second-generation heir?
This guy is probably quite extraordinary. Putting aside his abilities, the fact that he can keep those uncles who are a generation older than him in check is quite impressive!
"It is indeed my father!" Pang Xingyun bowed again, "Thank you, Lord Chen."
"No, no, I am also very sorry to hear about your father's death."
After a few polite words, Chen Baifeng introduced the other people.
"This is Lord Li Kainian!" Upon seeing this, Chen Qing quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Minister of Ministry of Personnel."
"Ah, that's all in the past." The refined-looking old man waved his hand. "He stepped down a year ago. Now, we old men are just here to test the waters. The important affairs of the world should be entrusted to young people like you."
"You flatter me, sir. It is only with the support of senior figures like you that the nation can transition smoothly."
The Li Family is rumored to be the leading family of sorcerers. It is said that Liu Yu persuaded the Li Family, and half of the sorcerer families in the world were willing to submit to the current Emperor Xiao Household. He had heard Wang Ye mention that in the sorcerer world, there is a saying that there is Zhang in the South and Li in the North. To be able to stand alongside the family of Celestial Master Zhang in Heavenly Capital, the old guy sent by this family must be extraordinary.
"This last one, Lord Chen should have heard of him."
"Oh?" Chen Qing was taken aback. To be honest, despite his current success, he wasn't really familiar with the ways of the sorcerer world. It would be embarrassing if he didn't recognize the other party's name later.
"Does Lord Chen still remember Mr. Origami?"
Chen Qing: "."