Chapter 84: Chapter 82: The Storm at the State Banquet (Requesting votes at the end of the month!)

Translator: 549690339

Several days have passed.

Finally, the capital city has welcomed the 60th birthday. Today, at the morning court, the officials pay their respects, and red lanterns are hung in streets and alleys.

From the main gate of the capital city to the Tianwu Gate in Imperial City, and then to the Imperial Palace, as well as the east, west, south, and north gates.

Along the way, lanterns and colorful decorations were put up, and song and dance filled the air. Festive arches and pavilions filled the city, and the view was filled with brilliant colors and a scene of prosperity and celebration.

All the people in the capital city knew what today meant, and they were all looking forward to the arrival of the night.

Only the elderlies who entered the city seemed out of place with this scene. After they entered the city, some of them sat exhaustedly in the government sedan.

Some elderlies who just arrived in the capital city felt dizzy and fainted directly, and they had to be supported and carried away, lying in the medical clinics on the streets to recuperate.

Only a few people could arrive here in bright and colorful carriages.

Each time an elderly person arrived, the officials in the capital city would record their condition, whether they could attend tonight’s banquet, whether they would embarrass the Emperor, and which table and seat they should be assigned to.

Of course, these were things that officials should think about.

The common people in the capital city only knew that today a very distinguished person would be celebrating his birthday, and they would have the fortune of receiving food from the government tonight.

Besides, they could also tag along to watch the specially-invited opera performance together. Neighbors and friends would stroll through the streets, chatting about various topics. The general consensus was that everyone should stay put tonight and watch the opera together!

Normally, the hardest job at this time would be the Imperial Guards stationed on duty without taking a step away.

However, the imperial guards also had their ranks, those who were idle and didn’t work were often from influential backgrounds, while those who guarded the city day and night were now stationed on the city walls of the Imperial City and the various city gates.

Standing on the city wall at the Tianwu Gate of Imperial City was an eight-foot-tall man with a strong build, dark-skinned face, a touch of vicissitudes, wearing a green martial robe with a tiger head embroidery on the chest, and powerful arms like a bear. People said his power was equal to that of a bear.

This man’s name was Qin Hu, one of the top four skilled fighters in the capital city and one of the four chiefs of the Black Guards. Today, he was responsible for ensuring the security at the entrance of the Imperial City.

He had to protect the safety of the Emperor, and the pressure was not small. However, this was his responsibility, and he was willing to die for it.

Qin Hu leaned on the wall, arms crossed, motionless like a mountain, with no trace of qi. If one didn’t sense it carefully, they wouldn’t have discovered him at all, as if he was hiding within.

However, his tiger-like eyes stared fiercely at the entrance of the Imperial City and the crowd outside the city gate, observing people entering and leaving. If anyone suspicious was spotted, he would order the soldiers to arrest them immediately.

Suddenly, a magnificent carriage arrived at the city gate.

This caught his attention.

The more magnificent the carriage, the more things it carried, the more people it had, and the easier it would be to fish in troubled waters.

The Imperial Guards at the city gate carried out their routine checks; the people on the carriage needed to get off, and the items they brought with them had to be searched before they could enter the city.

A woman wearing a turban got off the carriage, pinching the hem of her skirt, her movements light and delicate, like the young lady of a prominent family.

From the side view, she also wore a white veil.

Either she was unseemly or she had something to hide.

Qin Hu thought to himself.

“Take off the veil,” the sergeant of the Imperial Guards, holding a long spear, stopped the carriage sharply.

“Take it off!” The guard remained unmoved and coldly demanded.

“This…”

The servant still had a bitter expression on his face, but the woman beside him obediently took off her veil.

“Is that enough?”

The woman spoke softly with a hoarse but gentle voice.

The guard saw the woman’s face and his pupils shrank, pausing for a moment.

The woman looked weird!

On an otherwise fine goose egg-shaped face, there were two black patches on her cheeks, looking like birthmarks, sticking tight to her skin, even covering half of her lips.

The middle of her entire face was a dark purple and black, with some of it on her forehead and mouth, making her look ugly.

The only thing that people could look at was her big bright eyes, which were as charming as the stars.

No wonder she had to wear a veil.”Uh… Take off the scarf as well.” The Imperial Guard soldier maintained his professionalism without showing much reaction.

Upon hearing this, the woman complied and pulled off her black scarf.

A head of soft white hair fluttered in the wind. Under the sunlight, it looked stunningly beautiful.

“This is…”

The soldier had never seen hair of such color before.

The servant by the side explained, “My lady has had this hair color since birth.

The doctor said a prenatal deficiency caused it.”

The soldier nodded and was about to let them pass. Unbeknownst to him, Qin Hu appeared behind them. “Greetings, commander.”

Seeing him, the soldiers saluted respectfully.

Although the man’s rank was higher than a real commander’s, they didn’t know that and just addressed him as such.

Qin Hu squinted his eyes and fixated on the mistress in the middle.

The woman didn’t avoid his gaze, looking somewhat scared and pitiful.

“Excuse me, General, did I do anything wrong? Why are you staring at me like this…”

“Where are you from and where are you going?”

Qin Hu spoke slowly, his voice as loud and powerful as thunder.

“This is our invitation.”

Seeing the situation, the servant quickly handed over a letter.

Qin Hu opened it and saw, mumbling, “Jinzhou merchant group, Zhang Family,

Assistant Minister Wang’s household?”

“Yes, my master has been granted the third-grade position in the Ministry of Rites. We have come to the capital to pay our respects to the Emperor.” The servant bowed and replied with a smile.

Qin Hu returned the invitation and his expression became calm. He said indifferently:

“Let them pass.”

The elite guards at the gate opened their long spears, making way for them.

“Thank you, General.”

The woman thanked him, put on her headscarf and veil again, and entered the carriage.

Qin Hu watched the carriage in the distance and sneered.

Really can’t face people, huh.

The grand carriage slowly entered the Imperial City and finally arrived at a mansion. The mansions here belonged to high-ranking officials, which lower-ranked officials could not enter.

In the mansion.

The veiled woman got off the carriage, and a middle-aged man stepped out of the house, bowing deeply:

“Wang, paying his respects to the Saintess.”

“Mm, I rise.”

The veiled woman responded softly. At this moment, her gaze showed no trace of fear.

The servant on the side had already put on a solemn expression and said, “We can’t wait any longer. The damned emperor has taken action against our sect, and many of our members have been uprooted. Fortunately, we went into hiding in time and didn’t suffer too much damage, but if we continue to let this go on, it will be unfavorable to us.”

The middle-aged man nodded, “Not long ago, King Yan was transferred out of the capital and sent to the Western Edge. Now, the only force in the capital capable of stopping us is the Black Guards. As long as Emperor Xia dies, the power of the Raven can rise.”

The veiled woman’s eyes flickered slightly, and she calmly said, ‘We cannot have any mishaps tonight. We only have one chance.”

“Don’t worry, everything has been arranged. Tonight is the best opportunity.”

“Lord Crow Immortal will bless us.”