Chapter 859: Chapter 628: Paying Respects to the Minister and Being Ennobled
Yang Xiao was the first to kneel down upon seeing the situation, and shouted loudly, followed closely by Nalan Shuo, Xiang Fengchen, and others acting likewise, their attitude genuinely touching.
The people from Earl Mansion were mad, but Yang Xiao was not; he knew if they didn’t shout Longevity tonight, they would definitely not see tomorrow morning’s sun.
The procession moved out in a single file, not sparing a glance at Yang Xiao and others. As the Dragon Chariot passed in front of Yang Xiao, he distinctly felt a surge of Evil Qi, like an icy blade scraping against his skin.
He was certain that the Ancestor was sitting atop the Dragon Chariot.
After these people from the Earl Mansion asked them to find the Ancestor, they had him taken away in the Dragon Chariot, where to and what for, Yang Xiao and others had no idea.
Not knowing how long he had knelt, the grand music ceased then brisk footsteps approached Yang Xiao and the others. Yang Xiao dared not raise his head, for looking up rashly would be a crime of presumption. He only dared to slightly lift his head, catching a glimpse of the boots of the newcomer.
"The Emperor Zhao of Dajing decrees: We have heard that merit is praised and talent rewarded, Fushou Manor guest Nalan Shuo is loyal and stout-hearted. In times of Our danger, he stepped forward bravely, salvaged Us from peril, and prevented the treacherous heart of Xiao from prevailing. His courage and loyalty are witnessable by heaven and earth, specially appointing him from Secondary Second-rank to Deputy Commander of Divine Camp, additionally bestowing him with 3000 households in Hebei." The eunuch read aloud in a squawking voice.
"Subject Nalan Shuo thanks the Emperor for his great kindness!" Nalan Shuo kowtowed down, his forehead touching the ground, "Longevity, Longevity, Endless longevity!"
"Emperor Zhao of Dajing proclaims ’We have heard...’"
...
The voice of the eunuch continued non-stop, appointing 7 people in total, none left out, with Xiang Fengchen obtaining the highest office at Standard Second-rank, and Chang Chuchu also getting a relatively high position at Secondary Fourth-rank.
Yang Xiao was appointed to Minister of the Imperial Clan Court at Standard Third Rank, an office associated with managing affairs of the Royal Family.
After Yang Xiao and the others gratefully received the Imperial Decree one by one, and stood up, they noticed that aside from the Ancestor’s Dragon Chariot which had left, the rest didn’t stray far, standing nearby.
As Yang Xiao and others stood up, the person leading the group approached, supported by the crowd, and upon nearing, Yang Xiao saw a bright yellow Dragon Robe, clearly attire only meant for the Emperor himself.
For a moment, no one dared to speak; not Xiang Fengchen, not Nalan Shuo, for staying silent could prevent mistakes, and avoiding mistakes could mean preserving life.
"Hehe..." the person clad in the Dragon Robe, also wearing a mask, chuckled, "Now then, put on these robes, do you not recognize me anymore?"
Yang Xiao recognized the voice; it indeed was from the master of Fushou Manor and currently the helmsman of Earl Mansion.
"Give it some time, and once the great Ancestor reclaims our ancestral territory, he would likewise pass it to me. After all, you have seen the state of the Ancestor, the significant responsibility of pacifying and governing will still need to be carried on by me," the old master spoke boldly, his hunched back straightening considerably.
"What Your Majesty says is absolutely correct. The current deposed Emperor is incompetent, addicted to pleasures, leading to long-standing resentment among the people, awarding him a justified ends. Your Majesty respectively aligns with the heavenly mandate and receives the people’s heart; Dajing’s Royal Family’s bloodline is pure, all insightful individuals here are ready to serve Your Majesty loyally," Yang Xiao held his fists and respectfully bowed to the old manor master.
"Well said! Excellent!" the old manor master burst out with a spirited energy, waving his hand magnanimously, "You all are meritorious subjects, Ministers of Dragon, soon to overturn the deposed Emperor, restore the prosperity of Dajing, I shall not fail you, granting you the positions of ministers and ranks of marquises, this is not empty talk!"
"Your Majesty is wise!" Yang Xiao and others cried out in unison.
After Yang Xiao and the others finished speaking, the leading old manor master and others behind him removed the masks from their faces. In that instant, Chang Chuchu’s exceedingly pale face due to overbleeding grew even whiter, and Fang Zhou, who was mentally weaker, almost collapsed as his knees buckled.
Now they finally understood why the people from Earl Mansion wore masks every day, afraid to show their true faces—it turned out that these individuals had all suffered from backlash of Dragon Energy, turning into monstrous beings neither human nor ghost.
Among them, the old manor master was the worst affected; his appearance closely resembled the Ancestor, with an aged face covered in scales, not as fully as the Ancestor, his cheeks also bearing some brown, decayed skin, his nose and ears had rotted away, and his forehead displayed two prominent bulges, like nascent dragon horns not yet fully grown, his murky eyes glimmering with a sinister cold breath, locking onto someone like a venomous snake targeting its prey.
The others also showed various grotesque transformations, bodies undergoing different degrees of dragon-like changes. If Yang Xiao were to describe, it was somewhat amphibious; some without Dragon Scales instead grew gills resembling fish on their necks, visibly pulsating with breathing, revealing the bright red gills inside.
Some missing an eye or a nose were considered better off, with quite a number indistinguishable as male or female unless clothed were observed.
Looking at this whole group of misshapen beings, Yang Xiao felt a chill in his heart; he didn’t understand, why these individuals so greedily clung to power to such an extent, having already become such ghastly figures, does imperial authority still hold meaning for them?
Even if they were left to live on, with such bodies, how much longer could they survive?
But then again, thinking it through, perhaps it was precisely because of the thought of imperial power that this whole family stubbornly persisted in lingering on.
The so-called Ancestor was nothing more than their Puppet, like them, all just pitiful pieces in the game.
