Chapter 577: Audience with the Emperor!

Beside Jiang Feng, a purple‑robed elder with hair and beard all white now stands, exuding a faintly feminine aura from head to toe.

But Jiang Feng glanced at him a few more times, for the elder appeared kindly and smiling, yet possessed unfathomable strength, at least that of the Half‑step Wu Zun Realm!

Judging by his attire, he should be the Chief of Internal Supervision who accompanies the Emperor.

No wonder he is the close attendant of the Emperor; his very presence guarantees the Emperor's absolute safety!

The position of Chief of Internal Supervision is not one an ordinary person can hold; it requires deep trust of the Emperor as well as extraordinary power and means.

To have served by the Emperor's side for decades without faltering, this person is far from as simple as he appears.

Seeing Jiang Feng look at him, the elder flashed a faintly flattering smile and spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

"Having followed the Emperor for so many years, you are the first—Divine Doctor Jiang—to be personally escorted by the Emperor into the Imperial Palace. You will surely soar to great heights in the future; let me first congratulate Divine Doctor Jiang."

His voice was thin and high, but his tone was sincere, not perfunctory.

He had served by the Emperor's side for decades, having seen countless nobles and dignitaries.

But to be treated so graciously by the Emperor, Jiang Feng truly is the first.

Jiang Feng merely nodded at the elder, his expression calm, showing no smugness at the compliment.

After a brief exchange, the elder quickly turned aside and extended his hand in a beckoning gesture.

"It's getting late, Mr. Jiang, please go…"

Immediately, under the elder's guidance, Jiang Feng walked through the Palace Gate.

At night the Imperial Palace was brightly lit yet not noisy.

The Palace Wall towered high; the vermilion walls glimmered with a dark red sheen under the lights, and the glazed tiles on the eaves sparkled with golden light in the moon.

Every few steps a Palace Lantern glowed, its soft light turning the entire corridor into daylight. The Green Stone pavement beneath his feet had been worn smooth as a mirror by time, reflecting hazy lamp shadows.

Passing through gate after gate and hallway after hallway, Jiang Feng's expression remained calm, his steps neither hurried nor slow.

He did not look around, moving as leisurely as if walking in his own backyard.

The elder led the way ahead, occasionally glancing back at Jiang Feng with eyes full of admiration.

This young man is not ordinary.

Few have remained so composed within the Imperial Palace as he does.

Soon, the two arrived outside a brilliantly lit, magnificent great hall.

The great hall was towering and spectacular, with soaring eaves, interlocking brackets, carved beams and painted rafters; the marble steps before it were spotless, emitting a soft white glow in the moonlight.

Above the hall doors hung a plaque bearing three gilded characters: Chonghua Dian.

The calligraphy was robust and forceful, the brush strokes like knives; it is said to have been penned by the founding Emperor himself.

At the doorway, the elder halted, turned, and politely said to Jiang Feng.

"Divine Doctor Jiang, we shall not enter. The Emperor is waiting inside Chonghua Dian; please proceed."

Jiang Feng nodded, then alone stepped into the hall.

The hall doors were tall, about three zhang, made of heavy golden‑thread nanmu wood, intricately carved with lifelike dragon and phoenix motifs.

When the doors were pushed open, the hinges emitted a deep creak, like an ancient sigh echoing through the spacious hall.

The hall appeared grand and imposing, yet its interior was unusually plain.

There was no imagined gold‑and‑jade splendor, no treasure‑laden displays, nor any lavish decorations.

In the vast hall, aside from bookshelves lining the walls, there was only a single table.

The bookshelves rose high, reaching the ceiling, stocked with all manner of books.

The table was a plain rosewood desk, covered with xuan paper and set with brush, ink, and inkstone.

The inkstone still held wet ink, the brush on its holder bore ink stains. Beside the table stood a single chair, its cushion a plain cotton pad, faded from washing.

The Emperor was currently bent over his desk, writing unknown words, his brush dancing like dragons and snakes, his expression focused.

He wore simple plain robes, no crown on his head, his black hair tied with a single Jade Hairpin, looking like an ordinary scholar rather than the ruler of the empire.

Hearing the movement, he lifted his head and saw Jiang Feng at the doorway, his face instantly breaking into a bright smile.

"Divine Doctor Jiang, you finally arrived! I have waited for you so long. Quickly, quickly, please sit!"

His voice was loud, his tone enthusiastic, entirely lacking imperial bearing, like an old friend greeting a guest.

He stood, walked around the desk, personally approached Jiang Feng, and pulled his arm toward the chair.

Jiang Feng was unrestrained, walked straight to the table, and sat on the chair opposite the Emperor.

His movements were natural and graceful, without any restraint or tension, as if the person opposite him were not the ruler of the empire but an ordinary friend.

Soon, a young palace attendant carried a cup of clear tea and placed it beside Jiang Feng.

The attendant was not old, about fifteen or sixteen years old.

Dressed in a teal palace uniform, with downcast eyes and a compliant demeanor, his movements were light.

After setting down the cup, he quietly slipped away, his footsteps so light they were almost silent.

The Emperor set down his brush, lifted the tea cup, took a sip, then looked at Jiang Feng, his eyes full of gratitude.

"Divine Doctor Jiang, today in the operating room I cannot speak at length. Now that only you and I are present, I must thank you again."

His tone was sincere, his gaze earnest, without any hint of falseness.

"Cloud Master is not only the Grand Commander of the Military, but also my mentor. You saved him, you saved half my life. Over the years, few people beside me are truly trustworthy; Cloud Master is one of them. If he were to fall, I would not know whom else to trust."

Jiang Feng lifted his tea cup and took a sip.

The tea was premium pre‑Qingming Longjing, its fragrance fragrant, the taste sweet and mellow.

Hearing this, he replied calmly.

"Emperor, you are too kind. I acted because of Yun Mengrou's earnest request."

The Emperor nodded, offering no further pleasantries.

He set down the tea cup, his tone suddenly shifting, his gaze deepening as if weighing something.

"Mr. Jiang's medical skill is superb, but that Tianjue Secret Art, I have heard, is a Kunlun technique. Could Divine Doctor Jiang have come from the divine mountain Kunlun?"

When those words were spoken, the Emperor's gaze fixed tightly on Jiang Feng, as if waiting for an important answer. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, showing his inner unrest.

Kunlun, that is a mysterious and distant existence.

The legendary divine mountain, a holy land for cultivators.

The empire has stood for a Thousand years, Kunlun has always remained aloof, not participating in worldly disputes, yet no one dares to ignore its existence.

Successive Emperors have all tried to establish contact with Kunlun, but only a handful have succeeded.

Jiang Feng looked at the Emperor, his expression calm, neither denying nor evading.

He simply said lightly.

"Emperor, you seem quite interested in Kunlun?"

The Emperor smiled, his smile carrying a hint of deeper meaning and a hint of anticipation.

"I am not interested, but… I have a matter to request."

Jiang Feng gave no reply, only quietly watching him.

The Emperor took a deep breath and continued.

"But before that, I wish to know whether Divine Doctor Jiang truly originates from Kunlun."

Jiang Feng nodded, nodding calmly.

"Indeed, I was a disciple of Xuan Yuan Zhenren of Kunlun. My master Xuan Yuan Zhenren was a generation's headmaster on Kunlun Mountain."

This was his First Time formally acknowledging his identity before the Emperor.

The Emperor listened and was extremely delighted, his eyes brightening at once.

His hand unconsciously clenched, and his voice trembled slightly.

"So you are under Xuan Yuan Zhenren, no wonder you possess such miraculous medical skill! I once heard the late Emperor mention that Xuan Yuan Zhenren is the foremost master of the age, his cultivation reaching the heavens and penetrating the earth. To become his Disciple, Divine Doctor Jiang is indeed extraordinary."

The Emperor stood up, paced back and forth twice in front of the desk, then stopped, looking at Jiang Feng, his eyes full of Excitement.

At that moment, the Emperor suddenly shifted his tone again, the smile on his face subdued a few degrees, becoming serious.

"By the way, Divine Doctor Jiang, I also know a person who seems to come from Kunlun; I wonder if Divine Doctor Jiang recognizes him?"

Jiang Feng asked calmly, his expression unchanged.

"Emperor, what do you refer to?"

His Tone was very flat, but in his heart there was already a faint speculation.

Yet the Emperor's face was solemn, speaking word by word.

"His name is Zang Zijian, also my National Teacher."