Chapter 335: The Holy Emperor

Zheng Eunuch stood where he was, not stepping another inch into the imperial garden, smiling as he waved at Li Rui.

He was probably saying.

Go on, go on.

Li Rui muttered to himself.

But remembering that it was the Holy Emperor himself who had summoned him, he no longer hesitated.

After walking about fifty paces.

He arrived before the pavilion.

Li Rui had imagined he would see the Holy Emperor seated inside, surrounded by piles of reviewed memorials, perhaps even the Minister Zhang, famed for his sewing, engaged in court deliberation.

But when he saw the scene inside the pavilion, his expression froze.

"Huh?"

"Hot pot?"

A copper pot bubbled vigorously, red oil swirling with chili peppers as several young eunuchs slid in paper-thin slices of meat.

Li Rui blinked.

A middle-aged man, about forty, wearing a winged cap and a round-collared narrow-sleeved robe adorned with four dragon motifs, a jade belt at his waist, waved at Li Rui: "Bring a seat. My meat slices are perfectly cooked—Minister Li, try some."

A young eunuch brought over a wooden stool carved with dragons and phoenixes.

Li Rui sat down with a strange expression.

He hesitated, chopsticks in hand, unable to lower them.

I, old Li, don't understand palace etiquette.

Li Rui was in a knowledge void—no one wrote down palace rules, and the imperial diary was top secret; there was nowhere to learn.

The Holy Emperor kindly added:

"This is a private feast. Minister Li, relax. Eat as much as you like."

Then he added: "A sovereign's word is never a jest."

Hearing this, Li Rui finally dared to lift a slice of meat, slightly curled from the heat, from the copper pot; a nearby eunuch had already prepared a dipping sauce.

He dipped the meat, then chewed it.

"Damn!"

"Why is this dragon meat?!"

Li Rui never imagined the rumors circulating the streets were true.

The Holy Emperor really ate hot pot—and he really used dragon meat for it.

He couldn't help wondering if there really was a golden hoe hidden somewhere in the imperial garden.

Dragon meat greatly strengthens a martial cultivator's body; ordinary martial artists would kill for a single slice, yet this lord of the dragon court used it for hot pot.

What is this if not squandering heaven's gifts?

Extravagant!

Hot pot was originally a dish favored by laborers in Shu—chili and Sichuan pepper helped keep them alert.

Anyone who had done heavy labor knew the importance of staying alert.

Li Rui had been a stable hand, so he understood.

In the end, hot pot was food for the lower classes; nobles in Shu never ate it.

【It is said the current Holy Emperor once lived among common folk, staying in Shu until adulthood before being brought back to court, nearly becoming a wandering swordsman.】

Seeing this,

it made perfect sense he favored red-oil hot pot.

The hot pot before him was the pinnacle of the dish; any Shu native seeing it would be utterly satisfied.

Although the dragon meat was excellent, Li Rui dared not take more.

He was the Holy Emperor.

Even if told to relax, to truly disregard etiquette would only bring trouble upon himself.

When dining with a superior, one doesn't eat the best for oneself.

Li Rui subtly pushed the meat slices in the red oil toward the Holy Emperor's side, ensuring the emperor always had something to pick up, sparing him the trouble of fishing through the pot.

Service was impeccable.

The Holy Emperor chewed the meat, eyes half-closed:

"Very good."

"When I was in Shu, I loved this dish most—but once I came to the capital, I lost the chance."

"I hear Minister Li is also from the south. You must like it."

Li Rui spoke at the right moment: "Your Majesty must be recalling your glorious days riding through Shu."

The Holy Emperor's lips curled slightly.

His thoughts drifted far away.

Indeed.

Back then in Shu, who didn't praise how exceptionally strong this boy was?

At that moment, Zheng Eunuch arrived beneath the pavilion, heard Li Rui's flattery, and barely suppressed a laugh.

Riding through Shu?

He was one of the few who had gone to fetch the Holy Emperor back to court, though back then he was not yet a senior eunuch, just a lowly page.

As far as he knew,

the Holy Emperor had been quite ordinary in Shu.

Stories of him slaying dragons in Shu were fabrications by court historians; in truth, he'd only killed a few harmless little snakes.

The hot pot made him hot.

The Holy Emperor tugged at his collar.

Seeing this, Li Rui felt a quiet joy.

Hot pot is great.

While eating, no one cares about manners—distance naturally closes.

If he could forge a bond with the Holy Emperor,

he wouldn't need to hide anymore—he could walk openly through Yu State.

The Holy Emperor showed no airs, spoke enthusiastically, mostly talking while Li Rui listened quietly, occasionally picking up a slice of dragon meat or offering a reply.

Suddenly,

the Holy Emperor frowned and turned to Zheng Eunuch beside him: "Why does the name Li Rui sound so familiar to me?"

Zheng Eunuch replied:

"Minister Li once received an imperial archway bestowed by Your Majesty—only one such honor in Qinghe County, Yunzhou."

The Holy Emperor suddenly understood: "Ah, so that's it."

"Minister Li achieved greatness late in life—a sign of Yu State's flourishing martial virtue."

"Minister Li has served Yu State well. I must decide how to reward you."

At the word "reward,"

Li Rui's heart stirred.

Elixir? Divine weapon? Promotion?

Or perhaps an honorific jade belt or embroidered vest?

Whatever it was, since it came from the Holy Emperor, it would never be meager.

The Holy Emperor's eyes flickered with mischief: "I hear Minister Li was once one of my Shadow Guards?" Li Rui was stunned.

He never expected the Holy Emperor knew this—and never imagined he'd ever meet the master himself.

Concealing it would be suicide.

The Holy Emperor had the Embroidered Uniform Guard—they could uncover even a minister's excessive nightly bed activities, let alone Shadow Guard matters.

Li Rui answered honestly: "Your Majesty, Jiang Lin, the Immortal Jiang, arranged this as a temporary measure to facilitate trade between our state and the Witch State. I beg Your Majesty's pardon for not informing you."

Hmm.

Not deception—only omission.

The difference was vast; if charged with deceiving the sovereign, Li Rui couldn't survive.

Li Rui's expression was calm.

He showed no cunning.

There was no choice—the gap was too great. Any trickery now was suicide; honesty was the only safe path.

No error in word or intent!

But the Holy Emperor spoke:

"Who said you didn't inform me?"

"Your name has long been on my Shadow Guard roster."

Li Rui: "???"

At that moment, Zheng Eunuch added: "Minister Li, His Majesty already ordered me to inform General Yang—you are indeed a Shadow Guard."

Transferred permanently?!

Li Rui hadn't expected that after just one visit to the palace.

Jiang Lin, though fabricated a royal covert agent identity, actually became one.

With the Emperor's approval, he is now officially a royal covert agent.

Everything came too suddenly.

Yet Li Rui did not freeze—he rose swiftly, stepped aside, and knelt with a thud: "Thank Your Majesty for the gift."

The Emperor laughed heartily:

"Li minister, I'm glad you like it."

Then they resumed eating, nearly indistinguishable from an ordinary family meal; the Emperor casually spoke of the Chang family from his days in Shu.

Li Rui fully embraced his role as a junior.

He listened intently, occasionally offering praise that struck straight at the Emperor's heart.

The banquet ended with the Emperor's hearty laughter.

The Emperor was busy.

Today, he combined dining with meeting Li Rui; after eating, he spent the rest of the day reviewing memorials, and if he happened to summon a lustful imperial consort at night, another battle ensued.

A true model of diligence.

In truth, not all emperors were like this.

This Emperor was an exception.

Perhaps it stemmed from his early experiences; the former Emperor, overthrown by Zhang Shoufu and the State Preceptor, could never have imagined the puppet he casually selected had already begun to show signs of a wise sovereign.

Even the court ministers were certain that, a thousand years from now, this Emperor would likely earn the favorable posthumous title "Xuan."

No wonder Yu's national fortune was good.

Once on the brink of decay, Yu had been patched together by this Emperor and Zhang Shoufu, extending its life by another thousand years.

The Emperor departed.

Li Rui was just about to rise.

When a line of small characters appeared before his eyes.

【Congratulations, Host! You've completed the Intermediate Plot Achievement: Audience with the Emperor.】

【Audience with the Emperor is an essential step for any future minister or general. Congratulations—you, at only fifteen, have won the Emperor's favor and become a royal covert agent; your official career will now proceed smoothly.】

【Achievement "Audience with the Emperor" completed. Rewards being calculated.】

【Achievement rating: S.】

【Obtained 50 Achievement Points!】

【Name: Li Rui】

【Age: 15】

【Talents: Martial Bone, Extraordinary Comprehension, Insightful Eyes, Great Dream Immortal Travel, Demon-Slaying Advantage, Dao Seed】

【Techniques: Changchun Art, Dragon Soaring Through Nine Heavens, Dragon-Elephant True Qi Power】

【Item: Spirit-Ascending Book】

【Achievements: 80/100】

Li Rui's eyebrows lifted slightly.

S?

He had anticipated earning Achievement Points from his audience, but never expected an S-rank rating.

Audience at fifteen.

Though impressive, it was not impossible.

For instance, child prodigies could also gain imperial audience through the imperial examinations.

Li Rui knew well that achieving an S-rank was difficult; merely being fifteen at audience was far from enough—unless it was because he became a covert agent.

Clearly, this covert agent role was not as simple as he had thought.

At this moment,

Zheng Eunuch smiled and spoke: "Li minister, the hour is still early. Why not accompany this old servant to meet Commander Yang?"

Li Rui bowed his fists:

"Then I shall trouble you, Zheng Eunuch."

"No trouble at all."

Zheng Eunuch had just raised his hand when he noticed a heavy object had appeared in it.

Li Rui smiled warmly: "Nothing valuable—just some Qinghe specialties. In a few days, the demon beasts will be sent to the capital; Zheng Eunuch may claim them with this token."

Zheng Eunuch's face lit up with joy.

Local specialties?

Whose local specialties were demon beasts?

But the eunuch liked it.

Li Rui had packed them in a cloth sack—meaning there was more than one token inside.

This gift was no light one.

Moreover, demon beasts were still rare in the capital.

Li Rui spoke up at the right moment:

"Zheng Eunuch, I'm not very familiar with Commander Yang."

Zheng Eunuch casually slipped the small cloth sack into his wide sleeve and smiled:

"Li minister, rest assured—the covert agents have not only a commander, but also a director-general: Gu Jianzheng of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau."

(End of Chapter)