Chapter 1440

The banquet guests fell instantly silent!

Gong Qin paused briefly, then pressed her lips into a smile: "General Su!"

Gong Qin, as the Empress of Qin Longyun, only knew of Su Yang by reputation.

Su Yang was Qin Longyun's sore spot!

Someone who could hold his own against Qin Longyun without falling behind.

Someone who had left Qin Longyun helpless, forced to swallow his losses in silence, and compelled to send imperial women for a marriage alliance — not a person she could afford to offend.

Besides, Su Yang had killed General Feng Yu, and although Gong Qin said nothing aloud, in her heart she was absolutely delighted.

"General Su, I've heard of your fame — a toast to you!"

A servant immediately poured a cup of wine for Su Yang.

Su Yang raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Gong Qin smiled, and likewise finished the wine in her cup.

Qin Longyun laughed: "General Su has come from afar as a guest — I too toast General Su a cup!"

During the banquet, dancers swayed gracefully, cups clinked merrily, and several princes did come to toast Su Yang; Su Yang, giving them face, drank them all.

When the banquet ended, Chen Huan escorted Su Yang and his companion back to the side courtyard.

Under the moonlight, in the imperial garden, Empress Gong Qin summoned her own children.

Empress Gong Qin looked to be around thirty or forty years old, but in truth she was already over two hundred.

Even some of her children and grandchildren had already exhausted their lifespans and passed away.

"Mother, you've summoned your children late at night — is there something the matter?"

"It's about General Su!"

"Mother, who is this General Su?"

In truth, countless guests at the banquet were curious, yet not a single one knew Su Yang's identity.

Gong Qin smiled: "A peerlessly gifted genius — a beast-tamer even your father the Emperor must be wary of!"

"A divine-rank beast-tamer?"

"Not quite there yet, but his combat power should be about the same!"

Gong Qin's children's faces, one after another, registered shock.

"He doesn't look very old, does he!"

Gong Qin sighed: "Exactly because he shouldn't be old — that's what makes him terrifying!"

Gong Qin continued: "I've called you here this time only to let you know — His Majesty wishes to form a marriage alliance with General Su, and will select a female member from within the imperial clan."

"Mother means…"

"If possible, do try to win it over!" Gong Qin smiled. "If possible, let those young ladies compete for it properly. General Su isn't bad-looking—he's extremely outstanding, and even in the broader world of beast-tamers, such a genius is rarely seen—a truly perfect match!"

Gong Qin's second son said helplessly: "How can one compete for it? Isn't it simply whoever Father Emperor decides it to be?"

"This time, your father the Emperor can't really decide on his own either. It mainly depends on Su Yang — whoever Su Yang feels is suitable, he'll most likely choose her, and your father the Emperor shouldn't object either. Your father the Emperor inviting him here was probably with this very intention. Do you understand?"

Gong Qin's children were all stunned, feeling that the imperial-clan martial contest that had been going on for several days sounded, somehow, exactly like picking a wife for Su Yang…

The Emperor would, on occasion, hold selections across the empire to replenish the harem.

This General Su was even more outrageous — the Emperor was simply letting him pick from among the imperial clan's younger generation…