Chapter 342: The White Tiger Offers the National Treasure Imperial Seal?

In the Tai Ji Hall, except for Li Shimin and Chen Yan, everyone's mind was a blank.

They stared in disbelief at the white tiger beside Chen Yan, still a cub yet already bearing a hint of the king of beasts' majesty.

"The legendary white tiger… has actually appeared!"

Aside from Chen Yan, the only one standing, Dai Zhou muttered to himself, barely able to believe what he saw.

The moment Dai Zhou finished speaking, the hall's calm was instantly shattered, panic spreading in an instant; Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong and other generals rose immediately, their gazes heavy as they stared at the white tiger, and the guard troops also stirred.

But because the white tiger showed no aggression and was instead looking around left and right, they dared not advance for a moment.

After all, this was the legendary sacred‑beast white tiger; a legend stepping into reality, no one dared to offend it.

In the Tai Ji Hall, the atmosphere instantly grew tense, the two sides standing far apart in standoff.

Chen Yan remained unflustered, gave a faint smile, bowed, and said, "His Majesty, I encountered some matters on the road, delayed the hour, arrived late; please forgive me."

"Is that so?"

Li Shimin's face showed no hint of panic, only calm as water.

He did not first ask Chen Yan why the delay or what about the white tiger, but waved his hand and said, "Everyone sit down; during the court session, why make it like swords drawn and bows drawn?"

"His Majesty, but…"

Qin Qiong seemed a bit anxious.

He did not know where Chen Yan had brought the white tiger; the sacred‑beast matter could be set aside for now, but the problem was that this was a tiger.

What if it goes mad and harms people?

Even if it only injures a palace maid or eunuch, today's court would become a laughingstock.

However, Li Shimin never gave him a chance to finish, replying coolly, "Duke of Yi, do not be hasty."

"Since the Marquis of Weinan dared to bring this white tiger here, it proves the Marquis of Weinan believes the tiger will not harm anyone; given the current situation, the fact is indeed so, is it not?"

When Li Shimin spoke, he glanced at the white tiger and saw it curiously looking toward him, and he couldn't help admiring how damn thorough Chen Yan's handling was.

Yet his words did not sway everyone; many officials objected, urging Li Shimin to prioritize safety.

Li Shimin's stance remained firm, making Qin Qiong and the others sit, and he even dismissed the guard troops.

After all that, only Chen Yan and the white tiger remained in the hall's center.

Li Shimin nodded and said, "Minister Chen, I wonder what caused you to delay the hour today, preventing you from joining the court at once?"

"Your Majesty," Chen Yan replied with a smile, "the story is long, and it sounds rather unbelievable; I still cannot believe it myself."

"Oh?" Li Shimin, graciously prompting, asked, "What exactly happened?"

Chen Yan scanned the officials, lingered briefly on the foreign envoys, then lifted his head and straightened his chest, saying, "I had originally planned to arrive early with my fellow colleagues for the court, but as I stepped out, this sacred beast suddenly came to the gate, holding something in its mouth."

"Perhaps it knew I was coming to the court, and after handing me the thing in its mouth, it tugged at my robe and led me toward the Imperial Palace."

"For a moment I could not discern the beast's intention, could not make up my mind, and thus delayed the hour."

As his words fell, the scene erupted like a pot blowing up.

The originally solemn court suddenly seemed noisy.

But no one thought it wrong, because Chen Yan's words were not just unbelievable—they were damn unbelievably so.

The legendary sacred‑beast white tiger came to the door, asking you to bring it into the palace.

This damn thing, who would believe it?

Yet there were also sharp‑witted folks who keenly sensed the focus in Chen Yan's words: the gaze that had been drawn to the white tiger from the start shifted to the object Chen Yan had been holding all along.

The scholar Yu Shinan, proficient in bronze and stone inscriptions, stared fixedly at the item in Chen Yan's hand, his excitement beyond words; unable to contain himself, he spoke out untimely.

"May I ask the Marquis of Weinan, is the item in your hand… that thing?"

Chen Yan was somewhat surprised: this thing, traveling all the way here, and the National Treasure Imperial Seal still cradled in my hand, and you could still recognize it?

Of course, he did not mind; instead, he raised both hands holding the National Treasure Imperial Seal and solemnly said:

"His Majesty, this is the heavenly‑bestowed treasure brought by the white tiger."

"—The ancient Qin National Treasure Imperial Seal! Especially on New Year's Day, presented to Your Majesty, may our Tang Dynasty enjoy everlasting heavenly mandate!"

As soon as these words were spoken, cannon fire boomed inside the hall.

Everyone's heads buzzed, unable to believe what they had heard.

The legendary sacred‑beast white tiger… at the New Year's Day grand court, the moment of all nations paying tribute, brought the National Treasure Imperial Seal?!

Is this real?

Is it really not just a myth?

The quickest to react, Fang Xuanling snapped to his senses, rose at once, knelt on the ground, thrust his head to the earth, and with the loudest voice shouted, "His Majesty's holy virtue moves heaven and earth; thus the sacred beast brings the treasure anew! This is Heaven's blessing upon Tang!"

"May our Tang Dynasty's heavenly mandate endure forever!"

The civil and military officials, and envoys of the various nations, upon seeing this, rose and knelt, their thunderous cries instantly echoing through the Tai Ji Hall, soaring into the heavens.

"His Majesty's holy virtue moves heaven and earth!"

"May our Tang Dynasty's heavenly mandate endure forever!"

What a shocking scene; even Chen Yan, standing below, could not help exclaiming, for he had never witnessed such a sight in his life.

Let alone Li Shimin, who was at the very top.

"Hahaha!"

Li Shimin finally could not hold back, letting out a hearty, unrestrained laugh.

How many years had passed? He had not been this delighted for many years.

Even his coronation days could not compare.

He felt that this scene might be cherished by him even many years later.

"Present it!"

Li Shimin waved his hand grandly, Wushe stepped down lightly, carefully taking the National Treasure Imperial Seal from Chen Yan's hand; as he was about to depart, Chen Yan silently gave Xiao Yanzi a glance.

Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit with surprise, and it, which had long been unable to contain itself, hopped eagerly along with Wushe toward Li Shimin.

It smelled, from Li Shimin's side, the scent of the meat that Chen Yan often fed it.

His Majesty......!

Li Junxian saw the White Tiger approach, and he immediately grew anxious; before it could act, Li Shimin raised his hand, signaling it not to move.

Then he said to a eunuch, "Go, prepare some meat for our Tang Dynasty's sacred beast."

While Li Shimin took the Imperial Jade Seal, the meat that had been prepared in advance was also given by Li Shimin to Xiaoyanzi.

Xiaoyanzi, as if no one were there, perched on Li Shimin's left side and began to gnaw.

Esteemed ministers, rise!

Li Shimin slowly stood up, his voice like a great bell.

We, the ministers, thank Your Majesty!

The ministers rose, and at the moment they looked up, they saw Li Shimin standing before the throne, holding the Imperial Jade Seal, with the sacred beast White Tiger perched on his left.

At this moment, regarding Chen Yan's statement, everyone harbored no doubt.

And this scene was deeply etched into their minds!