Chapter 494

Although the nobles did not know about the so-called 'dragon disease' spreading along the royal bloodline, each of their families had served as ministers for hundreds of years, and the records concerning past kings were extremely detailed.

Some Sun Kings were greedy, plucking feathers from passing geese, amassing huge private treasuries; they wished they could grow wings and claws, even hugging their wealth to sleep at night.

Some Sun Kings were reckless, constantly dragging officials out for hunting and sword practice, and they took a particular liking to those strong, muscular young men.

Some Sun Kings were downright tyrannical, wishing to kill people every day, their martial vigor so great that they would personally lead campaigns even when there was no need, attacking bandits outside the capital region and then piling up victory monuments to boast of their exploits.

But there is one trait all Sun Kings share: an extremely strong possessiveness toward their partners.

Therefore, regardless of gender, virtually no noble vassal could ever enter the Sun King's bedchamber, let alone see who was inside.

Even essential personnel like doctors, who are absolutely needed at critical moments, are few and far between, and they must come, finish their work, and leave immediately.

If anyone lingers, they will be killed on the spot!

Below is the list of the deceased, about 124 pages for five hundred years; please skim through it briefly……

One can only say it's fortunate that this world has no eunuchs, since the kings' bedchambers have always been staffed by beautiful maidservants; otherwise, who knows how many poor children would have been forced into celibacy.

Therefore, Ji Ming could be said to have once enjoyed a 'heaven-sent grace,' for his first audience with the king actually took place on the king's small bed—utterly absurd.

But now, but now!

Those before us are definitely people from the king's bedchamber—even if the old king's functions have severely declined, they might not even count as concubines, never having been touched by him, yet they are still the king's women!

And now it's just……

Good heavens! His Majesty is mad!!!

Mad Old Sun King: ……

"All right, don't stand outside anymore; I summoned you, you are pardoned, come over."

With the king's personal guarantee, the nobles finally relaxed a little.

Raising their wine cups, whatever they had been thinking before, they now broke into warm, spring-like smiles.

"Please allow us to offer this cup of wine to wish Your Majesty longevity!"

Only then did a few clever senior nobles realize: "Oh! So the king's reprimand is here!"

"Woof woof woof woof woof! I, the king, am mad! Do you want to provoke a mad monarch?"

"We dare not, we dare not, we dare not……"

Moreover, the old Sun King, experienced in the carrot-and-stick approach, played it to perfection.

After ordering the servants to serve wine and dishes, and letting the dancing girls—whom he could no longer remember—provide lively entertainment, he raised his cup and began the old king's storytelling session.

"Hehe, seeing so many familiar faces today reminds me of my childhood, when the former king used to tell me stories of the kingdom's past……"

Although these are old tales that could bore anyone to tears, the king, on this occasion, deliberately spoke of how the First Sun King led the twelve war marshals in campaigns east and west, founding the Hui Guang Kingdom—a heroic story whose meaning needs no explanation.

The nobles, too, were tactful, each expressing their loyalty.

"Alas, Your Majesty, even though I am eighty-six, every time I hear these heroic tales my blood still boils."

"When I was young I also grew up listening to these stories; thinking that the heroes in them were my own ancestors, hehe, even memorizing incantations doesn't give me a headache."

"The duke is absolutely right! Ladies and gentlemen, let's raise another cup for the king's story!"

With both jokesters and straight men, the banquet instantly warmed up, the atmosphere harmonious, host and guests enjoying themselves fully, all earlier awkwardness and stiffness gone.

Exchanging cups, feeling quite uninhibited, back and forth, before they knew it several old-timers who couldn't hold their liquor had flushed cheeks.

"Come!"

Half-drunk, Duke Xiaguang suddenly picked up his wine cup, stood, slurred his words, and bowed to the king.

"Your Majesty, the story you just told is absolutely wonderful! It also reminded me, your younger brother, of when we used to adventure together……"

"Ah, those times were truly moving! Alas, since we each inherited our family businesses, your younger brother hasn't seen his elder brother in ages!"

The young nobles of Hui Guang loving adventure is an old tradition, after all, the First Sun King in his youth was a renowned great wanderer, and about half of the twelve war marshals were companions he met back then.

And what most easily stirs an old man's emotions is none other than his youthful experiences; thus, upon hearing this, the Sun King couldn't help but soften his expression, even rising to clink cups with Duke Xiaguang.

Even so, he did not utter nonsense like 'My love, feel free to come whenever you wish,' but spoke earnestly.

"Alas, who made us both heirs of great clans, younger brother? Having enjoyed the privileges of being a young master, we must now bear the responsibilities of a lord."

It seemed he was trying to persuade Duke Xianguang to cheer up, that all this was unavoidable.

But anyone with clear eyes could see that this was clearly applying eye ointment, reminding the nobles present to settle into their proper places.

——Since you are ministers, do not overstep and meddle in the ruler's heart.

Thus, Duke Xiaguang nodded heavily at the words, not rushing to speak, but drained the cup in one gulp, then closed his eyes for a long while.

"That's right!"

After his lament, he sat down and began to mutter softly.

"I feel the same way, truly I do……"

But with so many people present and such a rare chance, who wouldn't want to strike up a conversation with His Majesty? No one paid attention to what this drunk old man was muttering to himself.

Thus followed another ten or so minutes of idle chatter; having composed himself, Duke Xianguang finally found a chance to speak and spoke again.

"Your Majesty, my son is about the same age as we were back then, and like you he greatly favors sword and shield as weapons; why not let him give everyone a demonstration, to liven things up?"

"Sure, it's been a while since I last saw this nephew of mine."

The Sun King didn't know what he intended, thought it over, saw no problem, and gladly agreed.

Although the audience was obviously more interested in the pretty girls, nobody wanted to watch the youngster fiddle with this……

"Mmm, wonderful! Finally we have an energetic performance!"

Well, except for the female nobles who also attended the victory banquet……

In short, we still have to give face to the duke and the king, so everyone showed an eager, enthusiastic demeanor.

Also, it's no wonder he's the son of a martial marquis; the Xianguang family's offspring was born with sword-browed, starry eyes, full of heroic vigor, looking like a youthful general.

"Your Majesty, ladies and gentlemen, I am Heinz, presenting my humble skills!"

He acted swiftly, after bowing to those present he assumed a stance and publicly demonstrated his sword-and-shield combat technique.

"Good, good, good, well done! … Actually I still want to see what just happened."

"Me too, but whose father is a duke, so we should clap… Wuhu, good!"

"Yay yay yay! Make the move bigger, I want to see it!"

Amid the nobles' whispered gossip and excitement, Haiyinzi did not suddenly change tactics, not like the senior who performed sword‑dancing at the banquet and aimed at Pei Gong, but instead concluded his performance in full.

"Good!"

Xiguang immediately stood up and began clapping, and everyone, including the king, started clapping as well.

And they couldn't just clap; instantly two counts, who are usually close to Xiguang—roughly "vassals of vassals"—started bragging.

Again, Young Master Haiyinzi is brave; at fourteen he could slay a level‑10 monster.

Again, Young Master Haiyinzi is dashing; under Xiguang's command he can enchant a whole swath of pretty brides and young girls.

At this moment the Sun King already felt something was off; everyone came to praise me, so why did they suddenly start making awkward remarks about others?

He quietly exchanged a glance with Xiguang and Arc Light, noticing that although Xiguang's gaze was still somewhat innocent, Arc Light nodded.

—Clearly this was arranged by Xiguang Duke on purpose; what is this old fellow trying to do?

The Sun King looked around; although the third royal decree had already persuaded many to withdraw, after five hundred years of Huiguang, the number of nobles outnumbered the donkeys on the street, so the banquet hall still had several tables.

Thus anyone qualified to dine with him at the same table must be at least of duke rank, tracing back up to the great figures of the Twelve War Generals era.

However, although the war generals who followed the First Sun King in the southern and northern campaigns were all ennobled as immensely powerful dukes, becoming the top tier of this newborn kingdom, they died with the state.

But a family's fortunes rise and fall; after five hundred years, circumstances have changed greatly, so at the banquet, aside from him, the guests can roughly be divided into three factions.

One faction, led by Arc Light Duke, is the "Money Bag"; besides Arc Light and Mirror Light—both real‑power dukes—there is also a person who only bears the duke title, whose strength has already receded to Marquis level, maintaining influence only by holding a nominal dukedom in the Royal Capital.

Another faction, led by Xiguang Duke, is the "Sword Shield"; this group has only Xiguang as a real‑power duke, while the remaining two dukes, including Moonlight, have devolved to nominal status and can only share meals with Xiguang.

The final group, for various reasons unable to gain power in the Royal Capital and also not joining the two factions, has chosen to form its own "Opposition" camp.

Strictly speaking this is not a faction; it is merely a convenient collective term for the remaining nobles, with no internal cohesion.

Among them, the strongest are Xiguang Duke and Li Light Duke; in their respective territories they are almost like local emperors, with abundant troops and commanders, very imposing.

But the other three dukes look worse; their strength is lacking, they cannot cling to the real‑power dukes, and even now at the table they can only serve as pure atmosphere fillers.

At this point a mathematically inclined friend might be puzzled: wasn't it said there would be Twelve War Generals? Here we have 335, and there are only eleven dukes in total.

Of course, because the last duke, also the strongest, is at the Jueqiao Pass at the kingdom's southern edge, busy making money doing business with the Pioneers.

Jueqiao Duke: Do not call, here is joy, I do not think of the Royal Capital.

If the interests of those at the table were split, it could stage a Seven Warring States drama, so the Sun King did not rush to speak, but calmly continued watching their performance.

Finally, as the two counts stirred everyone to start praising, they silently tossed the conversation back to themselves.

"Hehe."

He pretended not to notice, and clinked glasses with Xiguang Duke, whose equally feigned‑ignorant drunken eyes met his, emitting two low chuckles.

"Very well, Xiguang Duke, although I have heard of you for a long time, seeing you today makes me realize you truly raise your children well."

Alright, hook straight, bait salty, fishing, huh? I'll take a couple bites!

"I, the king… feel inferior?"

If only the first sentence were present, it would be a polite remark after a leader reviews a subordinate's project, and old Xiguang would just be modest.

But adding that final line changes everything!

One must understand that as king, even if Anton VI has many offspring, one of them will inevitably become king in the future.

Therefore, whether or not, his descendants must be the kingdom's most outstanding next generation.

Now the king praises others for raising children well and says he feels inferior—what does that mean?

Your child is stronger than the king's child?

Your family is stronger than the king's family?

You are stronger than the king?

You… want… rebel?

Stop, stop, stop! Don't dare to step on the scale recklessly; it really can kill people.

But unfortunately, the Sun King truly wants Xiguang Duke to step onto the scale this time, so the intonation of the latter clause rises, clearly indicating a question.

—Our duke, please give an answer!

Xiguang Duke: …

Oh right, silence also counts as an answer.

Facing this death‑defying question, Xiguang decisively pretended to be clueless, swaying dazedly there, putting on an air of advanced age, as if he hadn't heard.

This was clearly a concession, a plea for mercy, so the Sun King did not continue to press.

Instead, he withdrew the half‑smile from his mouth and looked at the young man named Haiyinzi.

"Your father was a good companion of mine when I was young; the lad was always full of vigor, quick in handling matters, as if he had endless ideas."

"But now he is old, yet still strives to shoulder the family, arranging every detail, sigh… truly, it's very hard."

Hmph, you really think I, the king, don't know what you old fellow does in your fief on a daily basis?

Cultivating fields, stationing troops, recruiting talent widely, and occasionally rehearsing how to bombard thick walls and defensive formations.

Is this something a benevolent lord can accomplish?

「This time the Royal Capital is in trouble, this king heard from the guards that Duke Xiaguang was the first to set out; such affection, such loyalty, it truly moves this king deeply, comforting my old heart. 」

Following the king's order, kill the guards, in front of everyone, put on a show of loyal and patriotic filial piety, but really? Who are you fooling!

No more talk, you, a great noble with a fiefdom in the northwest, leave the wide-open northern plains untraveled, leave the nearest Guard-the-Nation Pass untraveled.

You insist on taking a big detour, leading a large cavalry to cross the obstacle of Giant Gate Pass, which has the highest traffic, and you dare say you're not deliberately delaying time!?