"Has someone arrived?"
Fang Yuan's figure suddenly disappeared from his original position and appeared outside the main hall.
Looking up, he saw a flying ship coming from the horizon, finally hovering above the Jianghai Palace and casting a massive shadow on the ground.
The flying ship was about seventy or more zhang in length, with the bow shaped like a dragon's head raised high and the stern resembling a phoenix tail. A giant flag stood at the top, fluttering in the wind. It was the dragon flag representing the imperial family of the Great Yan Empire!
"My heavens..."
"How magnificent!"
...
The huge commotion attracted the attention of everyone in Jianghai Palace. In an instant, Ye Chuan, Yin Shiwu, Bai Feng, and others all looked up at the sky in astonishment.
Most people here had never left Jianghai Prefecture, so they had never seen such a powerful and imposing mode of transport.
Even Fang Yuan was slightly moved. In his past life, he had flown in airplanes, but he had never ridden in a flying ship before.
On the deck of the ship, dozens of people stood with great dignity. Most of them were armored, surrounding a young man in the center like stars surrounding the moon.
The young man had sharp sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, looking incredibly handsome. He wore a moon-white silk robe, with exquisite golden cloud patterns embroidered along the edges.
Fang Yuan's gaze swept over, and his pupils slightly shrank:
[Fourteenth Prince of the Yan Empire: Ji Congyun]!
Just as the imperial family of Yan was mentioned, the person appeared, and it was even a prince!
The large entourage clearly indicated that they were not here for a peaceful visit.
"Your Highness the Fourteenth Prince, what brings you to my Jianghai Palace?"
Chong Wu Hou spoke with neither servility nor arrogance. His Yin spirit floated in the air, his lonely figure forming a sharp contrast to the massive flying ship.
The Fourteenth Prince?
Hearing Chong Wu Hou's address, everyone in Jianghai Palace was shocked. The visitor was this important?!
In response to Chong Wu Hou's inquiry, Ji Congyun smiled and replied:
"Lord Hou, I've traveled a long distance from the capital to this remote state, naturally to discuss an important matter."
He paused but did not continue speaking. Instead, he lowered his head and looked down at the people of Jianghai Palace. The smile on his face turned cold:
"Since you know this prince is from the imperial family of Yan, why aren't you kneeling?"
"Do you people, these country bumpkins, not even understand such basic etiquette?!"
Yin Shiwu, Ye Chuan, and the others immediately changed their expressions and quickly knelt down. Even Lin Jing, with a reluctant look in her eyes, still complied.
In the blink of an eye, everyone in Jianghai Palace had knelt.
The society in the Yan Empire was strictly hierarchical, with imperial authority above all else. The feudal values of "the ruler as the ruler, the minister as the minister, the father as the father, the son as the son" were deeply ingrained in the people, something embedded in their bones.
"Very good..."
Ji Congyun nodded slightly, showing a satisfied expression. Though Jianghai Prefecture had been under Chong Wu Hou's control for many years, it seemed that the imperial dignity was still intact.
But wait!!!
Ji Congyun's expression suddenly changed as he frowned. He noticed that there was a person who had slipped through the cracks!
Not far away, a young man stood straight, his eyes cold as he stared at him, showing no intention of kneeling.
"How dare you! Why aren't you kneeling?"
Before Ji Congyun could speak, a burly man in armor on the ship stepped forward to reprimand.
The name above this man's head was: [Royal Imperial Guard Cavalry: Jiang Yuanhua]
Fang Yuan simply laughed lightly: "I have a tough life, I can't bend my back, let alone kneel!"
In this life, he lived to follow his heart, and he only knelt to Heaven, Earth, and his parents. What was a mere royal to make him kneel?
"I'd rather die than not have freedom."
Upon hearing this, Yin Shiwu and the others in Jianghai Palace couldn't help but sweat for Fang Yuan.
They knew Fang Yuan was reckless, but they didn't expect him to be this bold, daring to stand up to the royal family with such defiance.
"He's really courting death!" Ye Chuan also sighed inwardly but couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
Ji Congyun was immediately furious but forced a smile: "Good! Good for you, tough and unable to bow down!"
Jiang Yuanhua understood his master's psychology well. As soon as Ji Congyun finished speaking, he leapt off the ship, like a meteor streaking across the sky, charging toward Fang Yuan!
Boom!!!
On the square outside the main hall, the two figures collided head-on, raising a cloud of dust.
"Hmph..."
A smile appeared on Ji Congyun's face. He had come to Jianghai Prefecture with the intention of giving Chong Wu Hou a warning, and the plan was going smoothly, especially thanks to this brainless, blonde boy playing along...
But the next moment, the smile on Ji Congyun's face froze.
As the dust cleared, he saw that Jiang Yuanhua had actually knelt on the ground, and the young man in the green robe was leisurely sitting on Jiang Yuanhua's back!
Not only Ji Congyun, but everyone else also looked stunned. This young man's strength... seemed too overwhelming!
Only Chong Wu Hou, floating in the air, showed a faint smile.
At this moment, Jiang Yuanhua was dizzy and stunned. What just happened?
Why had he not seen a single movement from Fang Yuan?!
"Imperial Guard? Pathetic!" Fang Yuan's mocking voice echoed in his ears.
Jiang Yuanhua's face instantly turned red.
"Where did this brat come from, daring to provoke the imperial dignity!"
Another angry shout came from a thin man standing next to Ji Congyun.
[Royal Imperial Guard Chief of Guards: Zuo Cang]
In the next moment, Zuo Cang charged out like lightning, faster and more terrifying than Jiang Yuanhua!
However, before he could even get close to Fang Yuan, a wave of air surged in the sky, and Zuo Cang was suddenly sent flying backward, crashing through the gates of Jianghai Palace, landing hard on the ground and creating a deep crater!
"Under my nose, attacking my disciple once is fine, but trying it a second time?"
Chong Wu Hou's indifferent voice came.
His Yin spirit floated in the air without moving, but there was no doubt that it was him who had sent Zuo Cang flying!
You hit the junior, now it's my turn to hit the senior!
Ji Congyun's handsome face showed some signs of nervousness and unease. Despite having been in decline for so long, this Lord Chong Wu Hou still retained such dominance.
The plan to assert his authority had completely failed, and instead, he had been taught a lesson.
Ji Congyun clenched his fists. The Yan Empire still needed Chong Wu Hou's military strength, so he couldn't tear his face off with him.
Thinking of this, Ji Congyun once again showed a gentle smile:
"Lord Hou is right, my subordinates are ignorant of etiquette, and they brought this upon themselves."
"I've come today on the orders of my father, the Emperor, to issue a royal decree to you."
With that, Ji Congyun waved his hand, and a slightly plump eunuch beside him stepped forward, slowly unfurling the bright yellow imperial decree in his hand.