Chapter 495 Qionghua Banquet

August is a high autumn day with refreshing air, clear water, gentle breeze and abundant fruits. It is a great time for outings and relaxation. The Qionghua Banquet finally arrives.

Meng Qi and Su Ziyu did not go directly to the outer city Yulin Garden like most of the court officials and children of aristocratic families, but followed Su Li and Su Yue to the imperial city. Although Su Li temporarily stopped his duties as the deputy commander of the imperial guards in front of the palace, he did not lose the emperor's trust and still needed to accompany him. Su Yue was the middle force to protect the emperor.

The heavy dragon-patterned gate, the deep doorway, the oncoming wind through the hall, and the slightly cold air made Meng Qi feel the majesty and alienation of the imperial city.

This was his first time to step into the imperial city of Dajin, but apart from the terrible forbidden power, there was no substantial difference from the palace in the world of the Sword Emperor Demon Queen. People's worship of power and the emperor was no different.

"Uncle Wu, have you got any clues about Luojiao and Xianji recently?" Meng Qi asked casually. He was a little worried that Luojiao and Mietianmen would destroy the Qionghua Banquet.

Su Yue smiled bitterly and said, "No, they seem to have disappeared. It's strange that even though the Yu family's identity has been exposed, the Luojiao people still hide without a trace."

"This evil cult that has been passed down for who knows how many generations must have three burrows, no, at least nine burrows, otherwise it would have been wiped out by the righteous way long ago." Su Li looked ahead and said casually.

Meng Qi nodded thoughtfully and would find a chance to ask Guangcheng Tianzun later.

The imperial city is very large, and it is paved with white jade. It is not for luxury, but for the purpose of setting up formations. Meng Qi followed Su Li and Su Yue through the imperial city and entered the palace city. He met the current emperor, Zhao Mingyu, the lord of Dajin, in the Taiji Hall.

Compared to the last time they met, Zhao Mingyu looked a little older, with loose eye bags and obvious fatigue, but Su Li and Su Yue turned a blind eye to it, as if they took it for granted.

After each of them bowed, the old emperor looked at Meng Qi with a smile: "Don't let me down at the Qionghua Banquet today."

"If it's martial arts, I will not let down the emperor's trust." Meng Qi was not humble at all.

For the reincarnation mission, he must get the first place!

Not to mention Su Ziyuan's wish to boast in front of the saint!

"Haha, you are worthy of being a mad knife." The old emperor stretched out his hand, took the arm of an eunuch who was older than him, and slowly stood up.

This eunuch had a very heavy yin aura, not the ghostly yin, but the soft and cold yin. Although he was old, his skin was delicate, like a woman. His strength was hidden deep and difficult to see, but just by looking at him, Meng Qi felt that his soul was pierced by countless fine needles.

It must be Gao Jinzhong, the chief eunuch of the palace... Meng Qi recalled Su Li's introduction before departure.

Everyone stood on both sides, waiting for the emperor and Gao Jinzhong to pass by. The commander of the imperial guards and the two Zhao family masters, the Flying Dragon Divine Constable, followed closely behind, followed by Su Li, Su Yue and other masters who protected the emperor, and finally Meng Qi, Su Ziyu and a few other children from aristocratic families.

When he was about to step out of the Taiji Hall, Meng Qi suddenly felt a heat in his chest and stopped immediately.

Gu Xiaosang?

This is the heat of the talisman given by Dou Mu Yuanjun!

Could it be that Gu Xiaosang is nearby?

Meng Qi lowered his eyelids, covering his shrinking pupils, and looked at the Taiji Hall inconspicuously. He only saw the mighty and majestic imperial guards, and there was no trace of Gu Xiaosang.

If the heat of the talisman was not still continuing, Meng Qi really thought he had hallucinations!

Gu Xiaosang was hiding in the palace?

The most dangerous place is the safest place?

No wonder the six gates can't be found!

Meng Qi's heart was filled with turbulent waves, but he remained calm on the surface, pretending not to notice. He just looked back as he stepped out of the Taiji Hall.

It was quiet inside, the guards were straight like pine trees, the throne was golden and noble, nine dragons were coiled, standing on the throne, and no one was sitting.

Was it a trick of the witch, or was she really here?

If it was true, who helped her hide in the palace?

Was it some big shot here?

There were many doubts, so Meng Qi did not expose them, so as not to fall into the trap, and honestly followed the team in front.

Outside the palace, Liu Shengming and Yuan Lihuo, two divine detectives, led many guards and heads of police to welcome the emperor, and then protected the periphery in a clear order.

When passing by Yuan Lihuo, Meng Qi spread out his right hand, revealing the talisman, and quietly pointed to the palace behind with his left hand.

There was no verbal communication, but Yuan Lihuo's expression changed slightly. As Guangcheng Tianzun, he naturally knew that the talisman drawn by the wild Taoist priest referred to Gu Xiaosang.

Gu Xiaosang was hiding in the palace?

The Luojiao people were hiding in the palace?

His expression recovered, and he went back calmly to check the team's arrangement.

Outside the imperial city, Sima Shi was waiting in person, riding his horse to ride alongside the emperor's carriage.

After the message was passed, Meng Qi felt relieved, adjusted his state of mind, and slowly climbed his momentum and state to the peak.

Just deal with the Qionghua Banquet by yourself, and leave other things to Xianji. If the sky falls, there will be tall people to hold it up!

Yulin Garden is located in the northeast of the outer city, close to the canal. This section of the river in the city is winding and extremely beautiful. It is known as one of the ten scenic spots in the capital of gods and has been designated as a royal garden.

There are strange trees and auspicious flowers everywhere, with fragrant and rich fruit aroma. There are lakes, rivers, mountains and forests, and various wild animals can be seen from time to time.

Outside the gate of the garden, the court officials and the children of the noble families lined up on both sides to welcome the emperor. The leading dozen people did not kneel down. They were all representatives of the top noble families, including Shangshu Zuo Pushe, Cui Yan of the Cui family, Shangshu You Pushe, and Song Shouren, the head of the Luyang Song family.

——The Political Affairs Hall of the Great Jin Dynasty usually has eleven people, with Shangshu Zuo Pushe as the prime minister, who is often the person from the strongest noble family at that time. This generation is controlled by the Cui family, and is held by Cui Qinghe and Cui Qingyu's uncle, who is also a master. Shangshu You Pushe is the second prime minister, and several top noble families take turns to serve.

In general, the Political Affairs Hall always maintains one person from each of the eight top noble families. For example, after an elder of the Zhoujun Wang family returned to his hometown, Wang Wenxian was naturally replaced as the assistant minister of government affairs, and because of the emperor's trust, he also served as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. For example, Ruan Yushu's ninth grandfather Ruan Kang has the title of assistant minister of government affairs, and is the representative of Langya Ruan family in the capital.

The remaining three places belong to the Zhao family of Shendu, who will either arrange for a master or introduce a courtier loyal to the emperor, like Sima Shi, the chief constable of the Six Gates.

Those who did not kneel, in addition to the eleven people in the Political Affairs Hall, also included the heads or important members of top families such as Cui Qingyu.

With Meng Qi's status, he naturally couldn't be ranked in the front row, and he was doing nothing in the back. Suddenly, his eyes froze, because there were two monks following the prince. One had an ordinary face, lowered eyebrows and eyes, and wore a yellow monk robe, spotless. It was the Buddha Heart Palm Xuanzhen, who had stepped into the half-step outer scene and was on the list of people!

Junior Master and the prince are together? Is this Shaolin's position to support the prince together with other Buddhist sects? Meng Qi took a breath of cool air, this is an extremely important bargaining chip!

The three Dharma bodies of Dajin, apart from the Dharma King of the Luojiao, one is Cui Qinghe, the purple aura, and the other is Kongwen, the Arhat of the Dragon!

Is the pure Shaolin finally going to be involved in the worldly dispute?

Not only him, the emperor's eyes also twitched, Su Li, Su Yue and others all looked depressed, this was a situation that the Six Gates had not grasped before!

It was really a thunderclap!

Next to the prince was another monk in his thirties, wearing a plain robe, turning a rosary, with soft features, a thin face, and a tightly closed mouth. He looked at the ground, as if he was worried about hurting an ant. Meng Qi could only slightly judge that he had reached the state of unity between man and nature, but he didn't know his identity.

Jin Wang Zhao Yi's face was slightly depressed, followed by "Sword Qi Long River" Yan Chong.

Zhao Heng's face was normal, and next to him was a guest official in the mansion. He was nearly fifty years old and had a natural connection with man, and it seemed that he had no subordinates.

The rest of the Purple Extreme Sword Cui Zhe, the martial arts champion Fan Changmiao, Ruan Yushu of the Ruan family, Wang Zai of the Wang family, and Qi Zhengyan of Huanhua were all in the welcoming team.

Meng Qi's eyes were moving, and suddenly collided with someone.

"Qigu Bai?" This is Bai Lianxiang, who has a beautiful and mature figure and an above-average appearance. She came in leaning against the elders of the Bai family who served in the court.

Qigu Bai nodded slightly, her eyes full of fighting spirit, as if she wanted to weigh Meng Qi's top spot!

The emperor drove into Yulin Garden, and everyone sat on a high platform. Below was the gurgling river, the flat land on the shore and the mirror-like lake, and in the distance was a forest of fragrant fruits.

The high platform where Meng Qi was waiting was the Zhoujun Wang family and several other Shendu families, and they greeted each other again.

"It hasn't been long since Brother Zai has almost achieved unity of man and nature, which is gratifying." Meng Qi smiled and bowed.

Wang Zai's square face was a little darker, as if he had been through the sun and rain, and he smiled back: "How can you, Xiao Meng, make rapid progress and achieve perfect unity of man and nature in a short time."

"Everyone has a different path." Meng Qi sat down and chatted with Wang Zai, listening to the emperor's literary words.

After a lot of formalities, the old emperor laughed and said, "I heard that there have been many talented people recently, and I am very happy, so I have this Qionghua Banquet to see the talents."

"... I have four questions, please compete for the first place."

"The first one is playing chess, calligraphy and painting. It is the way of talents, cultivating emotions and polishing the soul. I wonder who among the handsome people can be ranked first?"

Meng Qi's mouth twitched when he heard it. He suddenly felt that it was a bit risky to boast in front of the emperor at the Qionghua Banquet. If he didn't compete, what else could he show?

Wang Zai nodded and smiled, "Does Xiao Meng have any talents?"

"Does whistling count?" Meng Qi twitched his face.

Wang Zai said seriously, "If you can whistle so that hundreds of birds sing and the fairy music responds, it counts."

The two asked and answered, which made several people around smile.