The old emperor only desires immortality; you must not rebel.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

Three crisp, sharp cracks of whips rang out in succession, shattering the solemnity of the imperial city.

The deep, resonant sound echoed between the vermilion palace walls.

The civil and military officials of the Daqing Dynasty, who had been standing in formation outside the steps of the Taiji Hall, hurriedly began to tidy their clothes and slowly walked into the magnificent Taiji Hall.

For the officials, each audience with the Emperor was a life-or-death challenge.

Of course, it's either them living or them dying!

The officials all turned to look at the Northern Qi envoy waiting outside the hall, secretly rejoicing.

Fortunately, this time the people of Northern Qi were there to bear the brunt of the Holy Emperor's wrath.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

The Holy Emperor strode in from the back of the hall, wearing a black dragon robe with five-clawed dragons, the black and gold embroidery gleaming coldly in the hall's light.

A towering crown adorned his head, its pearl tassels cascading down, partially obscuring his expression and adding to his unfathomable aura, radiating a terrifying dragon's might.

Behind the Holy Emperor, it seemed as if an evil dragon was slowly taking shape, overlooking the entire Taiji Palace.

"Summon Fu Yunche, the envoy of Northern Qi, to an audience!"

"Summon Fu Yunche, the envoy of Northern Qi, to an audience!"

The eunuch who was delivering the decree bowed and raised his voice, repeating the summons twice in succession. His voice carried far and wide, resounding throughout the palace.

Outside the Taiji Hall, Fu Yunche, the envoy from Northern Qi, turned serious upon hearing the sound.

He calmly raised his hand to straighten his official robes, held the gilded book containing the list of state gifts high in both hands, composed himself, and strode into the solemn and majestic Taiji Hall.

The attendants followed closely behind.

Upon reaching the foot of the imperial steps, Fu Yunche bowed deeply, performing the most standard salute for a foreign official, and said in a calm tone: "Fu Yunche, a foreign official of Northern Qi, pays his respects to the Great Qing Emperor, who opened the heavens, spread the Way, and was supremely sincere and filial!"

"Your Majesty of Northern Qi has decreed that I have come to present gifts, hoping that our two nations may establish friendly relations and enjoy lasting peace!"

"Oh?"

Lu Cheng smiled broadly and asked, "What gift is it?"

Fu Yunche announced loudly, "The first is a rare and exotic beast, which we wish to present to Your Majesty!"

As soon as he finished speaking, more than a dozen armored soldiers pulled a large cart slowly into the hall.

On the carriage was a huge prison cage, covered with a red cloth.

The courtiers in the hall all turned to look, their eyes filled with curiosity.

They knew the Northern Qi envoy was up to no good, but what did it mean to send a strange beast?

Fu Yunche smiled broadly, his tone slightly smug, and said, "However, this beast is ferocious. I wonder if your country has anyone capable of subduing it?"

"If not, I may write a letter requesting Your Majesty to send someone to provide guidance."

Fu Yunche slowly walked towards the cage and ripped off the red cloth!

A deep roar suddenly rang out.

The caged beast was majestic and imposing, with a strong skeleton as if forged from black iron. Its shoulders and back were bulging, and its muscles were taut and tight. Its entire body was covered with thick, flamboyant golden-red mane, which was like molten gold scattered around its neck.

The assembled officials in the hall were startled!

At this moment, everyone realized what Northern Qi really meant.

It's obvious they're trying to humiliate Daqing.

A hint of disappointment flashed in the Emperor's eyes.

It's just a lion, isn't it?

However, this lion was several times larger and more ferocious than ordinary lions, and it possessed the most primitive genes.

The Holy Emperor slowly walked down the stone steps.

Fu Yunche looked at the Holy Emperor in surprise, and only then did he see the Holy Emperor's true appearance.

"What does he want to do?"

As the emperor walked toward the cage, a glimmer of hope rose in the hearts of the courtiers.

Bite him to death!

They desperately hoped that the strange beast would go berserk and bite the tyrant to death inside the Taiji Palace.

The Holy Emperor placed one hand on the cage, a smile playing on his lips.

"His Majesty!"

Fu Yunche was startled!

Although he intended to use this incident to mock Daqing, if the Daqing emperor were to be bitten to death by a strange beast, he himself would likely find it difficult to leave this place alive.

"Bang!"

The iron cage exploded instantly!

The moment the iron cage burst open, the strange beast inside leaped up.

The ministers all looked up, their eyes filled with anticipation...

Fu Yunche's face was filled with terror!

It's over!

The Holy Emperor's powerful hand pressed down hard on the beast's head, then gently pressed down.

"Bang!"

The roaring beast was slammed to the ground.

Fu Yunche rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

What's going on?!

The ministers sighed inwardly, for today the Holy Emperor's great achievements had been added to the list.

Subdued a strange beast from Northern Qi with his bare hands!

"Drag it away!"

"Make some braised lion's head meatballs!"

The Holy Emperor casually waved his hand.

"continue!"

"What else?"

The Holy Emperor's gaze fell on Fu Yunche.

Fu Yunche snapped out of his shock, his palms clammy with cold sweat, a chill running down his spine.

Since arriving in the capital, he had heard many rumors about the Holy Emperor.

The stories of him single-handedly defeating an army of ten thousand and moving mountains with his bare hands are simply exaggerated and unbelievable.

Fuck!

This is not a rumor at all.

Fu Yunche trembled at the thought of the gift he was about to present.

Fu Yunche nervously took a scroll from the servant beside him.

"This...this is a map sent by His Majesty of Northern Qi."

An excited smile appeared on the Emperor's face.

Is this going to be a reenactment of "Jing Ke assassinating the King of Qin"?

Fu Yunche was filled with doubt and uncertainty, wondering where the sudden excitement on the face of the Emperor of Daqing came from.

Fu Yunche respectfully presented the map to the Holy Emperor.

"Your Majesty, please...read this!"

Fu Yunche's voice trembled slightly.

The moment the map was unfolded, a clear look of disappointment flashed in Lu Cheng's eyes.

However, upon seeing the contents of the map, the Holy Emperor revealed an evil smile.

"I remember that the Sixteen Prefectures of the North were part of the territory of my Great Qing Dynasty. When did they become part of the Northern Qi Dynasty?"

On the map, the territory belonging to Daqing was divided among...

Upon hearing this, the courtiers who had been watching the play were immediately in uproar.

One thing is certain about the beasts in Daqing: they value the land very much.

However, intimidated by the emperor's power, the ministers dared not express their opinions easily at this moment.

Remembering the princess's entrustment, Fu Yunche straightened his chest and said loudly, "Our Northern Qi is offering exotic beasts as tribute. In exchange, we hope Your Majesty will cede the sixteen prefectures of the North!"

So what if he can subdue a strange beast with his bare hands? If his million-strong Northern Qi army marches south, who can stop him?

What is he afraid of!

If it weren't for the Southern Chu, the Qing Kingdom would have long been part of the Northern Qi's million-strong army.

Fu Yunche bowed slightly and smiled, "Your Majesty, exchanging the sixteen northern prefectures for twenty years of peace is a very worthwhile deal."

Their original plan was to present exotic beasts to demonstrate their national power and then use that power to acquire the sixteen northern states.

"Your Majesty, the Northern Qi harbors wolfish ambitions; this action is absolutely unacceptable!"

"Your Majesty, please execute this man!"

In the imperial court, a few old foxes were the first to speak.

They did indeed have the idea of ​​changing the emperor, and even wanted to eliminate the corrupt emperor by physical means, but on the issue of land, they were of one mind.

As seasoned veterans of the imperial court, they had already discerned the Emperor's intentions.

The Holy Emperor cannot bear to see the poor suffer, so as long as you do things according to the Holy Emperor's wishes, nothing will happen.

Of course, in some situations, they were also unwilling to act according to the wishes of the Holy Emperor.

"Clang!"

Suddenly, the Holy Emperor drew the sword of his guard.

The Holy Emperor's sword swept across the map, cutting off the territory belonging to Northern Qi, and he smiled knowingly: "I want it all!"

"I've heard that the women of your Northern Qi royal family are all very beautiful. Could you send five hundred over?"

"I need a hundred, and my personal guards will receive four hundred!"

"And your ministers from Northern Qi, their wives and daughters can all be sent here!"

"These beasts in my court are abducting women from the common people every day; we need to give them a few more."

The civil and military officials in the court felt both delighted and helpless.

They were somewhat flattered that the Holy Emperor would think of them.