" Prince of Lanling has arrived!" Following the eunuch's report, Gao Changgong, who had not yet taken off his military uniform, took off the veil on his face and walked into the palace hall.
Gao Changgong walked steadily into the Northern Qi Palace. Under his feet was a long corridor paved with bluestone. The stone slabs shimmered in the sunlight through the window lattices, revealing a cold texture. The towering palace above his head stood tall, and the pillars and beams of the hall were full of exquisite patterns - the flying fairies and tigers on the murals were intertwined, as if announcing the emperor's wealth and power to everyone entering the palace.
On both sides of the corridor, the civil and military ministers of Northern Qi lined up to greet him. The higher the official rank, the closer they stood to the depths of the hall. They were dressed in solemn formal attire, and the gorgeous silk seemed to be glittering under the lights - given the size of the palace hall, even if there were windows, the lights would need to be added during the day - and the patterns woven from gold and silver threads were extremely delicate. They had smiles on their lips, but their eyes were cold and distant. Those seemingly respectful bows and greetings were nothing more than a carefully choreographed etiquette performance in Gao Changgong's eyes. Behind each of their smiles, there seemed to be suspicion and calculation, as if every word of flattery concealed a sharp blade.
The palace maids were dressed in gorgeous brocade clothes, carrying trays of delicious food, wine and fruits, and walking lightly on both sides of the imperial road. Their movements were quiet and elegant, and every step had been trained countless times. They lowered their heads and dared not look directly at the famous general, as if they would be shocked by his incomparable temperament as long as they looked up. However, Gao Changgong noticed the fear and repression revealed in their eyes. These women who have walked in the palace for many years have long learned how to survive in a dangerous environment.
When he entered the palace, he could feel a faint fragrance in the air, which was the scent of agarwood coming from deep in the palace, full of the smell of royal luxury; now the fragrance was even stronger, so strong that it was like being next to a dangerous beast. He arrived, and the current emperor was sitting on the dragon throne on the high steps.
"Prince of Lanling, you are finally back. I have heard about your heroic performance on the front line. This great victory is really a glory for our Northern Qi." The voice of Emperor Gao Wei came, gentle but a little distant.
Gao Changgong raised his head and saw Gao Wei sitting on the dragon throne, wearing a gorgeous dragon robe, with a smile on his face, and a little imperceptible fatigue and vigilance between his eyebrows.
Gao Changgong bowed slightly, and said modestly: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am only doing my best for Northern Qi. Fortunately, all the soldiers fought bravely for the victory. I am just doing my duty." Gao Wei nodded, as if he was not surprised by his modesty.
"Prince of Lanling has made great contributions. Your bravery has long been known to all quarters, and the enemy is terrified. It is really my blessing." He paused, and his tone became relaxed, "Today's banquet is to celebrate your triumph. Come, pass the order-the banquet begins!"
With the emperor's order, the hall was immediately filled with a lively atmosphere. The melodious music sounded, and the palace maids placed food, wine and fruits on the long table, and the ministers sat on the ground behind the table. Gao Changgong sat in the first position under the steps on the right side of the emperor-this is the most honorable position below the emperor. The ministers cast their eyes on him, some were obviously full of awe, and some had complex emotions. Shortly after the banquet began, Li Feng, a counselor sitting next to Gao Wei, spoke with a subtle sarcasm in his tone: "Your Highness Lanling King really makes us admire you. I heard that the enemy troops laid down their weapons after seeing you. It was simply a miracle without bloodshed."
Shortly after the banquet began, counselor Li Feng spoke with a subtle sarcasm in his tone: "Your Highness really makes us admire you. I heard that the enemy soldiers put down their weapons after seeing you. It was a miracle without bloodshed."
When this was said, several ministers around couldn't help laughing, as if they were making fun of Gao Changgong's handsomeness. After hearing this, Gao Changgong understood, but did not show any displeasure. He responded calmly: "Lord Li, you are too serious. Although there are dangers on the battlefield, it still depends on the courage and blood and sweat of the soldiers. Appearance has nothing to do with victory or defeat."
Wang Zhen next to him laughed and said: "However, your Highness's appearance is indeed extraordinary. Wearing that hideous mask, I am afraid that the enemy will be scared to death, right? Unfortunately, most of the enemies of Northern Qi were scared to surrender, so the battlefield was so smooth."
The ministers at the banquet echoed the low laughter, and the atmosphere instantly became subtle and unfriendly.
Gao Changgong remained calm, smiled faintly, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes: "The soldiers fought for the country, and success or failure depends on the battlefield. How can appearance affect it? If you think the mask has a miraculous effect, maybe you can try wearing it next time you go to war."
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere at the banquet suddenly stagnated, and the smiles of several ministers froze slightly. Obviously, they did not expect Gao Changgong to respond to their provocation so directly. Li Feng and Wang Zhen looked at each other. Although they were dissatisfied, they could not find the right words to fight back for a while.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a little awkward, Gao Wei clapped his hands lightly and smiled: "Okay, okay, today is to celebrate the triumph of Prince of Lanling. Let's drink and have fun. Don't waste this good time."
The ministers raised their glasses in agreement. Gao Changgong knew that this banquet was far from a simple celebration banquet, but more like a test and contest. However, the enemy was no longer a foreign enemy with swords and guns, but these colleagues dressed in gorgeous clothes and full of compliments.