Chapter 176: Wang Chong Is Released (1) (1/2)
Wang Chong woke up to the sound of deafening cheerings.
Slowly rousing from sleep, he saw a few silhouettes before him. The deafening cheerings came from distance, beyond the faraway palace walls. The warden of the imperial prison, Zhou Xing, along with several other prison guards, stood carefully before him with clasped hands and bent backs.
One of the guards looked exceptionally worried.
With a glance, Wang Chong recognized him as the guard who knocked him out.
“Wang gongzi, pardon me for my insolence. However, His Majesty’s orders mustn’t be defied so I ask for your understanding!”
Zhou Xing’s body posture was extremely humble and his tone was exceptionally polite. Ever since that eunuch from the emperor’s palace came by, Zhou Xing realized that this young man was not an existence he could trifle with.
“Lord Zhou, you are being too polite.”
Wang Chong chuckled, choosing not to fault him over that matter.
“Right, can I leave now?”
“Of course, feel free!”
Zhou Xing hurriedly moved to the side, opening up a path for Wang Chong.
In truth, he direly wished for the other party to leave. Even though the imperial prison housed all kinds of prisoners, this person definitely did not belong there!
Wang Chong chuckled casually. He walked past the guards and proceeded forward. Not too far away, a carriage was prepared for him.
Zhou Xing had arranged it for him.
Wang Chong walked into the carriage, and it rumbled off into the distance. Traveling through the complicated labyrinth of the palace, Wang Chong could sense many presences assessing him both in the open and in the shadows.
——The regional commanders incident had not only attracted the attention of the academic and military officials on the royal court, even the Imperial Army was alarmed as well. On top of that, Wang Chong possessed immense fame within the palace as the swordsmith for the Wootz steel sword.
As he approached the palace doors, the cheerings crescendoed. Even the air trembled before the frenzied voices.
Finally, the carriage reached the palace gates and stopped.
“Wang Chong!”
“Chong-er!”
As soon as Wang Chong alighted, he heard delighted exclaims. Turning around, at around fifty meters away from the palace gates, he saw two familiar figures walking toward him.
“Marshal Zhao!”
“Uncle!”
Zhao Fengchen was an old acquaintance from the Bluebottle Pavilion whereas Uncle Li Lin was a kin. Wang Chong’s eyes lit up as he saw the duo.
The royal palace was out of bounds to most, and even influential officials and the kings couldn’t enter the royal palace freely. However, Uncle Li Lin and Zhao Fengchen were different.
From the very start, the royal palace was their territory.
“Hahaha, lad, you’re finally out!”
“Chong-er, you sure kept us waiting!”
The duo walked up and hugged Wang Chong tightly.
“Ahhh… Let go, you two are too strong. I’m about to be crushed!”
“Hahaha, what does this little bit of strength count as? I haven’t even gotten serious yet!”
The duo laughed heartily.
Even though Wang Chong’s neck had reddened from the massive force, a surge of warmth flowed into his heart. This was the care and concern of a kin!
Three months, he was finally out from the imperial prison!
“Hehe. Actually, I hoped to invite you over to the Imperial Army to have a seat, but from the looks of it, it’ll be impossible today. There are many people waiting for you outside!”
“You should hurry along! Zhu Yan, your big uncle, and the others are waiting for you!”
The duo didn’t take up too much of Wang Chong’s time. They patted his shoulder forcefully and led him to the palace gates.
Passing by the thick palace gates, a ray of sunlight glared down from above. At that instant when Wang Chong stepped out——
Boom!
Thunderous cheerings several times louder than what he heard within the palace boomed in his ears.
“Wang Chong!”
“Chong gongzi is out!”
“Chong-er!”
“Look, it’s Wang gongzi!”
…
Outside the palace, the crowd roared in delight.
It took Wang Chong a while to adapt to the glaring sunlight. When he finally slowly opened his eyes and saw the huge masses of people gathered here, he was stunned.
Back then, when he was still in the palace, he did not think much of it. Only when he finally walked out did he realize how big a crowd had gathered for him. From the palace gates to as far as the eye could see, humans filled nearly every inch of space.
Even the rooftops and trees weren’t an exception to the rule. Every single one of these people was staring in his direction with an overjoyed look.
No matter how he looked at it, the people here had to number in the ten thousands.
“Wang Chong!”
“Wang Chong!”
“Wang Chong!”
“Wang Chong!”
…
A chanting suddenly began amidst the crowd. The sight of tens of thousand of people yelling out the name of the person that they earnestly respected was a spectacular one.
Standing at the palace gates, Wang Chong was taken aback by the sight.
Even though he heard the cheering from within the palace, he didn’t think that so many people would be here to welcome him back. Be it scions, nobles, ordinary civilians, rich merchants, beggars, all of them had an earnest smile on their faces which reflected their delight at his release.