235 A Brawl at the Golden Court! (1/2)
If it had not been for the healing sessions Yun Yang had performed recently, the emperor would not have been able to take this flurry of rage. His recovering health would entail him a long life, despite the frustration and anger he felt as long as he was not involved in brutal battles. After all, His Majesty’s cultivation base was no mean thing.
Before his mood could stay bright for even half a day, the case of Yang Botao possibly being one of the Four Seasons Tower's stooges cropped up. The sudden knowledge trampled the emperor’s emotions and the man was rendered breathless for a moment.
He was a pillar of the military, one of the four main marshals!
”Is the Grand Commandant here yet?” His Majesty sat on his throne with a dark expression clouding his face.
Qiu Jianhan coughed before replying, ”The Grand Commandant has not been feeling well lately but he will still come today. The current weather is too chilly for the Grand Commandant’s health; he may have to take a longer time to prepare before arriving.”
The emperor nodded in understanding. ”Then we shall wait for him.”
”Has the Grand Tutor arrived?”
”This insignificant official is here.”
”Are the marshals from all the parties in attendance?”
”Reporting to Your Majesty, this lowly general is here.”
His Majesty felt a burning desire to scoff aloud, but he kept quiet, shutting his eyes to rest.
It was only a while later when a gruff voice resounded, ”This old official is ashamed to be late.”
The emperor opened his eyes only to close them again. He had thought that it was the Grand Commandant but the individual that greeted his eyes was the old man Leng Daoyin.
This old thing is neither sick nor unwell and he has the temerity to be late. Do you think this is your own dining hall?
Leng Daoyin was greeted by Qiu Jianhan with a questioning glance, to which he replied with a roll of his eyes and a sigh that passed between pursed lips.
The corners of Qiu Jianhan’s lips twitched; he glanced at Yang Botao discreetly while Leng Daoyin stepped into the imperial court with wide strides.
Tie Zheng was the tallest among the officials in the imperial court. Standing upright, he was actually two heads taller than the second tallest person there. His height made him stand out from the rest as he overlooked the court as if from an eagle's eye view.
Nobody spoke but Tie Zheng’s eyes were glaring at Yang Botao without blinking as if he wanted to swallow the latter whole.
Yang Botao was annoyed being the attention of Tie Zheng’s ire and finally asked angrily, ”What are you looking at?”
”What concern is it to you?” Tie Zheng growled as he grew increasingly enraged.
Yang Botao behaved in an equally boorish manner, erupting in anger as he hollered back, ”Try looking at me again. I dare you.”
”Try speaking another word.” Tie Zheng cracked his neck and gave Yang Botao a side-eye.
Feeling rage simmer in himself, Yang Botao spat, ”Are you crazy?”
Tie Zheng saved his words, opting to reply with his fist as he sent it flying towards Yang Botao’s face. He then swore out loud, ”F*ck you, not only does your father want to look at you, I wish to beat you until you stand at Death's gate!”
Yang Botao’s cultivation base was not something to toy with, but he had not expected Tie Zheng to actually dare attack him in the imperial court. When the punch came into harsh contact with him, rage colored his eyes as he exploded in fury. ”You, with the surname Tie!”
Before he even finished his words, Tie Zheng’s second punch came crashing onto one of his eyes while a kick landed on his stomach. Yang Botao, who was equally muscular, fell with a loud thud in the council court as dust was sent flying into the air, while a few civil officials behind him took hasty steps to avoid the altercation.
The civil officials were watching with twitching eyes that exchanged meaningful glances – ”The military ones are fighting amongst each other today, how unusual, how rare! Such a farce is like gold dust!”
Tie Zheng was unrelenting, charging over to press Yang Botao down and continued to wallop him. The latter knew that Tie Zheng was already seeing red, the brawl could barely be stopped if he only used words. When the opportunity arose, his foot shot up to land a vicious kick on Tie Zheng’s stomach, resulting in a low grunt from Tie Zheng. The man then grabbed Yang Botao’s right leg in a sweep, spinning his body with the intention to twist and break Yang Botao’s leg.
Yang Botao roared, bending his body from the floor to grapple with Tie Zheng’s neck. Both the men fell to the floor simultaneously before a flurry of punches and thuds resounded in the court. These men were militants, their muscles hard and build solid; at once, dust swirled and concrete gave way in the council court.
Both old marshals Qiu Jianhan and Leng Daoyin were exasperated, stepping forth to mediate the fight, yet they were holding Yang Botao back, seemingly unintentionally allowing Tie Zheng to land blow after blow. It took only a few punches before Yang Botao was bleeding profusely.
The emperor had only taken a brief shuteye yet when he opened his eyes upon hearing the commotion, the space below him had already turned into a raging battleground.
Blood dripped while the furniture was smashed into pieces.
Tie Zheng tackled Yang Botao to the floor, sitting on him and swinging punches like a local thug. Each blow was accompanied by expressive swearing.
”F*ck your grandmother!”
”Bastard!”