The Human Emperor

“Wang Chong, finally found you!”
As Wang Chong was immersed in his thoughts, he heard a melodious laugh, and a few moments later, a familiar woman dressed in white and exuding a fragrant scent appeared at his side.
“Siling? Why are you here?”
Wang Chong’s eyes flashed in surprise. This young woman in white with crafty and intelligent eyes was none other than Bai Siling.
“Heh, I’ve come to support my big brother!” Bai Siling playfully said.
“Big brother?”
Wang Chong was taken aback, but he soon understood that the big brother Bai Siling was talking about was Bai Hanzhou. Bai Hanzhou was one of the three Grand Marshals of the Imperial Army and one of its youngest geniuses. The Bai Clan owed its current lofty status in the Imperial Court to this illustrious son.
The complete reshuffling of the Imperial Army was intricately linked to the fate of the Bai Clan, and the Bai Clan had no other option than to worry about it and mobilize.
Wang Chong looked around, and he truly did spot the Bai Clan Patriarch and several of Bai Siling’s uncles. Their eyes were searching the crowd in unease and concern. With a start, Wang Chong seemed to realize something.
Wang Chong turned to Bai Siling and said, “Siling, last night, two Grand Marshals were attacked. This news has been kept sealed by the Imperial Court for now. Your big brother…”
As expected, Bai Siling’s expression dimmed upon hearing Wang Chong’s words.
“We only received word this morning. Big Brother Hanzhou was also attacked last night, but fortunately, Big Brother Hanzhou is extremely strong, and his injuries weren’t serious. The clan has already sent him the best medicines, and his injuries have already been stabilized. But given how important this event is, my uncles are still worried, so they all came,” Bai Siling said.
She was a woman, so she did not have as much of a concern for political struggles as the men, but this event was tied to the fate of her entire clan. At this unique moment in time, Bai Siling could not possibly act unconcerned.
Wang Chong said nothing, but his brow creased in thought.
“Relax. Your big brother will be fine,” Wang Chong reassured her.
“Thank you.”
Bai Siling’s complexion improved upon hearing this.
“My uncles said that I would definitely be calmer if I listened to you.”
Wang Chong silently smiled. With Bai Siling’s mood improving, she looked to the drilling ground with Wang Chong.
“The First Prince has arrived!”
A few moments later, with a sharp cry and the crack of a whip, a large force of soldiers began to approach the northern end of the drilling ground.
From the distance, one could see two massive and resplendent imperial canopies slowly coming forward.
With the Sage Emperor withdrawn, the only person who could enjoy this honor was the First Prince, Li Ying.
“Stand aside! Stand aside! The First Prince is here!”
All the nobles and great clan members on the northern side of the drilling ground put on respectful faces and withdrew to the side, trying their best to keep their distance from the First Prince.
“Chong-er!”
On the southern end of the drilling ground, Li Lin uncomfortably swallowed as his expression turned nervous.
The true competitor of this Imperial Army martial exhibition had finally appeared!
As the First Prince’s carriage approached, the mood on the drilling ground grew even tenser, the chattering crowd falling silent until there was no noise at all. Even the brashest of scions did not dare to cause trouble, and there was a current of unease in the air.
At this moment, only Wang Chong could maintain his aloof composure. His firm and straight back and the air of confidence he exuded made it seem like nothing in the world could ever move him.
Rumble!
With heavy footsteps, rows of Inner Court Golden Guards emerged. As the most elite guards of the Son of Heaven, the Golden Guards were far above the other soldiers of the Imperial Army, not just in height, but in strength and demeanor as well.
Amidst the dense ranks of the Imperial Army gathered on the western drilling ground, they were like cranes amongst the chickens.
Wang Chong ignored the Golden Guards, his eyes looking past them to the golden carriage decorated with nine dragons, whereupon he saw the First Prince.
The slender figure in the yellow dragon robe, his face cold and aloof, was seated on a throne, a sharp light in his eyes. Just by sitting there, he exuded an aura of boundless power and authority.
The First Prince gave off an entirely different impression from their last meeting, and Wang Chong could smell the stench of ambition.
Buzz!
As Wang Chong looked over, the First Prince sensed his gaze and looked back, their eyes locking onto each other.
Hissss!
As their eyes met, invisible bolts of lightning seemed to crackle in the air, the mood over the drilling ground reaching maximum tension.
The First Prince’s eyes were cold and intimidating, but Wang Chong’s gaze was equally sharp and unyielding. Even in front of the most powerful man in the realm, he did not back down, let alone lower his head.
“Hmph, Wang Chong!”
The First Prince sneered, his eyes coldly gleaming.
“Everyone, it seems that the King of Foreign Lands arrived much earlier than we did!”
Zhu Tong’en, Meng Tu, Kim U-Seok, and all the other members of the Eastern Palace faction looked over at Wang Chong, and Wang Chong immediately became the center of attention.
Wang Chong remained composed and indifferent. After engaging in a short standoff with the First Prince, he looked away, beginning to search the Eastern Palace members for someone.
While the First Prince on his carriage might have been an existence as dazzling as the sun, he was not Wang Chong’s true opponent.
“As expected, you still couldn’t help but come out!”
Wang Chong’s eyes swept past Meng Tu and Zhu Tong’en, quickly setting on an inconspicuous figure standing to the right of the First Prince.
Compared to those grandiose Golden Guards at the First Prince’s side, this man was like a weed in the shadows, even outshone by Meng Tu and Zhu Tong’en. But Wang Chong knew that this ordinary elder in black was the true architect behind this Imperial Army martial exhibition, and the true schemer who was attempting to seize control of the entire empire.
Army-Shattering War God Hou Junji!
No one understood more than Wang Chong just how formidable this old man was. The Setting Sun Villa incident, the Big Dipper City incident, and this Imperial Army competition had all been this elder’s handiwork.
After hiding in the Eastern Palace this entire time, at this most important Imperial Army competition, the Army-Shattering War God of Taizong’s era had finally decided to step into the sunlight.
“Heh!”
Hou Junji, his arms hidden in his sleeves, seemed to sense this gaze, but he remained relaxed and lackadaisical. He merely chuckled and looked away, caring little about matching gazes with Wang Chong.
Once the First Prince’s carriage stopped and he stepped down from his throne, the crowd around the drilling ground loudly called out, “Paying respects to the First Prince!” All of them lowered their heads and bowed. But Wang Chong, on the southern end of the drilling ground, continued to proudly stand.
Although the First Prince had a revered status, Wang Chong was a King, and besides when he was in court, Wang Chong did not need to bow.
“Your Highness, it seems that kid is very disobedient!”
King Qi coldly sneered as he walked up to the First Prince.
Meng Tu smiled and came forward. “Heh, Your Highness King Qi, there’s no need to be worried. His Highness has already planned out this entire competition. Do you really think he can win?”
“Meng Tu, don’t be careless. No one knows who will get the deer until the very last moment!” the First Prince coldly said, but his expression showed agreement with Meng Tu.
“Eunuch Yin, don’t waste any more time. Have them begin!”
The First Prince waved his hand, and the ghostly Eunuch Director of the Eastern Palace shot a glance at a nearby orderly.
Bwoooom!
A horn loudly blared and drums began to thunder, starting with a soft volume and only a few drums, but soon building up into a vast rumble. With these sounds, the atmosphere turned grim and somber.
While the nobles and clan scions had often eloquently chatted about war and battle in their tea houses, few of them had truly experienced the grim atmosphere of the battlefield, and all of them were momentarily stunned by this display.
As the drums came to a stop, an energetic and rather youthful eunuch strode out from the back.
“Good sirs, the First Prince has ordered that the Imperial Army martial exhibition is to begin immediately. I will now announce the rules of the competition…”
While he did not appear to be speaking too loudly, his words could be clearly heard in everyone’s ears, a clear sign that he was some hidden top-class expert.
Everything fell silent, and even Wang Chong paid attention, as the eunuch began to announce the rules.