The Demon Lords-Chapter 659 - 122: The Imperial Decree_3

Traveling such a great distance from Yanjing to Li Tian City and back, enough to make one's bones feel like they were falling apart, without enjoying any sights or gaining the slightest bit of favor—it was truly a bitter experience. However, for a great palace eunuch skilled in forbearance, it wasn't entirely unbearable.

But now things were different. Ever since the Eastern Expeditionary Army had suffered a defeat in battle, the Imperial Court had ordered Lord Jingnan to take command once more. The eunuch delivering the Imperial Edict also had to carry the Emperor's token, which imbued the task with a completely different significance. In the past, if the Imperial Edict wasn't delivered, it was nothing more than suffering a 'Missed' (a demerit) and some physical exhaustion. Now, it was a matter of: How dare you even think of returning?

Two had already died. This time, Eunuch Huang had drawn the short straw and had no choice but to come.

The task of announcing an Imperial Edict varied in the rank of the eunuch assigned, depending on the recipient. To announce an Imperial Edict to Lord Jingnan, the eunuch had to be at least a Steward Eunuch in the palace hierarchy—a veteran who had weathered many storms to achieve his position. Reaching such a status was no easy feat; in the palace, they could even take young eunuchs and palace maids as godsons and goddaughters. Their prime years as eunuchs had just begun, yet they had to line up, draw lots, and effectively walk to the executioner's block. If I had known it would come to this, why would I have bothered castrating myself to enter this wretched Imperial Palace back then!

Therefore, before leaving Yanjing, Eunuch Huang had taken out his 'treasure' from years past and entrusted it to his most trusted godson. Then, before entering Li Tian City—just last night, in fact—he had dispatched a subordinate to enter Li Tian City separately from him the next day to buy a coffin. This was so that, after his death, his corpse could be sent back to Yanjing to be reunited with his 'treasure' before burial. With all arrangements made, Eunuch Huang felt he could go to his death—oh, no, that he could go announce the Imperial Edict.

Direct Thief! he cursed inwardly. This one is just a eunuch, a man without balls! Why should such a matter of bravely facing death fall to me?

The road, however long, must eventually be traversed. Finally, the main gates of Lord Jingnan's residence were in sight.

At the entrance, armored soldiers stood in disciplined, imposing ranks. Eunuch Huang's gaze instinctively fell upon the two stone lions at the entrance. There was indeed still blood on them. Honestly, this Lord Jingnan's residence shows no fear of bad luck or taboos, not even bothering to scrub them clean or simply replace the pair!

Immediately, Eunuch Huang began to look around. The two stone lions had already been claimed, one by each of the previous unlucky fools. Which one should I hit? The steps? It would be hard to get enough force. Ah, right, I'll hit a pillar!

The retinue of attendants and guards behind Eunuch Huang tacitly refrained from hurrying the dazed eunuch; when a man was about to die, it was best to let him be. In this matter, everyone could empathize. It seemed that because Eunuch Huang had already mentally prepared for death during the journey, he had come to truly understand that wealth and possessions are things you can't take with you. Along the way, he had frequently bestowed gifts upon them and treated them to hearty meals.

HUFF... Eunuch Huang let out a long breath and drew the imperial edict from his robes. It was the inviolable Imperial Edict of the Son of Heaven, yet here, it didn't seem to hold much sway. Even the armored soldiers of the Jingnan Army at the residence gates, despite clearly seeing him draw out the imperial edict, showed no reaction whatsoever. Where is your reverence?! Eunuch Huang fumed internally.

Eunuch Huang sighed again, dismounted his horse, unrolled the imperial edict, and shouted directly, "Lord Jingnan, Tian Wujing, receive the Imperial Edict!"

After shouting, Eunuch Huang had no intention of waiting. The first unlucky devil had stood there shouting "Lord Jingnan, receive the Imperial Edict!" for an entire day until his voice gave out. The gates had remained unmoved, and he had finally killed himself by dashing his head against the left stone lion. The second unlucky devil had also shouted for half a day before dying against the right stone lion. Eunuch Huang figured that since death was the inevitable end, he might as well save his energy and spare himself that final torment. Most importantly, once you were truly prepared to die, the act of waiting for death was an agony, every second a torment.

Eunuch Huang began to bend down, gather his strength, and close his eyes.

However, just at that moment, a heavy grating sound was heard—the main gates of Lord Jingnan's residence had actually opened.

Eunuch Huang, who had completed all his preparatory actions, swayed violently. His center of gravity vanished, and with a PLOP, he pitched forward, performing an awkward somersault on the ground. His hat flew off, and his face was instantly smeared with dust and dirt. But Eunuch Huang paid no mind to any of this, simply staring, dumbfounded and slack-jawed, at the man standing within the opened gates.

The man was dressed in a white python-embroidered robe. His gaze was cold, like ice from the abyss. Most striking of all, however, was his full head of white hair.

Outside the residence gates, all the armored soldiers knelt in unison, their voices ringing out, "Greetings, My Lord!"

"Greetings, My Lord!"

The guards Eunuch Huang had brought with him also quickly dismounted and kowtowed, displaying none of the usual reserve of those from the Imperial Palace. When this man appeared before you, submission was an almost instinctive reaction. The feeling was... quite similar to being in the presence of His Majesty. Moreover, everyone knew that the hope of the Eastern Expeditionary Army, indeed the hope for the very foundation of the Yan State, rested upon this man before them.

Sitting on the ground, Eunuch Huang's lips trembled. As Lord Jingnan walked out and approached him, Eunuch Huang mustered all his courage and, in a small voice that was simultaneously pleading, timid, and fawning, said, "My... My... My Lord... the Imperial Edict... the Imperial Edict." Then, he gingerly extended the imperial edict in his hands, slowly offering it towards Lord Jingnan.

When others received an Imperial Edict, they would first burn incense and bathe, set up an offering table, and then, with utmost reverence and trepidation, lead their entire household to kneel and formally request the Imperial Edict. A eunuch delivering an Imperial Edict, as long as he held the imperial edict in his hand, truly represented the Emperor's dignity—it was as if the Emperor himself were present! Was there ever a precedent for such a thing—for someone to so humbly, so degradingly, beg another to receive an Imperial Edict?

But Eunuch Huang didn't feel aggrieved. Not wronged in the slightest! He wanted to cry, but these would be tears of gratitude. Compared to the two unlucky wretches before me, what more could I possibly ask for? What right do I have to expect anything more?

"My... My... My Lord... the Imperial Edict," Eunuch Huang repeated, seeing Lord Jingnan hadn't taken it. He reminded him again in a soft voice, with an eagerness he hadn't shown even when he had first entered the palace years ago and tried to curry favor with that palace maid from Yuxiu Palace.

Lord Jingnan did not reach for the Imperial Edict. Instead, with a calmness that sent a shiver down one's spine, he simply said, "I know."