Chapter 1297: Await the Day to Appreciate

Beholding that figure in the hempen cloak and hood, drifting far atop the red clouds,Uyan Lanzhu pouted: "Hmph! His Majesty the Emperor sends so many books to our tribe every year. Look at your stumbling way, I've read far more books than you!"Of course, these words she dared not speak to her 'benefactor', only complaining privately."Alas!"Taking another look at that receding back, she turned her horse's head in dejection.Murmuring to herself: "I was thinking, if you were handsome, I would ask you, I have cattle, sheep, horses, and pastures, would you be willing to stay? If you were not handsome, I would give you five oxen... Alas, you left just like that, were you handsome or not?"Saying this, she lightly struck her own mouth: "Uyan Lanzhu, oh Uyan Lanzhu, how can you be so shallow?"Immediately, she smiled brightly again.Her cattle, sheep, and pastures were all saved, she had no trouble finding handsome men, and her future was as bright as the sky at this moment.Jiang Wang, utterly unaware that he had avoided a "judgment" of his appearance, galloped across the boundless prairie, both he and the reddish-brown horse feeling exhilarated.Thus passed several more days.Estimating that he was nearing the Supreme Royal Court, he casually found a herd of wild horses and released the reddish-brown horse.He even secretly observed the competition between the reddish-brown horse and the king of that herd, giving the reddish-brown horse a "small help", witnessing its coronation, and only then leisurely departed, leaning on his staff.Regardless of sunshine, rain, or snow, having leisure is a good time.Continuing east, as the variegated grasslands gradually returned to a verdant hue, there was a feeling of returning to a different season.Jiang Wang thus knew that the heart of the eastern grasslands was fast approaching.The autumn emerald sea was a reflection of the abundant vitality of this place. The cycles of growth and decay of plants did not apply to the greatest city on the grasslands.It was difficult to describe the feeling of seeing the Supreme Royal Court for the first time.It was like walking on an endless road, and suddenly looking up, one had already seen the land of the gods!The sprawling tents were like a sea of clouds, and the sea of clouds rested upon the emerald sea.Azure banners fluttered, and eagles soared in the high sky... Gold, silver, and precious stones adorned this place.This was a city of gold, glorious, brilliant, and dazzling with light.The boundless prairie often gave one a sense of loneliness, as all around was vast and indistinct. In such a place, one easily felt their own insignificance.But at the moment of seeing the Supreme Royal Court, all loneliness was dispelled.What you saw and felt was the most brilliant human realm.It was undoubtedly the center of this prairie, and you would even feel that it might be the center of the world.Jiang Wang quietly gazed at this city, imagining how it would fly up, how it would sweep across the boundless prairie, illuminating thousands of miles of clear sky—what a magnificent picture that would be.At this moment, a knight came galloping on his horse.His features were distinct, his appearance quite imposing. He wore leather armor and a curved saber at his waist. From his attire, he was precisely one of the Royal Court cavalry guarding the Supreme Royal Court.He slowed down while still at a distance, so as not to startle his horse or the person, showing good breeding. He asked in a clear voice: "Where does the guest come from?"He did not use the term "Moye ren" (people of Moye), but rather the more general word "guest".People from the Central Regions often spoke of "grassland barbarians" or "grassland barbarians", perhaps not entirely as a derogatory term. The grassland people were fierce and brave, with inter-tribal warfare being a habit. Drawing swords at the slightest disagreement was a common occurrence. For a long time, the saber was the greatest truth.But after personally entering the grasslands, all that Jiang Wang saw and experienced was vastly different from those stereotypical impressions heard through hearsay.Like that shepherd girl, clear-headed and bright, lively and natural.Just like this Royal Court cavalryman, who could be considered the elite of the grassland elite, yet showed no trace of arrogance. He greeted a visiting stranger with a smile.In these small details, the cultural achievements of the current Shepherd Emperor were reflected.Jiang Wang did not mind being questioned. Entering the Supreme Royal Court, such scrutiny was naturally indispensable.He spoke in response: "A person from a foreign land, traveling to the grasslands. I wish to see the greatest city on the grasslands, and I wish to see the Mirror of Heaven.""You have made a very correct choice." The Royal Court cavalryman smiled with a sense of shared honor, but still asked officially: "Do you have identification papers? Who here can vouch for you?"Jiang Wang was momentarily stunned: "I need someone local to vouch for me?""Yan" meant identity documents, recording name, sex, approximate appearance and physical characteristics, and where one resided."Chuan" was a travel permit, requiring official documentation from the place of residence as proof. It recorded name, sex, and destination. Furthermore, passing through various important passes also required an official seal to be stamped on the document, to prove that one had not sneaked through, and that one's movement trajectory could be checked at any time.Ordinary people traveling afar, without yan chuan, could not move an inch.Compared to the travel of ordinary people, it was much simpler for cultivators. No matter where they went, as long as they were not too unrestrained, they would generally not be stopped.But a place like the Supreme Royal Court was different again; no one could act wildly here.Before coming to the grasslands, Jiang Wang had indeed managed to obtain a set of identity documents, claiming to be a scholar from the Wei Kingdom, dedicated to learning and traveling throughout the land, a plausible story.But the hurdle of "local people vouching for you" truly stumped him.The Royal Court cavalryman smiled: "Due to some well-known reasons, the entry screening is stricter now."As for the "well-known reasons," Jiang Wang naturally knew.The optimism in the other party's words was precisely proof of this nation's strength.The war at Liyuan City was still ongoing, and the Jing Kingdom could intervene at any time. But any random Royal Court cavalryman discussing this matter was so nonchalant.Recalling the voice of that Empress, as lofty as if she were on a cloud peak, which he had heard on the Guan River Terrace, Jiang Wang couldn't help but feel awe.If he wanted to quietly sneak into the Supreme Royal Court, there were certainly other ways. No matter how strict the Royal Court cavalry's checks were, such a large royal city could not be completely airtight. But during such a sensitive period, it would undoubtedly be asking for trouble.Jiang Wang thought for a moment and said: "Could you please help me contact Zhao Rucheng, or perhaps Deng Qi? Just say an old friend is visiting, and he should know who it is."As a nascent stage prodigy who had represented the Shepherd Kingdom in the Yellow River Assembly, Zhao Rucheng's name evidently carried some weight in the Shepherd Kingdom.The Royal Court cavalryman looked at him and asked: "Could the guest remove his cloak?""It's not very convenient." Jiang Wang said: "Is it absolutely necessary to take it off?""Not necessarily. If you are truly General Zhao's friend, moving freely is naturally not a problem." The Royal Court cavalryman joked: "It's just that I'm curious. If you look fierce, I'll keep a closer eye. If you look kind, I'll relax a bit."Jiang Wang: ?Are you grassland people this pragmatic?No wonder Zhao Rucheng is doing so well here! He's even become a general?"Let Zhao Rucheng come and pick me up," Jiang Wang said."That's unfortunate," the Royal Court cavalryman smiled: "General Zhao is currently on the front lines at Liyuan City, so he cannot come to receive you. Do you have anyone else who can vouch for you?"Jiang Wang was both surprised and displeased.The surprising part was that Zhao Rucheng was actually on the front lines. That was a battlefield the Jing Kingdom could join at any time, and its danger was truly unpredictable.The displeasing part was... Since Zhao Rucheng was not at the Supreme Royal Court, then why was this fellow wasting so much breath!This Royal Court cavalryman could probably sense Jiang Wang's mood, and quickly explained: "I am not trifling with the guest. It's truly because my relative is a close friend of General Zhao. Hearing that you are General Zhao's friend, my heart feels very close, so I was just joking with you.""Is that so?" Jiang Wang asked faintly: "Who is your relative?"The Royal Court cavalryman's eyes darted, and he smiled: "Yuwen Duo, does Your Excellency know him? He and General Zhao are friends who would die for each other. In our grassland language, that is 'Yiegai'."Recalling that braided fellow who had almost come to blows with him on the Suanni Bridge, Jiang Wang pursed his lips under his cloak.He asked again: "Is anyone from General Zhao's family here?"The Royal Court cavalryman smiled: "Your Excellency is joking. General Zhao came to the grasslands alone and has not yet started a family."Alone?Jiang Wang did not speak, and turned to leave."Hey, is the guest not entering the city?" The Royal Court cavalryman asked from behind.Jiang Wang did not turn his head. Leaning on his staff with his right hand, he shook the book in his left hand: "Since my old friend is not in the city, the scenery here will be appreciated another day!"Source: