Qin Gu said hesitantly to Li Gong, "You guys just stay here and guard." He glanced at the dozen or so soldiers behind him, who looked like they were only at the yellow level. Qin Li's eyes had already picked out their strength. He was indeed a bit worried about the safety of this place. What if Leng Ping couldn't find him and took it out on these innocent women?

  "Cut it out, you and your little thoughts. Don't show off in front of me like I don't know what you're thinking?" Li Gonggong sneered, "Do you even know who they are?"

  Without waiting for Qin Li to respond, Duke Li pointed at one of the soldiers and asked: "Tell this noble from Great Qi, who are you people!"

  "We are soldiers of the third battalion of the Imperial Guard." The soldier also saw that Qin Li doubted their strength, so he deliberately raised his head and chest, and his voice was a little louder, just loud enough to be heard by some onlookers not far away, who immediately let out a low murmur of surprise.

  Qin Li was not very clear, but the murmurs of the onlookers immediately floated into his ears.

  "Heavens! They're actually from the Three Great Camps. What have they been sent here for? To stand guard over this guy? Unbelievable!"

  "The three major camps, that's our Qinglong's trump card army! In the past when we fought against Daqi, we defeated their troops and made them flee in disarray. Who would have thought that today I'd be reduced to serving as a gatekeeper for a fallen noble from Daqi? It's truly unthinkable."

  "Alright, you're all lagging behind! Now the Great Qi and Great Chu States have formed an alliance with our Qinglong Five Nations, we are as close as brothers, one family."

  "A family of dog shit, isn't it forced by the new Qin state?"

  "Alright, keep your voice down, what's it got to do with you?"

  Qin Li suddenly understood that the gatekeeper's attitude was not about strength or weakness, but about identity. The fact that he had been stationed here represented the emperor's attitude, and at least for now, no one dared to openly challenge imperial authority.

  "Thanks, brothers!" Qin Li bowed his head in gratitude towards the soldier, chuckling. Then he turned around and shouted to Duo Duo: "These are all people sent by the Emperor himself to protect you, tell the kitchen to make more dishes at noon, good food, and there must be meat!"

  The onlookers were collectively speechless, looking at Qin Li with disdain, thinking to themselves: "You've never eaten meat as a royal guard? You're just a country bumpkin from Great Qi! What a foolish rustic!"

  Li Gonggong also had a speechless face and rushed towards Qin Lidao: "Qin Gongzi, please!"

  As he got on the horse carriage, Qin Li only then discovered that this ordinary-looking horse carriage was actually very exquisite inside. Luxurious yet not extravagant, grand and heavy yet still comfortable.

  On the carriage. Mr. Li first told Qin Li a set of rules for entering the palace and paying respects. Although he disliked the name Qin Li, there was no way around it. This person was favored by the emperor, and these people all knew what was going on with the Green Gang. Probably now, the leader of the Green Gang, Leng Ping, would be jumping with rage! His courage was great, but could he still dare to oppose the emperor? Tonight, the Green Gang was destined to lose face in front of all the gangs in Qinglong City!

  The horse carriage proceeded into the imperial palace, and when it stopped, Li Gonggong said in a low voice: "Don't worry, Qin Gongzi, arrangements have been made for you on the side of the Second Prince." After that, he took a deep look at Qin Li.

  Qin Li was taken aback, not expecting that this Li Gongzi was actually the second prince's person. He nodded slightly, originally he didn't have anything to fear, his real strength had already reached the heavenly level. The Tianyuan continent was vast and boundless, with numerous countries large and small like cow hair, mysterious places everywhere. Where couldn't one survive?

  After Li Gonggong left, someone came over and led Qin Li into the highest political center of Qinglong Country, the Qinglong Hall!

  There isn't the luxurious atmosphere Qin Li imagined, it's even less luxurious than the decoration of Shang Guan's banquet hall, but it reveals a sense of solemnity and grandeur everywhere, making people who walk in here involuntarily feel a sense of reverence.

  It must be known that the person sitting on the dragon chair in the highest position of the grand hall is the monarch of a country, the true emperor!

  Even if it was Qin Li, he had never seen such a scene before, and his heart was slightly tense, but soon he adapted. Following behind an eunuch, after entering the grand hall, Qin Li naturally went to the corner of the grand hall.

  In front of them, a sea of black, with over a hundred people lined up on both sides. These people are the real rulers of this country.

  In their eyes, martial artists are just tools for exploitation!

  Although the Azure Dragon Country was founded on martial prowess, the Tianyuan Continent highly revered martial arts and emphasized that strength was supreme. However, in this imperial court, there were actually very few high-ranking warriors who truly held power.

  Qin Li's arrival did not attract much attention, only a few people standing at the end of the queue at the entrance curiously glanced at him and then turned away.

  Zhao Yuanli was an emperor who valued talent, so he would often grant audiences to people with special talents. After bestowing certain official titles and rewards upon them, they would almost never have a second chance to stand here in this lifetime.

  So, no one was surprised by Qin Li's arrival.

  At this time, someone probably told Emperor Qin Li's arrival. Zhao Yuanli stopped doing other things and said in a clear voice: "Has Qin Li arrived?"

  Qin Li stepped out from the corner at this time and slightly bowed to the Emperor: "Noble of Great Qi, Qin Li, has seen Your Majesty."

  "How dare you! Seeing Your Majesty and yet not kneeling down!"

  From far away, a cold and stern shout came from the front.

  Although the distance was far, Qin Li's eyesight still saw the person speaking at a glance. He was a 40-year-old civil official with a pale face and no beard. A pair of eyes with gloomy gaze. Standing not far from the emperor's lower head. Coldly staring at him.

  Qin Li narrowed his eyes and looked at the man. With a proud smile, he said: "As a member of the noble Qi family, I naturally don't need to kneel when meeting the Emperor!"

  "Great nobility, are you saying that even the Green Dragon is a noble? What a joke!" The white-faced, beardless official seemed to have heard the most hilarious joke in the world and sneered.

  "This noble, although I'm not clear why you must target me, it doesn't matter. Perhaps you're jealous of my good looks. But there's one thing I don't understand, please enlighten me, Lord. The alliance between the five nations of Daqi and Chuchu, Qinglong Si Luo and Qingqiu, with their nobles serving in each other's countries being equal... how did it become invalid here? According to your logic, this five-nation alliance is ineffective here, isn't that right?"

  "You, you bloodthirsty man!" The white-faced official did not expect Qin Li to be so sharp-tongued, a few words had already pushed him into a corner and turned the tables on him. This kind of thing could be considered either big or small, but it was easy to cause trouble between the two countries.

  Qin Li frowned and shrugged: "I'm speaking to you in such a gentle tone, how can I be considered 'blood-mouthed'? Although you're older, with more whiskers than me, and... uh, slightly longer, that's no reason to slander a noble of Great Qi like this!"

  The people of Daqi country have a tendency to exaggerate when speaking, and Qin Li was no exception, using gestures and actions to emphasize his words. The court erupted into a fit of laughter at this outburst. The pale-faced official's face turned bright red with rage as he pointed at Qin Li, unable to utter a word.

  A figure flashed by. Su Li saw a familiar face, extremely angry and glaring at him with murderous intent in his eyes. It was none other than Crown Prince Zhao Xinghe.

  "That's enough."

  Zhao Yuanli coldly shouted, the scene just now made him extremely disappointed. The speaker was the Minister of Rites, who usually got along well with the Crown Prince. This time he was making trouble, probably also under the Crown Prince's instructions. After all, the Green Gang was controlled by the Crown Prince, and Zhao Yuanli's actions had made the Crown Prince lose face in front of those people. In his heart, Zhao Yuanli coldly snorted: You're not dead yet! You're already wildly ambitious to arm yourself with power, do you think I'm really unaware?

  But to his surprise, the Minister of Rites was refuted by a foreign noble youth and left speechless. Zhao Yuanli was also very displeased in his heart. After all, this concerned the face of a country, and he couldn't help but scold in his heart: What a shameful thing!

  "Is it Qin Li? Come forward, let me take a look at you." Zhao Yuanli's voice was very gentle, and the officials in the court were all somewhat puzzled, among them there were still many who didn't even know what kind of person this Qin Li was. Taking advantage of this opportunity, they couldn't help but whisper to each other and ask around.

  Qin Li stood amidst the curious gazes of the crowd. He walked forward with his head held high, stopping only six or seven meters away from the lofty emperor.

  Zhao Yuanli saw the young man scanning himself with a fearless expression. He couldn't help but smile slightly: "Indeed, a talented and handsome young man." Next, his face changed color. With a loud slap, he slapped the table in front of him. The group of people below who were whispering to each other couldn't help but tremble all over, scared out of their wits, and stared intently at the emperor.

  "Lian Ting Shuo. You haven't been in the imperial capital for long, yet you've caused so much trouble! After insulting our country's general, you even slaughtered over a hundred of our civilians. Qin Li Xiao, although you are a noble from Great Qi, but on the land of Qing Long, you have committed crimes. Lian, I can punish your crime! You, what do you have to say?"

  Hit and pull? Qin Li's heart coldly smiled, facing the emperor with a proud tone: "Your Majesty, I don't know what you've heard. Who told you this again?"

  "How dare you!" This time it was another man, over thirty years old. A martially dressed man jumped out and pointed at Qin Li, shouting: "You actually dared to question Your Majesty. This is a serious crime of disrespect. Your Majesty, please allow me to take him down!"

  Qin Li turned his head back, with a silly smile on his face: "Your Majesty hasn't spoken yet, why are you jumping out? Are you trying to take credit or steal the spotlight from His Majesty?"

  The crowd in the great hall couldn't help but take a cold breath. Thinking to themselves, this kid is too damn poisonous. His skill at pinning labels on people is truly top-notch.

  The general was suddenly speechless. He glared fiercely at Qin Li and retreated.

  Qin Li turned around, looking at Emperor Zhao Yuanli who was smiling and enjoying the commotion. He spread his hands out and said with a pained expression: "Your Majesty, you really should emphasize court discipline. Your people are too unruly. What kind of place are they putting you in!"