On the way back from Capital City at the end of winter, three months had swiftly passed since encountering assassins.
For a whole three months, under normal circumstances, Li Ming’s master and uncle should have delivered the letter within a hundred miles of Capital City to the center at such rapid speed. The Emperor should have received the ssage by now.
After all, if soone dared to attack the royal pigeon within a hundred miles of Capital City, even if the Emperor’s reinforcents did not arrive, a nationwide wanted ssage should have been issued.
——The royal pigeons, specially bred, each carried unique chanisms. If killed, even if buried in the deep, unknown sea, burnt to ashes, or swallowed whole, the relevant officials would imdiately know that one of the pigeons had been killed.
——Even trapping them wouldn’t work.
Because, having been specially bred, the royal pigeons would not eat or drink from anywhere else but their breeding grounds in the Imperial Palace. They would just keep flying until reaching their destination.
During this period, even if soone forcibly fed them, converting the food into energy within the pigeons’ bodies, or even if they hypnotized the pigeons to sleep, it would be futile.
If the pigeons could not return to their destination, they would either die of hunger or be tornted to death in other ways, thereby sending out ssages and triggering countless royal experts to imdiately start an investigation.
Under such circumstances, it was impossible for the pigeons to be killed without anyone being aware of it.
However, if that was the case, it ant the Emperor must have definitely received the ssage. Then, the question arose —— why has there been no contact with Li Ming for so long, nor any ssage relayed? What was the intention behind this?
Could it be that Li Ming, a significant figure stirring up the court, was simply abandoned just like that?
That was clearly impossible.
There could only be one answer —— after receiving the ssage, the Emperor chose not to send soone to console Li Ming imdiately but instead began searching for the root cause of the incident and took action on the matter.
After three months, the issue was finally resolved, and a representative was sent to console the hearts of Li Ming and others, conveying so ssages —— after all, why else would soone be sent if not to relay so information to a senior official who had been away from the capital for so long?
Therefore, the mont this expert appeared outside the residence gate, Li Ming knew the situation and had his suspicions.
But, as the saying goes, suspicions are rely suspicions. It wasn’t unlikely that this was rely because Emperor Jianming didn’t want to deal with him and had simply forgotten about the incident, sending soone randomly to placate him.
Of course, what exactly was happening would be clear upon eting the visitor at the door.
Li Ming thought to himself and imdiately went out with his master Xu Jin, his martial uncle Wang Hengliang, and followers Wang Guangyun, Liu Zhuang, Liu Wu, and Zhao Xiu, who were now like his brothers, from the training ground along the main road of the house to the outside, and imdiately saw a man in purple clothes.
"May I ask if this is Duke Li Ming in person?"
The man in purple smiled as he looked at Li Ming leading his people out, his gaze directly landing on him and he took the initiative to ask with a smile.
"That is correct!"
Li Ming smiled and nodded, then looked intently at the man in purple who appeared before him.
"I am here by the decree of His Majesty the Emperor to et Duke Li Ming, my na is Zi Donglai."
The man in purple smiled cheerfully as he spoke, revealing a weighty expression when he pulled a jade pendant out from his bosom. Li Ming fixed his gaze upon it and imdiately recognized it as the one Emperor Jianming often carried with him, which made him grow solemn.
"Duke Li Ming pays his respects to Your Majesty the Emperor!"
As Li Ming spoke, he bowed, without any hesitation.
Why was he so sure that this was the Emperor’s personal jade pendant upon seeing it?
Because it had a dragon pattern...
In ancient Blue Star, dragon patterns actually originated from the royal family’s dragon decorations. Since the Shang and Zhou dynasties, they were widely used in various bronze ritual vessels. However, it was not until the feudal period that the royal family prohibited the use of dragon patterns among the common people because ancient peoples believed that dragons and phoenixes were the most spiritually endowed magical creatures. This was a portrayal of the dragon patterns in the Han Dynasty, but it was not the only type. Those who were tattooed with dragon and phoenix patterns represented these mythical creatures, which ant that people with dragon and phoenix patterns were considered the most spiritually endowed in the world. Before the Han Dynasty, a dragon pattern was simply that—a dragon pattern—and in this period, it was often combined with tiger and phoenix patterns into designs.
Why did dragon and phoenix patterns beco symbols reserved for the royal family? Essentially, rulers used these patterns or totems to exhibit their dominance. Ancient people believed that dragons and phoenixes were the most spiritually gifted beings between heaven and earth. Those who had these tattoos represented dragons and phoenixes, aning they were considered the most spiritually endowed individuals. Therefore, only the royal family had dragon and phoenix tattooes and only they were allowed to use them.
Similarly, in this era, dragon patterns represented the esteed status and position of the Emperor, and this world was not the sa as ancient Blue Star.
At Li Ming’s current level, he knew more and more, certainly aware of so secrets he had previously been oblivious to.
For example, regarding the dragon pattern.
Among the common folk, if a dragon pattern appeared, it would inevitably cause a reaction from one of the royal family’s magic artifacts. Soone from the royal family would imdiately investigate. If any commoner intentionally created such a pattern, it would lead to imdiate execution and even the extermination of their entire clan!
If it were naturally occurring, a product of heaven and earth, it would be imdiately taken back to the Imperial Palace, concealed from the public eye. Thus, the mont this jade pendant with a dragon pattern appeared, Li Ming was certain, it had to be His Majesty the Emperor’s.
Anyone else, unless they sought their own annihilation, would never dare to ddle with such an artifact.
And encountering such an artifact practically equated to seeing His Majesty in person, demanding imdiate respect.
It was midday; the sun was shining bright, casting light and warmth through the leaves into the courtyard. In the center of the courtyard, a large ancient tree overshadowed a wicker chair, beside which lay a plate full of refreshing lotus powder, looking particularly inviting.
The courtyard was enclosed by green trees and abundant blossoms. Heavy streams of water flowed gently from a small pond behind the pavilion, where a few ducks leisurely drifted. On a distant eave, several little swallows perched, unafraid of humans, chirping rrily and bustling about. Passing through the flower beds to the end of a small path stood a quaint pavilion, beneath which hung a series of red lanterns woven intricately with beautiful geotric patterns that flickered dimly and brightly, adding a romantic atmosphere. Standing beneath the pavilion and appreciating the courtyard’s beauty deeply conveyed the tranquility of the place.
Such was the sentint felt by the man in purple standing outside the door.
"There’s no need for such formality, Lord Li Ming, please rise."
Seeing Li Ming’s movents, Zi Donglai, with a serious expression, smiled as he tucked the jade pendant away, then cheerfully began, "His Majesty the Emperor has sent to accomplish three tasks: The first is to deliver a ssage to you."
As he spoke, Zi Donglai pulled out a piece of paper from his bosom, bearing written characters.
"Thank you for delivering the ssage."
Li Ming smiled as he clasped his hands and accepted the paper, then broke the wax seal. The paper rolled open and ca into view.
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