114: Chapter 114 Mocking the Elven Barbarians? Hanging Them Up as a Public Display

Gilded palace lanterns hung from the beams of the Imperial Palace's main hall, their warm yellow light bathing the long white marble table. The table was laden with jade plates of delicacies from land and sea, while hundred-year-old vintage wine shimmered with a ruby-like glow. Palace maids glided between tables carrying silver trays, their footsteps so light they were nearly silent.

The civil and military officials were seated according to their rank. Even the imperial princes had restrained their usual arrogance, sitting upright and casting occasional glances toward the head of the table. Su Ninghua sat in the seat of honor, the five-clawed golden dragon motif on her black imperial robe glinting coldly under the lights. Lin Zhe sat at the seat of honor to her left, still dressed in ordinary commoner's clothes with a calm expression. Ling Xi and Xing Jianwan sat on either side of him, and the pure gold patterned tableware before them was of the Empress's grade—a protocol higher than that of the princes present.

This was a courtesy Su Ninghua had specifically arranged for Lin Zhe. Every official in the court understood this, yet no one dared to voice an objection. After all, Zhou Mingyuan had just been beheaded at the city gate and hung there for public display; with such a bloody example right there, no one wanted to invite bad luck.

But there were always those who lacked discernment.

Zhao Wenyuan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and a third-rank official, was a notoriously pedantic old scholar and a core figure of the conservative faction. He had spent his life looking down on non-human races. He hadn't dared to speak at the city gate, but now, after three cups of wine, the sight of Ling Xi's pointed ears and silver-white elven hair made his temper flare instantly. With a 'slam,' he smashed his wine cup onto the table and lunged to his feet, pointing toward Ling Xi and roaring: 'Your Majesty! I object! The Elf Race are nothing but barbarians from beyond the borders, uncivilized and savage. How are they worthy of sitting at the head of the Imperial State Banquet? I request Your Majesty immediately expel this barbarian woman from the banquet hall, lest she tarnish the imperial majesty and make the world mock our Empire for having no one of merit!'

His voice was incredibly loud, and the entire hall instantly fell silent. All the officials were stunned, staring at Zhao Wenyuan as they cursed the old fool in their hearts for being suicidal. The blood at the city gate wasn't even dry yet, and he actually dared to jump out and pick a fight?

Seeing this, several conservative nobles who were close to Zhao Wenyuan also began to chime in: 'Minister Zhao is right! Elf barbarians are not fit for refined society! We request Your Majesty expel her!'

'How can our great Empire's state banquet allow a member of a foreign race to act so wildly?'

Ling Xi's hand holding the silver chopsticks paused slightly, and her light brown, deer-like eyes instantly turned cold. Usually gentle in nature, she hated nothing more than people calling the Elf Race barbarians, let alone someone trying to humiliate her in front of Lin Zhe. She didn't stand up, and her expression didn't even change much; she only lightly moved her fingertips beneath the table.

Swish—!

Three emerald-green vines, as thick as wrists and covered in fine barbs, suddenly burst out from the cracks in the floor tiles at Zhao Wenyuan's feet. They moved so fast they were mere afterimages. One lashed out and tightly bound his mouth, its thorns piercing into the corners of his lips and making tears stream down from the pain. The remaining two wrapped around his ankles and yanked upward violently.

'Mmph—!'

Zhao Wenyuan couldn't even let out half a scream before he was hung upside down from the hall's beams. His official robe embroidered with peacock patterns instantly flipped over, his official hat fell to the ground with a 'clatter,' and his grey hair became a tangled mess. He looked exactly like a hanging rice dumpling, swinging back and forth in the air in the most pathetic state imaginable.

The nobles who had just been echoing him shut their mouths instantly. Their faces turned white as paper, and they subconsciously shrank back into their chairs, terrified that they would be the next ones hung up.

The entire hall was deathly silent for three seconds; one could have heard a pin drop.

Everyone's gaze turned in unison toward Su Ninghua in the seat of honor, waiting for her to speak. Many conservative nobles still held a sliver of hope, thinking that even if Su Ninghua favored Lin Zhe, she would have to consider the dignity of the court officials and at least punish Ling Xi for the crime of public assault.

As it turned out, not only was Su Ninghua not angry, she let out a cold laugh. She swept the sleeve of her black imperial robe across the table, the crisp clatter of jade plates making everyone's hearts tremble. Her voice was cold as ice, each word striking their hearts: 'Princess Ling Xi is the legitimate princess of the Elf Race and an honored guest of my Empire. To dare insult her is to insult me, Su Ninghua, and to insult the entire Human Empire.'

'By my decree: Zhao Wenyuan has offended his superior and shown great disrespect. The entire Zhao clan is fined three months of their total tax revenue, all of which will be transferred to the Luofeng Village public account as compensation. As for Zhao Wenyuan himself, hang him from this beam for public display for six hours. He will be let down only when he knows his mistake.'

'Anyone else who objects will share his punishment.'

As soon as these words were spoken, the nobles who had chimed in earlier trembled, nearly sliding off their chairs. They hurriedly lowered their heads, not daring to make another sound or even breathe loudly.

Several official players among the audience had secretly started a live stream and had already recorded the entire process. The video spread to the world channel at light speed, and the entire server instantly exploded:

[Holy crap? Is this old fogey tired of living? How dare he insult Goddess Ling Xi? Good job hanging him up!]

[One death at the city gate wasn't enough, and now another one jumps out. Do these nobles have their heads stuck in a door?]

[Fining the whole clan three months of taxes for Falling Maple? My god, the Zhao clan is an old-money noble family; three months of tax must be at least several million gold coins! Falling Maple is making a killing!]

[The Queen is so dominant! Directly siding with Big Boss Lin Zhe and crushing anyone who looks for trouble. This is so satisfying!]

The messages on the world channel flooded in so fast the server lagged for three seconds. The players were all cheering, and some were even betting on whether Zhao Wenyuan would have a brain hemorrhage by the time he was let down.

The other nobles in the hall looked at Zhao Wenyuan, who was struggling and muffled while hanging from the beam, then looked at Lin Zhe, who remained calm and hadn't even lifted an eyelid. The last bit of defiance in their hearts vanished. They stood up one after another with wine cups in hand, bowing deeply toward Lin Zhe and Ling Xi with tones so respectful they were practically groveling: 'We toast to Mr. Lin Zhe and Princess Ling Xi. We were impolite before; we hope the Mr. and the Princess will forgive us.'

Lin Zhe glanced at them indifferently and tapped his finger lightly on the table without speaking, which served as his acceptance of the toast.

Ling Xi also withdrew the divine power from the vines. her cold expression softened slightly as she picked up her fruit juice and took a small sip.

Su Ninghua looked at the respectfully bowing civil and military officials, a satisfied curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. She raised her wine cup toward Lin Zhe: 'Teacher, is the palace's fine wine to your taste?'

Lin Zhe gave a faint 'mm.' His Rule Perception swept through the hall, clearly capturing the aura of the Remnants of the Three Clans' emblems on several nobles who were currently shrinking in their seats, trembling and not daring to look up.

A very faint, cold smile curled on his lips.

The state banquet had only just begun. There were still plenty of clowns left to jump out.