Chapter 60: Greetings first.

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Greetings first.

By the time Chen Yan reached the Imperial Palace, the news had already spread throughout the entire Imperial City.

The arrival of one of the Chen Family’s three High Lords was not something that could be kept quiet, especially when that High Lord had entered the city alongside the Second Princess and an Imperial Envoy while wearing torn robes and carrying visible injuries.

Numerous forces had already been alerted.

The major cultivation families that maintained representatives in the Imperial City had quickly received the news as well.

Several representatives who had been occupied with their own affairs immediately put aside whatever they had been doing and made their way toward the palace, hoping to understand why a High Lord of the Chen Family had suddenly appeared.

The streets surrounding the Imperial Palace were cleared before the group arrived.

Shops along the main road were ordered to close temporarily, while cultivators from the Imperial Court were dispatched to move pedestrians and other cultivators away from the area.

It was not that the Royal Family feared Chen Yan.

Rather, no one wanted a crowd gathering around the palace gates when a High Lord had arrived under such unusual circumstances.

By the time Chen Yan’s group approached the palace, the normally busy streets had become strangely quiet.

The enormous palace gates stood ahead of them, flanked by rows of Imperial guards in dark armor. Beyond those gates, the outer palace stretched across a vast area of carefully maintained courtyards and buildings, their tiled roofs rising above high walls and spiritual trees.

The Royal carriage slowed as it approached.

The guards stationed at the entrance immediately recognized the golden emblem belonging to the Royal Family. Several of them straightened their backs, while servants who had already gathered near the entrance hurried forward.

The carriage came to a complete stop.

The servants arranged themselves on both sides of the carriage entrance before lowering their heads in unison.

"We greet Your Highness."

"We greet the Imperial Envoy."

Their voices echoed beneath the enormous palace gate.

Zhao Linger stepped down first, followed by Zhao Lianyu. Both acknowledged the servants with slight nods before turning toward the person who had remained beside the carriage.

Chen Yan stepped down from the carriage, and the moment his foot landed, the atmosphere changed almost immediately.

The servants had expected to see him, but knowing that a High Lord was coming and actually standing in front of one were two very different things.

Chen Yan looked nothing like the dignified cultivator they might have imagined from the reports.

His robes were torn in several places, with some sections still bearing faint traces of dust from the battlefield.

The blood at the corner of his mouth had dried, leaving a thin, dark mark against his skin.

His silver-grey hair was slightly disheveled, and although his posture remained straight, there was a faint weariness beneath his otherwise composed expression.

Several servants instinctively swallowed.

One young servant’s shoulders stiffened so noticeably that the older servant beside him quietly touched his elbow, reminding him to remain composed.

No one wanted to be the person who appeared disrespectful in front of one of the three High Lords of the Chen Family.

Qingxue stepped down from the carriage shortly afterward.

Unlike Chen Yan, she had suffered no injuries, although the long journey and everything that had happened along the way had clearly left her somewhat shaken.

She quietly adjusted the sleeve of her dress before moving closer to the group. The servants’ eyes briefly moved toward her before returning to Chen Yan.

One of the senior palace servants finally stepped forward.

He bowed deeply.

"Greetings, High Lord Chen Yan."

The other servants immediately followed.

"Greetings, High Lord Chen Yan."

Chen Yan looked at them for a brief moment.

He could see the tension in their faces, the way several of them kept their heads lowered and their hands folded neatly in front of them.

He did not intend to make things difficult for them.

"Mm."

He gave a small nod.

That simple response was enough for the servants to straighten slightly.

Chen Yan did not stop to look around. The moment he stepped through the palace gates, his eyes turned toward Zhao Linger.

"Bring me to your father."

Zhao Linger blinked. She had expected him to say something similar, but hearing it so directly still caught her off guard.

"Senior Chen Yan?"

"I need to speak with him."

Zhao Linger studied his face for a moment before nodding.

"Of course."

She turned toward one of the palace servants following behind them, "Please inform my father that High Lord Chen Yan has arrived and wishes to meet him immediately."

The servant hesitated for only a fraction of a second.

"Immediately, Your Highness?"

"Yes."

Zhao Linger’s expression remained serious, "Tell him that Senior Chen Yan came directly here after returning from the eastern region."

The servant’s expression tightened slightly at those words.

"Understood, Your Highness."

He bowed deeply before turning around and hurrying toward the inner palace. The other servants remained behind.

Then Chen Yan began walking.

The group followed.

The news that he had entered the palace had already traveled ahead of them. It did not take long before more servants and officials began appearing along the corridors.

The Imperial Palace was normally a place of controlled movement. Servants carried out their duties quietly, officials moved between halls, and guards stood at designated positions.

Now, however, there was a subtle change in the atmosphere.

People were watching. Not openly, as they simply stepped aside when Chen Yan approached, lowering their heads and giving him a clear path.

As Chen Yan passed, the greetings began.

"Greetings, High Lord Chen Yan."

"Greetings, High Lord."

"Welcome to the Imperial Palace, High Lord Chen Yan."

The voices came from both sides of the corridor, sometimes overlapping as different groups bowed at nearly the same time.

Chen Yan did not stop for each person. That would only make the procession slower. Instead, he occasionally inclined his head in acknowledgment.

The officials were more restrained than the servants. Most kept their heads lowered, while those who dared to look at Chen Yan did so only briefly.

Two officials standing near one of the courtyard entrances quietly exchanged glances.

"Do you think something happened?"

"I wouldn’t speculate."

The older official kept his eyes on Chen Yan.

"If something serious happened, His Majesty will tell us when he decides that we need to know."

The younger official immediately nodded.

"You’re right."

Chen Yan heard their conversation as he passed, but he did not react. There was no point since everyone would eventually know something had happened. The only question was how much of it they would be allowed to know.

Inwardly, Chen Yan had already begun to improvise the story he was about to reveal to the King later. After all, since Chen Yueran had already started it, he thought it would be normal for him to continue the fire.

Zhao Lianyu followed several steps behind him, her expression controlled, although her eyes occasionally moved toward Chen Yan’s back.

Zhao Linger remained beside her.

Qingxue walked quietly with the group, occasionally glancing at the palace courtyards around them. The buildings were unfamiliar to her, but she paid little attention to their grandeur.

Her thoughts were still occupied by what had happened during the journey. After walking through several courtyards, Zhao Lianyu finally slowed.

"Senior..."

Chen Yan stopped. Zhao Lianyu exchanged a brief glance with Zhao Linger before approaching.

"Since we have arrived safely, perhaps the two of us should return and report to His Majesty once Senior has spoken with him."

Zhao Linger nodded.

"Yes, Senior. Father should know what happened, but since Senior has already requested to meet His Majesty, perhaps we should let Senior speak with His Majesty first."

Chen Yan looked at both women.

"No."

The answer came calmly, but immediately. Zhao Lianyu stopped, and Zhao Linger on the side looked at him nervously.

Chen Yan turned fully toward them.

"You need to come with me."

Zhao Linger’s expression showed a trace of confusion.

"Both of us?"

"Both of you."

Chen Yan’s gaze settled on them for another moment.

"You were there. You heard what was said. You are witnesses."

Neither woman responded immediately as they both understood what he meant.

There were things they had heard during the battle that had already raised questions in their minds. Ancient Lord. The tomb. The strange statements about the world and the divine.

Those words were not things they could simply pretend they had never heard. Zhao Lianyu lowered her eyes slightly before nodding.

"Understood."

Zhao Linger also nodded.

"Then we will accompany you."

Qingxue had remained nearby throughout the exchange. She did not need to ask whether Chen Yan intended for her to remain with them. He had already made it clear earlier that she was to stay close.

Chen Yan turned and continued walking. The two guards who had accompanied Zhao Linger exchanged an uncertain glance.

One eventually stepped forward.

"High Lord, then perhaps we should accompany Her Highness as well."

Chen Yan stopped and turned his head slightly toward them.

"No."

The guard immediately stopped.

"You two will stay here."

The guards exchanged a brief look before bowing.

"Yes, High Lord."

Chen Yan looked at them for another second.

"And shut your mouths about what happened."

The two guards stiffened.

Chen Yan’s voice remained calm.

"Everything you saw and everything you heard during the journey stays with you. Do not discuss it with the palace servants, the officials, your fellow guards, or anyone else."

Neither guard dared to misunderstand the seriousness behind the instruction.

"Yes, High Lord."

Their responses came almost simultaneously. Chen Yan nodded once and continued walking. The nearby servants and officials became even quieter. No one had any intention of asking the guards what had happened.

Qingxue followed beside Chen Yan as the group continued deeper into the palace. They passed through another courtyard before the servant Chen Yan had sent earlier finally returned.

The young servant approached quickly but stopped several steps away, clearly remembering the proper distance to maintain around a High Lord.

He bowed.

"High Lord Chen Yan."

Chen Yan turned toward him.

"His Majesty has been informed, and He is waiting for you."

"Where?"

"The main palace, High Lord."

Chen Yan nodded.

"Good, lead the way."

"Yes."

The servant turned and began walking. Chen Yan followed behind him, with Zhao Linger, Zhao Lianyu, and Qingxue close behind.

The palace corridors gradually became broader as they approached the central section of the Imperial Palace. The number of people around them increased again, but this time no one attempted to approach.

Whatever happened next would determine how much of what he had learned needed to be revealed to the Royal Family.

Eventually, they reached the entrance of the main palace. Two guards standing before the doors immediately straightened.

They exchanged a quick glance before opening the enormous doors.

Chen Yan stepped inside.

The noise from the corridor disappeared behind him, and the main palace was considerably quieter. At the far end of the hall, Zhao Tianqiong was already waiting.

The King stood beside a long wooden table covered with several documents that had clearly been left unfinished. He had apparently been reviewing them when the servant delivered the message.

His expression was calm at first, and his eyes slowly settled on Chen Yan’s approaching figure. The King’s gaze moved over the torn robes to the dried blood and finally to the slightly disheveled silver-grey hair.

His expression slowly changed, but he did not immediately speak. Chen Yan stopped several steps away, and the two men looked at one another.

They had never formally met before. They had exchanged information through others, and each knew the other’s position, but this was the first time they stood face to face.

Zhao Tianqiong’s gaze shifted toward Zhao Linger and Zhao Lianyu.

Neither woman spoke. And finally, his eyes settled on Qingxue.

He took note of her presence as well, but did not ask about her. The King’s expression became more serious.

"High Lord Chen Yan."

Chen Yan nodded slightly.

"High Lord Zhao Tianqiong."

Zhao Tianqiong looked at him for another few breaths.

"You came directly to the Imperial Palace after returning from the eastern region."

His eyes moved briefly toward the blood at Chen Yan’s mouth.

"And judging from your condition, the journey doesn’t seem to have been smooth?"

Chen Yan did not deny it.

"There is something important we need to discuss."

Zhao Tianqiong’s expression tightened slightly.

"Is it related to what happened during your journey back?"

Chen Yan was silent for a brief moment.

Then he slowly nodded to confirm it.

"Indeed it is."

The hall became quiet. Zhao Tianqiong slowly looked toward the guards and servants still standing nearby.

"Everyone, leave."

The guards immediately bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The servants followed, and within a short time, the hall began to empty. Qingxue remained where she was, along with Zhao Linger and Zhao Lianyu.

Zhao Tianqiong waited until the final servant had stepped outside.

The palace doors closed.

Only then did he speak again.

"Now tell me."

Chen Yan glanced toward Zhao Linger and Zhao Lianyu before looking briefly at Qingxue.

"They need to remain here."

Zhao Tianqiong nodded.

"I assumed as much."

He gestured toward the seats arranged nearby.

"Please, have a seat."

Chen Yan did not sit immediately. Instead, he looked directly at the King.

"What I am about to tell you cannot leave this room."

Zhao Tianqiong’s expression became solemn.

"Then it will not."

Chen Yan studied him for another moment before finally nodding.

"Good."

He stepped forward. Zhao Linger, Zhao Lianyu, and Qingxue followed quietly behind him.

’It’s time to put my acting skills to use.’