12dz Chapter 111 No Longer Afraid
Chapter 111 No Longer Afraid
He went to court the next day.
The Crown Prince and the Third Prince stood at the very front, with civil and military officials behind them.
All matters have been reported.
The emperor summoned Bai Yu to step forward and receive his praise.
Bai Yu heard the proclamation and knelt before the hall.
"My dear minister, you have survived a perilous journey and rendered a great service. I will reward you handsomely. Is there anything you wish to ask of me?"
Recalling Lu He's instructions, Bai Yu made no excuses and said directly, "It is an honor for a subject to share the Emperor's burdens. I have no other requests but to serve the Emperor better. I... wish to request an official position!"
"Oh?" The emperor perked up. This was the first person to dare ask for a reward so directly; in the past, they would always feign reluctance and make excuses. This young man was quite interesting. "You're so outspoken, aren't you afraid people will say you're greedy for power?"
"What others say is none of my concern. My martial arts skills are superior to Han Ji's. I nearly died this time only because I was suppressed by Han Ji's official rank and couldn't fight him. That's why I surrendered. If I were of the same rank as the Imperial City Envoy, Han Ji wouldn't be able to subdue me even with the entire Imperial City Guard!" Bai Yu twitched his ears; a small black button was inserted into his right ear. His words implied to the emperor that the reward he desired was no less than Han Ji's.
The officials' inner thoughts: You really dare to ask for that!
"Insolence!" Nie Geng stepped forward and angrily shouted, "What an ignorant brat! Do you think the palace is a marketplace? A place for you to haggle over prices?"
"I had no idea the palace was a marketplace where people could shout and hawk their wares at will!" Bai Yu retorted sharply. He was quick to argue.
After Bai Yu finished speaking, he felt guilty and muttered to himself, "Won't I get beheaded for talking like that?"
"Don't worry, just say whatever I say!" Lu He's voice came from the small button in her right ear.
Lu He and Li Cen were in their bedchamber, the doors and windows closed, huddled around a small box from which they could hear the sounds of the court proceedings. Li Cen listened intently to the sounds coming from the box, watching Lu He hold a soft object about the thickness of a chopstick. At that moment, Li Cen's eyes were filled with curiosity and awe.
The small box was, of course, a miniature speaker; Bai Yu and Lu He were using a walkie-talkie. Outside in the courtyard, two palace maids were climbing the artificial hill, panting heavily as they supported a small signal transmitter.
The emperor's voice came from the small speaker.
"Hahaha, this lad is interesting. Right Vice Inspector Censor, don't be angry. A little youthful arrogance is good, hahaha." The Emperor seemed to find Bai Yu amusing. He straightened up and asked, "My dear minister, you just said your martial arts are superior to Han Ji's?"
Bai Yu nodded.
"Are you satisfied with the position of Imperial City Envoy?" the emperor asked deliberately, then observed whether there was any change in the expressions of Li Yun and Li Guangqi standing below.
Sure enough, Li Yun's expression changed drastically, and Li Guangqi's eyebrows twitched slightly. Very well, Bai Yu wasn't arranged by these two.
They truly hadn't expected such a formidable opponent to appear out of nowhere. They had assumed their only rival was the other side, but now things had changed drastically.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Nie Sheng stepped forward: "Although Lord Bai has made a meritorious contribution, this reward is far too high and may not satisfy the public."
"Minister Nie is absolutely right!" Censor Lin Zhan quickly chimed in. "Moreover, our dynasty has always appointed the virtuous and capable. If one wishes to take the position of Imperial City Envoy, one will probably have to test one's skills."
They all knew that Bai Yu was injured and had only been there for a little over three days, so it was impossible for him to have fully recovered.
As for the injury, it was true that it hadn't fully healed, but Lu He used modern anti-inflammatory drugs to apply and administer to him. Moreover, the doctors in this era also knew how to suture, and Lu He provided the doctor with the best medical tools, the best sutures, and even exchanged for anesthetics. The doctor was amazed, wondering how there could be something that could make someone feel no pain at all, and regarded those medicines as elixirs.
Lu He promised to give the doctor some anesthetic and medical tools if he cured Bai Yu. The doctor then devoted himself to treating Bai Yu's injuries, and the recovery was even faster than that of the Imperial Hospital. Those in the court were naturally caught off guard.
Although Bai Yu was not fully recovered, he could still move his fists and feet without any problem, since no bones were broken. Moreover, he also had the secret weapon given to him by Lu He.
Prime Minister Chao stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I believe that the newly promoted military officer Sun Haochong is a suitable candidate for Imperial City Envoy. He is highly skilled in martial arts, nine feet tall, and as strong as an ox!"
Gao Zhan (the commander of the Imperial Guards stepped forward): "I recommend Zhou Gang, the vanguard officer of the Imperial Guards. His martial arts are extraordinary. He can break stones with his bare hands and sever wood with a single kick!"
"Oh? There are so many talented people here?" The emperor stroked his chin, pondering what would be interesting: "How about Lord Bai has a contest with the other two?"