Chapter Six of the Romantic Continent: The Newly Appointed Baron

Ye Tianlong watched Zuo Lanxin walk into the house, muttering to himself, "This little chick, she won't even let me in the door! Unbelievable! Hmph, do you think I'd eat you?"

But there was nothing he could do. Having already acted like a hero in front of the beauty, he couldn't very well resort to his old methods of pursuing women and shamelessly follow

her in. Thinking about it, he found himself quite amusing. Liu Qin'er and Yu Zhu were both beautiful and charming, not to mention the stunning Yu Fengwu. Even Ba Feng, who served him now, was no less beautiful than Zuo Lanxin, yet he still had designs on her. Perhaps it was just male nature—the unattainable made it all the more desirable.

Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over him, as if someone was secretly watching him, like prey being watched by a predator, causing him inexplicable palpitations.

Ye Tianlong took a deep breath, circulated his internal energy, and focused his mind to investigate. In an instant, his mind, like a still ancient well, reflected every movement and sound around him with meticulous detail.

The footsteps and conversations of distant pedestrians, the sounds of people moving about nearby houses, the laughter of children, even the faint chirping of birds in the trees—all were painted into a vivid picture in his mind.

But to his disappointment, he found nothing unusual; everything was quiet and normal, a peaceful atmosphere filling the space he had constructed in his mind. Just

as he was about to investigate further, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and his body swayed slightly. All the images receded like the tide.

Ye Tianlong knew this was due to overexertion; his power couldn't sustain this for long. Forcing himself to use it would cause great harm to his body and mind.

He shook his head, a small question lingering in his mind, and left the place.

As soon as Ye Tianlong returned to Feifeng Mansion, Liu Qin'er rushed up to him, saying anxiously, "I was just about to send someone to find you."

Ye Tianlong asked, "What is it?"

"What is it? Have you forgotten that His Majesty wants to receive you!" Liu Qin'er said.

Yuzhu and the Eight Guards came out from the back hall carrying clothes. Yuzhu said sweetly, "Master, congratulations!"

Dafeng stepped forward to help Ye Tianlong take off his robe, saying, "I think His Majesty is going to appoint you as the Commander of Ten Thousand Cavalry this time."

Liu Qin'er said, "That's natural. Because the Commander of Ten Thousand Cavalry is appointed by His Majesty himself, that's why there's this audience!"

Sanfeng giggled, "More than just the Commander of Ten Thousand Cavalry, right? Maybe there are other rewards too!"

Wufeng was squatting down to change Ye Tianlong's boots when she heard this and looked up at him, saying, "Maybe it's a beautiful woman..." "A reward like pearls."

Ye Tianlong chuckled and said, "That would be ideal!"

Liu Qin'er lightly punched him with her pink fist and said reproachfully, "With so many of us, you still think it's not enough?"

Ye Tianlong said seriously, "As for beauties, I always prefer as many as possible!"

Upon hearing this, the women were in an uproar. Liu Qin'er was the first to object, saying coquettishly, "Things? You mean we are those kinds of things?"

Only then did Ye Tianlong realize that he had spoken carelessly and incurred the wrath of the women. He quickly apologized with a smile and tried to appease them. With his silver tongue, he managed to persuade the women to stop being angry and start laughing. Even so, Ye Tianlong still received a few light punches and countless eye rolls during this time.

After a while of laughter and joking, with the help of the women, Ye Tianlong finally put on his magnificent robes and rode with Liu Qin'er to the Wuyou Palace in the eastern district of the capital.

※ ※ ※

Sanssouci Palace in Fast is actually a giant castle located in the city of Esnia. Enclosed by walls eight zhang high and three zhang thick is a magnificent and imposing palace complex, vast in scale and imposing in its grandeur. All the buildings here are high platforms, giving one the feeling of overlooking all people. It

was originally named Sanssouci Palace for two reasons: first, the palace itself is free from worries, needing no fear of being conquered; second, it was hoped that the people living within would live carefree and happy lives. But are the people here truly happy now? Only they themselves know.

Passing through the Xuan Yue Gate, there is a large square that can accommodate ten thousand people. At first glance, Ye Tianlong was truly astonished to find such a magnificent and spectacular space inside.

The architecture of Sanssouci Palace follows a standard bilateral symmetrical layout, with the main buildings situated on the central axis.

Crossing the white jade bridge over the Golden Water River leads to the true main hall.

Liu Qin'er waited in the Sanssouci Palace's entrance hall, while Ye Tianlong, led by an attendant, proceeded towards the reception hall.

Upon entering the spacious and elegant reception hall, a dozen or so ministers were already chatting and laughing.

Seeing Ye Tianlong enter, a handsome man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven, dressed in magnificent aristocratic attire, greeted him with a smile, saying, "This must be Ye Tianlong, Ye Qianqi, who rose to fame in the Battle of Tianfeng?" He then took Ye Tianlong's hand, scrutinizing him, "Meeting you today, you are indeed a rare talent!" The man's voice was extremely pleasant, carrying a strange penetrating power.

"And you are…" Ye Tianlong asked, slightly puzzled, looking at the enthusiastic young man before him. The man's eyes were the most striking feature; their deep blue, sky-like irises shone with a captivating light, revealing the owner's shrewdness and resourcefulness.

At this moment, a burly man of about forty years old, following behind the handsome man, introduced, "This is His Highness Prince Yuna, the Third Prince of the Empire!"

Ye Tianlong hurriedly bowed and said, "This humble general, Ye Tianlong, greets His Highness the Third Prince!"

Before Ye Tianlong could bow, Yuna grabbed his shoulders and said repeatedly, "No need for such formalities!"

Looking at Yuna before him, Ye Tianlong couldn't help but feel jealous. Undeniably, Yuna was incredibly handsome and dashing. He had slightly wavy blond hair, and his skin shone like white jade. He was tall and straight, only slightly shorter than Ye Tianlong. Adorned with magnificent and noble attire, he was truly a refined and elegant gentleman, a rare gem in this world.

Actually, Ye Tianlong was also a very charming man, but he felt like a boorish fellow next to Yuna.

Ye Tianlong had heard before that the Third Prince of Fast was both scholarly and martial, his martial arts skills honed under the tutelage of the Snow Mountain Elder, one of the three greatest masters on the continent, and his Twin Dragon Spears were virtually unmatched. He never expected him to be so handsome; the Creator had truly favored him. It seemed that Yunaya would always be the center of attention, no matter the time or place.

Just as Ye Tianlong's mind raced, Yunaya introduced him to the imposing man. It turned out he was Count Marco Bwe, the Southern Governor of the Imperial Capital, a highly influential figure in the capital. This man had long arms and legs, a square face, and large, piercing eyes; one look was enough to tell he was a formidable character.

Marco Bwe took Ye Tianlong's hand, a smile on his face, and whispered, "The Thousand Riders are quite famous now; we should get closer to them!" As he spoke, he tightened his grip on Ye Tianlong's hand.

Ye Tianlong inwardly cried out, "My God!" He felt the tiger's hand gripping his hand become like a scorching hot iron, the fierce internal force seemingly about to crush his hand bones. He knew the man before him was a formidable expert, someone who wanted to humiliate him.

Ye Tianlong endured the excruciating pain, struggling to maintain his strength, waiting for an opportunity to counterattack, while maintaining a composed smile on his face: "Your Excellency, the Southern Governor, possesses such great strength! Such hospitality is truly unbecoming of this humble official!"

Marco Buwei felt a continuous internal force emanating from the hand being gripped, making it impossible for him to subdue his opponent immediately. He couldn't help but strengthen the internal force in his hand, attempting to crush Ye Tianlong in one fell swoop. Instantly, a red light appeared between their tightly clenched hands, flowing between their fingers.

Waves of excruciating pain surged from his hand, filling Ye Tianlong with hatred. At the same time, he realized that the capital was teeming with experts, and this annoying guy was a notch above him in terms of strength.

But why was this guy suddenly giving him a show of force, deliberately trying to humiliate him? Had he offended him in some way? Ye Tianlong racked his brains but couldn't figure it out, yet he still had to maintain the facade. Fortunately, he had often fought with others when he was a local tyrant. The saying goes

, "Even if you lose the fight, you can't lose your temper." Fighting is all about momentum and endurance, and that period of time had honed his abilities in these two areas, preventing him from making a fool of himself on the spot.

Ye Tianlong gritted his teeth, desperately resisting Marco Beverly's terrifying internal energy and enduring wave after wave of attacks. He couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect the Southern Governor to like me so much. Let's find some time to chat another time!"

Yuna, noticing the unusual interaction between the two, laughed heartily. "You two seem to hit it off immediately. Let's have a proper chat another time! Now, let me introduce Ye Qianqi to the other officials." With that, he placed his hands on Marco Beverly and Ye Tianlong's arms, secretly channeling his inner energy. A tremendous surge of internal energy struck their palms.

Both Ye Tianlong and Marco Beverly's bodies trembled slightly, and their clasped hands separated.

Ye Tianlong was secretly shocked. Yuna had actually managed to separate their intertwined internal energies, meaning his strength was at least twice that of the two. It seemed that appearances could indeed be deceiving; he still needed to work harder to establish himself in the capital. In truth, he was unaware that Yunaya possessed a clever method, a secret of the Snow Mountain Elder, and his strength had secretly astonished Yunaya. Yunaya knew he needed to reassess Ye Tianlong.

The nearby ministers, completely unaware that the two had already exchanged blows, continued their lively discussions. Some, however, were secretly observing Ye Tianlong, judging him based on their own perspectives and opinions.

A sharp glint flashed in Marco Bwe's eyes. "Ye Qianqi, your skills are truly impressive; no wonder General Feifeng has your eye on you."

Ye Tianlong smiled and said, "Your Excellency the Southern Governor is also quite skilled! I almost made a fool of myself." In his heart, however, he had already cursed Marco Bwe's ancestors for eight generations.

At this moment, Yunaya patted Ye Tianlong's shoulder and said, "Ye Qianqi, you should know that the Southern Governor's strength is enough to rank among the top in Esnia."

Marco Bwe hurriedly replied, "Your Highness is too kind. That's just someone else's flattery. There are countless experts in the capital; there's no place for me!"

Ye Tianlong thought to himself, "That was close! I almost made a fool of myself! It seems the capital isn't easy to navigate!" As far as he knew, Yunaya and Yu Fengwu were both much stronger than Marco Bwe, and according to Yu Fengwu, Hai Yingyang, the commander of the Eagle Soaring Legion, was almost on par with her. He wondered how many unseen masters were still in the capital.

Just as Ye Tianlong was about to speak, the attendant at the door announced, "Lord Zuo Zai, Western Governor Jeff has arrived!"

Yunaya and Marco Bwe's smiles immediately vanished, and Marco Bwe even snorted coldly. Only then did Ye Tianlong realize how deep the rift between them was, a situation that seemed irreconcilable. It seems that behind Fast's prosperity lie many problems unknown to outsiders.

Accompanied by Jeff, who was wearing a light green battle robe, a tall, stout man strode in. This man was about forty years old, wearing an official robe with gold trim. His fleshy, round face wore a businessman's smile. At first glance, he was just an ordinary bureaucrat, but his small eyes occasionally flashed with a cunning light, making Ye Tianlong feel that he must be a cunning and suspicious person. Upon

seeing Ye Tianlong, Jeff's eyes lit up, and he said with delight, "Tianlong, you've arrived early!" Before he finished speaking, the stout man had already strode towards Ye Tianlong, warmly extending his fleshy hands, and said directly, "This must be Ye Tianlong, Ye Qianqi, who made a name for himself in the Battle of Tianfeng, right? Truly a hero!" His voice was loud and clear, and he spoke with an air of authority that made people feel good about him. Ye Tianlong couldn't help but think to himself that this man must possess extraordinary abilities, the kind of person who hides a sharp edge beneath a gentle exterior.

Ye Tianlong quickly bowed and greeted him, "Lord Zuo Zai!"

As Zuo Zai Gilmans strode towards Ye Tianlong, Yuna and Marco Bwe immediately turned and left.

Gilmans and Jeff quickly approached Ye Tianlong. Gilmans warmly took Ye Tianlong's hands and shook them a few times, saying, "After the Battle of Tianfeng, Qianqi is renowned far and wide!"

Ye Tianlong quickly replied modestly, "Not at all! It's all thanks to General Feifeng's brilliant military strategy; I was merely following orders!"

Gilmans chuckled and said, "Qianqi is too modest!" Then he lowered his voice and asked, "How is General Feifeng's health?"

Ye Tianlong was taken aback and replied, "Good! Good!" Only after saying this did he realize something was amiss. Why was this guy asking this question in such a tone? Did he know something?

Sure enough, Gilmans glanced coldly at Yuna, who was whispering with Marco Bwe, and said softly, "Thousand Riders, don't blame me for being nosy, but be careful of the Third Prince. He used to pursue General Feifeng, but was rejected, so he's particularly interested in the men around her."

Ye Tianlong was secretly alarmed, but said, "Lord Zuo Zai is overthinking it. I'm just a lowly general under General Feifeng."

Gilmans chuckled and said meaningfully, "Is that so? General Feifeng gave you her Feifeng Mansion to live in, and even had her closest Golden Phoenix Guard captain, Liu Qin'er, accompany you. Is all this just because of your merit this time?"

Ye Tianlong was speechless, only able to smile bitterly. He cursed inwardly, "That old bastard, so many schemes!" However, he also secretly regretted being so ostentatious. It seemed that many observant people had already discovered the secret. Thinking of Yu Fengwu's unparalleled beauty, he knew how many rivals in the capital were sharpening their knives, hating him to the bone.

Thinking of this, Ye Tianlong couldn't help but look up at Yuna, thinking that if this man were among them, it would truly give him a headache.

Lost in thought, Ye Tianlong didn't hear what Jeff was saying. At this moment, Jeff put his arm around Ye Tianlong's shoulder, and, feigning friendliness, whispered intimately in his ear, "It's settled then. Those girls from the Dark Fragrance Pavilion are delicate, tender, sweet, and beautiful—guaranteed to satisfy you! Hahaha!"

A strange glint flashed in Yuna's eyes as he looked at them, and Ye Tianlong suddenly snapped out of his reverie. Just as he was about to ask further, a golden bell rang.

Eight heavily armored, imposing palace guards, wielding axes and halberds, emerged from the back hall and stood in two rows before the throne steps.

The crowd quickly lined up in two rows, bowing and kneeling, awaiting the emperor's arrival. Ye Tianlong was naturally last in line, but unlike the other ministers, he didn't behave himself. He slightly raised his head, stealing glances at the commotion above.

The sound of jade pendants jingled. Eight beautiful and graceful women emerged solemnly, all dressed in colorful embroidered robes and wearing gold headdresses signifying their status as female officials. Ye Tianlong knew they were palace ladies-in-waiting, responsible for the emperor's official documents.

After the ladies-in-waiting stood before the throne, they announced in unison, "The Emperor has arrived!"

Footsteps followed, and Emperor Andre III, who had ruled Fast for nearly sixty years, wearing a yellow robe with dragon motifs and a tall crown, walked to the dragon throne and sat down. Ye Tianlong was greatly disappointed; His Majesty was actually an unremarkable old man, far removed from the imposing portraits he had displayed outside.

Andre III said in a gentle voice, "Rise, my lords!"

The crowd shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times before rising to their feet.

A female official standing to the left of the throne stepped forward and asked sweetly, "Where is Ye Tianlong?"

Ye Tianlong hurriedly stepped forward and curtsied, saying, "Your humble servant Ye Tianlong greets Your Majesty!"

"Raise your head!"

"Yes!" Ye Tianlong looked up and met the emperor's gaze, who was carefully scrutinizing him.

The emperor's eyes lit up as he looked at Ye Tianlong, and he nodded repeatedly, praising, "Such a talent! Tianlong, you have truly not disappointed me!" Ye Tianlong was completely taken aback that the emperor would address him by his given name so directly, and with such familiarity as if addressing a nephew

. Moreover, he faintly saw a hint of affection in the emperor's eyes, which puzzled him greatly, but he was also very pleased and quickly thanked him. At this moment, the ministers standing to the side were even more unsettled, all astonished by the emperor's special treatment of Ye Tianlong.

Yuna and Marco Bwe exchanged glances, both of their eyes flashing with murderous intent. Meanwhile, Gilmans became even more determined to win over Ye Tianlong. Although he didn't yet understand why His Majesty treated Ye Tianlong differently, he knew that if Ye Tianlong joined his ranks, he would have more power to contend with the Third Prince.

After a long series of formalities, Ye Tianlong received the seal of the Commander of Ten Thousand Cavalry and the medal of an Imperial Baron from the Emperor. Gilmans knew perfectly well that His Majesty's purpose in bestowing the title of Baron upon Ye Tianlong was to ensure his smooth ascension to the position of Governor of the Eastern Capital. So he exchanged a knowing glance with Jeff and waited patiently for the scribe to announce Ye Tianlong's appointment.

Unexpectedly, the female scribe did not announce Ye Tianlong's appointment as the Eastern Governor. Instead, the female official in charge of the seal read out His Majesty's imperial edict:

"Ye Tianlong, the newly appointed Commander of Ten Thousand Cavalry of the Fast Empire, is appointed as the welcoming envoy, leading five hundred cavalrymen to depart in three days to meet the wedding procession from the Wu'an Kingdom."

Gilmans was startled. What was going on? Had the Emperor changed his mind again? His gaze fell on Yuna on the other side, and he immediately understood.

Looking at the strange smile on Yuna's lips, Gilmans couldn't help but think, "After all, they are father and son. My influence over the Emperor is less than Yuna's."

※ ※ ※

Leaving the Palace of No Joy, Ye Tianlong looked at Liu Qin'er beside him, her face beaming with joy. He was also extremely surprised. He never expected to be granted a title. Fast Empire implemented a strict hierarchical system. The lowest class was naturally slaves, then commoners, knights, nobles, and royalty. There were significant differences between each class, and people of different statuses possessed vastly different rights.

Becoming a nobleman meant entering high society, exempt from taxes and corvée labor, and even if one broke the law, the title protected one's freedom. Aside from a few serious crimes like treason, they were rarely punished. Therefore, being granted a noble title was a knight's goal; the glory was unparalleled, almost like ascending to heaven in one step.

Although Ye Tianlong hadn't reached that level, his joy was indescribable. He didn't care about welcoming the envoy in three days; within Fast's borders, with his troops, it would be easy.

Ye Tianlong was chatting and laughing with Liu Qin'er, eagerly preparing to mount his horse. Unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred. A large cloud of steam gathered above his head, and before he could understand what was happening, it transformed into a water sphere with a "whoosh," like a bucket of cold water being poured over his head.

Soaked to the bone, Ye Tianlong looked up at the cloudless sky, utterly bewildered. Liu Qin'er beside him was already doubled over with laughter. The palace guards also smiled secretly when they saw Ye Tianlong, who was soaked to the bone, but they were also on high alert, afraid that the little devil would come after them.

Wiping the water droplets from his face, Ye Tianlong asked dumbly, "Qin'er, what's going on? It's not raining, where did this water come from?"

Liu Qin'er took out a silk handkerchief to wipe Ye Tianlong while laughing, "What do you think it is?"

Ye Tianlong stamped his foot, half angrily saying, "If I knew, would I be asking you?"

"My dear young master, just now a very powerful magician played a joke on you!" Liu Qin'er said coquettishly, "Only someone proficient in water magic would send this light rain when the sky is clear."

Ye Tianlong turned his head and looked around, saying fiercely, "Who, who, who? Which boring guy? I'll catch him and teach him a lesson!"

Liu Qin'er tugged at his wet clothes, saying, "Do you think she'll let you catch her? Be careful she doesn't hit you again! You'd better go back and change your clothes!"

Ye Tianlong knew that his skills were not enough to find out who had tricked him, so he could only accept his bad luck and rode off with a belly full of anger.

After riding a few steps, Ye Tianlong suddenly pulled on the reins, turned to look at Liu Qin'er, whose

lips curled into a smile, and said, "Seeing how happy you are, you know, don't you! Tell me quickly, who is it?" Liu Qin'er's eyes darted around, and she nodded with a smile, saying, "You only just thought of asking! As far as I know, there's only one person in the capital who does this kind of thing, and she is..."

"Ye Tianlong!" A loud shout interrupted Liu Qin'er's words, and Ye Tianlong and Liu Qin'er turned around in astonishment to look in the direction of the voice. They saw a tall, long-legged young nobleman striding towards them, glaring at Ye Tianlong with a face full of resentment.

Ye Tianlong looked at the newcomer's bloodshot eyes and haphazardly tied blond hair with confusion, and was about to ask a question when he suddenly heard Liu Qin'er exclaim in surprise, "Cliff?!"

Cliff forced a smile at Liu Qin'er, "Miss Liu, hello!" Then he turned to look at Ye Tianlong, his eyes shooting out deep hatred, "Ye Tianlong, you... hello..." The voice seemed to be coming out from between his teeth.

Before Liu Qin'er could react to what was happening, Cliff suddenly removed his leather gloves and threw them in front of Ye Tianlong's horse. He then drew a short sword and tossed it aside, the blade embedding itself precisely in the gloves.

Staring at the still-trembling sword, Liu Qin'er dismounted, her heart sinking. This was a common practice in Fast, a signal to challenge someone. Fast, a nation founded on war, had a strong martial spirit, and heroic duels were highly popular. Over the years, this had developed into a set of rules for duels. The empire prohibited unauthorized duels and opposed duels between different classes. While one could refuse a challenge with a good reason, for a hot-blooded young man, evasion was seen as cowardice, and one would lose face in the future. Although she didn't yet understand why Cliff challenged Ye Tianlong, she figured he wouldn't back down.

As expected, Ye Tianlong glanced at the short sword on the ground in front of his horse, a flash of anger in his eyes. This sudden challenge left him bewildered. He dismounted, picked up the sword, and walked to Cliff, asking in confusion, "Why?"

Cliff glanced bitterly at Liu Qin'er, who was looking at Ye Tianlong with concern, then steeled himself and mocked, "Look at you, like a drowning dog, so pitiful! What? Are you scared?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Qin'er frowned, about to speak in displeasure, when Ye Tianlong, already furious at being mocked, laughed in exasperation, saying repeatedly, "Fine! Fine!"

Seeing the situation turning sour, Liu Qin'er was about to speak when Ye Tianlong suddenly snapped the short sword in two, throwing one half at Cliff's feet and coldly staring at him.

Cliff said, "Fine!" Liu Qin'er paled; Ye Tianlong's actions meant he not only accepted the duel but was also going to fight to the death.

She couldn't help but exclaim, "Tianlong!"

Cliff gazed intently at Liu Qin'er's beautiful face, which haunted his dreams, for a while, only to find that she didn't even glance at him. Heartbroken, he abruptly turned to Ye Tianlong and said, "Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, Guanju Tower." With that, he turned and hurried away.

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Chapter Six of the Romantic Continent: The Newly Appointed Baron

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