Only after unifying the world did I realize that immortals existed in this world.

In an instant, the relaxed atmosphere of the entire banquet vanished.

Several officials who had tried to curry favor with the cultivator couldn't help but change their expressions.

What happened?

Is there something wrong with the monks?

What is His Majesty thinking?

A stern-faced civil official standing beside Qi Xiu spoke up: "Your Majesty! Yesterday, Envoy Shi caused trouble while drunk at Baiwei Restaurant, arguing with the common people, causing three to faint, and uttering wild words, committing a grave offense of disrespect! When Lord Qi attempted to arrest him last night, he resisted with force..."

"Oh?"

"Is that so?"

Xie Cangrong narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, quietly watching Lu Junfeng below. Although his face was gentle and showed no emotion, the familiar sense of oppression once again weighed on his shoulders.

Lu Junfeng twitched the corner of his mouth. Good news had come from Liu Bingxuan and his junior sister, but he still couldn't figure out what the emperor was thinking.

This time, Lu Junfeng completely humbled himself, pleading repeatedly, "Your Majesty, Junior Brother Shi expended too much magic power during the rainfall. I allowed him to go out for leisure and rest, but he unexpectedly spoke carelessly after drinking. Your Majesty, he's just short-tempered; he meant no harm!"

On Qi Xiu's side, another minister spoke up: "Your Majesty, Envoy Shi has committed the crimes of fighting, disrespect, and resisting arrest. Our Great Xia governs according to law, and he should be punished with caning and beheading according to the law."

"Lord Zheng, you are mistaken!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a minister beside Liu Bingxuan said, "Your Majesty, Envoy Shi is a foreigner who is unfamiliar with our laws and has therefore committed an offense. Perhaps we could show leniency!"

As soon as he finished speaking, one of the ministers who had just been trying to curry favor with Lu Junfeng and his entourage chimed in, "Your Majesty, what Lord Li said makes sense. Envoy Shi is a meritorious official of our Great Xia. His act of bringing rain to save the people is a great achievement. If he were to lose his life for this, it would surely discourage people!"

The stern-faced official beside Qi Xiu remained unyielding, saying, "The law is the law. The law is impartial, and those who violate it will be punished. The law must be strictly enforced. Does merit mean one can disregard the law? Within the borders of our Great Xia, everyone, regardless of their status, must abide by the law! Your Majesty, do not forget the difficulty of enacting laws in our dynasty, and how many people have shed blood and sacrificed their lives for it..." His voice suddenly faltered, as if realizing he had misspoke, and he subconsciously looked up at the king on the throne, whose smile remained unchanged.

Everyone fell silent.

Xie Cangrong squinted, taking in the behavior of the officials during the banquet. He said calmly, "The officials' commotion has made the envoy laugh."

Lu Junfeng lowered his head: "I wouldn't dare."

Xie Cangrong glanced at Qi Xiu, who had remained silent throughout: "Envoy, our Great Xia is a nation founded on law. No matter who it is, once they break the law, there will be no leniency. Being drunk is no excuse, having rendered meritorious service is no excuse, and ignorance is no excuse. Those who commit crimes should be punished!"

Lu Junfeng could only reply, "Yes!"

Xie Cangrong asked with a smile, "I am puzzled. Where did I go wrong? Did I fail to take good care of the envoys? That this caused Envoy Shi to harbor resentment and thus behave improperly in public?"

Lu Junfeng suddenly looked up: "It is not Your Majesty's fault, but my junior brother's narrow-mindedness. He misunderstood the matter of praying for rain, which led to a quarrel with the people."

Xie Cangrong then asked, "I have never publicized this achievement. Now that it has been brought up, I only wish to ask, what is the envoy's opinion on this matter?"

Lu Junfeng's mind raced, and he replied, "Your Majesty is a wise ruler who cares deeply for the common people. He does not seek immortality or magic, but only desires for the people to live in peace and prosperity. If it weren't for Your Majesty's request, why would we have gone to Shengzhou to pray for rain? We have selfish motives, but Your Majesty is magnanimous."

"Although this rain was caused by us, it is not our achievement. Your Majesty's subjects should attribute it to Your Majesty, which is only right. This is actually the fault of my junior brother, who was arrogant and ambitious."

Lu Junfeng and his ilk were more like mercenaries; they had no concern for the common people. This rainfall was merely a test transaction with the emperor, and they were only responsible to the emperor.

They won't come down unless the emperor invites them.

It is only natural that the people are grateful to the emperor.

Those who implement these policies can choose to be thanked by the people or not.

As long as no one mentions it, everyone can maintain a respectable appearance.

The emperor never personally took credit for the rain, nor did he ever claim responsibility for it. It was Shi Yu who vied for it, laying everything bare, thus losing all dignity.

Xie Cangrong's casual question, though polite and appropriate, subtly pushed Lu Junfeng to explain and concede. They had originally contributed credit, but now they spoke of everything, praising the other party and blaming themselves. They were too ashamed to mention their own achievements anymore.

Xie Cangrong waved his hand and smiled, "The envoy is joking. I didn't send the rain, so what merit is there in it?"

"Envoy Shi is straightforward, and it's understandable that he might feel displeased upon hearing the people's discussions. But it's nothing serious; it was just a misunderstanding. I am not a narrow-minded person, and I don't want you envoys to think I'm petty. Let's forgive this offense of disrespect."

Lu Junfeng had previously called Shi Yu "narrow-minded," but Xie Cangrong's words now present a stark contrast.

Shi Yu is narrow-minded, but I am not.

You can't silence a person's mouth by force.

The law cannot always protect authority.

Xie Cangrong did not use his domineering power to break the law; instead, he analyzed the matter step by step, presented it logically and with evidence, and then used human relationships to smoothly resolve the issue.

By generously pardoning Shi Yu's disrespect, no one perceived him as weak; instead, they saw him as kind-hearted. Even some cultivators thought the emperor was truly reasonable and magnanimous, while Shi Yu seemed far too petty.

Upon hearing this, Lu Junfeng quickly bowed and thanked him, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"However..."

Xie Cangrong then changed his tone: "The law is the law. I don't take a few drunken words to heart. But the dignity of the laws of my Great Xia is inviolable. Envoy Shi's crimes of causing trouble, fighting, and resisting arrest... shall all be punished according to the law."

He looked at Qi Xiu and asked, "What does Qi Qing think?"

Throughout the entire ordeal, neither Liu Bingxuan nor Qi Xiu spoke or participated. However, both sides were engaged in a verbal battle for them.

Qi Xiu remained calm, rose and bowed respectfully upon hearing this, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Xie Cangrong smiled, then asked Lu Junfeng, "What does the envoy think?"

Lu Junfeng respectfully replied, "I leave it to Your Majesty to decide."

Xie Cangrong nodded and said to Lu Junfeng in a suggestive tone, "Our dynasty's system is different from that of the Envoy's Immortal Land. I hope the Envoy will understand."

Lu Junfeng quickly assured him, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, this will never happen again."

"Hahaha~ Let's not talk about these unpleasant things! Let's talk about the affairs of immortals and spirits, so that we, the emperor and his subjects, can broaden our horizons."

"yes!"

……

After the banquet, Lu Junfeng was exhausted, both physically and mentally.

Chu Xiangyun, standing to the side, smiled and leaned closer as if seeking credit: "Well, Senior Brother, I told you! The Emperor agreed to spare Junior Brother Shi's life~"

"With me here, there's no problem~"

All of this is thanks to me!

Chu Xiangyun blinked and smiled at Lu Junfeng.

Lu Junfeng: ...

You idiot, trying to steal my SVP?

Is that because you pleaded for me?

Your senior brother is going to be a mine slave! And you're still bragging here?!