Holy Terra, Imperial Palace Banquet Hall
The banquet hall of the Terra Imperial Palace, grand and solemn, was situated in a resplendent hall deep within the Imperial Palace. This structure was not only a symbol of imperial power but also a historical legacy that had endured tens of thousands of years of vicissitudes. Giant stained-glass windows on both sides of the hall allowed faint golden sunlight to stream in, casting reflections on the marble floor, like holy light falling, showcasing Terra's glory and the Emperor's majesty.
In the center of the banquet hall, the long table was laden with delicacies from various star systems. Candles flickered gently, reflecting off the sparkling gold and silver cutlery and opulent fabrics.
Every detail was meticulously designed, displaying unparalleled luxury. Custodes, dressed in uniform golden power armour with bow ties, stood silently around the banquet hall, ready to serve the guests at any moment. The air was filled with a faint scent of spices, a unique blend from the Terra Imperial Palace, designed to make every guest feel an indescribable sense of peace and nobility.
Margaret, Fides, and the Battle Sisters were already standing at the table before the banquet began. Facing such a grand banquet, Fides seemed a little flustered. Although they had witnessed many grand scenes in this world, the solemnity and majesty of the Terra Imperial Palace still weighed heavily on her heart.
The Battle Sisters stood beside Fides, their faces serious and devout. Their armour shimmered in the candlelight, echoing the splendor of the Imperial Palace. This banquet was hosted by the Emperor himself, which for them was an unparalleled honor.
As time passed, the Aeldari guests also arrived. Yvraine and Visarch elegantly entered the banquet hall, their unique alien aura forming a stark contrast with the Imperial style.
Yvraine's light footsteps seemed to subtly influence the entire room's atmosphere; her every step appeared exceptionally composed.
Visarch, on the other hand, was calmer, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's, surveying his surroundings.
Of course, at Li Feng's request, Yvraine still wore shoes, which were Aeldari-style tall flat boots.
Although the animosity between the two races had once been deeply rooted, in the atmosphere of the Terra Imperial Palace, everything seemed temporarily set aside. Representatives of the Aeldari and the Imperium, uncharacteristically, shared a table and greeted each other.
At the head of the table sat two people... Li Feng and Sanguinius, wearing a "makima" disguise. Yvraine felt that the red-haired woman was not simple; all the Custodes were extremely respectful towards her. And behind those golden, vortex-like eyes, an endless power seemed to emanate.
Meanwhile, in the back kitchen, several large Custodes in golden power armour were using power halberds to skewer dried ducks and hang them in the roasting oven. As a famous dish from old Terra, a specialty from the imperial capital, how could there not be the renowned "Terra Imperial Palace Roast Duck"? After all, it was the Imperial Palace; even in this era of mass extinction, it was impossible for the Custodes not to procure ingredients from various Garden Worlds and agricultural worlds.
Soon, Captain-General Trajann arrived in the banquet hall with a cart and began carving the roast duck at the table... The Battle Sisters and the two Aeldari, seeing roast duck carved for the first time, watched with curiosity.
At this moment, looking at the dishes on the table, Li Feng was a little curious. Was he at the Terra Imperial Palace, or had he wandered into the Da Dong restaurant next door? Soon the roast duck was served, and Trajann placed small plates with the duck's head and tail in front of Li Feng and Sanguinius, signifying "a complete beginning and end."
The duck was carved into 108 "clove leaves." Li Feng was very curious how Trajann managed to carve it so perfectly with a power halberd... Perhaps this was skill; maybe one day he would carve a Greater Daemon of Chaos into 108 pieces.
As the roast duck was served, Li Feng habitually... picked up a lotus leaf bun, rolled five slices of duck meat with shredded green onions and cucumber strips, dipped in sweet bean sauce, rolled it up in his hand... then offered it to Sanguinius's mouth.
Sanguinius also revealed a satisfied smile, turning her head to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, then opening her small mouth to gently bite... "Om..."
Seeing this scene, Fides almost crushed her chopsticks, thinking, "I shouldn't be in the car, I should be under the car." Meanwhile, Yvraine and Visarch, on the other side, were like Granny Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, having never seen such a thing before. They Aeldari had always believed that humans only ate corpse starch and that strange ant-beef canned meat.
This time, seeing the table full of delicacies in the human Imperial Palace, they were both a little curious about the taste. Although Aeldari diets were usually vegetarian and light, trying something new occasionally wasn't bad.
Yvraine first picked up a piece of "mustard duck web" and put it in her mouth. The sudden mustard flavor immediately rushed into Yvraine's nasal cavity, causing her to cough involuntarily, but the taste of the duck web and mustard seasoning blended perfectly.
Seeing Yvraine starting to eat, Sanguinius leaned her head close to Li Feng's ear:
"Why did you bring an Aeldari back? Are you interested in her?"
"No, that's Thirteenth Consort... She might be our future daughter-in-law."
Hearing this, Sanguinius pinched Li Feng's thigh hard: "Get lost! 'Our'? I'm not even married yet! Even if she's a daughter-in-law, she's that skeleton's daughter-in-law. I have no intention of being the mother of 20 problem children right now. If you like them, you can be their Stepfather."
Fides watched Li Feng and Sanguinius laughing so happily, and for some reason, the food she put in her mouth tasted bitter... While Grand Sister Margaret, next to Fides, kept serving her dishes, trying to soothe the frustrated girl with food... After dinner, Throne Room.
After the banquet, Custodes Soldiers orderly guided the accompanying Battle Sisters and Aeldari envoys to their respective rooms. Inside the solemn and mysterious Terra Imperial Palace, the lighting was soft, the corridors quiet, and the atmosphere remained full of solemnity and majesty.
At the same time, Li Feng walked alone with Sanguinius through the long corridors of the Imperial Palace. Their footsteps were light, and they remained silent, but a strange understanding permeated the air between them.
Finally, the two arrived before a massive golden gate and stopped. The gate was made of pure gold, its surface carved with countless intricate patterns and symbolic motifs. The carvings on the door were like a flowing story, depicting the Emperor's great deeds throughout human history—grand battles, glorious victories, and the heroic figures of those remembered heroes, all depicted vividly.
Li Feng's gaze was involuntarily drawn to these bas-reliefs; each pattern seemed to narrate the vicissitudes and glory of Terra's history. Those lifelike warriors, wielding weapons, protected their Emperor.
In the distant tower, the eternal flame, symbolizing humanity's hope, burned. And in the very center of the door, a supremely majestic figure was carved—the Emperor himself, raising his hands, seemingly leading endless interstellar armies toward the future.
"By the way, how long are you going to maintain this appearance?" Li Feng asked, still feeling a little apprehensive looking at this "makima" disguise.
Hearing Li Feng's words, Sanguinius turned around: "You don't like this one? I'll change..."
Sanguinius raised her hand and snapped her fingers, then golden light enveloped her entire body. Soon, she transformed into a black-haired, long-haired girl in a Soubu High School uniform... "Yukino Yukinoshita."
"How about this one, Li Feng-kun?"
Then another snap, and golden light appeared again. This time she turned into a blonde hot girl... "Marin Kitagawa"... Another snap... "Koyomi Yamashiro"... "Wife, you know, compared to Koyomi Yamashiro, I actually prefer Tenka Izumo..."
Sanguinius kicked Li Feng's shin, then her appearance reverted to her original form, and she angrily said, "Damn it! What's wrong with me liking Koyomi Yamashiro?!"
As the great door opened, Li Feng gradually saw the Golden Throne within the hall... and a coffee station next to it, along with an office desk... and a pile of scrap metal (Li Feng's car).
As Li Feng entered the Throne Room, he saw Trajann pouring a pot of tofu, cabbage, and duck bone soup into a metal bucket, connected to a tube inserted into the Emperor's mouth.
Li Feng came in and began looking around, admiring the vast, empty Throne Room and the "skeleton" on it. Li Feng had always been curious: was the Golden Throne made of pure gold? He wondered if he should take a bite to test if the gold was real... Seeing Li Feng getting closer, the Emperor, who was drinking soup at the moment, immediately grew anxious: "Stop! Don't come any closer!"
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