The emperor took in everyone's reactions.
They were all old foxes.
How could they not know what was on their minds?
The emperor said coldly, "What, are the Second Progenitor, Prince Wuning, and I—not enough to put your minds at ease between the three of us?"
The hall fell silent.
No one answered.
Seeing this.
The emperor sneered. "My lords, I know what you are thinking."
"You merely believe that whether it is Prince Wuning or the Second Progenitor, even with me included, three Half-Saints still cannot stop the fierce tiger in the south."
"You merely believe that when the Southern Army reaches the city gates, I will no longer be able to sit securely upon this Dragon Throne, and Great Zhou's realm will not be saved."
"Some of you have even planned your escape routes."
"Open the city gates and offer up your lands, preserving your clans' foundations."
The expression of a Divine Mansion Realm patriarch from one of the northern noble families shifted slightly.
Prime Minister Wen still had his eyes lowered, his expression calm.
The emperor stared at them all.
"Am I right?"
No one in the hall responded.
The silence had already provided the answer.
Jiang Wuyang rested a hand on his long saber, his gaze icy.
Jiang Wuji, meanwhile, sat upon the Dragon Throne with his eyes closed, as though none of this had anything to do with him.
The emperor was not angered.
He merely said indifferently, "There are some things I originally did not wish to say. But now, it seems that unless I reveal my final trump card, I fear your hearts will never be at ease."
"A final trump card?"
Everyone looked toward the emperor in unison.
Waiting for him to continue.
"What the proclamation says is true."
The moment those