Zhang You considered himself an excellent persuader. In the imperial palace, though his position was low and he kept a low profile, he was one of Yan Qin's most trusted aides. He often represented his master in persuading the various factions within the palace, and nine times out of ten he succeeded. So he couldn't understand what he'd said to offend the Dragon King and make him suddenly change his attitude.
"Dragon King... I..." Zhang You instinctively dropped to his knees, then realized that wasn't how a persuader should act. But he didn't dare get up at once. "Every word I said was true. How could it be a lie?"
Gu Shenwei raised his right hand slightly. This time, Zhang You couldn't even stand. The sensation of ice needles stabbing into him had already sunk into his bones; just thinking about it was unbearable. "Mercy, Dragon King! Mercy! Let me think..."
Under the immense pressure, Zhang You's mind raced. At last, he understood where the holes in his argument lay: he had painted too rosy a picture of the future.
The Dragon King only had to say a few words proving that King Xiao's military accomplishments were fabricated, and Yan Qin could win the struggle at court. He would go from enemy to favorite, gain half the Western Regions, and even have a chance to become ruler of the grasslands. A windfall like that, getting so much in exchange for so little, was the dream of most people. Zhang You had persuaded many such people in the palace.
He had overlooked one thing. When Yan Qin's power reached the heavens, persuasion was just a formality. No matter how little the other party believed him, they usually had to accept it. But Eunuch Yan's authority had yet to reach Jade City.