"Hahaha, Zhang Yu, you didn't expect that, did you!"
A sudden burst of maniacal laughter shattered the deathly silence; the voice was hoarse yet filled with a sense of schadenfreude and vengeful excitement.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhang Heng, who had just been lying limp on the ground like a dead dog.
At that moment, he somehow mustered the strength to straighten his body.
A near-distorted smile spread across his face, his eyes fixed on Zhang Yu, burning with resentment and a renewed sense of confidence.
"You've schemed and plotted, currying favor with the Imperial Family, using their power to your advantage, thinking you can control everything and manipulate us like puppets?"
Zhang Heng's voice grew louder and louder, as if he wanted to vent all the fear and humiliation he had just felt:
But in the end, what can you do?
Do you really think His Your Majesty, and these Princes and Imperial Grandson, would make an enemy of the Zhang Family and my grandfather, a newly promoted Grandmaster, for the sake of an outsider like you?
He abruptly turned his head, his bloodshot eyes sweeping over Xiao Zhengfeng, Prince Jing, Prince Qi, and the others, his tone full of provocation and probing:
"Come on, who among you dares to touch me now?"
Who would dare to lay a finger on a hair on the head of the Zhang Family?
"Presumptuous!"
A black-armored guard shouted and was about to step forward.
"Get out of my way, all of you."
Almost simultaneously, Zhang Wanning also screamed.
The pitiful and fearful look that had been on her face had vanished, replaced by an arrogance similar to Zhang Heng's, a sharp and sarcastic reaction born from despair.
She struggled violently and actually managed to shake off the soldiers who were controlling her.
Perhaps because the soldiers were also greatly shaken by the news of the Grandmaster, they loosened their grip.
She stumbled and regained her balance, pointed at Zhang Yu's nose, and shrieked:
"Zhang Yu, weren't you being all high and mighty just now?"
What about now?
Grandpa is Grandmaster now, Grandmaster.
I'd like to see who dares to lay a finger on anyone from the Marquis Yong'an's Estate now.
You, and all of you--"
Her fingers moved away from Zhang Yu's face, sweeping over Prince Jing, Prince Qi, and the others with undisguised hatred.
Unlike Zhang Heng and Zhang Wanning's outburst of madness, Qin Xuehua, though her eyes also shone with excitement and the light of a new life, still retained a trace of rationality and composure due to her noble family Aristocratic Clan.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her turbulent emotions, and gracefully bowed to Emperor Xiao Zhengfeng, whose expression was unpredictable.
She performed a standard lady's curtsy, her voice regaining some of its usual composure, but beneath that composure lay an barely suppressed confidence, a self-assured belief that she had regained control:
"Your Majesty, the chaos and commotion in the Heavenly Prison today are all caused by your unfilial son, Zhang Yu."
This son is ambitious and rebellious, disobedient and unfilial, and he has even sown discord between the Imperial Family and my Zhang Family. He is truly the source of chaos.
Now this farce should come to an end, to avoid disturbing His Majesty's presence, and more importantly, to give His Your Majesty and the Imperial Family some dignity..."
She slightly raised her head, her gaze sweeping over Zhang Yu, who remained expressionless, and her tone became resolute:
"Your Majesty, I urge you to first imprison this rebellious son in the Heavenly Prison and keep him under strict guard."
After my lord and patriarch return to the capital, the truth will be determined by the Zhang Family rules and the laws of the court.
At that time, the Zhang Family will surely give His Your Majesty and the court a satisfactory explanation.
Her words were quite appropriate, both invoking the Zhang Family's rules and the imperial laws, and pointing out the fact that the Marquis and the old master were about to return to the capital.
She downplayed all the blame and attributed it all to her wicked son, Zhang Yu. Her words seemed respectful, but in reality, they were barbed and contained hidden threats.
My Zhang Family is no longer the ignorant bunch we once were. With Grandmaster in charge and 100,000 border troops as our support, the Imperial Family should know when to back down and give our Zhang Family a way out.
Qin Xuehua was absolutely certain.
She knew these members of the Imperial Family all too well; weighing the pros and cons was an instinct ingrained in their very being.
Zhang Yu may have exceptional abilities, and he may be of value to the Imperial Family, but all of that pales in comparison to a living, breathing Grandmaster Lineage that wields considerable military power.
She could almost foresee that Emperor Xiao Zhengfeng would seize the opportunity to step down, first taking Zhang Yu into custody, and then "discussing matters at length" with the Zhang Family.
Zhang Yu was destined to become the sacrifice to appease the Zhang Family's anger.
The best outcome would be to have his martial arts skills crippled and be handed over to the Zhang Family for disposal.
She could already imagine the miserable fate that Zhang Yu would suffer when Zhang Jiuling and Zhang Yuanfeng returned.
Thinking of this, the anger she felt seemed to subside considerably.
Her gaze toward Zhang Yu returned to that condescending, all-controlling indifference.
The atmosphere inside the Heavenly Prison became eerie due to the sudden "reversal" of events by the three members of the Zhang Family.
Zhang Heng and Zhang Wanning's clamor, and Qin Xuehua's seemingly polite but actually coercive words, were like invisible pressures falling on the shoulders of Xiao Zhengfeng and the Princes.
All eyes were focused on Emperor Xiao Zhengfeng.
Is it a matter of yielding to the situation and temporarily avoiding the Grandmaster's sharp edge?
Or... do you have other plans?
Throughout the entire ordeal, Zhang Yu, who had been called out, remained standing there quietly, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, his rhythm perfectly consistent.
He also wanted to see how the Imperial Family would decide.
The title of Grandmaster carries immense pressure.
The entire Heavenly Prison fell into an almost frozen silence.
The faces of the Imperial Family members, including Prince Jing and Prince Qi, were extremely solemn.
Faced with the intimidation of a newly promoted Grandmaster and the heavy military force held by the Zhang Family, even they felt a sense of heaviness in their breathing and found it difficult to make a decision.
Compromise would damage the dignity of the Imperial Family and could even unleash a dangerous force.
Taking a hard line means potentially clashing head-on with a Grandmaster and the forces he controls, with immeasurable costs.
In the midst of this suffocating silence and standoff, a cool and decisive figure unexpectedly moved.
It's Xiao Fenghua.
Princess Fenghua, who was known for her aloofness, walked straight up to Zhang Heng was laughing and shouting wildly, in full view of everyone.
Before anyone could react, she raised her arm—
"Smack!"
A crisp, resounding slap landed hard on Zhang Heng's face, which still bore the maniacal smile.
This slap not only made Zhang Heng's head tilt to the side, but also dispelled the hesitation and gloom in the hearts of the Imperial Family members.
Their stance is self-evident.
A very subtle ripple finally flickered across Zhang Yu's previously calm eyes.
He looked at Xiao Fenghua's profile, his gaze holding a hint of scrutiny and a subtle... approval.
This woman is decisive.
A glint of surprise flashed in Xiao Meier's peach blossom eyes.
She looked at her usually icy older sister, a knowing smile playing on her lips, and clicked her tongue in amazement:
"My sister, who's usually so arrogant and cold to everyone, seems to have really taken a liking to Zhang Yu... This slap is an attempt to force the entire Imperial Family onto Mr. Zhang's side."
"You... you dare to hit me?"
Zhang Heng covered his face and roared, "Xiao Fenghua, my grandfather is Grandmaster, a Grandmaster... How dare you...!"
"Smack!"
His response was another, even harder slap from Xiao Fenghua.
This slap caused Zhang Heng's mouth to bleed, and he staggered backward, half of his face swelling up.
Xiao Fenghua withdrew her hand and stood still, her phoenix eyes filled with frost, her voice clear yet icy cold, reaching everyone's ears clearly:
"Your grandfather was Grandmaster, that's true."
But your grandfather has more than one grandson, and more than one bloodline.
She slightly raised her chin, her innate royal air mingling with a chilling Killing Intent, and for a moment, her aura overwhelmed Zhang Heng.
"Guess what would happen if I killed you right now?"
"Would your grandfather, who just broke through to the Grandmaster, immediately and completely break ties with the Xiao Clan Imperial Family, who possess a vast empire and also have Grandmaster at their disposal, all for the sake of a good-for-nothing grandson like you?"
Her words, like icicles, pierced Zhang Heng's feverish mind and also struck the heart of Zhang Wanning, who was equally restless beside him.
Zhang Heng's roar caught in his throat, and his face instantly changed from a flushed red with anger to a deathly pale with terror.
Zhang Wanning's straightened back immediately went limp.
Xiao Fenghua was stating a cold, hard truth that they were unwilling to face but could not refute.
Below the level of Grandmaster, all are but ants.
These ants also include their worthless offspring.
In the eyes of Grandmaster, the continuation of the Lineage, the expansion of power, and the pursuit of the Great Dao are far more important than the lives of one or two unworthy descendants.
If they really die here today, Zhang Yuanfeng might be furious, or he might demand compensation.
However, we will not immediately launch a full-scale war against the Imperial Family, which possesses equally powerful individuals and has a deeper foundation, just for their sake.
At least, they won't seek revenge immediately or at any cost.
Once they understood this, Zhang Heng and Zhang Wanning felt as if their spines had been removed; their arrogance vanished instantly, leaving only a chilling sense of dread and lingering fear.
Their arrogance stems from their Grandmaster of power, but whether this "power" can truly be transformed into the "strength" to immediately save their lives remains a big question mark.
Xiao Fenghua used the most direct method to expose their false reliance.
Qin Xuehua's face also turned extremely ugly, but she was more composed and knew how to assess the situation better.
She didn't lose her composure like her children; instead, she took a deep breath and looked past Xiao Fenghua, who was making the move, directly at Emperor Xiao Zhengfeng, who had remained silent.
Qin Xuehua tried her best to keep her voice steady, but anyone could hear the tension and accusation in it:
"Your Majesty, is Princess Fenghua's action the imperial family's stance?"
She was sharp-tongued and had an aggressive air about her.
Qin Xuehua was convinced that the Xiao Family would not go to war with the Zhang Family for the sake of Zhang Yu, and that the Xiao Family would attribute Xiao Fenghua's slap to an individual act.