His words sent towering waves surging through the hearts of every minister present.
"This duke"?
Under normal circumstances, it was a perfectly ordinary way to refer to oneself. But in this setting, it was utterly outrageous. One guess after another surfaced in everyone's mind.
What did the Duke of Wei mean by that?
Was the Duke of Wei abandoning the Imperial Faction?
But why? Was it just because of the Left Wei Guard?
Judging by the Duke of Wei's expression, he didn't seem to be acting.
At that moment, Ji Ruxue looked down at Mo Yunxuan's narrowed eyes and felt as if thorns were pricking her back.
Ever since she had ascended the throne and used the National Destiny to break through to the Body Integration Realm, no one in the Imperial Dynasty had made her feel this way.
A Golden Core cultivator... Hmm? Since when had he broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm?
Ji Ruxue's brows, which she had furrowed just for show, drew together even tighter. She realized that something seemed to have slipped beyond her control.
But the arrow was already on the string; she had no choice but to let it fly. And while she was still thinking,
Jun Tianxiao had already stepped forward again. He raised a hand, pointed furiously at Mo Yunxuan, and roared:
"Outrageous! Duke of Wei! Is this how you speak to His Majesty? How is that any different from the insubordination you just accused others of?"
After saying this, Jun Tianxiao turned and bowed to Ji Ruxue. "Your Majesty, I ask you to punish the Duke of Wei for his disrespect!"
Ji Ruxue watched Jun Tianxiao jump about. Already annoyed by Mo Yunxuan's sudden change in attitude, she glared at him fiercely.
But Jun Tianxiao was still bowing and didn't see it. Mo Yunxuan, who had been looking directly at the Empress, saw it clearly.
He didn't dwell on it, though. He merely thought to himself, It seems the Empress and Jun Tianxiao have an unusual relationship!
At the same time, the pressure of Mo Yunxuan's Early Nascent Soul cultivation suddenly burst forth.
It bore down on Jun Tianxiao, who was still holding his bow. Caught off guard, the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator was instantly pressed flat against the ground.
The first to react was Jun Tianxiao himself. He struggled desperately to push himself up,
but no matter what he did, he couldn't rise against the pressure. All he could do was roar furiously:
"Mo Yunxuan! You son of a bitch, how dare you treat me like this in the Imperial Court! Do you have any respect for the rules? For His Majesty?"
The palace guards watched Jun Tianxiao struggle and howl, wanting to rush forward and help him.
But they were also cowed by the power of the Wei State Duke Mansion. Hesitating, they could only look to the Empress.
The Empress hadn't yet shaken off her earlier irritation when she saw what was happening now.
A trace of murderous intent flashed through her eyes. It was unclear whether it was directed at Jun Tianxiao, Mo Yunxuan, or both.
But in the end, she did nothing. She also ignored the palace guards' questioning glances.
The ministers around them were far from so composed. One after another, they stepped forward to plead:
"Duke of Wei, Marquis Anle only spoke out of turn for a moment. Please be the bigger man and let him off like a fart!"
"That's right! Everyone in the Imperial Court knows Marquis Anle is just a wastrel who eats and waits for death. Why lower yourself to quarrel with him?"
When Mo Yunxuan heard Jun Tianxiao yelling at him about whether he understood the rules, he froze for a moment.
Then he looked at the ministers crowding around to placate him, the silent Empress, and Jun Tianxiao lying on the ground, raging helplessly.
Suddenly, he laughed from the bottom of his heart. The laughter brought him a sense of release.
He seemed to understand what Wang Yuan had meant earlier when he said, "Your word is the rule of the Wei State Duke Mansion."
Jun Tianxiao, at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, was being crushed to the ground like a dead dog before Mo Yunxuan, who was at Early Nascent Soul. He couldn't even move.
Though Mo Yunxuan himself was a little nobody before the Empress at the Early Integrated Body Stage,
she had to consider the two hundred thousand Imperial City Imperial Guard troops under the direct command of the Wei State Duke Mansion. She couldn't simply make a move against him.
So this was strength! This was power!
At that moment, Mo Yunxuan's spirit soared. It was as if there were no clouds left in all heaven and earth to veil his heart.
But after savoring the feeling, he still withdrew his pressure. His cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul Realm, three Great Realms below the Empress, who was at the Body Integration Realm.
If Ji Ruxue truly decided to make a move against him, he had no way to protect himself.
So this wasn't the time to completely fall out with the Empress. He had to endure...
He only needed to bare his fangs a little, letting everyone know that the new Duke of Wei wasn't some green, wet-behind-the-ears boy who would meekly give way to anyone.
If he pushed things any further, he'd only get the opposite of what he wanted.
When the ministers saw Mo Yunxuan withdraw his pressure, they all breathed a huge sigh of relief and returned to their original places, as if nothing had happened.
But their eyes held a little more seriousness when they looked at Mo Yunxuan. The contempt they had once shown him was gone.
The instant the pressure disappeared, Jun Tianxiao scrambled to his feet, his face flushed red. Whether from the fall or from anger, it was hard to tell.
He roared at Mo Yunxuan:
"Mo Yunxuan! Are you out of your mind?"
"All I did was impeach you! And you actually humiliated me in front of His Majesty! You deserve to die!"
Still not satisfied, he turned to Ji Ruxue and gave her a casual cupped-hand salute.
"Your Majesty, Mo Yunxuan's actions are outright treason, showing contempt for the sovereign. He's no different from a rebel and should be executed..."
Watching Jun Tianxiao's savage expression, Ji Ruxue thought with a sigh, He really isn't the same person anymore... He may be a bit stupid, but he's still useful.
She forcibly suppressed the murderous intent in her heart, though a trace of it still flickered in her eyes from time to time.
But Jun Tianxiao caught even that fleeting trace with uncanny precision.
His heart immediately settled. Just as I thought! The Empress wants Mo Yunxuan dead, just like I do!
Hah, Mo Yunxuan, so what if you command two hundred thousand Imperial City Imperial Guard troops? Today, I'll make you lose fifty thousand of the Left Wei Guard first...
Wait, weren't we supposed to seize Mo Yunxuan's military authority today?
How did things end up like this?
Jun Tianxiao suddenly realized that because of him, the Imperial Court session had gone completely off course. No wonder Ji Ruxue hadn't helped him...
Mo Yunxuan watched Jun Tianxiao suddenly fall silent, then turned to look at Ji Ruxue.
He noticed the murderous intent that flickered in her eyes from time to time and had just begun to feel glad that he'd stopped in time,
when he realized Ji Ruxue wasn't looking at him at all. She was staring at Jun Tianxiao instead.
His expression immediately turned strange. Could Ji Ruxue and Jun Tianxiao actually be on bad terms?
That doesn't make sense! They were scheming to seize my military authority together at the start! And now they've fallen out? How could that be?
Or is there something else going on?
But there was no time to think about it now. He could only put it aside for the moment and investigate once he got back.
Mo Yunxuan cupped his hands toward Ji Ruxue.
"Your Majesty, Marquis Anle just slandered the reputation of the Wei State Duke Mansion. I only lashed out because I was angered. Please forgive me."
Hearing Mo Yunxuan's apology, Ji Ruxue felt deeply uncomfortable.
An apology was one thing, but what did he mean by "this duke"?
And that indifferent expression of his—did he really look sorry?
In the end, Ji Ruxue kept her thoughts to herself and said coolly:
"Never mind. The Duke of Wei was only acting in anger. I'll waive your punishment this time. Take care not to repeat it."
After saying this, she glanced at Jun Tianxiao on the other side, then spoke again:
"But you are, after all, fellow officials. Duke of Wei, you should still apologize."
Mo Yunxuan didn't object to Ji Ruxue's request. He turned to Jun Tianxiao, cupped his hands, and smiled.
"Marquis Anle, I was too impulsive this time. Please forgive me."
Before you continue