Fang Liang couldn't understand. How had those people who'd supported him suddenly turned against him in an instant? Hadn't he only said a couple of things offhand?
Hadn't he always been like this? What was the big deal?
At worst, he could apologize later!
What was there to make such a fuss about?
What right did these people have to treat him like this?
Mo Yunxuan sat in the seat of honor, looking down at Fang Liang's expression as it shifted from anger to panic and helplessness, then to indignation. Even a master of Sichuan opera face-changing couldn't match his talent.
If the occasion had been more appropriate, Mo Yunxuan would have laughed out loud. Fortunately, he remembered that he was here to take over the Imperial City Imperial Guard, and managed to hold it in.
It was precisely because the officers present were sufficiently loyal that he didn't want to disappoint them over how Fang Liang's matter was handled.
Unfortunately, Mo Yunxuan had been an introvert in his previous life. He wasn't lacking in emotional intelligence, but he certainly wasn't especially good at it, and he'd never had to deal with such twists and turns before.
If the punishment was too light, the cost of making a mistake would be too low, and it wouldn't serve as a sufficient warning.
If it was too harsh, he would leave everyone with the impression that he was cruel and heartless.
Mo Yunxuan hesitated for a moment, then ultimately chose the latter.
On one hand, he had only just taken over the Imperial City Imperial Guard. As the saying went, a new official had to light three fires upon taking office.
Even if the officers had misgivings, they would be more tolerant than usual.
On the other hand, Fang Liang's loyalty was far too low. Just now, it had plunged below 30 in an instant, and it was still falling.
Given that, how could Mo Yunxuan possibly let him off? How could he possibly use him?
Most importantly, these officers' opinions didn't really matter.
There were only a little over two hundred officers present. In other words, he only needed two years to replace all the mid- and high-ranking officers in the Imperial City Imperial Guard.
Of course, that didn't mean Mo Yunxuan didn't care at all what the mid- and high-ranking officers thought. He simply didn't need to take their opinions too seriously.
To Mo Yunxuan, his confidence would always come from the system and from the Elite Vanguard Soldiers, who were one hundred percent loyal.
Thus, his gaze sharpened as he looked at Fang Liang, and he said in an even tone:
"Gao Lan, Qiao Heng, Fang Liang, the Commander of Left Wei Guard, refuses to follow the Wei State Duke Mansion's command. That is tantamount to rebellion."
"Fang Liang is hereby stripped of his position as Commander of Left Wei Guard. His cultivation will be abolished immediately, and he will be expelled from the camp. If he dares to resist, kill him without mercy."
Hearing this cold order, the officers of the Imperial City Imperial Guard were stunned. Only two of them approached Fang Liang without hesitation.
These two were Gao Lan and Qiao Heng, the very men Mo Yunxuan had named. Both were personal guards at the middle stage of Spirit Transformation, with cultivation equal to Fang Liang's. Taking him into custody would be no trouble at all.
In the silent room, the footsteps coming from outside sounded as if they were pounding in everyone's hearts.
Fang Liang watched as the two men drew closer. Cold sweat kept running down his forehead and dripping to the floor.
Meng Qianxue stood up without hesitation as well. Zhang Tong had already been poised to act; when he saw her move, he quickly joined her in helping Gao Lan and Qiao Heng surround Fang Liang.
Chen Wei, who had only just come to his senses, pressed his lips together. Even so, he didn't try to persuade Mo Yunxuan to withdraw the order.
Instead, he rose and stepped in front of Mo Yunxuan, shielding him to prevent Fang Liang from making a desperate final attack and causing an accident.
Mo Yunxuan, seated high in the place of honor, gave Chen Wei's conduct a quiet nod and couldn't help sighing inwardly.
He'd thought one of the officers might plead for Fang Liang. He hadn't expected them all to make their decisions so decisively!
Tsk, tsk, tsk. What had Fang Liang done all this time?
Was he really so hated?
Not a single person had pleaded for him.
Surely he hadn't truly become a pariah just because of one careless remark?
Mo Yunxuan watched Fang Liang, now surrounded, with interest. Fang Liang had been somewhat flustered at first, but as he looked at the four people surrounding him, he couldn't help giving a bitter smile. "I never thought that after all these years of working for the Wei State Duke Mansion, I'd end up like this."
Hearing Fang Liang's words, Zhang Tong looked disdainful and immediately retorted:
"Give me a break, Fang Liang! If the Old Duke hadn't thought you were talented, would you have received so many resources?"
"There are plenty of officers at the middle stage of Spirit Transformation in the Left and Right Xiao Guards. Why do you think you were made Commander of Left Wei Guard? Did you never stop to think about it?"
Meng Qianxue gave a cold snort and said icily, "Fang Liang, surrender. We were colleagues once. We don't want to make things any uglier than they have to be."
"Colleagues once? If we were colleagues, why the hell are you here to arrest me? What kind of colleague are you?"
"You only got where you are because you're Mo Yunxuan's childhood bride! Don't put on this act of being some pure, innocent woman in front of me. You—"
Surrounded by the four of them, Fang Liang's composure completely crumbled. He roared furiously at the people around him.
Watching this, Mo Yunxuan knew he couldn't let Fang Liang continue. Even though Meng Qianxue was capable enough, Fang Liang's words would still damage her reputation.
So he immediately cut in, "That's right. Meng Qianxue did become Commander of Right Wei Guard because of her relationship with me."
"But she's capable and strong, and she's loyal enough to the Wei State Duke Mansion. That's all that matters."
"At least in my eyes, you, who show disrespect to me and the Wei State Duke Mansion, don't hold a candle to her."
With that, he looked at the four of them and gave a direct order: "Kill him. A beast as ungrateful as this would only waste food if left alive."
At Mo Yunxuan's command, the two men who had still been holding back out of consideration for their former colleague immediately charged Fang Liang with their fists, restraining his movements.
Gao Lan and Qiao Heng drew the long sabers from their waists and joined the attack.
Fang Liang was no Child of Destiny, after all. He had no heaven-defying luck. The four of them struck in a coordinated flurry and cut off his head.
Blood sprayed from the severed neck, splattering all over the Council Hall. The officers, accustomed to bloodshed, didn't care about the droplets.
Only Meng Qianxue looked at Mo Yunxuan with concern. In her impression, Mo Yunxuan had been pampered since childhood.
She wasn't worried that he would be frightened. But if he was disgusted by a scene like this and showed any sign of weakness, that would be bad.
But she was clearly worrying for nothing. Mo Yunxuan wasn't frightened or repulsed by the scene at all.
Instead, he stepped down from the seat of honor and casually drew the long saber he carried with him.
He drove the blade into Fang Liang's heart, then plunged it into his head. Then he repeated the act several more times.
"This..."
Every officer present was startled by his desecration of the corpse.
Just then, Mo Yunxuan cut off the officers around him before they could speak and said, "When you face an enemy in the future, if circumstances allow, always remember to finish them off. Better yet, burn them to ashes and put an end to any future trouble."
Hearing Mo Yunxuan deliver such outrageous words with a perfectly serious expression, all the officers were speechless.
Good heavens! The Duke was far too cautious!
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