"Do you know what you've all done?"
In the cool summer air of the Imperial Study, the emperor sat in his chair, holding a book. He looked at the two people before him, one seated and one standing, his expression dark.
Xu Lanqing and Xu Tianran both remained silent, like children being scolded by their parents after doing something wrong, even though Xu Tianran was already in his twenties.
One had deliberately caused trouble; the other had failed to manage his subordinates.
Though those Evil Soul Masters probably didn't count as Xu Tianran's subordinates.
"This is utterly outrageous!"
As if he couldn't contain his anger, the emperor flung the book onto his desk. Its pages rustled loudly, and the once-neat desk was thrown into disarray.
The two still said nothing.
They'd already said all there was to say: promises, apologies, and self-reflection. It wasn't as if he could execute them to make an example of them.
They could say whatever they wanted. It had already happened.
The emperor rubbed his forehead, closed his eyes to steady himself, then waved impatiently. "Get out of here and go reflect on what you've done! If there's a next time, you'll be punished severely!"
"Yes."
Xu Lanqing and Xu Tianran bowed before leaving the Imperial Study one after the other.
The outcome was a slap on the wrist.
That was how it worked in a world where the strong ruled. The laws of the empire were there only to restrain ordinary people.
Once they had both left, the emperor, who had been almost beside himself with rage, now wore an expression as calm as a still lake.
He turned to the guard who had been standing behind him and asked, "How bad are the losses?"
The guard promptly reported the details. "Two bodyguards, a