A wide space opened up on the towering platform reserved for the nobility.
Few people were willing to get dragged into this mess.
"Outrageous!"
Jiang Rumo stepped forward at once, planting himself between Tian Xili and Liu Yingqi.
Though the State Chancellor was renowned for his mild temper and rarely lost his composure—some even mockingly called him the "Dough Chancellor"—he couldn't help flying into a rage now.
His matronly face flushed red with anger.
"What are you two doing in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple? Wasn't it shameful enough to disgrace yourselves today? Must you embarrass yourselves before the late emperor, too?!"
Cao Jie stepped forward as well, his hand already resting on his sword. It looked as though, at the Son of Heaven's command, he would cut down both nobles.
"State Chancellor!"
Tian Xili froze for a moment, as if only then realizing what he'd done.
He turned toward the main platform and bowed deeply in the direction of Danbi Terrace. "Your Majesty, do you remember the old agreement made in Changming Prefecture?"
A dead silence fell over Danbi Terrace.
Tian Xili remained bent in that deep bow, without moving.
Despite his Divine Presence cultivation, cold sweat had appeared on his forehead.
Thud!
At that moment, Liu Yingqi dropped to his knees. "Your subjects roared before the Imperial Ancestral Temple. We deserve death!"
Tian Xili's frame visibly stiffened, but he didn't dare move.
"Bastard!" He wanted nothing more than to leap up and kill Liu Yingqi on the spot, but could only roar in his heart.
With every breath the Great Qi emperor remained silent, another thousand jin seemed to press down on his back.
The Son of Heaven's might was like a prison, crushing him until he could barely breathe!
No one knew how long it lasted.