But Marshal Canopy did not rise. He still wanted to persuade the Jade Emperor to give up.
Shen Gongbao whispered into Marshal Canopy's ear, "Don't worry. Go back first. I'll persuade His Majesty. If you keep kneeling like this, one day in Heaven is a year below. The troops down there will suffer—and they're all your brothers."
Marshal Canopy looked at Shen Gongbao. "Then you must persuade His Majesty more. Make him give up on this."
"I will."
Marshal Canopy left the Heavenly Court. Although he wanted to continue remonstrating, his army was still below. As Shen Gongbao had said, the men of the Heavenly River Navy were his brothers through life and death. He absolutely could not let them be endangered because of him.
The Jade Emperor remained seated there, motionless and expressionless, no one knowing what he was thinking.
Shen Gongbao smiled and walked to the Jade Emperor's side. "Your Majesty, please do not be angry. Marshal Canopy is a fine general. He did this for Your Majesty's sake as well."
The Jade Emperor snorted coldly and said nothing.
Shen Gongbao said, "Marshal Canopy was only speaking his mind. Your Majesty need not pay him much attention. We only need to proceed with the plan.
"As for Ziling, we may as well release her. Women with mystic constitutions may be rare, but as long as we search, we can always find more. Generals as loyal to Your Majesty as Marshal Canopy, however, are far rarer."
The Jade Emperor nodded. "Do as you say."
Upon hearing the Jade Emperor's words, Shen Gongbao did not feel pleased. Instead, a chill ran down his back.
This was not the Jade Emperor's temperament. If the Jade Emperor had said this in a fury, or after struggling over it for a while, Shen