Both men's hearts lurched. What they feared most had finally happened.
They had discussed it in private. In truth, Li Qingxian had plenty of means at his disposal, whether outside the court or through the martial world.
The worst possibility was that Li Qingxian would use perfectly legitimate means to kill them under military law.
Then he would play the villain who accused his victims first, claiming they had colluded with the Demon Race to plot rebellion and had been executed on the spot, without mentioning the Royal Edict Banner and Token or the imperial decree.
After that, he would strike a bargain directly with Emperor Taining.
From the very beginning, both men had understood that they had no room whatsoever to bargain with Li Qingxian.
Thus, even with the Royal Edict Banner and Token and the imperial decree in hand, neither dared utter a single word accusing Li Qingxian.
However, killing them under military law would mean that the relationship between Li Qingxian and Emperor Taining was utterly beyond reconciliation.
Whatever the final outcome, Li Qingxian would never be able to return to court.
They had originally pinned all their hopes on Li Qingxian still wanting to return to court, still wanting to become a great minister beneath one man and above countless others.
But Li Qingxian truly seemed not to care.
From the outset, both men had felt there was something strange about him. Everything seemed normal, yet when he faced any official, or even the emperor, they could sense not the slightest trace of... submission, not even a pretense of it.
It was as though imperial authority had never existed in his eyes, as though he had never taken that dragon throne seriously.
Cha Fuli had observed him many times, and from their first encounter to this