"Supervisor Ma! Something huge has happened!"
This shout was truly rather sudden, startling the singing and dancing to a halt and turning the faces of the several women dancing along to the music completely pale.
Ma Shunde's hand holding the wine cup paused for a moment, and he coldly looked toward the kowtowing Banner Officer. A surge of fury rushed to his heart, yet reason remained.
No subordinate dared to trifle with him. To burst in without announcing himself like this meant something major must have happened.
"All of you, withdraw!" Ma Shunde's cold, gloomy gaze swept across the others. Whether singing girls, dancing girls, or little eunuchs, they all hurriedly and silently retreated.
"What is the matter?" Ma Shunde asked.
If this brat put on such a posture and yet had no crucial business... he would not mind letting this Banner Officer witness the supervisor's might.
Within the Imperial City Office, Thousand-Household Commanders and Hundred-Household Officers were proper imperial court officials. A Banner Officer was equivalent to a Hundred-Household Officer, yet belonged only to the internal establishment; thus, the power of life and death rested entirely in the supervisor's hands.
Enduring the supervisor's low pressure, the entering Banner Officer kept his head lowered and said respectfully, "Supervisor, someone actually shouted in a tavern, saying... saying that back then the crown prince was not forced to die for plotting rebellion, but was instead given..."
The trailing words stuck between the Banner Officer's lips and teeth. He truly did not dare to spit out what came next.
"Given what?" Ma Shunde asked irritably. "Could it be that you still dare to play fast and loose with me?"
"As for the words below, this subordinate truly does not dare to speak them."
What a spineless wretch!
Ma Shunde coldly commanded, "Speak, I