Emperor Mingze's call rooted Duke Wang to the spot, costing him his chance to escape.
Virtue-Returning General Lei Zhixin was the first to charge forward. He clamped a hand onto Duke Wang's shoulder and said through gritted teeth, "Old Man Wang!"
Duke Wang: "..."
Lei Zhixin seemed unsure where to begin, too. He stood there panting heavily with a ferocious expression for a good while before finally squeezing out in a gruff voice, "Going to relieve yourself, Old Man Wang? As it happens, so am I. Shall we go together?"
No sooner had he spoken than a large hand reached out from behind and clamped onto Duke Wang's other shoulder. A hushed voice said, "You can't even argue properly. Step aside!"
Lei Zhixin: "???"
Lei Zhixin gave a low snort. Though unconvinced, he had to admit that at times like these, it was better to let the civil officials, with their vicious tongues, take the stage.
He took a step sideways, making room for Chu Jiaxu, the Minister of Rites.
"Old Man Wang, you're the oldest among us, so you must understand far more of life's principles than we do. There happens to be something I'd like to ask you." Chu Jiaxu's smile never reached his eyes. "How do you interpret the phrase 'ill-gotten gains'?"
Duke Wang: "..."
Duke Wang: "Ah, well..."
Before he could object to being called "Old Man Wang," Duke Wang's guilty, darting gaze met more than a dozen accusing stares in succession.
Not far away, the little one and Gu Ruizhou could clearly be heard discussing where to open their first chain restaurant. None of the others dared rashly denounce Duke Wang here, so they could only pin their hopes on Lei Zhixin and Chu Jiaxu, hoping the two would secure justice for them.
The sound