The Great Wei Imperial Palace.
Inside the Great Hall.
Over this period, the court had taken an uncompromising stance toward the two dynasties' demands.
Refusal.
This was sheer nonsense.
They demanded one thing after another. Giving them Second-Rank Divine Martial Cannons before had been bad enough.
Who would have thought they would actually dare demand first-rank ones now?
They were trampling all over Great Wei's face.
Even the civil officials could no longer stomach it this time.
Yet anger was anger, and reason was reason. Chen Zhengru now thoroughly understood Great Wei's position.
More precisely, he understood the Female Emperor's position.
Great Wei had difficulties it could not disclose and could not go to war.
Otherwise, with matters already at this point, the Female Emperor would have declared war immediately, rather than continuing to seek peace.
Anyone with eyes could see that.
Precisely because of this, although the officials felt aggrieved, they did not blame the Female Emperor.
Who among those admitted to the Great Hall was not shrewd beyond measure? Anyone incapable of reading even these signs could never have reached such a position.
"Your Majesty, resentment among the people is running high. There has been considerable criticism of the two dynasties' demands for first-rank cannons."
"If we agree to their demands again, I fear unrest may arise among the populace."
Zhang Jing, the Minister of Justice, spoke, forcing himself to say it. Throughout history, what emperors most feared hearing about was popular unrest.
Especially over something like this. If things went wrong, the Ministry of Punishment would be held accountable.
Yet Ji Ling said nothing in response to the Minister of Justice. No one knew what she was thinking.
The officials remained silent. If the emperor would not answer, nothing more they said would be of any use.