"What do you mean, marry me off to Xi Yan?!!"
The Sacred Guard Empress glared furiously at the foreign minister below the steps, her full bosom heaving.
"Forgive my disrespect, but His Majesty Xi Yan is indeed above your station. If His Holy Majesty is unwilling, we will have no choice but to abandon the proposal." The foreign minister remained composed.
"Is that what I was talking about? You're rebelling-all of you, aren't you?" Flushed with embarrassment and anger, the Empress immediately pointed outside the Palace. "You're fired. Get out!"
"My apologies, Your Majesty, but dismissing a minister requires His Majesty the Most Holy Emperor's approval. You currently have no authority to intervene in the empire's internal affairs."
The elderly prime minister interjected, his eyes half closed.
"Where did that rule come from? You treasonous rebels-are you staging a palace coup?" the Empress demanded furiously. She pulled her pale, graceful arm from her sleeve, intending to unleash a psionics attack on these "traitorous ministers."
Yet more ministers stood against her, their eyes cold.
"Allow me to remind you, Your Majesty: you and your family were able to rule the empire for two entire eras because you were our only choice of sovereign."
The prime minister answered impassively, "The Heavenly People will submit only to an emperor of great vision and ability, one who has made immense contributions to the entire human race. Now that a truly great ruler-the fate-chosen emperor foretold by the Saint-has appeared, your presence no longer matters."
"You... all of you..." The Empress felt as though she had been struck by lightning.
She had never imagined that her once utterly loyal prime minister would say something so heartless. How had Xi Yan won over so many ministers at court in such a short time?
She had an