"Perhaps it could be the Cui Clan!"
At these words, the atmosphere fell still.
Cui Yan's expression instantly darkened as well. He stared at Shen Rong and said coldly:
"My Qinghe Cui Clan has always been loyal to the sovereign and devoted to the state. My lifelong ambition is to follow His Majesty in bringing the Great Han out of darkness and into the light, to rebuild the flourishing Han! Why would His Majesty strike at my clan?"
"Besides, since you already know His Majesty means to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys, behave yourselves and don't become the next chicken slaughtered!"
"Why did Xun Chen die? Why did His Majesty kill him?"
"His Majesty was sending all of us a message-do not encroach upon his majesty!"
"Yuan Shao refused to surrender, and his clan was exterminated; Xun Chen pleaded for mercy, and his head fell!"
"With two bloody examples before you, do you still not understand His Majesty's resolve? This sovereign will not let anyone force his hand! Stop trotting out your old tricks!"
"Times have changed, gentlemen!"
"Do you still fail to see the situation clearly, thinking you can force His Majesty's hand as you did before?"
"To coerce the Son of Heaven, His Majesty must first need you! But does he need you now?"
"Yes, he does, but you are not irreplaceable!"
"The Yuan Clan was the most illustrious aristocratic clan in the Great Han, yet did it not fall beneath His Majesty's iron hooves and blades?"
"Compared to the Yuan Clan, what do you amount to?"
Cui Yan's voice had risen somewhat. He could hardly be blamed for his anger; he truly feared these men would drag him into the mire.
In the main hall, the representatives of the great aristocratic clans all fell silent