Within the Imperial Palace, inside the Great Hall.
Emperor Liu Chi was furious, his voice nearly lifting the roof off the hall. The Palace Attendants lay trembling on the floor, while the Dukes and Ministers straightened in their seats. Their expressions, however, were not especially tense. Wasn't it perfectly normal for ministers to give the emperor an earful?
"Feiyan is utterly innocent, yet she has drawn these attacks, with all this talk of Mo Xi and Da Ji. Am I a ruler who will lose his empire, like Jie and Zhou?
How absurd.
A ruler who loses his empire must have ministers who bring about its ruin. I have entrusted the Chancellor with governing. Is the Chancellor such a minister?
Could the Chancellor be a treacherous scoundrel who will cost me my realm?"
The Dukes and Ministers stopped eating and looked toward Wang Mang. His expression had not changed in the slightest. He raised a cup of wine and drank, as though none of this concerned him. His allies, Luo Qi included, remained silent.
Only Wang Cheng spoke indignantly. "Absurd!
I was the one who presented Zhao Jieyu. If Zhao Jieyu is Mo Xi or Da Ji, then what does that make me?
Please tell me plainly, Your Majesty. Which villains said such things and besmirched my name? Only swords and blood can wash away this stain!"
Wang Cheng's murderous words were no idle threat. The Han people prized their reputations. To dishonor someone's name was no different from murdering his father, and it was perfectly normal for a man of fierce convictions to take up a sword and kill over it.
No one took it seriously. Instead, they looked ready to enjoy a show. This was not a formal occasion to begin with.
At Wang Cheng's words, Wang Mang's