Ye Yunsheng spoke each word distinctly, and the court officials heard her clearly.
Though it wasn't about passing down the throne, even just appointing an Imperial Advisor shocked the Great Li officials considerably.
Some who truly cared for the dynasty feared their formerly valiant Majesty would become infatuated with a man and be deceived; some who were neither at the top nor the bottom didn't care about changes in leadership, as it wouldn't affect them much; some who were good at scheming noticed Zhao Li's identity beyond Imperial Advisor, made a note of him, and prepared to visit; and there were those who, after their initial shock, suddenly understood and showed disdain in their eyes...
"Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. Isn't it a bit childish for you to decide it like this? Shouldn't we discuss it further?"
"Your Majesty, beauty can make one ignorant. You must not become infatuated."
"Your Majesty, even if he is your fiancé, without corresponding strength and background, it will be difficult to convince everyone if he rises so quickly!"
Neither of them was surprised that someone would object, but both Ye Yunsheng and Zhao Li simply observed silently.
After a while, when they had all expressed their opinions, Ye Yunsheng slowly spoke:
"We are merely informing you, not seeking your counsel. This matter is settled. Henceforth, do not violate the law because of this."
Only then did the court officials react. Although they still had reservations, they said nothing more.
"Putting on airs, aren't you? Behind closed doors, you're still just a whore anyone can have."
Amidst the silence of the crowd, a mocking voice spread. A pin drop could be heard in the hall, and everyone simultaneously looked at the speaker.
Zhao Li's gaze sharpened, and he looked at the Princes who had come to the morning assembly today. Under his gaze, Prince Jingyang and Prince Xuanyuan immediately knelt. They were the few who had shown disdain earlier. The one who spoke was Prince Xuanyuan.
Even though Zhao Li wasn't targeting others, everyone in the Grand Hall still felt a sense of dread and lowered their heads, not daring to look again.
Anger surged in Zhao Li's heart:
"Why do the two of you slander my wife?"
As if they hadn't expected that they, as Princes, would be suppressed and forced to kneel in public, the first thing they felt wasn't fear, but anger:
"Presumptuous! You cur! Don't think that just because you've hooked up with a whore, you can truly stand above everyone in Great Li!"
Prince Xuanyuan genuinely believed that Great Li's true support came from their Principalities, which were governed by feudal lords. Without them, the vast Great Li Dynasty would inevitably fall apart. Naturally, he felt that no one would dare touch them.
In their anger, the two of them actually ignored Zhao Li's chilling gaze and stood up.
Seeing the fire of gossip flickering in the eyes of the court officials, a thought flashed through Zhao Li's mind. Invisible ripples spread through Space, and then several people disappeared, leaving only the indifferent Ye Yunsheng and the court officials, who were either surprised or fearful. The two rulers of the Principalities who had been with Prince Jingyang were even more terrified.
A moment later, Zhao Li reappeared in the Grand Hall, but the figures of Prince Jingyang and Prince Xuanyuan were nowhere to be seen.
He swept his gaze over the court officials:
"According to Great Li law, if someone accuses another and it is a false accusation, they will receive the same punishment as the crime they accused. From now on, there will be no more Jingyang Principality, Xuanyuan Principality, or Feng Principality in Great Li."
He nodded at Ye Yunsheng, sent her a message to reassure her, and then disappeared.
Zhao Li had underestimated the jealousy and madness in people's hearts. He didn't know what Lin Feng was thinking, but while drowning his sorrows in alcohol, he repeatedly spread malicious rumors. Prince Jingyang and Prince Xuanyuan weren't clever either; they believed whatever he said and were used as pawns.
Lin Feng, I gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it.
Zhao Li was extremely angry, but also full of regret. Why had he left Lin Feng alive?
He knew how terrifying rumors could be. Many things were clearly baseless, but people were always curious, blind, and always willing to believe what they wanted to believe. Even just a few short sentences, once spread, who knew what they would become.
Zhao Li pushed his Soul Power to the limit. With one step, he covered nearly a million li. In just two minutes, he arrived at the Royal City of Feng Principality.
"Not here?"
Zhao Li searched the area but didn't find Lin Feng. However, he did alarm Venerable Tianfeng, who flashed before Zhao Li, extremely respectfully:
"Senior, have you come here for something?"
He didn't even dare to call him 'little brother' anymore.
Zhao Li got straight to the point, his tone chilling, not hiding the killing intent in his eyes:
"Hand over Lin Feng, or die!"
Venerable Tianfeng's scalp tingled. Forcing back his fear, he trembled and asked:
"Didn't Senior say that the previous matter was settled? Why..."
He still didn't dare to accuse Zhao Li of going back on his word.
Zhao Li simply raised his hand and pointed his fingertip at Venerable Tianfeng's forehead. Venerable Tianfeng clearly saw his movement but couldn't react at all, watching helplessly as the finger got closer and closer, quickly growing larger in his eyes.
So he's actually this terrifying?
He had only this one thought, and not a shred of hope remained in his heart.
A moment later, his face twitched. Aside from the joy of surviving, it was completely ashen.
Zhao Li's finger wasn't meant to kill him, but to transmit what he had seen in the memories of Prince Jingyang and Prince Xuanyuan.
"Senior, that rebellious disciple has been in a bad mood these past few days and often invites people to drink. I thought he would get over it in a few days, but I didn't expect..."
Venerable Tianfeng was interrupted by Zhao Li before he could finish. His patience was limited:
"Tell me where he is!"
Every minute Lin Feng remained outside, the rumors could spread one more time and evolve one more time, becoming more and more outrageous.
Under the aura Zhao Li revealed, Venerable Tianfeng knelt, saying in terror:
"I don't know either!"
He was practically in tears, never imagining he'd taken on such a troublesome disciple.
"You guaranteed you'd discipline him properly back then. Now you can't even find the person?"
Zhao Li frowned, his Soul Power spreading from around him, covering the Prince's Mansion, and pushing outwards, reaching the Royal City, the Principality...
Still nothing!
The Dou Qi Continent was too vast. Without some kind of marker, trying to find someone was incredibly difficult.
Frustration surged in him. He struck Venerable Tianfeng, sending him sprawling onto the ground, spitting up several mouthfuls of blood.
"Find him for me! Now get out."
With that, he vanished from Venerable Tianfeng's sight. He didn't return to the Imperial City immediately but searched in the nearby principalities, yet still found no trace.
At this time, in the Imperial City, within the Golden Throne Hall, the Court Officials remained silent, not daring to speak.
After a long while, the remaining two Princes finally couldn't bear the pressure and tremblingly asked,
"Your Majesty, we don't know anything."
His behavior earned him some disdain from the Court Officials, but they could also understand. In that instant, they all felt like they were about to die.
Since the first person had spoken, naturally there would be a second. Someone worried about today's events cautiously reminded,
"Your Majesty, to just eliminate three principalities like this, won't it..."
He thought it was just Xue Pan.
"If they're gone, they're gone. It doesn't matter."
Ye Yunsheng, however, knew Zhao Li was truly angry. Because of her, those few principalities would likely cease to exist.
She didn't care much. Perhaps their disappearance wasn't a bad thing.
Ye Yunsheng's words, devoid of any emotion, echoed through the Grand Hall. Immediately, the hall fell silent once more.
After waiting for a while, Ye Yunsheng was a little surprised that Zhao Li hadn't returned yet. She thought about it; just waiting like this wasn't a solution. Seeing everyone trembling with fear, she didn't force them to stay.
"If there's nothing else, you may all leave."
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