Ye Feng spoke slowly, neither humble nor overbearing, "Your Majesty, it has been an incense stick's time. How shall we deal with the matter of the Langzhongling?" Seeing that the Spirit Emperor remained unresponsive, he immediately asked with trembling fingers, "Do you intend to let everyone know that as long as one serves Your Majesty, they can disregard the laws of the court!"
The Spirit Emperor's heart trembled. He clutched the trembling chair with both hands and said, "In that case, in that case, I beg you to kill the Langzhongling!"
In that instant, the Langzhongling was stunned as if struck by lightning. After a long pause, he reacted and kowtowed heavily, "This subject thanks Your Majesty for your immense grace!"
Just as the surrounding golden-clad imperial guards were about to escort the Langzhongling away, the Spirit Emperor suddenly stood up and roared, "Wait!"
"May I know what else Your Majesty wishes to command? We shall obey them all!" The Spirit Emperor's tone hardened as if he had recalled something. "How should we deal with the repeated transgressions of the King of Chu today? Are we to simply let it pass? Where does that leave the laws of the court!"
The patriarchs of the noble families, who thought the matter was settled, did not expect this turn of events. They all craned their necks to watch the spectacle. Ye Feng understood at that moment that there was no possibility of reconciliation between him and the Spirit Emperor. He sighed heavily.
"Then how does Your Majesty wish to proceed? Perhaps you could state it for us to hear!" Ye Feng waved his hand slightly, and someone immediately brought over a chair and placed it behind him. "This subject has fought in battles south and north for many years, and my legs are not what they used to be. I beg Your Majesty's pardon!"
Although the Spirit Emperor was burning with anger, he had no temper whatsoever with this King of Chu, Ye Feng. He snorted twice before reprimanding, "I request that the King of Chu propose a solution himself, and I shall follow it."
Ye Feng said coldly and without mercy, "Since that is the case, then I request Your Majesty to execute the Langzhongling. We can discuss the rest slowly. With him here, there will likely be no resolution today."
"Presumptuous!" The Spirit Emperor was enraged and cursed, "Is it that the empire of Han will now take your surname, Ye!"
"Your Majesty, speak with caution!" Ye Feng looked at the furious Spirit Emperor and reminded him slowly, "Your Majesty knows what the empire of Han belongs to, and this humble subject also knows. Do not ruin the fortune for a moment of hasty speech!"
The ancients attached great importance to the concept of fortune. The Spirit Emperor gradually calmed down, tidied his collar, and said slowly, "Is the King of Chu commanding me or requesting me!"
That's right, the Spirit Emperor was also waiting for someone, someone who would allow him to turn the tide. Once successful, even with Ye Feng's immense power, he would be helpless.
"Whatever Your Majesty deems it to be, but there is one condition: if you trust the wrong person, you will be handing the empire of Han to someone else!" Ye Feng's tone was relaxed. "Moreover, the Langzhongling is willing to defend the law with his own body; he has achieved his desire for benevolence."
Ye Feng had spoken to this extent, and the Spirit Emperor was rendered speechless. He could only chat with Ye Feng aimlessly, hoping that the person would arrive soon.
Although Ye Feng did not know whom the Spirit Emperor was waiting for, with Lu Bu leading the army outside, not even a fly could get in.
"The Langzhongling's unintentional mistake has offended the King of Chu. I beg the King of Chu to be magnanimous and spare the Langzhongling!" The Spirit Emperor pleaded kindly. "After all, we serve in the same court."
The patriarchs of the noble families had never seen such a scene. They looked at each other, and seeing that Ye Feng still did not agree.
The Spirit Emperor's mind began to race. Since he had already lost face, he did not mind losing more. Moreover, losing face now could garner him a wave of concern from his ministers. Why not?
With this thought, the Spirit Emperor spoke even more humbly, "If the Langzhongling is unwilling to apologize to the King of Chu, then I shall apologize to the King of Chu. I beg the King of Chu to spare the Langzhongling."
Everyone gasped, exclaiming that it was the first time an emperor had apologized to a subject. However, the effect was obvious. The remaining officials were teary-eyed, wishing they could die for the emperor immediately.
The Langzhongling quickly grabbed the Spirit Emperor's hand. "Your Majesty, I shall bear the responsibility for my mistakes. Whether the King of Chu wishes to kill me or torture me, I have no objections. Your Majesty truly need not do this?"
The Spirit Emperor suppressed the desire to slap the Langzhongling to death and sighed heavily. "I treat all of you, my ministers, as brothers. Now that a brother is in trouble, how can I stand idly by? I shall bear this burden!"
Ye Feng remained silent and exchanged a knowing smile with the noble families. They had seen such tactics many times; they could only fool people from humble backgrounds like the Langzhongling.
"Your Majesty, since you intend to protect the Langzhongling, why not hand over the land that the King of Chu spoke of? I believe the King of Chu will then spare the Langzhongling!" A leading patriarch bowed and said.
"Who says otherwise? We beg Your Majesty to agree!"
"Your Majesty, please agree to the King of Chu!"
Various voices echoed in the Spirit Emperor's ears. The Spirit Emperor's scalp tingled. He rubbed his temples and then slowly said,
"If I could agree to the King of Chu, I certainly would. But that land has been passed down through generations of my ancestors." The Spirit Emperor clutched his sleeve and pretended to wipe away tears. "How can I give it away!"
Who in their right mind would call that land inherited from ancestors? This was in Liangzhou. The foundation of the Han Dynasty was established when Liu Bang started his uprising.
Of course, no one voiced these thoughts. Ye Feng stared at the Langzhongling and sneered, "It seems that in Your Majesty's heart, your subjects are not as important as that piece of land. In that case, this king can only grant you your desire for benevolence!"
Ye Feng had cornered the Spirit Emperor. Whether he agreed or not, he had to. Just then, the Langzhongling stood up with determination, "Your Majesty, do not agree. This subject is willing to die to repay Your Majesty's understanding and grace!"
The next moment, the Langzhongling hurried to stand up and rushed towards a pillar to smash his head against it. Ye Feng felt speechless. Why did these people all like to smash pillars? But this Langzhongling was still useful. He reached out and grabbed the Langzhongling by the back of his neck.
The Langzhongling, like a wild boar, scrabbled on the ground twice. He turned his head and saw Ye Feng smiling, "His Majesty did not tell you to sacrifice yourself for the country. You cannot die yet."
The Langzhongling felt a surge of humiliation and angrily flung, "Let me go! It is an insult to my scholarly demeanor!"
"Alright!" Ye Feng readily agreed and threw the Langzhongling out. The Langzhongling heavily collided with an elderly minister. He rubbed his head and mumbled, "Why is it so soft?"
"You, you, you bumped into this old man!" The old minister struggled to breathe. The Langzhongling immediately knelt on the side, silent.
The Spirit Emperor wished the Langzhongling had indeed smashed himself to death against the pillar, but his plan had failed. Ye Feng spread his hands, feigning helplessness, "Your Majesty has not yet made a decision, so you cannot die!"
Seeing Ye Feng forcing him to make a decision, and to complete the charade, the Spirit Emperor could only wave his hand and agree to the matter, placing the imperial seal on the document and tossing it to Ye Feng.
With the document, Ye Feng could openly carry out his affairs in Liangzhou.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ye Feng bowed with clasped hands. "This humble subject takes his leave!"
The Spirit Emperor slumped onto his chair, having lost both the wife and the soldiers. He had lost face and lost land. He glared at the Langzhongling with burning anger, yet he still had to maintain a facade of harmony between ruler and subject.
The Langzhongling, like a spring, kowtowed on the ground, "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty. This subject will never forget Your Majesty's great kindness!"
Ye Feng walked a few steps and then suddenly turned back with a smile, "I almost forgot to remind Your Majesty: when I came today, I feared that a thief might infiltrate the imperial city. Therefore, I ordered Lu Bu to surround the imperial city!"
The Spirit Emperor gritted his teeth and managed to squeeze out, "Good, good, good, Ye Feng, truly, I have underestimated you!"
"No, no, no, Your Majesty may be wary of me, but this humble subject knows his place!" Ye Feng said slowly.
After Ye Feng left the Golden Hall, a series of crashes could be heard from inside. Ye Feng's lips curled into a slight smile. He strode over to Lu Bu.
"Reporting to my Great King, we have captured two men who were unaware of their own limitations. They should be assassins targeting His Majesty!" Lu Bu held two burly men in each hand.
Ye Feng took a closer look and recognized Zhang Rang. "We are old acquaintances!"
"King of Chu!" A sharp voice made Lu Bu frown.
"Since you know they are assassins, deal with them as you see fit. And do not forget to report this matter to His Majesty!"
Lu Bu raised his Fangtian painted halberd and, in a flash, severed Zhang Rang's head, placing it on a tray and heading towards the Golden Hall.
"You, you, you who are you!" The Langzhongling's voice rang out again. "Ah!"
"This humble subject, Lu Bu, has beheaded the traitors who intended to assassinate His Majesty and has come to present it to Your Majesty!" Lu Bu lifted the red cloth, revealing Zhang Rang's bloody head.
"Quick, quick, quick, take it away!" The Spirit Emperor covered his nose and gave a few instructions, drawing in shaky breaths and gasping. "General, General, you have worked hard, and you will surely, surely be rewarded!"
"Lu Bu thanks Your Majesty. However, I shall forgo the reward!" Lu Bu strode out of the Golden Hall with a look of annoyance. "I wonder who that unlucky fellow was who insisted on blocking Fengxian. In my anger, I tore him apart. Will this bring my Great King any trouble?"
After Ye Feng inquired about the appearance of the man, he let out a hearty laugh. "Fengxian, you have done an excellent job. This king has long wanted to kill him!"
"That's good, that's good. Fengxian was afraid of causing any trouble for his lord," Lu Bu said slowly, scratching his head.
"It's nothing. Fengxian has handled it perfectly!" Ye Feng suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, "Fengxian, did you see the soldiers Zhang Rang brought, or Li Ru who entered the Golden Hall with me?"