Yin Wuyan's narrow phoenix eyes were icy, showing no anger at the Rui Princess Consort's harsh words, or perhaps he was long accustomed to it. His thin lips uttered words that did not even fluctuate in tone, "If there is no important matter, Mother, please return to the manor."
"You?" Anger contorted the Rui Princess Consort's face, and the hatred in her eyes was chilling. Seeing Yin Wuyan's expressionless face, in her fury, the Rui Princess Consort stepped forward and violently raised her right hand to slap him.
"Princess Consort, be careful!" Deputy Commander Kuang's voice was urgent. He could no longer care about anything else and lunged forward, only to have his slap miss and steady the stumbling Rui Princess Consort.
Yin Wuyan took a few steps back, still watching the Rui Princess Consort, who had almost fallen, with cold eyes. The filial piety between mother and son had turned into a mortal enmity between these two.
Having regained her balance, the Rui Princess Consort's face turned ashen with anger. However, perhaps knowing that this rebellious son would not obey her, she took a deep breath and suppressed her rage.
When she spoke again, she had already resumed her usual proud and noble demeanor, coldly ordering, "Have the Forbidden Dragon Guards hand over that lowly girl. I, this Princess Consort, will take her away."
As for whether Zhan Feiyu was alive or dead, the Rui Princess Consort did not care at all. If she was alive, she would be sent to the Marquis Wu'an's manor. If she was dead, her corpse would be sent. By showing goodwill, as long as Marquis Wu'an was sensible, he would give her a definitive answer, and after a year of mourning, she could arrange a marriage for Chengye.
As the Rui Princess Consort's words fell, Deputy Commander Kuang clearly felt a chilling killing intent. He had already retreated behind the Rui Princess Consort, but now he instinctively stepped forward in a defensive posture, his right hand falling onto the hilt of his sword.
Yin Wuyan looked down at the arrogant Rui Princess Consort, his voice so cold it sent shivers down one's spine, "Mother, please present the Emperor's decree. Otherwise, nothing can be discussed."
The reason the Forbidden Dragon Guards were "independent and unconventional" in the capital was twofold: Firstly, the Forbidden Dragon Guards had the right to execute officials below the third rank without prior approval. Secondly, anyone captured by the Forbidden Dragon Guards could only be released by an order from Yin Wuyan, the Commander of the Forbidden Dragon Guards, or by an imperial decree from the Emperor himself.
Seeing Yin Wuyan's business-like attitude, the Rui Princess Consort's suppressed anger flared up again. Her elaborately made-up face twisted with rage, her eyes so venomous as if she wanted to devour Yin Wuyan alive.
"Today, I, this Princess Consort, will take that lowly girl. Do you allow it or not?" she gritted out each word, her hands beneath her wide sleeves clenched into fists due to anger. Vile words spilled out, "I should never have given birth to a beast like you!"
At the alley entrance, Zhan Feiyu was too far away to hear more than fragments. However, upon learning that the Rui Princess Consort was Yin Wuyan's mother, Zhan Feiyu's eyes widened in shock. "A'nuan, is that really Big Brother's biological mother?" Zhan Feiyu looked at the Rui Princess Consort's ferocious, man-eating expression in the distance. Even though she couldn't hear what was being said, that expression was enough to explain everything.
"Yes, Seventh Master was born in the Rui Prince's manor and entered the palace at the age of five. He was raised by the Emperor," He Nuan, being a martial artist, had heard the Rui Princess Consort's heart-piercing words. When Seventh Master first entered the palace, the entire capital believed he was the Emperor's lost son. In the years that followed, the Rui Prince and Princess Consort would also attend various palace banquets. Even though Seventh Master sat with the princes at the time, no one knew he was the legitimate eldest son of the Rui Prince's manor. Even the imperial consorts and princes in the palace were unaware. Coupled with Seventh Master's features bearing some resemblance to the Emperor, the princes often targeted him, and the consorts in the harem openly and secretly plotted against him. He Nuan spoke in a low voice, "The Empress protected him back then, which is why Seventh Master was able to grow up safely." The Empress had no children of her own. Even her protection only prevented people in the palace from going too far, as this person was brought back to the palace by the Emperor himself. If anything were to happen to him, the Empress would be held responsible. It wasn't until Yin Wuyan personally formed the Forbidden Dragon Guards, and the princes in the palace had grown up, that they naturally investigated Yin Wuyan's true identity through their own means. The Forbidden Dragon Guards also became a sharp weapon in the Emperor's hands, and the princes naturally became more restrained. Some even wanted to recruit Yin Wuyan to their service. As for the Rui Prince's manor, whether it was back then or later, they always treated Yin Wuyan as if he didn't exist. Apart from a few old servants who kept their mouths shut, no one in the manor knew that there was a legitimate eldest son. The Rui Prince had considered enfeoffing Yin Chengyou as the heir apparent, but it had always been suppressed by the Emperor. Those who didn't know might think Yin Chengyou was not the legitimate son, which was why the Emperor had not agreed. However, they did not know that the manor had Yin Wuyan, the legitimate eldest son.
Compared to the aggressive Rui Princess Consort, Yin Wuyan's expression remained unchanged, "Since Mother does not have the Emperor's decree, please leave."
"You truly refuse?" Perhaps knowing this would be the outcome, the Rui Princess Consort sneered, "The Emperor governs the realm with filial piety. If I, this Princess Consort, were to personally impeach you in court for filial impiety and disobedience, Yin Wuyan, do you think your position as Commander can still be secured?" As the Emperor aged and the princes grew up, the Emperor's methods of handling state affairs became much gentler, especially cherishing old ties. If old officials who followed the Emperor committed offenses, the Emperor would also show leniency. The princes had grasped this point. They fought fiercely in private, but in court, they acted as loving fathers and filial sons, and brothers of harmony and respect. The Emperor was also happy to see such harmonious scenes. If the Rui Princess Consort were to accuse Yin Wuyan of disobedience and impiety as his birth mother, let alone how many enemies Yin Wuyan had made in court over the years and how many civil and military officials would fan the flames, even the Emperor himself would likely be displeased with Yin Wuyan's lack of filial piety.