Chapter 244 : Chapter 244

Chapter 244: Reward and Punishment -- Honoring Those of Merit!

"Y-you're ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Cheng Yu?!"

Jiang ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Feng's eyes went impossibly wide, his face a mask of utter disbelief.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍question gnawing at his mind finally had an answer.

No ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wonder these Jinyiwei had such colossal nerve--daring to set up even him, a prodigy of the Army-Breaking Sect.

Even ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍daring to deliberately contact his father Jiang Hong.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was all orchestrated by Cheng Yu, that cold-blooded fiend who killed without batting an eye!

In that moment, the fear and despair in his heart peaked.

If before there had been one last shred of desperate hope that the Jinyiwei wouldn't dare touch him--

Now, that illusion had been utterly obliterated.

Cheng Yu didn't need reasons to kill, and there was no predicting him!

Watching the Army-Breaking Sect prodigy's expression deteriorate further, his entire body even beginning to tremble, Cheng Yu arched an eyebrow.

He sneered. "What are you so scared of? It's not like I'm going to mince you into paste, press you into meat patties, and then trick your father into eating them. Relax."

"AHHH! You maniac!"

A bald-faced threat!

Jiang Feng was convinced this Living Yama was absolutely capable of something so vile and terrifying!

The image of himself turned into meat patties, devoured by his own father--there was nothing more horrifying in all of heaven and earth!

"So this is what a Human Ranking prodigy looks like? What a disappointment."

Not a shred of backbone!

Cheng Yu sighed in exasperation.

Even Ai Peng beside him couldn't stop his eyelids from twitching. "Lord Cheng is still the same as ever--so... so resourceful."

Cheng Yu shook his head with a smile, not bothering to spell out what Ai Peng really meant.

"Let's head back. The Command Office is empty right now--this is the perfect window."

At this moment, the Jinyiwei Command Office in the Great Qian Capital.

Fang Xiaolin, who was serving as Acting Commander, was required to appear at court to report to Xiao Wuji.

Zhang De, meanwhile, had been nowhere to be seen since early morning. The men Cheng Yu had sent to monitor him reported back that he had gone to attend court alongside Qi Han, Qian Sunbao, and the rest.

Likely plotting something.

With those two absent, the highest-ranking person among the remaining Jinyiwei happened to be Ai Peng--the newly promoted Deputy Commander.

Cheng Yu had already made his arrangements, and he'd asked Lord Zhao to stall for time during the court session.

The interval in between was the perfect opportunity--one that defied everyone's expectations--to deal with those Army-Breaking Sect people.

Just then, something unexpected occurred. The System's voice rang out of nowhere.

【The Host's merits have shaken the court. Received meritorious ennoblement, creating glory for the Jinyiwei! Reward: one copy of the manual "Introduction to Governing Fate"!】

"Huh?"

What just happened?

Cheng Yu had received meritorious ennoblement? He himself had no idea any such arrangement had been made.

......

Shortly before.

In the Golden Throne Hall.

The matter of officially branding Prince Chu Xiao Li as a traitor had been settled.

In light of the court's recent success in dismantling the Sword-Forging Manor case, rooting out Prince Qing's Remnants, and exposing Duke Dingguo Ning Dingyuan--the hidden agent of Prince Chu lurking within the Great Qian Capital--

This was precisely the moment for the Great Qian Court to reclaim its prestige and awe the realm.

Xiao Wuji's confidence had already been bolstered, and with Qi Han's faction having just been outmaneuvered and mocked by Zhao Yi, they were in no position to object.

The matter was finalized.

The court and the imperial household resolved to strip Xiao Li of the title "Prince Chu," officially designate him guilty of treason, and issue an imperial order for his return to the Great Qian Capital to face punishment.

Regardless of how Xiao Li reacted, the title of Prince Chu had, in the eyes of the law, been severed from him entirely.

Xiao Wuji felt nothing short of vindicated, his entire being refreshed and invigorated.

"Imperial Uncle, oh Imperial Uncle--when I first took the throne, I was hemmed in at every turn. I even once promised you shared rule of the realm, and you refused, aspiring to be the sole master of Great Qian... Well, look at you now. All you're fit to be is a common traitor."

Just as he was savoring his triumph, Zhao Yi stepped forward with another bow. "Your Majesty, now that this matter is settled, ought you not reward those of merit to demonstrate your imperial authority of clear reward and punishment?"

Reward those of merit?

The moment the ministers heard Zhao Yi say this, they perked up instantly.

Typically, when a noble was stripped of title--especially a titled prince--it required a proclamation to all under heaven.

At such a time, rewarding meritorious officials was the natural complement to punishment.

Only this way could an emperor demonstrate that he was fair and just in dispensing reward and punishment, and further prove that those being punished truly deserved it.

In other words, it was time for the court's esteemed ministers to divvy up the spoils!

Excitement surged through the ranks. Stripping a prince of such high standing was the kind of event that might not occur once in decades, yet here it was, happening today!

If they could receive a noble title in the process, it would be a glory passed down through the generations.

Qi Han and the Jianghu-sympathetic Moderate Faction stirred with interest as well.

If they could gain higher status within the court--whether real authority or an impressive title--it would give them greater leverage when brokering exchanges of interest with the Jianghu.

Benefits handed to them for free--the ministers had absolutely no reason to object, and every head bobbed in agreement.

"We concur!"

Xiao Wuji nodded. He agreed that it was time to reward those of merit.

But looking at this swarm of ministers, his expression was far from pleasant. Just moments ago they'd been opposing his decision to charge Prince Chu, and now that there were spoils to be had, they naturally came swarming.

He was a hundred times unwilling to reward any of them, yet had no choice but to swallow his disgust and do so.

If he didn't reward Qi Han and his faction, they'd accuse him of harboring hostility toward the Jianghu again.

Just as he was about to resignedly speak, Zhao Yi beat him to it.

"When Your Majesty displays such imperial might, failing to reward and punish with clear distinction and chilling the hearts of those who have rendered true service would only backfire and invite ridicule!"

These words sent another jolt through the assembled ministers, and more than a few faces soured. What was Zhao Yi implying?

The old fox was clearly pointing out that they had just embarrassed themselves in front of Xiao Wuji. What made them think they deserved any reward now?

Qi Han and his allies turned cold-faced and displeased as well.

"That old bastard!"

Among the Moderate Faction, one minister who had grown too accustomed to throwing his weight around failed to be restrained by Qi Han in time and stepped forward on impulse.

He countered, "Your Majesty, this minister believes Lord Zhao's words are inappropriate!"

Qi Han cursed inwardly--they'd been baited by the old Zhao again.

Xiao Wuji looked at the minister who'd spoken and smiled. "Inappropriate how?"

The man from the Moderate Faction held his chin high, about to speak--only to find his throat had gone dry, and nothing would come out.

What could he say?

That he had no merit, but was shameless enough to demand a reward anyway?

Zhao Yi sneered instantly. "Are you trying to tell His Majesty that those without merit should also receive rewards?"

"I-I didn't mean that."

"Then what were you blathering about? Your Majesty, this old minister accuses this man of disrupting court proceedings!"

Xiao Wuji stroked his chin and nodded. "Drag him out and give him ten strikes of the rod!"

"Your Majesty, have mercy!"

Watching one of their own hauled out for a beating, the ministers shuddered.

Zhao Yi was running another Open Scheme--whoever opened their mouth branded themselves a shameless, meritless nobody!

Xiao Wuji gazed at their fidgeting discomfort, his mood soaring to its zenith.

In this moment, he finally felt like the Exalted Son of Heaven with the power of life and death in his hands--not some cowering, downtrodden housewife.

He looked toward Zhao Yi, the former Grand Chancellor.

The old minister seemed more pleasing to the eye with every passing second. Truly worthy of the trust his late father had placed in him!