But the emperor sensed the great threat in his words.
The emperor understood his current situation. He actually didn’t have any real power now, and had become a mere figurehead. The people who served him were all Lu Fenying’s men.
Even so, he couldn’t let Lu Fenying mess around and break the rules.
“It’s a good deal to trade a servant for a city. If you won’t do it, could it be as my subjects have reported, that you have feelings for a lowly slave?” The emperor frowned.
Actually, he was hoping that the matter would blow up and cause Lu Fenying’s influence to collapse, so that he would be able to regain power.
“If that’s really what you think, don’t blame me if anything happens after the trade,” said Lu Fenying confidently. He looked at the woman in his arms. “This is the slave you want to exchange for a city.”
The nobles looked at each other and felt that the crown prince was implying something.
They weren’t stupid; there had to be a reason why the crown prince was so confident.
The emperor was unhappy. Why was he taking the blame?
“Then tell me, is a slave more important than a city?” The emperor wasn’t the only one who was against it. If someone had to take the blame, it should be the nobles and ministers who were strongly opposed in this matter.
“Then if I don’t say anything, does that mean you want me to trade her for a city?” Lu Fenying mocked.
The emperor frowned and looked at the ministers kneeling below. “That is what the crown prince has said. Do you still have any more protests?”
“Your Highness, you can’t fool us with a random reason. We are not against your decision to not trade your slave for a city, but we are against the fact that you dote on her too much. We hear that you treat her especially well, like the mistress of the residence, and that you sleep with her every night.”
One of the nobles immediately spoke up.
Another noble promptly chimed in, “That’s right. Before, we didn’t think that it was a big deal for the crown prince to dote on a female slave, but a slave is still a slave. No matter how much the crown prince dotes on her, she can’t be worth more than a city. If other female slaves learn of this, will they still serve their masters? Will they still know their place?”
“The crown prince has truly overstepped this time.”
Lu Fenying smiled. It was because of this pressure back then that he had been sent to the wolves, because of the possibility that his birth had ruined the noble bloodline.
At that moment, a eunuch rushed in and reported cautiously, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, there are guests from Southern Glory Empire outside…”
He really hadn’t wanted to come in at this time.
But that Prince Zi couldn’t be provoked. If he didn’t come in, he was afraid that even his mother outside the capital might be killed.
So, he risked the dangerous looks he got when he entered.
The emperor asked in surprise, “Honored guests from Southern Glory Empire?”
“It’s Prince Zi and Princess Zi.” The eunuch quickly revealed their identities.
Such dignitaries had to be seen!
“Hurry and invite them in.”
When Gu Bailu and Feng Qingtian entered the study, they saw that the atmosphere was oppressive. Lu Fenying was sitting in a chair with Qian’er in his arms, facing the fury of the crowd.