"We greet, His Majesty!" The three siblings fell on their knees, giving their greetings to the emperor. Virion did not hesitate to kneel, while the other two were quite reluctant to kneel, but they knelt eventually.
"Get up!" Tang Shaoyang nodded, "Let's skip the unnecessary and get to the main point!" Not that he did not want to talk with them, it was just too awkward for him to talk with Ava's children. He wanted to finish the talk as fast as possible.
"First, I would like to apologize because the issue I want to talk about with Your Majesty is related to our personal issue. My father has told us what happened between you and our mother, and we want to talk about it, Your Majesty," Virion did not try to coat his words. He was direct and made it clear what he wanted to talk about.
"Let's hear what you want to say," Tang Shaoyang responded with a nod. He was not surprised the three knew already about his affair with their mother. Revalor told Ava that he would let the children know about the affair.
"I demand Your Majesty to take an oath so the same incident with my mother would not be repeated to me or the others. That's what I… We want!" Virion looked solemn as he voiced his request right away. Direct and clear because he also wanted to end the conversation as soon as possible.
He might look calm and composed on the outside, but he was still mad that their family crumbled because of the man who sat on the throne.
"What if I don't take the oath?" Tang Shaoyang probed.
"I am afraid that the Elven Kingdom will not be able to stay loyal to the Tang Empire. How I am supposed to get my work done when I am constantly concerned that you will take my wife away. I think every husband will agree with me!" Virion did not fear to reveal his thoughts. He implied that the Elven Kingdom would break the vassalage if Tang Shaoyang did not make the oath.
Thick killing intent filled the room the moment Virion finished his first sentence. The suffocating killing intent was targeted at the three siblings. Arbane and Alissa were caught off guard and jerked backward, causing them to fall on their butt. Virion was the only one who remained calm despite the killing intent.
Instead of looking at Tang Shaoyang, Virion turned toward the source of the killing intent. That was right; it was not the emperor's killing intent but someone else. That person hid at the corner of the throne hall, under the shadow beneath the pillar.
"Stop it, Lu An!" Tang Shaoyang could tell easily that it was Lu An, "Do you know it's inappropriate to eavesdrop on the emperor's conversation!?"
Lu An came out of the shadow, but his gaze remained on the three siblings, "I know it's inappropriate, but this is for your safety, Your Majesty. What if they try to harm you?"
"As if they can harm me," Tang Shaoyang's expression remained stern. It was not that he looked down on the three siblings. He just stated the fact that three siblings were weaker than him, and even though three of them fought him, they could not win.
"It does not really matter anymore, Your Majesty. I suggest Your Majesty kill the three and replaced them," Lu An suggested something extreme, "They have revealed an intend to rebel, might as well cut them earlier before the tumor spread out."
Virion furrowed his brow as he turned his gaze to the young man. He thought of this possibility when he came to speak about this issue. However, he crossed out the possibility the emperor would kill them because of his mother and also his aunt. Both would not let that happen for sure, but he did not think about it thoroughly. What if the emperor really killed them.
The worst possibility came to Virion's mind. The emperor could frame him and his siblings as they tried to kill the emperor. His mother could not help them if the emperor framed him and his siblings, as everything made sense. He and his siblings had the motive to assassinate the emperor.
'I did not think this thoroughly,' Virion immediately realized his mistake. He might be in danger if the emperor decided to kill him and his siblings. No one was around except for Lu An and the emperor. The only witness was Lu An, and it was clear that Lu An was on the emperor's side regardless of what his family had gone through.
"It's fine, Lu An. Virion has the right to doubt me after my past mistake. I have made a mistake, and if I have to take the oath to make amends for my mistake, then it's a cheap price to pay," Tang Shaoyang stood up from the throne and waved his hand toward Lu An, "Call Selena for me, Lu An. I will take the oath! This is an order!"
Lu An was hesitant, but he followed the order eventually. His body disappeared into the shadows.
Virion was surprised that the emperor did not take action against him and his siblings. This was a perfect chance to take over the Elven Kingdom. His father left the kingdom, and if three of them died here, the throne would fall to his mother to take or his aunt. The Elders for sure would choose those two candidates to please the emperor, but the emperor decided to listen to the request.
Tang Shaoyang put his right hand on his chest and bowed toward the three siblings, "I haven't apologized to you three yet. I apologize for my past mistake that ruins your family. I know that the oath is not enough for what I have done, but I promise you that the same thing will not happen to anyone."
It was another shock as Virion did not expect the Emperor to apologize. He came not to seek an apology, but he felt a little bit good when the emperor apologized. Arbane and Alissa were also shocked to hear the apology.
Lu An returned to the throne hall with Selena fifteen minutes later. Tang Shaoyang took the ceremony oath, making the promise in front of the three siblings.