Chapter 125: A Title
The emperor nervously wiped off sweat from his brow and piled smiles on his face. “What kind of words are these, Your Highness? Successful peace talks are greatly anticipated, wondrous events for both our nations. How would We be dissatisfied with them at all?”
“If you aren’t unhappy, then what’s with this big display today? If this prince hadn’t happened to be in the neighborhood, then it would appear that the wife of your grand preceptor would’ve lost her head. This prince doesn’t care how many you kill, but you happen to be putting the family of the main negotiator under the blade. This can’t help but make this prince think more deeply. I’m a crude person and can’t discern the twists and turns this may entail, so I’ll report this to my liege for his judgement.” Pang Xiao had actually witnessed bloodshed before, so he naturally exuded a different air when he grew serious.
The emperor was used to being fawned over, so how could he hold up in the face of someone sending hostile intent his way like this? Sweat broke out all over, soaking through his undershirt. His stomach also churned, sending vague impressions that he needed to take a long moment to relieve himself.
Pang Xiao snorted with laughter when he took in the emperor’s cowardly form.
“How dare you!” Weichi Yan could finally bear it no longer and walked up to criticize lowly. “Your Highness is just a prince of the first rank, how dare you act this way in front of the emperor of Great Yan?! Since when was it an outsider’s turn to judge and comment on how we do things?”
“Tsk tsk, the crown prince certainly has much self pride. I suppose you being so threatening is also your emperor’s intention?” Pang Xiao crossed his arms and looked down at them loftily. “This prince may only be a prince of the first rank and unable to denounce the harming of loyal subjects, but my Valiant Tigers are still commanded. by. me!”
A threat! This is a naked threat! Weichi Yan’s pale face flushed beet red with indignation and he wanted to carry on, but the emperor slapped him viciously across the face.
“How dare you! Is it your turn to speak when We are here?” He turned to smile apologetically at Pang Xiao. “This is all a misunderstanding, you don’t need to pay heed to it, Your Highness.”
Weichi Yan was holding his face and looking at the emperor with incredulity, hurt and anger written all in his eyes. The citizens were likewise outraged and conversed in low voices, while Pang Xiao flicked a look at Weichi Yan and snorted with yet more laughter.
The emperor noted Pang Xiao’s lack of reaction and understood that the prince wasn’t willing to give him a face-saving way out of this, even with the emperor’s open display of goodwill. When he heard the buzz of conversation around him, he felt that he’d been stripped of all clothes and was being paraded around the streets. The emperor grew angry from the humiliation, but had nothing he could do against someone like Pang Xiao.
The empress understood her imperial husband’s thoughts and smiled charmingly. “Your Highness may not be aware, the matters of today…”
“Piss off! Did this prince ask you? And who the hell are you?”
The empress widened her eyes unbelievingly, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes as she looked at the emperor, aggrieved. His expression was exceedingly ugly as he both seemed to explain and find fault with Pang Xiao.