Seeing Feng Xuxu hung her head low in silence, the Emperor spoke calmly, "Princess Mei, what do you say we should do about this matter? I want to leave the military power to my second brother, but he has disappeared. If we don’t retract it, now that the other two nations know the War God Dugu Chen has vanished and the borders are restless, what if one day their cavalry breaks through the pass and incites public outrage? What then?"

Humph, so summoning me to the palace six times in royal edicts was all for the issue of military power. The Prince has barely been missing for a month, and they’re so eager to take back control. They’ve got some nerve. Chen, after so much hardship, has built an ironclad army, but who knows the bitterness within? If the military power is truly handed over, then the future of Prince Mei Residence is predictable. The mere accusation of regicide and fratricide could uproot the entire Prince Mei Residence. Even though the retired Emperor still remains, Dugu Mo is already dead. Even if one were to say now that Dugu Mo was not the son of the retired Emperor, who would believe it? Everything would turn to ashes. The Emperor’s move now is truly ruthless. They say there is no kinship in the imperial family, and now I see that not even brothers are spared. Indeed, how can one sleep soundly beside others on one’s bed, especially when it comes to a prince holding military power? I’m sure the retired Emperor had foreseen this outcome, hence he stepped aside from the throne, letting two brothers compete so he could benefit from their strife. Humph, dream on.

"Easily solved!" Having understood, no longer timidly compliant, her eyes shot a piercingly cold look at the Emperor.

Dugu Han noticed the change in the woman before him, who had seemed so bewildered just a moment ago, yet now emanated an imposing air despite her somber dress, her serene and noble aura suddenly on full display.

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed, his murderous aura leaking out. So all her expressions before were to deceive him, taking him for a fool. Very well, when Dugu Chen was alive, he might have been fearful, but now that the man was gone, he was the supreme ruler. If she were to die along with the bastard in her belly, he could smoothly reclaim military command without any worries.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became, his gaze on Feng Xuxu no longer sinister but showing regret over the loss of a fine plaything about to disappear.

With a sardonic smile on his face, he cast a somewhat lascivious glance at Feng Xuxu, "And how would you solve it?"

Avoiding that revolting gaze, she waved her handkerchief as if casually stating, "Arrest those who spread rumors and publicly execute them as an example. This play of ’killing the chicken to scare the monkeys’, I assume the Emperor is not unfamiliar with it. As for the border issue, it’s even easier to solve. The generals at the border have fought alongside Prince Mei and are experienced. With the Emperor sending someone to oversee the battle, wouldn’t that solve the problem?"

The Emperor glared furiously, his hand slamming down heavily on the table. "Bang, clatter, crash." The lid of the teacup fell to the ground and shattered.

"Nonsense! Do you think waging a war is as simple as you say? What need then do we have for a Marshal? Are Ministers something you can just arrest as you please? Utterly preposterous," he said as he flung his sleeves back and clasped his hands behind him.

Those outside the room heard the Emperor shouting loudly. Yingsu had just started towards the hall, but she was stopped by several people, "Wait a bit longer, rushing in now will harm the princess." Mei Lenglei gripped Yingsu’s arm tightly, speaking in a cold voice. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Yingsu saw Sister Mei nodding at her, and looking at the agreement in the others’ expressions, she let go of the thought.

Inside the hall, Feng Xuxu simply smiled softly, her phoenix eyes mocking as she looked up at the Emperor, now standing in rage, "It was you, Your Majesty, who asked me for a solution, and I have just provided you with one, no? Or is there an issue? I think it’s a rather fine solution," she said.