"Did you hear me say the word 'servant' just now, Concubine Zhu?" Emperor Wu Shun focused his gaze on the figure of a woman who had just asked him a question.
The woman looked angry, but she couldn't answer Wu Shun's question.
"I didn't say the word 'servant,' did I?" The Emperor spoke again when he got no response from his concubine. "I said that Prince Wu Jingguo should help Crown Prince Wu Jinhai with his work, but I didn't say the word 'servant' at all. I think there is a problem with your hearing, Concubine Zhu."
It could be seen that Zhu Ruolan gasped at Wu Shun's words, and it seemed that she felt even more humiliated by the Emperor.
"How can you say that to my niece, Your Majesty? I know she's just your concubine now, but you shouldn't insult her like that!" Prime Minister Zhong once again let his voice be heard within the vast hall. He dared to raise his voice in front of the Emperor, and that was why the Emperor turned his gaze toward him coldly.
"I wouldn't insult her if she didn't insult me first, Prime Minister Zhong. Now please tell me. Did you hear me mention the word 'servant' before? I didn't say that word, did I? But your niece thinks lowly of me and even said that I want to make my youngest son my eldest son's servant, and that is indeed an insult, isn't it?"
"..." This time, it was Zhong Enlai who was clouded by the Emperor's questions.
Yu Ming secretly smirked as he realized how wise and intelligent Wu Shun was when he countered Zhu Ruolan and Zhong Enlai's attacks. He had known Wu Shun for a long time, and he also knew that the old man was indeed the wise ruler of Wu Li. Hence, it was not surprising that the Emperor managed to gain the upper hand when he faced those two people.
Furthermore, Wu Shun was indeed in the better position of the two after Wu Jinhai returned to being a normal human once again. Over the years, the people of the East Faction had continuously used the poison within Wu Jinhai's body to attack his party, but now the tables had been turned, and the Emperor once again had control over the people who had robbed him of everything since all those years ago.
"We're not going anywhere if we keep talking about that matter, and that's why we must continue now," Emperor Wu Shun spoke again when neither Zhu Ruolan nor Zhong Enlai rebuked him. "I have no ill will for my two sons. True, they were born to two different women, but I love them the same. That's why none of my sons are servants, and I only want them to work together for this empire."
No one made a sound after Emperor Wu Shun continued his speech. Of course, Zhu Ruolan and Zhong Enlai's faces were still overshadowed by dark clouds, and they also gritted their teeth to hold back their anger, but they couldn't even say no to the Emperor at this moment.
"Everything would remain the same even if the Crown Prince had changed. Just like how the previous Crown Prince did his work, the current Crown Prince would mostly do his work in Xinyang Imperial Palace, and it would be the Second Prince who would frequently leave the palace to assist the Crown Prince with his duties. I have discussed this matter with Prince Wu Jingguo, and that is why I hope that no one will say that I unilaterally made this decision," Emperor Wu Shun spoke again as he glanced at his youngest son.
Both Wu Jinhai and Wu Jingguo remained silent despite the strife within the great hall. Wu Jinhai looked relaxed and calm, but there was a hint of tension on Wu Jingguo's face when he saw how his mother argued with his father. Even the Prime Minister who he often thought of as his grandfather was also getting into arguments with his father, and that was why he couldn't remain relaxed as he could only stand by and watch everything.
Just like Wu Shun, Yu Ming also glanced at the Second Prince, and he could see a trace of tension on the Prince's face.
'Wu Jingguo has been an obedient son to his mother for many years. Ah, I'm not even sure if it's correct to say that he's an obedient child. Maybe I should say that he was a cowardly child for many years. However, he suddenly dared to disobey his mother, and I don't know what kind of scolding he received from that woman after learning of his rebellion,' Yu Ming thought to himself as he continued to stare at the blue-robed figure sitting on the chair quietly.
Yu Ming could see how Wu Jingguo could only silently shift his gaze from one person to another whenever he heard them speak, but then the Prince's gaze suddenly fell on him. Yu Ming didn't even flinch when their eyes met. Instead, he smirked at the younger figure.
The fish demon seemed satisfied somehow when he saw Wu Jingguo's troubled expression as the young man watched the debates within Pingheng Hall. Of course, he still remembered how Wu Jingguo had ruthlessly kicked his ass out of his pavilion this morning after they had shared a hot night last night, and that was why he felt pleased when he saw the troubled look on the man's face.
It seemed that Emperor Wu Shun had made his final decision, and that was why no one could say no to his words. The Emperor then continued the meeting. Not only did he talk about Wu Jinhai and Wu Jingguo, but he also talked about other matters in the empire.
One by one, the ministers reported on the current situation in the empire, and the Emperor nodded several times after receiving the report.
"Oh, I almost forgot to announce one more thing," The Emperor spoke again after the ministers finished reporting the current situation to him. "Regarding how the Second Prince will often leave the palace to do his work, I assigned Master Yu to be his personal attendant. I hope that Master Yu will be willing to help my youngest son to do his work."