Chapter 1133: Being The Emperor Seems Absurdly Exhausting Anyway
Chapter 1133: Chapter 1133: Being The Emperor Seems Absurdly Exhausting Anyway
That was a sensitive, terrifying subject that no court official ever dared to utter out loud, even in private whispers. Yet Bai Xifeng had just thrown it right into the Emperor’s face without the slightest shred of hesitation.
The Emperor’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Because in truth, her bold words had hit the exact nail on the head. That was precisely what kept him awake at night. He was terrified that Great General Bai would use his military power to overthrow the throne. He desperately needed a hostage, an anchor, a leverage point that would force Bai Xiang to think twice before making such a move.
That was the sole reason he had wanted Bai Xifeng kept strictly within the Capital City. As long as Bai Xifeng was within his reach, he believed he held a dagger against Bai Xiang’s throat to keep the General under control!
Bai Xifeng scoffed quietly, a cold sneer forming on her face.
This paranoid Emperor actually believed her father was scheming a rebellion.
"Your Majesty, if my father actually wanted to rebel, he could easily do it anytime he pleases." Bai Xifeng said casually, her tone as light as air. "With his personal cultivation strength alone, wiping the entire Capital City off the map would not take much effort at all."
A horrified silence fell over the throne room. Every minister felt their blood run cold upon hearing her words. She had just discussed the total annihilation of the Capital City as casually as if she were commenting on the morning weather.
"The only reason he has not bothered to rebel is simply that he does not think this throne is worth the hassle." Bai Xifeng continued, letting out a small sigh. She shrugged her shoulders, looking around at the grand pillars of the hall. "And honestly, I agree with him. It really is not worth it. Being the Emperor seems absurdly exhausting anyway. You just sit up there and bicker with a bunch of old men all day long over trivial matters."
The expressions of several senior ministers turned ugly, their faces twisting in offence.
Bai Xifeng did not seem to notice their anger, or more accurately, she simply did not give a damn. She continued rambling out loud, sounding more like she was voicing her inner thoughts to herself rather than addressing the ruler of the kingdom.
"Well, if you are going to keep stubbornly insisting that my father is planning a rebellion... Maybe I really should talk to him about it when I get back. It might actually be a much better idea to just rebel, tear this place down, and replace the person sitting on that golden chair." Bai Xifeng mumbled.
"Young Lady Bai!"
A thunderous shout suddenly echoed through the hall, cutting her off.
Bai Xifeng was actually startled by the sudden boom, blinking in genuine surprise as she looked over at the speaker.
The surrounding ministers were equally shocked.
The person who had shouted was Prime Minister Miao An Gang, a man known throughout the court for his gentle, soft-spoken demeanour. He almost never raised his voice during imperial assemblies. For him to lose his composure and roar like that showed just how insanely dangerous and treasonous Bai Xifeng’s words had become.
"Young Lady Bai! You must refrain from making such reckless, treasonous statements in the royal court!" Prime Minister Miao An Gang spoke sternly, his eyes fixed on her.
"Ah, alright. Got it." Bai Xifeng nodded casually, not looking frightened in the slightest.
Having stopped her wild rambling, Prime Minister Miao An Gang turned toward the golden throne, bowing deeply.
"Your Majesty, please remember the primary reason you summoned Young Lady Bai to the court today." The Prime Minister reminded him, giving the Emperor a smooth way out of the awkward situation.
The Emperor snapped out of his shock, suddenly remembering the core objective of today’s audience. He needed to steer the conversation away from the dangerous topic of rebellion immediately. For now, he had no choice but to force himself to swallow his pride and accept Bai Xifeng’s declaration that her father had no intention of taking the throne. There was another critical matter that needed to be settled today.
"Young Lady Bai, the imperial court has decided that your formal engagement with the Third Prince should be officially dissolved." The Emperor stated, adopting a stern, solemn tone.
"Huh? Why?" Bai Xifeng asked, raising a single eyebrow.
"The Third Prince went missing several months ago. We dispatched several elite search teams to locate him, but there has been absolutely no trace of his whereabouts." The Emperor explained, his voice flat and practised. He then added in a benevolent tone, "We do not wish for you to waste your youth waiting for a ghost. It is for your own well-being that we dissolve this engagement."
"He went missing?" Bai Xifeng frowned, putting on a puzzled expression. "How could someone like him just vanish into thin air? He must have been kidnapped by someone with ulterior motives."
Even though Bai Xifeng knew the exact truth regarding the Third Prince’s secret departure, the rest of the court was still completely in the dark.
Everyone in the Capital still believed the Third Prince was nothing more than a helpless, simple-minded fool. From their perspective, there was zero chance a foolish prince could plan a covert escape from the heavy security of the palace on his own. He had to have been tricked, lured out, or forcibly abducted by an outside force.
"As We stated, We have already exhausted vast resources searching for Our Third Son, but there is still no news whatsoever." The Emperor said, letting out a sombre sigh. "Given his mental condition, We can only assume the absolute worst has happened to him."