Exposed

Mo Yan who was deep in his planning had yet to learn of these matter while prime minister was preparing a speech in his mind. He wanted to end this assembly sooner so that they can have private discussion.

Unfortunately before he could act two messengers enters the hall making their heart jump. The men had a three large box carried by several men behind them. Giving the formal salute to emperor one of the men who was trembling reports "emperor...Yan Jici of Nanling left these boxes infront of our capital gates..he also has send a verbal message"

The guard was hesitating to speak and was furiously berated by the head of neutral faction "have you turned dumb...speak...what was the message and what is inside those boxes.."

The guard dare not raise his head and trembling he replies "Yan Jici said...huajin for behaving so shameless as to sneak an attack resulting to destroying the peace and killing of innocent citizens of Nanling with pretentious mask of friends is hereby declared as foe of Nanling...he sends these boxes as the retaliation and expects us to come clean within a day or Nanling will declare full on war ...

He also mentions that Nanling will not approve of any peace envoys or messengers and that emperor himself should present the reasoning behind this heinous act.. emperor of huajin is to present himself at the borders fo xuzhou...if it is not agreed and confirmed by tomorrow morning then Nanling will take it as a intention to go on war.."

After the verbal message he shakingly opens the boxes making all the consuls tremble with fear and heaving from the gory sight. Shiyou felt dizzy upon seeing the content as the box contained the heads of General Tao, his assistant, yeshou and head of their employed mercenary.

Prime minister and the ministers who knew of the matter felt as if their breath was taken away. The one who should be securing the capital and Jing was now beheaded and in boxes. Forget about seizing Nanling now they had to face two of the largest armies capable of flattening huajin.

The neutral and Xiuzhi's faction looked to their emperor demanding an explaination. It was the head of the neutral faction who without fear questions the emperor "emperor...how come retired General and his men appeared on Nanling for them to be slayed...and isn't the other person the well known mercenary head of snow tower...emperor we must prove our innocence...please accept the condition before our land once again is ravaged by war.."

Shiyou was in his own world, he could see his imagined picture of a supreme ruler shatter and crumble little by little. His dream of having Yusheng as his bride and him back to his health and strength turning to dust. He couldn't hear anything that the consul was saying nor he could see the begging subjects under his feet.

Prime minister had long forgotten his prepared speech and just like the emperor was numb and unable to think properly. The pressure was too high for them to brush off or cover the matter with two armies preparing for grand scale war. He didn't know how to break the news of their unsuccessful attempt of attack to the rest of the consuls.

As of current with no one to subdue the capital and Jing it is only a matter of time when the entire huajin will learn of their hidden activities. He dare not imagine the reactions of consuls or the public nor the reparation that Nanling had in their mind. He was thankful that at least Pei Jin and duke Chen along with direct royal line was confirmed dead reducing two larger threats.

As prime minister was feeling thankful for not having to face them his hopes were crushed to nothing when another messenger arrives with a messenger hawk. Unlike before the hawk was clutching a scroll on its claws with nanlings royal seal.

The head of the neutral faction without caring for the formalities or status rushes to break the seal and read the letter. His face expression changed from anxious to shock, fear and finally disappointment. He raises his head to look at the dazed emperor and with great difficulty speaks "why...emperor...what have you done?..why did you not think of the consequences?.."