The next day, the emperor summoned me into the study.

As soon as I entered, I saw Lu Ye there as well.

"Song, I know you are a genuine person, but Wan Yao is still the young lady of the Jingguo mansion. Do you know that because of what happened yesterday, she felt humiliated and so ashamed that she almost hanged herself and nearly died!"

"Yes, General Song demolished my mansion, but how could he treat Wan Yao, a weak woman, like that..."

Lu Ye said disappointedly, shaking his head.

Watching their interaction, I couldn't help but find it funny.

"Your Highness, if you can't control your own family, even if she humiliated me in public first, is there a problem with me repaying her by using the courtyard of your princely mansion?" I stared at Lu Ye with a smile.

"And as for the future prince's fiancée being injured, I didn't harm her, I saved her. The prince's consort is foolish, not aware that warhorses have a fierce and irritable temperament. She recklessly blocked the horse's path and provoked it. If it wasn't for me whipping the horse to make her lie down and avoid getting kicked and trampled to death with her ribs shattered, then... I am saving her, right?" I smiled and sipped my tea. "Besides, I am quite skilled in using the whip, if I really wanted to teach her a lesson, it wouldn't have just involved a little blood."

"You... You are just making excuses!" Lu Ye's face turned red and he was so angry that he couldn't even speak clearly.

But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't find any fault in my words, knowing well the temperament of the fierce horse I had dealt with for many years.

The emperor cleared his throat and tried to mediate: "I know Song didn't mean any harm, but the Jingguo Duke is getting older and couldn't bear to see his daughter humiliated. In the past few days, he has been clamoring for me to take action. If I don't give him an explanation, this matter might never end."

"What explanation? It's already enough that I didn't ask the Duke to come and thank me personally for saving his daughter's life." I frowned and looked at the emperor.

The emperor was at a loss for words, his eyes wide open, not knowing how to continue arguing with me.

"If you have nothing else to say, then I will take my leave." I calmly looked at both of them.

They really think they can challenge me with such tricks.

It's really difficult for them to use their little brains.

The emperor, being older, had a thicker skin. Although he knew he was in the wrong, he still forced a smile and said, "You're right, but the Jingguo Duke also wants face. I think I should give him a promotion."

As I looked at the emperor's smile, I felt a surge of anger in my heart. "Why don't you think it through, Your Majesty? If it weren't for his grandfather being one of the founders of the country, I don't think he would even be qualified for this position!"

The emperor's gaze seemed to evade mine. "This is just to give face to the Jingguo Duke."

I frowned coldly. "How many lives are you willing to sacrifice for this face?"

"In last year's battle at Yancheng, the Jingguo Duke's son, due to his incompetence in military affairs, led seven hundred soldiers and lost five hundred of them. For each rank he moves up, he receives three hundred more soldiers. How many more lives will be lost? Your Majesty, do you think the lives of ordinary soldiers mean nothing?"

The emperor's voice became awkward. "This... we have no other choice."

I laughed angrily.

It's madness, truly madness.

Just to save some face and power struggle, they actually wanted to use such an excuse to place their own people in positions of power.

They are treating human lives as a joke!

"What does a promotion mean in terms of face? How about this, I'll personally go to the entrance of the Jingguo Duke's mansion with the three armies to apologize. Is that enough face for you? I just don't know if the Jingguo Duke can handle it!" I looked at the emperor, smiling without a smile.

"Song Yu, you are arrogant!" Lu Ye stood up, pointed at me and scolded, "How dare you talk to my father and the emperor like this!"

"You have no right to speak!"

The emperor and I both yelled at Lu Ye.

Silence fell as our words faded.

The emperor picked up a teacup and smashed it towards Lu Ye in anger. "How did I give birth to such an ignorant fool like you!"

"I apologize for my mistake." Lu Ye could only kneel on the ground, bowing his head in extreme embarrassment.

Tsk, I was clearly speaking up for the emperor, but he didn't reprimand me because he couldn't. Instead, he took this opportunity to vent his anger on Lu Ye.

He is both foolish and pitiful.

With a black face, Lu Ye knelt on the ground and said with great humiliation, "I spoke too much, please forgive me."

The emperor remained silent, his face pale, constantly taking medicinal pills to soothe himself.

It seemed like he was about to pass out from anger.

"If there's nothing else, I will take my leave." I got up and left.

In the time it takes to have a cup of tea and exchange pleasantries, I had already given the emperor enough face.

However, with today's argument, I have completely severed ties with him.

There are some matters that need to be dealt with quickly.

But it's not a big problem since he won't be on the throne for much longer.