The Vermilion Bird Emperor Yu Xiaoyun, dressed in a dragon robe with his hands behind his back, walked in accompanied by several eunuchs and a group of elaborately dressed guards.
Yu Xiaoyun's face was as dark as water, frightening Yu Qianxue and Zhu Yifeng into hurriedly kneeling on the ground: "
Your son pays respects to Father."
Yu Qianxue's guards knelt on the ground, silent as cicadas, not daring to utter a sound.
Yu Xiaoyun didn't even glance at Yu Qianxue and Zhu Yifeng, coldly staring at Long Chen: "Kid, you've got some nerve." "
Thank you for Your Majesty's praise. Long Chen has no other strengths, just a bit more courage than others." When Long Chen saw Yu Xiaoyun, he was initially thinking about how to do it, but as soon as Yu Xiaoyun spoke, his confidence instantly surged.
"Do you know what kind of fish you ate?" Yu Xiaoyun shouted angrily.
"I didn't know before, but later I did. But it's too late to know. Since the plan is done, why not temporarily calm Your Majesty's thunderous anger, take a few bites, and drink a couple of cups?" Long Chen chuckled.
Yu Qianxue and Zhu Yifeng were nearly scared to death. This guy was bold, daring to say anything. After eating the emperor's rainbow dragon fish, he still wanted the emperor to eat their leftovers. Was this guy reckless?
"Do you believe I'll slap you to death with one blow?" Yu Xiaoyun was so angry he felt like his lungs were about to explode.
"If you don't believe me, isn't it just eating your fish? I'm your future son-in-law, after all. Human life is worth more than a fish's life. You wouldn't kill me over a fish. Long Chen said confidently.
Yu Xiaoyun snapped angrily, "Nonsense! You dare bring up something that hasn't even been mentioned yet?" Don't say you're just a commoner now..."
"No, I'm a noble martial artist now, thank you!" Long Chen showed the nameplate in his hand and said confidently, "Martial artists have a much higher status than commoners."
Yu Qianxue was trembling with anger. This Long Chen was really harmful. Showing the martial artist's badge at this moment was like dragging her to death. If the emperor weren't here, she would have beaten Long Chen up right now. There's no way to trick people this much.
"Don't say you're a martial artist—even if you really are my son-in-law, if you make a mistake, I have the right to kill you." Yu Xiaoyun said with a sinister expression.
"What did I do wrong?" Long Chen feigned ignorance.
"You killed the rainbow-colored dragonfish I've raised for hundreds of years—isn't that wrong? This is a grave crime of deceiving the emperor. Yu Xiaoyun shouted.
"And then?" How do you punish me? Are you really going to kill me to avenge your fish? Isn't this a bit too absurd? Long Chen shrugged, looking like a dead pig who wouldn't be scalded by boiling water.
"You ..."
Although Long Chen had eaten his dragon fish and it was extremely hateful, it was simply impossible to kill him for that reason. There was no such clause in the law, and Long Chen was not a prince or princess. He couldn't be dealt with by royal family rules. If handled by law, at most he would have to pay money and pay compensation, or at most be imprisoned for a month.
"I won't kill you, but I can expel you from the Vermilion Bird Empire and never set foot in its territory again." Yu Xiaoyun said coldly.
"No, no, no, you wouldn't do that." Long Chen shook his head.
"Why wouldn't I know how?" Yu Xiaoyun said.
"As the saying goes, 'If you eat someone's mouth, your mouth is soft; if you take something, your hand is short.' I ate your fish, and I was at fault first, so I won't argue for it.
But if you don't make it for that reason, I believe you absolutely wouldn't do that. Long Chen said.
"Heh heh heh, acting too clever on your own. I have always disliked you, so why can't I just expel you?" Yu Xiaoyun sneered.
"Because I ate someone else's mouth and I ate your fish, but you also drank my wine. It's even, and I don't believe you'll do that. Otherwise, your lifelong reputation will be ruined. Please reconsider, Your Majesty." Long Chen smiled faintly.
"Nonsense! When will I ... You ... "You ..." Yu Xiaoyun suddenly thought of something, and his expression became uncertain.
"That's right, Zhuque Pear Blossom Brew!" Long Chen chuckled and said the name of the wine, then stopped talking.
"You..."
Yu Xiaoyun was trembling with anger. Now he understood that the Vermilion Bird Pear Blossom Brew he drank earlier wasn't a gift from the elders of Jiang Huixin's family, but from Long Chen.
Now, just as Long Chen said, although he didn't know about it, the fact couldn't be changed. In this way, he couldn't punish Long Chen for eating his seven-colored dragonfish.
Yu Xiaoyun hesitated for a long time, not knowing what to say, and finally shouted angrily, "Fine, kid, you admit you're impressive. However, expulsion can be waived, punishment cannot be evaded. Of the three of you—one is lax in governance, one is careless in making friends, and one ate my seven-colored dragonfish. All of you are sent to the dark room for three days to reflect." When
she heard that the little black room lasted three days, Yu Qianxue's face changed dramatically. She had just been locked up for three days; if she stayed another three days, her will would collapse and she would become insane.
Zhu Yifeng was so scared he nearly collapsed. His willpower was weak; at most, he could only hold out in a small dark room for one day. This was practically killing him.
However, Yu Qianxue and Zhu Yifeng dared not argue. At this moment, the emperor was in a state of rage, and any rebuttal would bring even harsher punishment.
"This has nothing to do with them. Each person takes responsibility for their own work. Just count the number of days for both of them on me."
Three times three is nine, so why not be straightforward? I'll send you one more day, I'll go squat for ten days, how about that?" You won't lose out. Long Chen said calmly.
"You're crazy. No one can survive seven days in a little dark room." Yu Qianxue, shocked and unable to care about being scolded by the emperor, couldn't help but interject.
"Do you think I'm negotiating business with you? Where is your bargaining power? Yu Xiaoyun shouted angrily.
"If you say that, I don't like to hear it. To be honest, you punish them not because they truly did something wrong, but because you take it out on them.
If you want to educate your own children and teach them in your own way, I naturally won't comment.
But now you're clearly taking out your anger on others. Isn't that damaging your image as the ruler of a nation? The ruler is the way of the king; the king is the way of endurance.
The higher a person's position, the more they know how to endure, but in you, I don't seem to see this in you.
If you insist on punishing those two, then I might as well go to the Imperial Palace to complain.
I said, because of my situation, you abused your position for personal gain, completely failing to uphold the principles of fairness, justice, and openness, making my test more difficult. I ask those seniors to judge for me. Long Chen said calmly and composedly.
Yu Qianxue and Zhu Yifeng were both stunned. In their lives, this was the first time they'd seen someone dare speak to the emperor like this, and even threaten him.
"Alright, alright! Kid, if you've got guts, then today I'll go along with you. Don't say I didn't warn you—the highest record in the little black room is six days, and who knows how many people have died inside. Are you really going to take the blame for them and go squat for ten days? Yu Xiaoyun said coldly.
"Although I don't have much status, I know that a true man's word is weighty and will never be repented." Long Chen said.
"Fine, I'll see whether you're stubborn in your mouth or your willpower."
After Yu Xiaoyun finished speaking, he turned to leave, but suddenly stopped again, glancing at the arowana and fine wine on the grill, snorting coldly:
"Someone, bring all the evidence back for me."
Long Chen, Yu Qianxue, Zhu Yifeng: "..."