Chapter 360 - , Best Steward Beneath Heaven (2/2)
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Luo Yunhai bowed.
The emperor nodded and turned to his sister, “Young miss Luo, come forward!”
Luo Yunchang was stunned.
A male would take on the mantle of Clan Head along with titles, so where was he going by calling her?
Luo Yunchang still kneeled, “May Your Majesty live a long and prosperous life!”
“Luo Yunchang, dignified and virtuous, strong and loyal. After the misfortune that befell your clan, you held strong against all adversity, raising your little brother and guiding the clan. You are a model of virtue to all of Tianyu. I take you as my goddaughter, naming you Princess Yong’an, and expect you to become a good sister with my daughter Yongning in safeguarding Tianyu!”
Luo Yunchang turned to Yongning hiding behind the princes, who stared blankly back at her. Neither expected that from the emperor. They were to be sisters.
“Uh, Your Majesty, I would never…”
“This is an imperial decree!” The emperor cut her off with a stern face.
Luo Yunchang sighed, “Then, I shall accept!”
The emperor beamed and Luo Yunchang withdrew.
“Luo clan’s steward, Zhuo Fan, step forth!”
When everyone thought the award ceremony was over, the emperor called one more time.
Zhuo Fan was puzzled. He was just a steward, not the Luo Clan Head. [Why’s he giving me something?] But since the emperor decreed, he could only oblige and gave a half bow, “May Your…”
“You dare not bow before His Majesty?”
A sharp cry pierced the ears of everyone.
Zhuo Fan looked on with a frown, at the servant next to the emperor and his face grew cold, “You’re the one with the nerve calling it to attention when the Emperor said nothing, trying to kiss someone’s ass. Do you think of yourself better than the Emperor?”
“Uh, no no, His Majesty…”
The servant panicked. They had always been next to the emperor and basked in second-hand glory, getting used to pushing others around.
They were proxies dishing out the emperor’s orders, but as long as the emperor didn’t say anything, anything went. Perhaps they were even doing what His Majesty intended.
While other scared people never dared to refute in fear of the emperor’s anger.
But Zhuo Fan was a tough nut to crack. Would the grand Demonic Emperor from the Sacred Domain kneel before a no name emperor from the mortal domain?
The servant was way out of his league messing with him.
Especially when he knew the emperor needed him and wouldn’t sweat this particular detail.
The emperor waved and smiled at Zhuo Fan, “Then, Zhuo Fan, why do you not kneel?”
“My knees are wounded. With Your Majesty’s brilliant and wise character, I’m sure you won’t pressure the future house’s steward.”
Zhuo Fan’s words were a work of art. Throwing the emperor’s words right back at him.
[In layman’s terms, you just called us irreplaceable, in order to strengthen the nation’s foundation. So why the hell would you nitpick? Only a poor ruler would do that. Won’t that shame you? Won’t you lose Tianyu’s respect?]
Those words even contained a hint of threat.
Luo Yunchang lowered her head, filled with worry and anger at Zhuo Fan’s crass act. [Before the mighty Emperor, you kneel when spoken to! What the hell are you doing looking for an early death?]
[Offending the imperial family will give us a death sentence!]
She was unaware that this was a fine balance not even the emperor wished to break. Since he didn’t want to let Regent Estate come out on top?
Hence Zhuo Fan’s leverage was very much real.
Giving him a long look, the emperor smiled, “You truly are a worthy steward for the Luo clan, Zhuo Fan. Your reputation precedes you!”
“Then, Zhuo Fan will receive your title!”
The emperor coughed and shouted, “Steward Zhuo Fan of the Luo clan, you are a man of bravery and wisdom, holding your clan together through hard times, loyal and caring, a pillar of the empire! I bestow upon you the title Best Steward Under Heavens, wielding the power of the three armies and the bearer of my authority!”
Sss~
The people gasped in shock. Even Zhuo Fan…