460 Giving Away the Palace (1/2)
Han Fen knew nothing about where the Princess had hidden the book. She was just reluctant to leave the royal palace. ”We'll leave like that? Who'll protect the Queen?”
No one answered her. Gu Shenwei did not evacuate everyone from the royal palace. He left many guards there to protect it.
Before he left, he wanted to teach a lesson to the King of the Stone Kingdom.
Although the Princess had done something wrong, she was still the Dragon King's Queen. No one was entitled to humiliate her, especially the nominal King of the Stone Kingdom.
In the empty main hall, only four or five eunuchs stood near the Emperor behind the pillars, waiting to be called.
The King of the Stone Kingdom curled on the throne sideways, imagining that the court was full of civil and military officials. They were chanting about his virtues and achievements, while he remained dignified and was about to announce his sentence to the Dragon King.
Just then, the Dragon King walked into the main hall. He came alone, holding onto his hilt with his right hand. His face was pale and sickly.
”The Dragon King isn't so lofty.” The King of the Stone Kingdom was still in his fantasy and did not fear the Dragon King so much. He straightened himself and said coldly, ”There you are.”
”I'm here.”
”It doesn't seem that I've called you.”
”No, you haven't, I wanted to come.”
As the Dragon King got closer and closer, the sound of footsteps and the sound of a hilt rubbing against clothes were nearly unbearable in the empty hall.
The King of the Stone Kingdom suddenly woke up from his delusion. ”He's the powerful Dragon King who can take away my crown at any moment!”
The Dragon King suddenly seemed to be very formidable, and the King of the Stone Kingdom cringed like a shrimp. ”Welcome, Dragon King, my brother-in-law and the dearest friend of the Stone Kingdom. I was looking forward to seeing you, and here you are.”
The flattery of the King of the Stone Kingdom could not have even convinced a three-year-old child. The resentment in his words was crystal clear. His limited power had been further reduced since the arrival of the Dragon King. He had expected the An Kingdom at the southern bank of Xiaoyao Lake, but received nothing. The Dragon King did not even give a decent dowry, let alone a country.
”You can meet me at any time.” Gu Shenwei could not respect this incompetent king. ”Just as long as you walk out of the royal palace and go to the barracks on the outskirts.”
”Well, I'll think about it.” The King of the Stone Kingdom did not look happy. ”I won't leave because you might take the last bit of my things in the blink of an eye.”
”I came today to ask you to do one thing.”
They were both kings, and the King of the Stone Kingdom was a real legitimate one. He would not be happy receiving orders. Even Prime Minister Yang Dou, who used to be the actual ruler, would offer some superficial courtesy to him.
The King of the Stone Kingdom flushed but suppressed his anger. Finally, he asked awkwardly, ”And what thing it that?”
”Tell your sister that you appreciate what she did for the country and that the royal palace is her home. She can do anything she wants at home.”
This was beyond his expectations. ”She's always been a good girl, never asks for anything, and never talks back when I scold her. Now just after marrying the Dragon King, she not only lives in my palace, but also uses that advantage to bully me!”
”This is my royal palace, my home. She's married the Dragon King and only lives here temporarily.” The King of the Stone Kingdom raised his head and recoiled back as far as possible from the Dragon King.
In any other country in the world, the Dragon King would have been standing below the stairs, rather than speaking in front of the throne.
Gu Shenwei looked down at the thin King of the Stone Kingdom. ”Well, then you have to move out, and find yourself another place.”
”Wha... what? What did you say?” The King of the Stone Kingdom clutched at the edge of the throne as if it was his lifeline.
”I'll take over the royal palace; you can choose any residence in the city and declare it to be the royal palace of the Stone Kingdom. From now on, this will be the Dragon King's palace.”
”No, I won't do that. This is the royal palace of the Stone Kingdom, and I am the King of the Stone Kingdom. No one can drive me away.” The King of the Stone Kingdom was more than a decade older than the Dragon King. But now he acted like a mad child, swinging his fists and shouting even if he could not possibly win.
At last, an old eunuch worked up the nerve to step forward. He smiled and said, ”Your Majesty, you've mistaken the Dragon King. You two are family and share the royal palace. He can stay if he wants. And the Queen, your sister, is also the honorable master of the...”
The old eunuch tried to ease the situation for the King of the Stone Kingdom, but was interrupted by spittle.
The King of the Stone Kingdom spat and the spittle flew over the stairs in a perfect curve, landing on the old eunuch's face. The old eunuch was hit by the unexpected spittle and withdrew humiliated.
”You shameless traitor, I'm still in the palace!”
The King of the Stone Kingdom was not stupid; otherwise, Yang Dou would not have chosen him over the Prince to take the throne. However, diseases and years of being the puppet of others had consumed all his wisdom. Only the halo of the king remained to support him this far.
Afterward, the King of the Stone Kingdom finally regained his composure. He asked coldly, ”Can I stay if I apologize to her?”
”That's up to the Queen.”
”Okay.” The King of the Stone Kingdom was too weak to sustain his anger and he quickly calmed down. ”I'll meet with my sister and tell her to stay here comfortably. She will have whatever rights I have.”
Gu Shenwei nodded but did not leave. His eyes were still fixed upon the King of the Stone Kingdom.