Chapter 21 (1/2)

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

If he was the previous Ren Jie, he would be scared out of his wits when he heard the emperor bellowing out his name in anger. But the Ren Jie now progressively confirmed his suspicion that the emperor knew of what had happened from the beginning, yet he pretended that he did not and listened to Gao Zhanyuan’s woes once more.

Could Gao Zhanyuan and Gao Peng not know that I would not be punished for that? No, they should be clear of that. F*ck. These guys are so cunning. Each one of them is more sly than the other.

But the good thing was that Ren Jie did not need to devise any moves against them. He could simply not play by the cards that they had dealt him. They were clueless about his situation and did not take him seriously deep in their hearts. That was his biggest advantage.

“Yes… Wait…” Ren Jie’s mouth was filled to the brim. He pretended as though he was about to choke to death. He swallowed hard a few times and gulped down the cup of tea that the fatty had handed him before he finally caught his breath.

“Phew… Your Majesty, you have scared me to death. Your moment of rage almost caused me to choke to death,” Ren Jie mumbled. Afterward, he looked towards the pathetic-looking Gao Peng and Gao Zhanyuan who was kneeling down and crying out his woes. “Gao Zhanyuan, how did you have the guts to say such embarrassing things. To think you are the Gao family head. I am embarrassed for you.”

Although Gao Zhanyuan was acting, for the most part, the unhappiness and rage he felt towards Ren Jie were real. When he heard Ren Jie’s words, he stared at him in rage and thought, You f*cking hit my son. Why wouldn’t I have the guts to say that out? Why would I need you to feel embarrassed for me?

Wen Yong and Fang Tianen, who were sitting at the side, were momentarily stunned too. They did not expect Ren Jie to say that.

The emperor who was sitting on the dragon throne turned his head slightly to look at Ren Jie. He seemed greatly unpleased with the situation that he saw, yet he was actually very calm on the inside. To be honest, the things that happened today surprised him too. Because he could not see through what was happening, he had said a couple more sentences to Ren Jie when he first saw him.

However, he could not tell anything from merely observing Ren Jie. He had become bolder. Not only did he dare to look at him in the eye, but he also had the guts to blabber on in front of him. He was indeed saying nonsense. Moreover, he seemed slightly wild and full-on pampered.

Before Gao Zhanyuan could rebut anything, Ren Jie had already jumped up in a jolt. He pointed his finger at the father and son duo.

“To think you father and son have the cheek to complain about me in front of the emperor! If I were you, I would have drowned myself in my own pool of urine. You two are utterly shameless.” Ren Jie appeared as if he was beyond angry. He pointed at Gao Peng and said, “Gao Peng! You are a junior in the family clan who followed the family head to attend and learn from the imperial feast. It was enough that you didn’t pay your respects and greet a family head like me. However, your sarcastic attitude is intolerable. When I went to ask you to return me the five hundred thousand taels of gold that your younger brother owe me, you actually refused to do so. You wanted to renege on your debt. Reneging on debts in the Clear Jade Dynasty is a huge offense that could subject you to the cruelest punishments. Not to mention that you owe a huge sum amount of five hundred thousand taels of gold.”

Afterward, Ren Jie turned to face the emperor. With anger still lining his voice, he said, “Your Majesty, I would have killed him long ago if I could have done so. How is he in the right when he is the one that owes me money? Since he brought up the issue, Your Majesty, please seek justice for me. Gao Fei owes me five hundred thousand taels of gold yet refuses to repay his debt. His brother Gao Peng reneged on the debt and refused to return the money as well. Why would the esteemed secretary of the treasury be short of five hundred thousand taels of gold? He makes so much more embezzling money. Your Majesty, please seek justice for me.”

“Cough… Cough…” Fatty Gao Ren was eating his food while listening. When he heard Ren Jie’s words, he accidentally choked on the food in his mouth. He coughed tremendously before he finally managed to swallow it down.

Wen Yong and Fang Tianen, who were sitting at the sides, were very speechless too. They had been the family heads for many years and had attended the imperial feast many times, yet it was the first time they encountered such a situation.

Upon hearing Ren Jie’s words, the corners of Gao Peng’s lips twitched slightly. He wanted to open his mouth and rebut Ren Jie’s claims. However, the piercing cold look in his eyes sparkled slightly and he held back the urge to speak up. He merely hung his head low in silence.

Fuming with rage, Gao Zhanyuan stood up and pointed a finger at Ren Jie. “What nonsense are you speaking? Gao Fei was schemed by you… I have yet to settle the accounts with you. How dare you…”

“Schemed? What did I scheme against him? Why did you not mention how he almost beat me to death? F*ck. You Gaos are incredible. Even if we were to settle the scores, I should be the one revenging you. Old scumbag. None of the sons you have raised are any good. You embezzled tons of funds and crops as the secretary of the treasury every day, yet you are unwilling to repay me a measly five hundred thousand taels of gold. You should be glad that I did not try to settle scores with your f*cking son for beating me up. How do you have the cheek to complain about me before the emperor…” Ren Jie’s reaction was even more intense than Gao Zhanyuan. He had jumped onto the table, pointed a finger at him and started lashing at him.

“You… How dare you scold me!” Although Gao Zhanyuan was not very powerful, he had perfected the True Qi Realm. His powers were released and he truly wanted to strangle that rascal to death.

“That’s right! You are the one I’m scolding. Who do you think you are? You might be the Gao family head, but I’m also the Ren family head. Why would I be afraid to scold you? Not only you, but I’m also scolding your eighteen generations of ancestors. There is not a f*cking good person in your entire family. You are all f*cking rogues who have the cheek to complain to the emperor even when you were the ones owing money. Pooh!” So what if he had perfected the True Qi Realm. Ren Jie did not believe that Gao Zhanyuan dared to touch him in the imperial palace. That was different from if they were outside the imperial palace.

“That’s enough!” the emperor shouted in raging anger. He was truly furious. “Bam!” He slapped his hand on the enormous jade table in front of him, causing it to shatter completely. His powerful presence engulfed the entire room. The might of the son of heaven and the wrath of the dragon emperor was not to be challenged.

“Look at how every single one of you is behaving. The imperial feast in the majestic Five Clans Hall has become a quarreling ground for rogues in the market place.”