441 Jun Family’s Influence (1/2)

”For the country…? For the people in your land…? That's a great argument! How pompous of you! Why don't you say you were thinking of yourself? It's all because of your selfishness! It's because you fear that someone will overthrow you. You're wary and jealous of everyone! You don't trust anyone, and you don't dare to have confidence in anyone! You lift a person high up yourself. And, you knock them down into a bottomless abyss when they reach a high position and amass considerable power. You'll never be lenient with anyone. In fact, you'll use it to declare to your council of officials that there will be clouds if you turn your hand, and there will be rain when you remove it. You'll use that to show that you're omnipotent. Moreover, you will send this message to them with the help of these things —'obey me and you'll flourish. Disobey me and you'll die!' Do you genuinely think of yourself as someone very noble? No! You'll have them obey orders, right? In fact, they won't necessarily flourish if they obey you. But, you'll surely have them killed if they don't!”

The Empress gave him a biting look. Her eyes were as icy as a mountain-lake in winter, ”But you can't do anything about it anymore, can you? So, you can only get emotional about it now!”

”This is rubbish! Yours are the eyes of a woman! What would you understand?!” the Emperor roared. He felt that his aloofness and pretense had no effect over his wife. So, the man couldn't control his anger…

”I'm talking rubbish? Am I wrong? You're telling me that I've accused you wrongly?! So, let me ask you this! What was the cause of the Ye Family's extermination?!”

The Empress gave a tragic laugh. Then, she suddenly stood up and spoke, ”Who was behind the evils done to Jun Wu Hui? Who was behind Jun Wu Meng's murder? Jun Mo You and Jun Mo Chou were youngsters with unlimited prospects… what caused their premature deaths? What caused these young ones to be buried with so many troops? What left Jun Wu Yi crippled for ten years? And, why couldn't anyone even find Dugu Xiong's corpse?”

”These things… these things… How much do you know? How many cases are you aware of?!” It seemed like a deeply concealed scar had suddenly been exposed. His Majesty felt enormous pain… like his lungs had been torn apart. Moreover, he had started to panic. In fact, his face had started to convulse.

He had believed that the Empress had finally opened her golden mouth to argue. So, he thought that she'd argue the next day as well. And, these instances would only increase in the future. Therefore, he believed that there was a chance that their relationship of a husband and wife could gradually become normal.

However, he was unable to control his anger now!

The Ye Family, Jun Wu Hui, Jun Wu Meng, Dugu Xiong… these names were like sharp needles pricking at his heart. And, these needles had only left his heart to bleed in time…

In fact, the pain had eventually reached his very bones!

The Emperor would've dismissed anyone with a laugh if they had asked him these questions. Perhaps he would've admitted to the inconsequential things, and would've then covered his actions with weak excuses. But, the one asking these questions was Murong Xiu Xiu…

It was the person he cared for the most… The woman he loved the most!

The woman he had yearned for… even in dreams.

He had been dreaming about her ever since he had been a young man. He had been dreaming and hoping to get that woman even when he had become the Prince. He was ready to incur any costs to obtain her. In fact, he would've stinted to institute the most disgraceful conspiracy for that woman…

Then, she had eventually become his woman.

He had spared no expense to obtain her. He had climbed to the Emperor's position to obtain her. He had even deposed his previous Empress to obtain her. And, he had endured for ten years to get her back. For her… everything had been for her!

Things went further, and she finally became his Empress and came to his palace. But, his long-longed happiness lasted only for two short years. The people had remained the same, but the conditions had changed. The only thing which had remained was their status as husband and wife. However, they didn't have any personal connection between them.

He had dreamt many dreams late at night. He had always felt extreme hatred in love. However, he had never hated her inconsistent love for him. Nor had he ever hated the fact that he wasn't able to get her heart. Instead, he hated the person who resided in her heart. Things would've been different if it weren't for him. Then, there was an assassination attempt on Princess Ling Meng, and Ye Gu Han had suffered grave injuries. This had only increased the fissure between the two of them. Therefore, he had started to harbor even more hatred…

He had then heard of the deformity that man had been rendered with. His right hand had been chopped off. Even his Xuan strength had been annihilated. So, he would never be able to fight again. In fact, this condition was even worse than that of Jun Wu Yi's…

[Ha ha ha…]

The Emperor had felt a sense of tyrannical elation when he had heard that news.