764 The Emperor’s Wrath (2/2)

You can't blame me for being a coward, for this is blatantly a minefield — it's too dangerous to be here!

Yun Xiaoyao felt like he was sitting on pins and needles as he laughed, wryly, ”Well, he's your nephew after all… there's no need to mention such deeds… whatever has been done was still far from what has to be accomplished. That's too much of a praise, noble brother — too much!”

The emperor did not even bother to give the slightest hint of a smile. He replied, icily, ”How is this too much of a praise? How can such accomplishments be deemed enough? There is simply too much worth mentioning… Well, I did ask — a few days ago — I did ask you if you knew who Supreme Cloud was. Do recall how you answered me…”

Yun Xiaoyao choked and lowered his gaze, remaining speechless.

”Look up!” The emperor roared, loud as thunder, causing the imperial study to tremble slightly.

The four of their heads snapped up immediately.

Almost instantly, they lowered their gaze meekly.

Cough, I didn't hear anything…

Yun Xiaoyao was sweating profusely. ”Noble Brother… t-this— this…”

”This! That!” The emperor released his rage. ”I've asked you eight-hundred times about this, haven't I? Your son, Yun Yang — is he Supreme Cloud?! You made guarantees, you confided to me with absolute sincerity, you vouched for your words, and you even swore on our dear father's name…”

He huffed and puffed, slamming a fist onto the table. ”Yet from the looks of it today, you don't sound at all surprised, do you?”

Yun Xiaoyao's expression quickly switched into that of a troubled soul. ”That time, I truly—”

”—truly feel that you've lived long enough?” The emperor cut him off, biting off each word with disgust. ”You have balls — you no longer respect me as your elder, do you? Having a strong cultivation base and a good son… fooling and conspiring against me as you wish—”

Yun Xiaoyao's hands trembled slightly. ”Noble Brother, listen to me, I can explain. Things happened for a reason, and the had the circumstances allowed—”

”To hell with your explanation! Like I'd listen to your sorry excuse of a reason!” The emperor cut him off mercilessly as his wrath bounced off the walls of the palace. ”Yun Xiaoyao! Y-you… you lawless, unfilial bastard! You mutinous, treacherous thing! You—”

A thunderous roar lashed out suddenly, ”Who the hell permitted you to be seated? Stand up— you! F*cking bastard, you son-of-a-b*tch! You've really grown a pair of horns now, haven't you…”

Yun Xiaoyao snapped his head up, protesting strongly, ”You can berate me for all you like. You are my big brother after all, but you mustn't curse on our fathers' name! You shouldn't call me a son-of-a-b*tch or a bastard; just think about what you're saying—”

”You bet I'm cursing our father alright! You are a sorry d*ck of a son as well!” The emperor's wrath knew no bounds as he spat out whatever that came to mind. ”Shut up! You've no right to speak in my presence!”

”You really mustn't curse my father… cursing at my father is equivalent to cursing at your own! Y-you… you are the exalted one, the reigning sovereign — you mustn't say such things!” Yun Xiaoyao's voice grew smaller and smaller, his head shrinking further into his body as he squatted above his chair.

The emperor grew even more incensed by the second. He started to stand, striding towards Yun Xiaoyao with a condescending gaze, like a proud lion towering over his prey, pressing his forefinger against the latter's forehead as he hurled out a torrent of insults. He raged as he pointed, and Yun Xiaoyao would raise his head, backing away at every one directed at him…

Eventually, the fun in waving his finger around seemed to have died down, no longer satisfying the emperor's impulsive lust for violence. He lashed out a few kicks, and King Xiaoyao was sent rolling like a gourd.

”Calm down, Your Grace… cough… calm down…” Qiu Jianhan braced himself and came to the rescue after catching Yun Xiaoyao's helpless, pleading gaze.

However, just as the words left his lips, the old marshal knew that he had fallen into a trap.

Yun Xiaoyao was not pleading for help — he was blatantly shifting the blame to him!