91 Imperial Court Politics (1/2)

Su Li knew that power and riches were great motivators for people to either backstab others or simply fight over such things with even their blood relatives - case in point, her own step-sister in the last lifetime.

However, she hoped that her siblings in this world would at least keep their claws sheathed for the time being.

But since they couldn't keep their grubby hands to themselves, she also didn't mind revoking all pleasantries and airing everything out in the open.

After all, it wasn't like if she bowed or placate them, they would keep their thoughts to themselves and wouldn't try to take action against her in the shadows.

Everyone in the Imperial Capital knew that the First Prince - Prince Xi wasn't satisfied because his path to the throne had been blocked by someone who wasn't even in the race to Imperial power all these years.

Since he dared to bare his teeth to her, she wouldn't be polite with him as well.

She gave a saccharine sweet smile to this so-called brother of hers and continued, ”Yes, inferior is the word. Not only are all of you to Zhen in position, but you will also always remain inferior in other things - wealth, prestige and commoner's eyes as well.”

She asked rhetorically, ”Do you know the reason for this?”

When nobody dared to give her a reply, she continued, ”Its because Zhen is protected by the heavens themselves and because Zhen is the ruler of all under the vast sky.”

Prince Xi clenched his jaw in an effort not to spew the initial protest that rose inside his heart at the cruel words the monarch was spewing without restraint.

They were akin to opening his already scabbed wound, sprinkling a generous amount of salt on it and then rubbing it in.

However, the emperor seemed to be on a roll because he simply didn't stop there but carried on.

”Beloved officials, you all have spent more time in this audience hall than me, so you should understand in your heart that if your superior is angry, you have to say that you are wrong, even if you are right in the first instance.”

With a significant pause in her words, Su Li further retorted, ”Not to mention, in this particular instance, you all are in the wrong in the first place.”

She glared viciously at all the courtiers who were kneeling and one of them who had more brains than the rest of them replied, ”We dare not anger the monarch, Your Majesty.”

She smiled coldly and proposed, ”Beloved official, what do you think Zhen should do in the present situation?”

Prince Xi realised that his ploy to create trouble for the monarch had utterly and miserably failed.

This put him in an awkward position. He could either try to save his allies by kneeling down and admitting his mistakes or he could respond to the monarch in the same way the other had stripped him of all his dignity right here, right now.

However, now wasn't the time to be at loggerheads with this Imperial Brother of his.

All he could do was to swallow his indignation, save the officials who were his own men from his brother's wrath and take the rap for them.

Otherwise, if in such a situation, he tried to wash his hands off them, no one would dare back him and stand by his side in the near future.