"Traitors!" The word boomed through the hall like thunder, echoing in every corner.
No one could have predicted that such a declaration would be made in the imperial court on this day.
The person who had spoken was none other than Nathan Ye, the Seal Keeper.
This low-ranking official had the audacity to call everyone present traitors!
Max Cao, the Lord of Wei, was the first to react, pointing at Nathan in disbelief. "You dare to insult me?"
"No!" Nathan shook his head.
Max Cao let out a sigh of relief, assuming he had misheard. A mere Seal Keeper wouldn't have the nerve to insult him, right?
But then Nathan's voice rang out again, even louder than before. "I'm not just insulting you. I'm insulting all of you!"
His words hung in the air, stunning everyone into silence.
Leo Kim, who had been standing in the background, was in complete shock. "That's... that's Lord Fu!"
He had looked away for just a moment, and in the blink of an eye, Nathan had stormed into the center of the hall and openly insulted the entire court.
This was like a dream.
Once he regained his senses, Leo Kim's first thought was one of admiration. "Lord Fu is so bold! A mere scholar, yet he dares to stand up against all these powerful men and speak such righteous words! How satisfying!"
But then, his second thought hit him like a cold bucket of water. "Lord Fu has lost his mind!"
Leo Kim's face turned pale. In a setting like this, speaking up meant certain death. There was no way out of this.
It was over. Nathan had caused a massive uproar!
"That's the Seal Keeper?" Sirius Ji, still seated on the dragon throne, was equally shocked. He didn't know Nathan personally, given the Seal Keeper's low rank.
But now, Nathan's fearless stance left an unforgettable impression on him.
"So, the Empire of Da Zhou still has loyal subjects!" Tears welled up in Sirius Ji's eyes, and they soon began to fall.
No one could understand how Sirius Ji was feeling.
Just moments ago, he had been standing alone, seemingly fighting against the entire world. The loneliness, fear, and despair were beyond words.
In his darkest moment, Nathan had stepped forward. Though just a low-ranking official, Nathan's courage and stance were monumental, towering over the entire court of ministers and lords.
But the Emperor quickly realized the danger of the situation.
While Nathan's loyalty moved him deeply, it was also clear that this act of defiance was a death sentence. The Immortal Sect and Six Kings (Chinese mythology) would never allow such an insult to go unpunished.
The Emperor, though touched, felt powerless to protect such a courageous man.
As Sirius Ji grappled with his emotions, the rest of the court had their own reactions.
Most were furious.
Who in the world enjoyed being called a traitor? Especially not by someone of much lower status.
"How dare you!" shouted an elderly official, stepping forward. His beard was white, and his crimson robe made him look particularly imposing.
"A mere insignificant official dares to speak such slander!" he fumed.
Nathan glanced at him, his face impassive. "And who are you?"
The old man straightened his back, stroking his beard with pride. "I am Elder Zhang, the Minister of Revenue!"
Nathan nodded. "Minister of Revenue, a man of letters, no doubt."
The old man's chest puffed out even further. "Indeed! I was the top scholar in my time!"
The underlying message was clear: I am a man of unparalleled learning and achievement. Who are you to challenge me?
But Nathan didn't flinch. His courage only grew, and he sneered at the minister. "You may have studied the classics, but it seems all your learning went to waste!"
The hall fell silent.
"You call yourself a top scholar? But without the Emperor's favor, you would have nothing! Yet today, you dare betray the very man who elevated you? You are nothing but a disgrace to your title! A petty, useless old fool who dares to speak to me?" Nathan spat. "You're not even worthy of my words!"
The elderly minister turned pale, his face a mix of anger and shock.
He had spent his life basking in flattery, never once challenged. Now, this young Seal Keeper was openly insulting him, cutting deep.
And the worst part? He couldn't even argue back.
The old minister's actions—supporting the rebellion against the Emperor—were indefensible, and Nathan's harsh words were painfully accurate.
"You... you..." The old man struggled to speak, but the words wouldn't come. Blood rushed to his face, and suddenly he coughed up a mouthful of blood before collapsing to the ground.
"Did I just make him faint?" Nathan blinked, momentarily confused.
"I didn't even try that hard," he thought. "These ancient folks must have really thin skin."
Still, as he glanced around the hall, he saw the officials and nobles all lowering their heads, afraid to meet his gaze.
Nathan's sharp tongue had struck too deep, and no one wanted to be his next target. They all knew the truth—what Nathan had said wasn't wrong, and they were all guilty of the very treachery he had accused them of.
But Nathan wasn't pleased. He had come here with a purpose: to die.
None of these cowards would dare kill him now. That much was clear.
Nathan's eyes shifted to Six Kings (Chinese mythology), his gaze lingering on Max Cao, the Lord of Wei, who still gripped his flaming sword.
"Bringing a sword into court during a session? Are you planning to kill the Emperor?" Nathan taunted, deliberately provoking the lord.
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