Everyone in the room was stunned!

Li Hanru calling Zong Sibo a treacherous chancellor was one thing. The two men held posts of equal rank, so an insult was just an insult.

But he had called the new emperor a fool on the throne to his face, and that was the grave crime of offending the majesty of Heaven.

The new emperor's face turned about as ugly as a face can get.

Zong Sibo had taken his share of the abuse, yet now a sinister smile crept over his face. He pointed at Li Hanru and thundered, "Left Chancellor, you dare insult His Majesty and offend the majesty of Heaven? The crime is past forgiving!"

Li Hanru's eyes went bloodshot with rage. "This old man took office at court while the late emperor still lived, and by now has served three emperors... The late emperor was bold and brave, and the Emperor Emeritus is benevolent. But His present Majesty is shallow in talent and learning, a fool and a failure.

The Great Xuan was flourishing, its treasury rich and its people strong, its army mighty and its horses sound, with every state bowing to it... Not even a year later, open your eyes, all of you, and look at the Great Xuan now. Fires of war on every side, the people with no way to live, and now we're to cede land and pay an indemnity. A disgrace, a disgrace as big as the sky!"

Zong Sibo flared up. "Left Chancellor, how dare you! Are you saying all of this is His Majesty's fault?"

"Isn't it?" Li Hanru bellowed. "Selfish and cold-hearted, greedy for glory, drawing the treacherous close and pushing loyal ministers away... The state the Great Xuan is in now—whose fault is that, if not His Majesty's?"

The new emperor was beside himself. "Left Chancellor, do you mean to rebel?"

Li Hanru shook his head with a bitter smile, and the laugh that came out of him was desolate. "There's no need for Your Majesty to clap such a big hat on this old subject. This old subject's…