The De Emperor was shaking all over with rage. In a fit of temper, he grabbed the inkstone off the dragon desk and hurled it.

The inkstone all but grazed Zong Sibo's scalp as it flew past. It hit the floor with a crack and broke into pieces.

Zong Sibo flinched in terror, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

He'd all but seen his own great-grandmother just now. If that inkstone had flown a little lower, his old life would have been over for good.

"Calm yourself, Your Majesty. Your dragon body comes first!"

The De Emperor was beside himself. "Calm myself?" he screamed. "How is this emperor supposed to calm himself? Ning Chen's words were aimed straight at this emperor, plain as day... That lying, treacherous rebel! He gets to show off what a devoted son he is, and this emperor is left with a name for being heartless, faithless, disloyal and unfilial.

Kill him. That bastard has to die. This emperor will grind his bones and scatter the ash!"

Right then a young eunuch hurried in and dropped to his knees. "Your Majesty, the Minister of Rites, Lord Feng, the Minister of War, Lord Ji, and the Minister of Justice, Lord Li, ask to see you!"

The De Emperor frowned. "What are they here for? Send them in."

"At once!"

The young eunuch withdrew.

A little while later, Ji Mingchen, Feng Gaojie and Li Zhixing came in and knelt together. "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The De Emperor looked at them. "The three of you, my beloved ministers, have come to see this emperor together. What is the occasion?"

Ji Mingchen bowed. "Your Majesty, rumors are spreading everywhere among the people that Your Majesty has imprisoned and mistreated the Emperor Emeritus. We wonder whether there is any truth to them."

The De Emperor's face darkened at once.

"Beloved Minister Ji, are you interrogating this emperor?"

Ji Mingchen said hastily, "This old subject would not dare! It is only that the rumors are everywhere now, and your subjects have not seen the Emperor Emeritus in a…