Meng Fan's finger shook as he pointed at Yuan Long, shocked and furious. "You, you... you dare to rebel?"

Yuan Long gave a cold laugh. "And what if we have?

We followed the prince, went through life and death for the court and did great service in the field.

But the prince had barely died before Her Majesty tore down the bridge once she was across. She took our command away and banished us to this place where even the birds won't take a shit.

If Her Majesty won't do right by us, she can't blame us for breaking faith... Lord Meng, tell me, are we wrong to rebel?"

Meng Fan gripped the imperial sword tight. "Yuan Long, you're weak of will, with the heart of a wolf cub in you, and you dare lay the blame on Her Majesty!

You grew arrogant on your merits. You surrounded the Ministry of Justice and defied an edict, crimes that already deserved death... Her Majesty was merciful. Out of regard for your service, she gave you only a small punishment to serve as a large warning.

And now you turn everything upside down, forget how wide the imperial grace has run for you, and use it as your excuse for dealing with the enemy and betraying the country... Shameful, hateful, loathsome, vile, lower than a pig or a dog! You deserve to die!"

Yuan Long and Lei An were a little stunned by the tongue-lashing.

Scholars really did have quick mouths on them. And they cursed filthy.

Lei An snapped, "Why, you shabby, pedantic bookworm, you dare insult us... Do you know where you are?"

Dong Zhien said gravely, "This is the territory of the Great Xuan, land the imperial grace shines on... We are officials of the Great Xuan standing on the soil of the Great Xuan. What's wrong with that?

It's you traitors and rebels who are the problem. You followed the prince on campaigns north and south and were heroes of the Great Xuan, and now you deal with the enemy and betray the country. You've trampled your own…