Volume 1: The Storm of Regency 005 Self-Immolation to Atone for Guilt

  The conference hall fell silent once again, with no sound of crow or sparrow.

  The soldiers on guard outside had just seen a black shadow flying out of the camp, and before they could react, they saw that the black shadow came back. It was unknown what happened inside the camp, but since the regent entered, it would not be good news. In no time, dark clouds would gather and blood would fill the sky.

  The soldiers lifted their eyes, and under such a fine day with a clear sky, soon it would be bloody everywhere. They all shook their heads and sighed, unable to bear looking at the flawless blue sky for another moment. In their resolute gaze flowed a sorrowful color.

  "Is what you just said the truth?" Feng Ao Tian took a step forward, her pace steady and firm, each step deliberate. She walked to where the commander sat, turned around calmly, and the golden threads embroidered on her wide sleeves seemed to emanate a chilling aura as she sat down, slightly raising her arms.

  "Please, Regent King, grant me the death penalty!" Li Su suddenly felt that every moment he lived was torture. In his mind, a clear picture emerged of the scene where the Regent King had lightly waved his hand and he had fallen into the forest five miles away. Even if he refused to give up, even if he fought to the death, he couldn't even harm one hair on the Regent King's head. Only now did he realize how ridiculous his earlier arrogance was.

  Feng Ao Tian just wanted to teach him a lesson, as Ji Bo said, now is the time to use people, and the people in this council hall are all pillars of the entire border town army. Li Su, although a rough man, is also a rare and fierce general. Feng Ao Tian has always been one who doesn't do business at a loss.

  "What makes you ask me to grant you death?" Feng Ao Tian's majestic and awe-inspiring demeanor was upright and stern, his entire body exuding an unyielding and regal aura. As the king himself, how could he tolerate others belittling him?

  "It's not right for me to be disrespectful to the Regent." Li Su was born with a stubborn temperament, even if death was imminent, he would not take back what he had just said. He had spoken out of turn about the Regent, which was naturally an offense of disrespect.

  Ji Bo and the other generals knelt to one side, listening to Li Su's response, muttering in a low voice, how could he be so stubborn, this remark was made, his head would definitely not be preserved.

  "Disrespect?" Feng Ao Tian's thin lips pursed, his eyes narrowed, and his already frosty face was now coated with a layer of cold light, making him look even more intimidating. "How am I being disrespectful?"

  Even under such strong pressure, Jie Bi tried his best to control the fear in his heart and pondered what the Regent King was thinking at this moment. They had long known that the Regent King's mood was unpredictable, but his thoughts were always written on his face. However, today he was different from usual, and it was difficult to discern his intentions, let alone know what he was thinking now.

  Ji Bo's innermost thoughts were filled with doubts, and the Regent King seemed to have changed from his usual self, becoming more unpredictable. Had he come today to mete out punishment?

  "I, Li Su, dare to ask the Regent King: with the enemy army at our gates, their eyes fixed greedily on us, do you still remember that it was these border guards who fought to the death to protect our lands? Now, with morale in shambles and the army unstable, how can we resist the enemy's fierce onslaught? Am I speaking nonsense? What is the difference between your actions and those of a tyrant?"

  Ji Bo hung his head low, not daring to look up, but in his heart he was extremely complicated. On the one hand, he admired Li Su's straightforward words, on the other hand, he felt that such a fierce general would end his life in this way, which was really pitiful. He couldn't help but sigh with regret in his heart.

  Feng Ao Tian coldly gazed at Li Su, with a detached and icy smile, his chilling aura shot up to the sky, instantly extinguishing the proud spirit that had suddenly risen in Li Su. Li Su's body and mind shook, and he hastily knelt down again, saying "Please, Regent King, grant me death."

  "Capital punishment?" Feng Ao Tian raised his lips, letting out a cold laugh. "Commander Li isn't aware of my hobbies, do you know the scenery in the forest? It's what I love the most, unfortunately, you're not worthy of enjoying such treatment."

  Ji Bai remembered every single word that Feng Ao Tian said, the scene in the forest? It's probably the tragic figure of the person who assassinated the regent king yesterday, and it was able to scare Li Su into such a state, it must have been a terrible sight.

  Si Xi stood calmly on one side, although he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he could naturally guess what the scene in the forest was like, which made his hair stand on end. Thinking of this, he quickly bowed his head. His adoptive father had said that when serving in the palace, especially by the Regent King's side, one must be careful with every word and action, not making even a slight mistake, otherwise, losing one's life would be the lightest punishment. The Regent King's methods of playing with people were probably unprecedented and unmatched.

  Li Su heard this and felt a chill in his heart. Was he not worthy? If he was not even worthy of such a miserable death, then what kind of death was he worthy of?

  Yesterday, Feng Ao Tian's trusted and loyal guards were all annihilated, now there are very few people who can be used, except for Zuo Hun and two others, only the little eunuch Si Xi is left by his side. In this military camp, she knows even less about it. If it were in the hands of the real Feng Ao Tian, what Li Su said would be true. If he continues to indulge in such extravagance and immorality, the country will perish sooner or later.

  But now, she is the proud Phoenix, and anyone who dares to covet her things will be made to suffer a fate worse than death.

  "Those people who were dealt with by me yesterday, if they had any ability to resist me, would be heroes of the Qi State. And you, as a proud general of the Feng State, why did you surrender without a fight? What use do I have for keeping you around?" Feng Ao Tian stood sternly, gazing coldly at Li Su, "Since General Li is willing to open the city gates and let in the Qi State soldiers, how can I not agree to your request?"

  Li Su suddenly widened his eyes in shock, staring at Feng Ao Tian incredulously. He knew that what he had just said was not worthy of a military commander and hastily knocked his head to the ground, saying "This subordinate deserves to die."

  "What are you still standing there for? Why don't you follow General Li to welcome the soldiers of the neighboring country into the city?" Feng Ao Tian's face was gloomy, and he shouted sternly.

  "We will defend the border to the death!" Zuo's words made Bi Bo even more shocked, if the city gate really opened wide, they would be the sinners of Feng Guo, how could they face the people of Feng Guo.

  "This king doesn't believe it." Feng Ao Tian coldly snorted, turned around, walked to the desk, and flipped through the military's roster, page by page. The surroundings were silent, and the oppressive atmosphere in the council hall made everyone dare not breathe.

  Li Su's face turned deathly pale, and he immediately regretted his previous unguarded words. He suddenly stood up, drew the dagger from his waist, and cut his own throat to apologize for his offense.

  "Clang!" His wrist hurt, and his dagger fell to the ground, emitting a cold, icy glow.

  "Li Xiaowei, aren't you afraid that your cowardly blood will tarnish this sword?" Feng Ao Tian sneered, without lifting his eyes, his slender fingers flipping through the scroll in his hand.

  Li Su knelt on the ground, thinking that he had killed countless enemies in battle and was incomparably brave. Now, however, he didn't even have the right to take his own life with his own sword? What use was he still alive for?

  "Where is Mu Han now?" Feng Ao Tian asked coldly, closing the scroll and stroking the warm jade in his hand with slender fingers.

  Digression

  Hehe, dear friends, if you like it, don't forget to collect it! Mua mua!

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