252: Is she really interested in me?

The empress's face turned completely black.

She protected Su Xiaobai because he was talented and a rare confidant.

She felt that Great Zhou needed such a person, which was why she went all out to protect him, and nothing more.

But to say that she, a dignified empress, had feelings for a married man? What a joke!

Not to mention this guy already had a wife, just the fact that he called her a tyrant made her want to kill him.

"Father Emperor, I respect you as my birth father, which is why I have repeatedly tolerated this. But if you speak of groundless things again, do not blame me for being merciless."

She said to the former emperor with a cold expression.

The former emperor snorted and said no more.

Regarding the empress's threat, the ministers interpreted it as: she was flustered!

In their hearts, they became even more convinced of the former emperor's conjecture; the empress might truly have something going on with Su Xiaobai.

Su Xiaobai, as one of the protagonists, was like the empress, wondering what nonsense the former emperor was spouting?

Not to mention he hadn't even seen the empress's true face and didn't know what she looked like.

What if she was an ugly monster?

Furthermore, he was already on tenterhooks because of Senior Sister and Linger; they hadn't even met yet, and Senior Sister didn't know what had happened between him and Linger.

If she found out, he couldn't even imagine what awaited him!

If you added a tyrant to that, his death sentence could already be pronounced.

"Hmph!" The empress took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and explained to the ministers: "Commander Su is not a Demon, it's just that a remnant soul of the Demon Race is residing within him, and it has already been sealed by a Formation."

"But what if that Demon Race breaks through the Seal?" Prince Ming held onto Su Xiaobai, "Lord Su is a high-ranking official of the court, in charge of court secrets.

Once he is taken by Possession by the Demon Race, it will be equivalent to a hidden tumor in our Great Zhou; we cannot take this risk!"

"This prince proposes to revoke Su Xiaobai's position as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and have him imprisoned and strictly guarded!"

"I second that!"

"I also second that!"

The Prince Party members all echoed in agreement.

Even some from the neutral Grand Secretariat Party expressed their approval.

The empress frowned slightly; if she disregarded the opinions of her subjects and stubbornly protected Su Xiaobai, it would only give them a reason to make trouble.

Her old, undying birth father was still watching from the side.

The pressure from the clan elders was a headache even for her.

At this moment, Moye Chen stepped forward and bowed to the empress, saying, "Your Majesty, I have a different opinion."

The empress's heart filled with joy, "Duke Mo, please speak freely."

"Although Lord Su has a Demonic Soul, according to my observation, this power is actually controllable." He looked at the civil and military officials in the court.

"You must have heard about what happened in Qingzhou, right? The Extraterrestrial Demon Clan invaded, and millions of lives in Qingzhou almost became their nourishment, but in the end, it was Lord Su who turned the tide and saved Qingzhou from disaster."

"And what Lord Su used was precisely the power of the Demon Race within him."

A minister stepped forward, confused, "But I heard that the one who saved the world at that time was a young hero named Black Abyss."

Moye Chen smiled: "That was actually Lord Su's alias outside. There were quite a few people present at the time; we just need to find one person to identify him, and the truth will be known.

Moreover, among the Human Race in the entire Great Zhou who can use Devilish Qi, it should only be Lord Su."

The civil and military officials of the court remained silent; since he said so, then this Black Abyss was most likely Su Xiaobai.

Moye Chen then said, "Since this power within Lord Su is controllable, why can't it serve the court?

As for Prince Ming, Lord Su saved Qingzhou from dire straits. This meritorious deed, not to mention a reward, you instead want to throw him into prison. What is your true intention? Are you trying to make the people of the world feel disheartened?"

He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Prince Ming, subtly revealing a hint of dominance.

Well said, Holy Monarch! As expected of the first major backer I found! ...Su Xiaobai was so moved he was almost in tears.

Prince Ming's expression darkened a bit, "I don't deny Su Xiaobai's merits, but that cannot be an excuse for the Demonic Soul within him to remain a hidden danger.

Unless the Demonic Soul within him is completely removed, he will eventually lose control; we cannot take this risk, and there is no need to take this risk!"

"Hahaha! Well said, worthy of being my son!" The former emperor stood up, patting Prince Ming's shoulder and laughing loudly.

Then he turned to Moye Chen, pointing at Su Xiaobai and saying:

"If one day the Demonic Soul within him loses control, slaughters the common people, and dyes the land with blood for a thousand miles, who will bear this responsibility? Will it be you, Moye Chen?

Heh, forgive this old man for speaking bluntly, but you are not qualified enough."

His tone carried contempt; even for the leader of the eunuch faction, he, the Supreme Emperor, still didn't care.

Moye Chen pondered for a moment, then retreated.

He indeed was not qualified to bear this responsibility.

Only one person present was qualified.

Su Xiaobai sighed and shook his head; even Duke Mo was helpless, so it seemed his official career had come to an end.

But it didn't matter; at least he had experienced it.

"Since Father Emperor believes Duke Mo is not qualified, then I shall bear this responsibility, how about that?" Just then, the empress's clear, cold voice came.

Everyone's gaze simultaneously turned to the empress, revealing a hint of disbelief.

Prince Ming's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.

The former emperor narrowed his eyes and looked at the empress, "Lin Yao, this is not a child's play. How will you guarantee that the Demonic Soul within him will not go berserk?"

The other meaning of his words was that she had to promise a corresponding price.

The empress glanced at him lightly, "If one day he causes widespread harm and slaughters the common people, then I will voluntarily abdicate and yield the throne to a virtuous person.

Thus, Father Emperor, are you satisfied?"

Swish!!!

The ministers fell silent.

Each of them stared wide-eyed at the empress; except for Moye Chen, no one had expected that the empress would even abdicate for Su Xiaobai!

For a Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, how could it come to this?

If you said she had nothing going on with Su Xiaobai, they would absolutely not believe it!

"Alas! Your Majesty is muddled!" The eunuch faction sighed in disappointment.

They stood on the empress's side; if the empress fell, they would fall with her.

The Prince Party members were already beaming with joy; their spring was not far off.

The Grand Secretariat Party members' eyes darted around, their hearts already subtly leaning towards Prince Ming.

Su Xiaobai looked at the empress in disbelief; even he never thought that the empress would gamble the throne for him.

Does she really have feelings for me? ...He couldn't help but wonder in his heart.

It wasn't that he was looking down on her, but the empress's sacrifice was truly too great.

Her favoritism towards him was unreasonably biased!

"Good, Lin Yao, you said this yourself!" The former emperor revealed a cunning, successful smile.

"I will report to the clan elders. You just pray that your little Commander doesn't cause any trouble, hahaha!"

With that, the former emperor laughed loudly and left the Golden Luan Hall.

Prince Ming's face always carried a faint smile; although he lost several officials under him this time, he created an excellent opportunity to overthrow Lin Yao.

"If there is anything to report, report it; otherwise, the court is dismissed." The empress's cold voice rang out.

Everyone knew she was in a bad mood at the moment, and no one dared to speak.

Seeing no one spoke, Eunuch Zhao shrieked in a sharp voice:

"Dismissed!"

Everyone left one after another.

As he left, Su Xiaobai felt Prince Ming's gaze on him—it was the gaze of a hunter looking at prey.

Su Xiaobai frowned and ignored him.

Soon, only he and the empress were left in the main hall.