Gu Yun had finished speaking of everything he needed to; he also understood not to oppose the Emperor excessively. He took one step back first: "Your subject deserves death."

Li Feng's face appeared ashen, turning the white jade ring between his fingers like mad, his state of mind extremely unstable.

Gu Yun whispered: "It's just that for the matter concerning the Silk Road, pulling one strand of hair would affect the whole body, Your Majesty, please consider it carefully."

Li Feng solemnly asked: "Does the Marquis of Order think that, besides you, there is no other available general in my hands?"

It had already come to this, to continue on would only result in a quarrel. Gu Yun simply stayed silent, pretending he was already dead.

At this time, Zhu Little Feet suddenly walked into the Warm Pavilion, reporting in a small voice: "Your Majesty, Imperial Uncle has arrived, he is currently awaiting your order outside..."

On the occasion when the Emperor was furious, if any subjects were visiting, the palace servants would generally persuade them to wait a little longer outside the hall. This action of Zhu Little Feet bore the intention of trying to find a way out for them. Gu Yun looked at him and blinked, expressing his appreciation.

Li Feng's eyelids twitched, a few harsh curves forming on his facial features. He looked down on Gu Yun and said coldly: "The Marquis should go cool off outside then, avoid getting your head dulled by the smoke, not understanding what you should say or what you should not say!"

Gu Yun: "Your Majesty, take care of your body."

After he finished, he quickly bowed and went to kneel in the midst of the snow outside the Warm Pavilion, truly going to 'cool off'.

Li Feng stared at his retreating back with a grave and ferocious look, Imperial Uncle Wang Guo entering after did not dare to breathe out, silently standing on the side and waiting. An oblivious young servant stepping forward — intending to clean up the scattered ink container from crashing onto the Marquis of Order just now — was suddenly pinned down on the spot by Zhu Little Feet's gaze. His body stiffened; after a moment of silence, he was finally able to run along the walls and disappear.

Wang Guo assessed the Emperor's face, lowering his voice to advise: "Your Majesty, that Marquis of Order is young and eager to win, moreover, he also lived among those crude soldiers at the frontier. Sometimes stepping out of line is unavoidable, there is no need for Your Majesty to be angry because of him."

Li Feng did not speak up for a long time.

That year, Emperor Yuan He chose his eldest son to be the crown prince, for he was diligent, yet did not lack in wits. He had the potential to be a wise ruler, more than enough to be an emperor who could preserve what the previous generations built up.