When Li Feng first succeeded the throne, he did indeed meet the expectations of the former emperor. However, one thing was undeniable — Emperor Yuan He had left behind for his son an exceptionally messy state of affairs. What Great Liang's imperial court needed right now was a ruler with both resolution and vision. The talent to preserve wouldn't be enough.

Since Emperor Long An's ascension, it could be said that nothing he did had gone according to plan. When awakened at night, he often asked himself: "Will I be able to carry this nation?"

But a person — especially one in a high position, if he always asked himself this question — generally, he would be unable to bear it when others also questioned the same thing.

Wang Guo's face went stiff from smiling: "Your Majesty..."

Li Feng suddenly interrupted him: "Imperial Uncle, recently, there is one problem in my heart — The Black Tiger Emblem was given by Emperor Wu, why did Gu Yun take the initiative to return it to me so easily?"

Wang Guo was taken aback, boldly staring at Emperor Long An. He felt that this question was truly superfluous — was the Emperor looking forward and wishing for Gu Yun to stir up the Heavens, or simply to rebel?

"This...," Wang Guo quickly calculated, not knowing what could be the appropriate words to say, he had no choice but to choose flattery to keep guard from a monarch's unpredictable heart. "The Emperor is a wise ruler of the generation, us subjects must dedicate our all to serve. This is only a meager emblem, even if Your Majesty wants our lives, who would complain?"

Li Feng laughed lightly: "I am afraid that it isn't so, Imperial Uncle. It took me until today to understand it. In fact, whether Gu Yun returned the emblem or not makes no difference; the major commanders of all four sides, how many belonged to Gu family's party? Right now, for military affairs, the Marquis' words are even more effective than my own, the emblem was only a symbolic object, with no usefulness to him either way."

When Li Feng spoke, his tone of voice was gentle, much like a casual afternoon chat. But Wang Guo involuntarily trembled as he heard these words. He only felt that the murderous intent in this sentence was almost overflowing.

"I originally summoned Imperial Uncle into the palace today to discuss Lou Lan's business, but forget it." Li Feng tiredly waved his hand. "You can go, I am also quite exhausted."

Wang Guo quickly responded and exited the West Warm Pavilion.

No one knew what happened this year, it was clear they had already passed the Rain Water* season, but snow in the capital continued to fall again and again, long and endless. Gu Yun had only been kneeling for half an hour, a layer of thin ice already formed on his formal attire, the black iron on his shoulders covered by fine snow became all the more unimaginably cold.