“Very well, it seems you are planning a rebellion!” Winston’s voice became extremely sharp. “I don’t believe that a minor lord like you would dare to oppose the royal family of the Martial Dynasty!”
“Old fool, you talk too much!” Leo’s icy eyes glared at Winston.
Feeling Leo’s gaze, Winston suddenly felt a chill all over his body, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. Deep in his eyes, a trace of fear appeared uncontrollably.
The fear and the urge to urinate quickly turned into a strong sense of humiliation.
He was the grand eunuch and steward of the Martial Dynasty’s palace. Whenever he went to deliver an imperial decree, whether it was to ministers or city rulers, they all treated him with great respect and gave him face.
Originally, he thought that traveling such a long distance to this insignificant little town to deliver an imperial decree would make the town’s lord tremble in fear upon seeing him.
But instead, this town’s lord not only disregarded him but also intended to kill him. How could he tolerate this?
Winston, who always valued his face, decided to teach Leo a profound lesson, making him understand that some people should not be easily offended.
“Commander Drake, why haven’t you acted yet!” Winston turned and glared at Drake, shouting sharply in his high-pitched voice.
Drake nodded. The situation had reached a point where there was no turning back.
“Golden Lion Guard, heed my command!” Drake drew his sword, a golden blade.
A hundred Golden Lion Guards erupted with energy, their golden spears gleaming brightly.
Just as Drake was about to swing his sword to give the attack order, a young and authoritative voice suddenly came from the silver beast carriage pulled by four silver lions: “Stop!”
Hearing this voice, Drake’s raised golden sword halted in mid-air.
Immediately, the luxurious silver tassels on the beast carriage swayed, and the curtain opened.
Two people stepped out, walking on air, appearing in front of Leo and his group.
One of them was a young man about the same age as Leo. He wore a silver robe with gold-trimmed patterns.
On the left chest of the silver robe was embroidered a light golden lion’s head. Around his waist was a white jade belt with a jade pendant emitting a greenish glow.
Though the young man wasn’t particularly handsome, he exuded an air of nobility.
A step behind the young man was an elder in a red robe.
The elder had white hair and a youthful face, with calm and steady eyes. An indistinct but powerful aura emanated from him.
Winston looked at the young man and immediately replaced his angry expression with one of respect, calling out, “Prince Caius.”
The young man ignored Winston and looked at Leo and his group. He first cupped his hands towards them and then turned to Winston, saying, “Steward Winston, Father sent his golden carriage for Lord Leo. I believe Father’s intention was to invite Lord Leo respectfully. Why are you now ordering his arrest?”
Although Prince Caius’s tone was calm, it carried a hint of authority.
Hearing Prince Caius’s words, Winston’s face turned somewhat ugly.
“Prince Caius, it’s not that I wanted to arrest him, but he disrespected the imperial decree. Faced with the emperor’s edict, he arrogantly refused to kneel. I had no choice but to order Commander Drake to arrest him,” Winston said as calmly as possible.
Prince Caius frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, “Steward Winston, given Lord Leo’s status as a Fourth-rank Alchemist, he doesn’t need to kneel even before Father himself. Just deliver the decree.”
“Prince Caius, this is inappropriate. Even dukes and marquises must kneel before the emperor’s decree. How can a mere lord not kneel?”
“As for his status as a Fourth-rank Alchemist, I don’t believe it. If he truly were a Fourth-rank Alchemist, why would he be a lord in such a remote town? He could easily become a city ruler in any country.”
Winston’s words made Prince Caius pause for a moment.
Clearwind Town was far from the capital. Many in the capital doubted the news of a young Fourth-rank Alchemist emerging from here.
Noticing Prince Caius’s expression, Winston pressed on: “Moreover, Prince Caius, these people in Clearwind Town are so disrespectful to the Golden Lion Guard. This is blatant disrespect towards the emperor. To uphold the emperor’s dignity, I had to order their arrest.”
After speaking and seeing that Prince Caius remained silent, Winston smirked coldly and looked at Drake: “Commander Drake, arrest them!”
Drake took a deep breath and prepared to give the order.
“I said… stop!” Prince Caius’s tone became low and stern.
The contemplative expression on his face disappeared as if he had made up his mind.
He had traveled this far to this remote town specifically to meet the rumored Fourth-rank Alchemist who ruled Clearwind Town.
If conflict arose now, it would be difficult to mend relations later.
Drake’s actions halted once more. If he had to choose between obeying the grand eunuch or Prince Caius, he would undoubtedly follow Prince Caius.
“Commander Drake, do not disrespect Lord Leo. Withdraw your men,” Prince Caius ordered sternly.
Drake bowed in response: “Yes, Prince Caius.”
“Steward Winston, deliver the decree,” Prince Caius said to Winston.
“Prince Caius, he disrespected the emperor. I cannot…”
Prince Caius’s face turned cold as he interrupted: “Steward Winston, I said deliver the decree! Are you ignoring my words?”
Winston’s face twisted with displeasure. Although he sided with the crown prince, Prince Caius was still the emperor’s son and far above him in rank. He dared not openly defy him.
“I wouldn’t dare. But if His Majesty blames me later…”
“Hmph, if Father blames anyone, you can put it on me,” Prince Caius snorted coldly.
“Yes, Prince Caius,” Winston reluctantly agreed.
With a sullen expression, Winston reopened the imperial decree in his hand.
“His Majesty is delighted to hear of a new Fourth-rank Alchemist in our dynasty. He invites Lord Leo to ride the Golden Beast Carriage to the palace for a banquet in his honor.”
Winston’s sharp voice echoed over Clearwind Town.
After hearing the decree, Leo was somewhat surprised by the emperor’s courteous invitation.
“Lord Leo, please board the Beast Carriage.”
The content of the decree confirmed Prince Caius’s understanding of his father’s attitude towards this town lord. With a warm smile, he gestured invitingly.
Leo did not move immediately but pondered for a moment before asking directly: “The emperor invites me to the palace not just for a meal. Can you tell me the real reason?”