With a bang, the long table and everything on it instantly turned to dust.

hiss!

"Ah!!" This was Xiao Xin's scream; he was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground.

"Your Majesty will not blame you for arranging marriages haphazardly. It will only make some eyesores disappear. If the county princess's father were to pass away unexpectedly, wouldn't it be difficult for her to marry?"

Zhang Rengui hissed angrily in a low voice, "How dare you! You openly threaten an official of the imperial court!"

Xiao Zhixing gave him a cold glance. "Does Lord Zhang want to say a few words in defense of Marquis Ping?"

She now wants to overthrow everyone who dares to speak out.

Zhao Yunqi still has room for maneuver since the imperial decree has not been officially issued. Once the decree is issued, she will be fine, but Xiong Chumo and the others will be at a disadvantage because they cannot disobey the decree.

They are not like her; they dare not disobey the imperial decree.

Moreover, if he cannot protect his subordinates this time, how can he gain their trust and lead the army in the future?

Zhang Rengui shut his mouth, his face darkening slightly.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! He Ning won't marry anymore! I want her to stay for two more years! She won't marry!!"

At the critical moment, his survival instinct allowed Xiao Xin to overcome his fear, and he got up and kowtowed desperately.

"Please, Your Majesty, have mercy and let He Ning stay for another two years!!"

Zhao Yunqi's expression was inscrutable. "Yuansheng, on this joyous day, I am merely bestowing a marriage upon you. Why are you reacting so strongly? Look, even Lord Ping is terrified. Fulu, quickly help him up."

Xiao Zhixing wasn't buying it. "There's no other way. My subordinates still have plenty of opportunities to make contributions, and they are all capable generals. I don't want to be forced to abandon any of them. Your Majesty wouldn't want to be the villain, would you?"

The ministers kept their eyes down and their minds in check, a habit they had grown accustomed to.

The family members, who were seeing Xiao Zhixing act in this way for the first time, were dumbfounded.

Isn't this an insult directed at the emperor?

They had their eyes opened.

One by one, they watched cautiously and boldly as the emperor prepared to react.