The Imperial Council hall was wrapped in tension as thick as fog. The 4 houses were present, their representatives seated beneath banners that waved with spiritual fire. At the center stood the lesser throne, where Jin Long usually received reports without revealing emotions.
But that morning, something was different.
The representative of Baihuan House, the young and proud general Huo Yanzhi, stepped forward. His armor gleamed like a silver fang, and his eyes—sharp as blades—made no effort to hide his disdain.
"Majesty, we respect your judgment..." —he slightly bowed his head— "but we believe the young Suwei's continued presence in the palace is a veiled threat to the political balance."
A murmur ran through the hall.
"Continue," said Jin Long without blinking.
