The First Marquis of Leisure

break off an engagement!

What?! They want to annul the royal engagement!

This has never happened since the founding of the Great Zhao Dynasty. Even though Bai Tianque was regarded as a war god and a pillar of the country, he was extremely favored.

But Bai Xinghe's public announcement that he was breaking off his engagement with Zhao Feishuang was tantamount to slapping the emperor in the face!

Everyone stared in disbelief, mouths agape, at Bai Xinghe!

One has to admire this notorious spendthrift in the capital; this纨绔子弟 (spoiled brat) truly doesn't follow the usual path!

These successive bombshell news reports have overwhelmed the hearts of many elderly ministers in the court, causing some to faint on the spot.

"Bai Xinghe, how dare you!"

Emperor Zhao Tianhe could no longer hold back, despite the unfathomable depths of imperial ambition.

However, being so directly slapped in the face would surely enrage the emperor.

Zhao Tianhe stood up abruptly from the dragon throne, his face ashen, and a murderous aura filled the entire Golden Palace.

The ministers then recovered from their shock and immediately knelt down.

"Your Majesty, Bai Xinghe's crime is punishable by death, a crime deserving the extermination of his entire family!"

"Your Majesty, since the founding of our Great Zhao Dynasty, such a thing has never happened before. Bai Xinghe, relying on General Bai's prestige, is so arrogant and unruly. Only execution can appease public anger!"

"Your Majesty, please issue an order to immediately execute Bai Xinghe by slow slicing!"

Led by Chen Feng, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, many ministers knelt down, their words sharp and incisive.

As if he wanted to devour Bai Xinghe alive on the spot, Li Taibei's old face also darkened.

He never dreamed that Bai Xinghe would be so audacious as to break off the engagement in court!

However, he sneered inwardly, just as he was worried about how to kill Bai Xinghe and wipe out the entire Zhenguo Marquis's mansion!

Now look what's happened, Bai Xinghe is willingly coming to his death!

"His Majesty!"

As the prime minister, Li Taibei knelt on the ground, extremely angry.

"Bai Xinghe harming my son is a minor matter, but publicly humiliating you is a serious matter. Your Majesty, please issue the decree!"

Zhao Feishuang's face also turned pale. She never expected that the amazing gift Bai Xinghe mentioned would be such a gift!

As a princess, being jilted by her fiancé would inevitably make her a laughingstock.

"Bai Xinghe, I will never let you get away with this!"

"Father, what are you still worried about? Lord Li has received reliable intelligence that Bai Tianque has been defeated and surrendered!"

The courtiers petitioned together, and a murderous aura filled the Golden Palace.

The Imperial Guards, fully armed, rushed out, ready to kill Bai Xinghe at the emperor's command.

Even the military generals who had received favors from Bai Tianque were stunned and didn't know how to plead for Bai Xinghe!

"His Majesty!"

Left General Ling Wu stepped forward, kneeling on the ground and pleading, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Bai Xinghe may be suffering from a serious illness, which is why he is talking nonsense!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, please calm your anger and spare Bai Xinghe's life for General Bai's sake!"

Several military officers stepped forward to plead for Bai Xinghe.

Li Taibei snorted coldly and angrily rebuked, "Lord Ling, esteemed officials! To publicly annul a princess's engagement is unprecedented in the history of our Great Zhao! This not only offends the Emperor and dishonors the nation, but how will Her Highness face the world in the future?"

"I know you have received favors from General Bai. What? Could it be that you were also involved in Bai Juyi's defeat and treason?"

"Li Taibei, don't you dare make false accusations!"

"Li Taibei, General Bai has always been loyal and righteous, and has made great contributions to our Great Zhao. He would never betray his country!"

The civil and military officials started arguing again!

"Enough!" Zhao Tianhe took a deep breath and roared, and the hall fell silent.

His eyes flashed with murderous intent as he looked at Bai Xinghe.

"Bai Xinghe, do you know what you're doing? For this heinous crime of disrespect, I can have your entire family executed!"

Bai Xinghe nodded; of course he knew that.

But if he dared to do this, he must have a backup plan.

"His Majesty!"

Bai Xinghe cupped his hands in a respectful gesture: "I wish to annul the engagement solely because I have no feelings for Her Highness the Princess, and it is not an intention to disrespect the royal family!"

"In fact, many people in the court know that the princess and Lord Li's son have been childhood sweethearts. When you betrothed her to me, I'm sure Her Highness was unwilling!"

"Alright." Zhao Tianhe lost his patience.

He was the supreme ruler, and no one under heaven dared to disobey his decrees.

He was not unaware of the affair between Zhao Feishuang and Li Yuan.

"In consideration of General Bai's lifelong military career and numerous military achievements, and in consideration of you being General Bai's son in his old age, I grant you this final meeting!"

"Do you still want to call off this engagement?"

Upon hearing this, Ling Wu and the other generals frantically tried to signal to Bai Xinghe with their eyes.

However, Bai Xinghe remained unmoved and solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, I am determined to annul this engagement!"

"you!"

Zhao Tianhe clenched his fists, his eyes chillingly cold.

"Father!" Zhao Feishuang stepped forward at the right moment, tears streaming down her face.

"Although I am a princess, I am still your daughter, Father!"

"His Majesty!"

Li Taibei and the others shouted loudly.

Zhao Tianhe's eyes were chillingly cold as he gritted his teeth and said, "Guards, seize Bai Xinghe and execute him by slow slicing immediately!"

"Your Majesty, please have mercy!"

"Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed! If General Bai finds out, the morale of the army will surely waver."

Ling Wu and the others panicked and quickly pleaded for mercy.

Zhao Tianhe remained unmoved and said coldly, "Anyone who pleads for him again will be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public!"

Soon, a pair of imperial guards rushed forward to capture Bai Xinghe.

Bai Xinghe remained unusually calm. He suddenly drew his longsword and roared, "Wait!"

"Your Majesty, if you intend to kill me, have you even considered the 200,000 elite border troops under my father's command?"

These words indeed caused a stir in the imperial court.

Zhao Tianhe was trembling violently. During the day, he had commanded almost all of the elite troops of the Great Zhao.

His prestige in the army even surpassed that of the emperor, which made him uneasy.

However, Zhao is situated in a strategically important location surrounded by powerful enemies, and it cannot afford to be without the help of daytime firefighting.

"Bai Xinghe, do you still think your father is that invincible war god?"

"I have already received secret intelligence that your father has been defeated and betrayed the country. Today, everyone in your Zhenguo Marquis's mansion will be executed without mercy!"

Li Taibei was filled with murderous intent; he had been waiting for this day for a long time.

"Li Taibei, you're talking complete bullshit!"

Bai Xinghe scoffed. He had confirmed it repeatedly last night: his cheap old man had not been defeated, but was luring the enemy deep into his territory in preparation for a decisive battle to destroy them.

"Let me tell you, my father is a master strategist, far beyond the comprehension of you poor, pedantic scholars!"

"Within three days, news of victory will surely reach the capital!"

Seeing Bai Xinghe's confident demeanor, some of the wavering ministers did indeed hesitate.

If Bai Tianque truly did not suffer defeat and betray his country, but instead returned in triumph.

Killing his only son at this point would have had predictable consequences.

That would trigger a mutiny, and no one can afford that.

"Bai Xinghe, you're just a spoiled brat, what do you know!"

"Let me tell you, even if you didn't suffer defeat and betray the country during the day, you have disgraced the nation today, and you will be executed by slow slicing!"

Li Taibei waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards approached again.

"Your Majesty, you should know my father's temper. If he knew that you had executed me and wiped out the entire Marquis's mansion because of the annulment of the engagement, the consequences would be unimaginable!"

Bai Xinghe remained calm, knowing that Zhao Tianhe was not a brainless and incompetent ruler.

A ruler's perspective is naturally different.

If they really wanted to kill me, they probably would have done it the moment the rumors started.

Not to mention that he has endured this long, but he is also very clear that breaking off the engagement in the imperial court would be a great disrespect.

Are you threatening me?

Zhao Tianhe had sharp eyes and a cold voice.

Do you think that without your father, my Great Zhao would be without anyone skilled in warfare?

"Your Majesty," Bai Xinghe replied, "I'm just stating the facts; you can't cut off my head!"

"Guards, convey my decree: arrest Bai Xinghe immediately and take him to prison. I will personally witness his execution in three days!"

Zhao Tianhe waved his sleeve and gave the order in front of everyone!