The Empress, still very angry, stood up from her seat. Her eyes were firm and focused and turned to the General and Shen Yun.
"I will speak to the Emperor myself," she said in voice cold and firm. "He must keep his promise. My son should be the one on the throne and rule this Empire."
Without wasting time in talking with anyone. She turned toward the exit and left the room and her attendant was hurrying after her.
After a few minutes, Shen Yun stood up from where he was sitting and stat walking towards the corridor that led back to his room. When he walked his white robe dance, his face composed, calm, and soft with practiced innocence.
The Right General was worried about what happened inside the empress' private chamber. So he kept following by his side.
Shen Yun unexpectedly stopped without turning around. Like a hidden knife, his words broke through the silence but he kept his eyes looking forward and obviously uninterested in the company at the moment.
"It's all your mistake because of you," he said coolly, not bothering to look up. "Mother just scolded me. If you step out of bounds one more time…" He tapered off, and his lips curled into a soft smile as he said with heavy honeyed sweetness, "You better care for your family… Dear Right General."
His calm and gentle words that showed he concern the 'Right General's family' but it's more like a warning that made the General stop breathing for a moment. His eyes opened wide as he quickly knelt down in front of Shen Yun.
"Yes, Your Highness! I not make this mistake." he stumbled out beneath his bowed head, his hands were shaking.
A moment passed in silence before Shen Yun spoke yet again, still in his cheerful, friendly manner.
"Tell me... what stage of cultivation are you at now?"
The General, whose face had gone pale and very apprehensive about whether he would let Shen Yun down, spoke quickly. "Prince... I'm at the Third Stage of the Soul Infant Realm."
Shen Yun looked straight ahead, but his face changed to one of approval.
"You're improving," he said, almost impossibly in a joking way, as if he was somewhat amused, nodding just a bit. "I'm currently at the Sixth Stage of the Foundation Realm."
The General's eyes grew wide with surprise and fear, and he bowed again. "This is… truly amazing, My Prince…"
Shen Yun softly smiled knowingly and started to walk again, the General following suit and scuttling beside him.
As he strode down the corridor, Shen Yun retained his placid demeanor, but inside his mind thoughts spun with a quiet satisfaction.
Last night... he contemplated how easily they fall...
He briefly pictured their faces—grim and desperate assassins, outfitted with perfected deathly skills. He thought about how their assaults were easy to disrupt, how their attacks hit, but were held before him through invisible barriers, fading away like dust.
It is the treasure mother gifted me, he thought. The sacred item, infused with profound techniques... the very one she tucked away for me in the face of doubt from others. It shields me, hones my senses.
His eyes narrowed for a moment, in satisfaction. Just because I read, I study. Books... knowledge... that is my true weapon.
A small smile crept across his lips, but it was not a smile for others - it was a smile for himself.