When Yibo and Zhan had come back from the royal court, it didn't take much time for Cheng and Yanli to know that things didn't go the way they had planned.

"What happened?" Yanli asked, "Where are those people?"

Zhan answered, "Those four people framed for devil-worshipping, and now their eyes will be dug out and their hands will be cut off before they will be released."

Yanli looked shocked and couldn't digest this news while Cheng had more or less accepted this but his face was firm as well, "Death would have been kinder for them." he spoke.

Zhan spoke with guilt, "It was my fault her majesty was giving them death sentence but it was I who asked her to show mercy."

Yibo spoke, "It's not your fault general, don't blame yourself."

A few minutes later Simon came running to Yibo, "Father!" Yibo smiled and picked his son.

Zhan was still feeling a little down because of what had happened walked away from there Yibo wanted to go after him but in the end, everyone just left him alone.

Simon who was carefree had heard everything that was said here. And to say that he was mad would be an understatement he was enraged as hell.

What happened today will continue to happen many many more times in the future this was the reality of this empire.

~~~

Meanwhile, the duke of the south was at his residence in deep thought, his servant who was just by his said asked, "Duke you look in deep thoughts is something bothering you?"

The duke of south Callum smirked and said, "There is only one man in this kingdom capable to make me sweat."

"The duke of the north? has he done something to trouble you?"

"His mere existence is a trouble Amias...he and his loyal followers and his gran army...and his bloodline such a gifted man he is but alas, he is wasting all of them in serving these pests."

His servant Amias smiled calmly and served him tea, "The duke of the north must have done something to give you this sudden worry."

"That rat and his general both of them dared to raise their voice against me in the royal court, they tried to accuse me of not doing anything for those disgusting people."

Amias was quiet as Callum spoke, "This empire is run by us, the nobility, what's wrong in taking our reward for protecting these low people?"

"You are right my lord there is nothing wrong in that."

"The duke of the north had been quiet till not, he never made a move against anyone till this day...maybe that rat was worried about the safety of his child Simon the only thing that can bring him on his knees but today that runt has grown wings.

He knew that this stunt of his can make him and son gain the attention of everyone in this empire, that runt has grown wings he is openly coming out now and he is not scared anymore."

Amias was no longer calm, as the duke of south spoke, "The general Zhan...his elder sister Yanli and his younger brother Cheng, these people hold influence and power but their leader is Yibo the center of power is Yibo and because he was quiet till not these people did nothing.

But now that runt is coming out it will give these people courage to speak up as well."

Amias spoke, "Then my lord how can we tame him back? by harming his son?"

"No, if his son is harmed then he will destroy this empire, he will rebel and everybody knows this fact, they can use his son as leverage but can never kill him if they want this empire to exist."

"Then?"

Callum smirked, "It's impossible to tame him now, once a beast is awakened from his sleep he can never go back to sleep so easily, he can only be killed."

"So you want to kill the duke of the north?"

Callum smirked, "Once he is out of the way it won't be tough to control his child...and tame him...make him a puppet."

"But duke...after the duke of north Marquis Yanli and her family will be Simon's shield."

"And we have to break this shield."

"But how duke?"

Callum took a sip from his drink before he smirked.

~~~~

Yibo was in his study doing work when a knock on his door gained his attention, "come in."

He said and Haoxuan walked in, "There is an invitation for you."

He said and gave the letter to Yibo who looked t it, "Duke of south... now this screams trouble."

He said and opened the letter, and read it.

"What does it say?" Haoxuan asked.

"The duke has invited me to a hunting game."

Haoxuan nodded, "and you are willing to go?"

"Declining his invitation would seem like disrespect and also after my allegations against him in the royal court, it will just pain me in the bad light because I will be disrespecting him because of some lower caste people."

Haoxuan nodded, "When is the hunt? I will make arrangements."

Yibo sighed, "It's two days later..."

"Alright." with that Haoxuan left.

The duke of south suddenly organized a hunt and invited him, now this is a piece of bad news.

Yibo sighed and got back to work.

A few hours later when his work was done he stretched himself and got out of the chair before going out of the study, by the time Simon was also back from the Marquis place.

And he looked exhausted.

But when he saw Yibo he smiled brightly and ran to him, "Father!"

Yibo smiled and picked him up, "How was your day, brat?"

Simon sighed, "My day was very tiring dad master made me take five rounds of the ground, and then he made me do fifty sit-ups and then pushups as well... and he was only sipping his drink as I worked, and my hands and legs hurt now."

Yibo sighed, "A brat teaching another brat."

Simon giggled, "Why are you calling my master brat father?"

"Because he is, your father is the bigger brat ever."

Simon giggled even more and Yibo said, "let's go and give you something to drink huh?"

"Okay."

"Father, my teacher says that when I will turn fifteen I can choose a sword of my choice."

Yibo nodded, "Of course, you can... "

"Then I want a sword like meridia." Simon said and it was true in his last life he detested Yibo but he still wanted to be like him even more stringer than him but in this life, he just wants to be with his father and make sure that his father is safe and happy.

"Of course, you can have a sword-like Meridia."

"Father, is brother Zhan okay?"

Yibo looked at him, "Why do you ask that?"

"Because when I met him he ignored me and he didn't smile or greeted Lady Yanli as well. And when I was coming back home I saw him going somewhere."

Yibo thought about it and he remembered the day at the royal court, he sighed and looked at Simon before he patted his head, "After you eat, go and rest in your room okay?"

"Where are you going?"

"To check if your big brother Zhan is okay or not."