1149 Bias

"Your majesty, what should we do now?

" the scholar asked. The situation had reached the worst possible outcome, and their choice would have catastrophic effects.

"What do you think?

" the Empress asked.

The scholar paused,

"I'm afraid our only option is to surrender-unless there is some kind of miracle.

" His original plan involved Wang Wei succumbing to his Virtue title and manipulating him into a cooperative relationship with the Central Regions.

And if he refused, he could smear his name and use public opinion to force him to conform. Sadly, this plan was eliminated before it even started.

"Come on. I know you can do better than this.

"

The scholar's body paused before lowering his head. He then glanced at Hua Long from the corner of his eyes and signaled her to speak.

"Our only choice besides war or surrender is to see if we can use the First Heavenly Emperor's affection for his wife to negotiate a more peaceful approach. However, such tactics rely solely on the fact that he truly loves and would do anything for her.

" Hua Long stated calmly.

"Do you think such a tactic will work?

" the Empress asked.

"No.

"

"Oh? So, you also think he's not as faithful as he seems?

"

"Not at all.

"

"Then why.

"

Hua Long paused.

"I think this man will not let anyone or anything stop his ambition.

"

"Ever his wife's disciple?

"

"Your majesty, I will be honest. You're probably not her disciple in his eyes - just an inheritor.

"

"Hua Long, you've gone too far,

" the scholar chided.

"I merely wish to give Her Majesty all the information possible so she can make the correct decision.

"

"Correct? By whose standard or idea?

"

"I've misspoken. So she can make the choice she sees as the best.

"

"Your⌜€“

"

"Alright, enough.

" The Overlord Seal Empress chimed in. She looked in the distance.

"Arguing is pointless since the council will not let me make such an important decision alone.

"

"But they will consider your opinion,

" the scholar added.

"True,

" the Empress nodded before pondering for over a minute.

"Hua Long, what do you think I should do?

"

"I think it best to meet the Emperor - with an open mind - and make a decision after a deep enough conversation to understand what kind of person he is.

"

"Why would you suggest something like that, knowing her Majesty could not leave the Central Region?

" The scholar quickly said. They've held on for so long because the Empress created a brilliant array that linked over 500 World Communities and channeled their powers through her. However, the downside is she cannot leave the Central Region.

"I've acquired temporary access to the Dream World so her Majesty can have the meeting there.

"

"The Dream World is his domain. Do you think she won't be in danger?

"

Hua Long looked at him.

"The reason we have to rely on him is due to his strength, which is possibly higher than that of the Golden God. Do you think anyone can stop him if he wishes to kill anyone?

"

The scholar did not have a comeback, as she was correct. However, he still felt this was too dangerous, so he decided to argue just to argue. Anyway, he only wishes for Her Majesty to be safe.

"Alright, set up the meeting.

"

"Your majesty!

"

"You know you have no argument,

" the Empress said, and the scholar blushed. Hua Long took out a talisman and activated it. The Empress soon found herself in the Dream World version of the Myriad Emperor World's court. However, they were not in the throne room but in the garden.

"What do I call you?

" Wang Wei asked.

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first?

"

Wang Wei frowned.

"You can call me Wang Wei.

"

"The name's Hong Meilin.

"

"Hong?

"

"She changed her name to Hong Wu while visiting my world. I was an orphan and did not have a surname, so I thought of taking hers,

" Hong Meilin explained. Now that she knew her master's real name was Wu, she wished to change it but decided to do so after getting her approval.

Wang Wei nodded.

"I thought your Dao would be an exact copy of hers.

"

"If I did that, I would never have passed her test,

" Hong Meilin scuffed. The trial specifically asked for her to create her own Dao based on the Sealing Dao, so she replaced the Control Dao with Overlord Dao and added a bit of Destruction Dao to make up for the Heaven

/Knowledge Dao of her master.

Wang Wei's brow once again furrowed:

"May I ask why this hidden hostility toward me? It's obviously not from the decision I made today in court.

"

Hong Meilin's body paused. As Hua Long suggested, she told herself to be open-minded and less biased, but she could not help it after seeing the man.

"Since it's out on the table, I'll be direct. Do you have other women besides my master?

"

Wang Wei's lips twitched. Many things suddenly clicked in his mind with this question alone.

"Not that it's any of your business, but no. She's the only woman for me, and I've said that many times.

"

"What about the rumors of you with the Void Time Empress?

"

"They are just that - rumors.

"

"Rumors do not come out of nowhere,

" Hong Meilin countered.

"With how much power you have and that weird aura that draws people toward you naturally, I doubt you can remain devoted to only one woman.

"

"Like I said, they are just rumors.

"

"Then why haven't you done anything to stop them? Not a public statement or even a slight comment during court,

" Hong Meilin asked with a sneer. She felt a rush of passion at the thought she was defending her master from being deceived by this cheater.

"It's the Illusion of Freedom,

" Wang Wei replied.

"People think they have way more power than they do when they can publicly or privately discuss their ruler's scandalous love life without any consequences. So, I allow them that illusion.

"

"I'm not buying such a weak excuse.

"

Wang Wei immediately realized this woman was a lost cause. Her worship of his wife has lowered her IQ by half.

"The fact that you attended this meeting with biased notions about me based on rumors speaks more about your character than mine.

"

Hong Meilin's body suddenly paused. She felt all the joy and excitement rapidly leave her body like a deflating balloon. Then, her body trembled in fear as she looked at how his eyes turned from calm and a little cheerful to calm and indifferent.

"If not for your connection to her, I would have wiped you from the annals of history for your blasphemous words,

" Wang Wei said calmly.

"I⌜€“

"

"This meeting has officially ended. Return where you came from and make your decision: surrender or death.

" Wang Wei waved his hand to dismiss her before opening his eyes on the throne. He was lost in thought for a few minutes before muttering:

"Shadow.

" A hooded figure appeared from the shadows before him.

"Lord.

"

"I need you guys to start a campaign to squash the rumors about me and Xu Shi. Spread the words about how much I love my wife and how loyal I am. From now on, I want people who speak about these rumors to be looked at as if they were idiots.

"

"It shall be done.

"

The shadow swallowed the hooded figure, and the scary machine, the Fate Shadow Guard, began to operate. Rumors, stories, poems, and even musical pieces about the love story between His Majesty and the disappeared Queen began to spread in every corner of the Myriad World Region.

"The power of words, myth, and stories,

" Wang Wei muttered as he observed the process.

"This might be a better way.

"

Heaven Mountain World:

"Your majesty, how did it go?

" the scholar asked. Hong Meilin sighed deeply.

"Long'er, I'm sorry.

"

"You didn't listen to me, did you?

" Hua Long asked.

"Unfortunately.

"

"Tell you didn't at least offend him.

"

"If you want to hear a lie, I can.

"

Hua Long grunted while the scholar showed signs of slight panic.

"He won't attack us, right?

"

"The situation has not reached this point,

" Hong Meilin answered with a deep sigh.

"But we must try to alleviate the situation.

"

"What do you have in mind?

"

"Can you still use the talisman?

" Hua Long tried activating it a second time but to no avail.

"In that case, we must send another diplomatic envoy to apologize. Take out three of our most expensive and rare objects from my collection to give as an apology.

"

Although Hong Meilin knew the man would not care about her little wealth, what truly matters is her intention.

"Then?

" Hua Long asked.

"I need to meet the council.

"

"Have you made a choice?

"

Hong Meilin nodded.

"The only good thing from this interaction is that I've confirmed this man is indeed more powerful than the Golden God.

" She fought with the Golden God and knew his strength and aura. So, she can say for sure that he paled in comparison to that monster.