"Preposterous!" Another exclaimed. "His parents are still alive. Whatever the General needs to know on how to act like an Omega, his parents would guide him. He doesn't need you!"
"Minister Pei, admit it! You only want the Ivory Warlord for yourself!"
Others began to scold him mercilessly.
"You bastard! How dare you suggest a thing like that in front of His Majesty? Do you have no shame?!"
"Yes! The Emperor hasn't announced his verdict but you are already coveting the General!"
"Minister Pei, you are really shameless! The Ivory Warlord belongs to His Majesty! How dare you say you want to train His Majesty's property!"
"Minister Pei, get on your knees and apologize to His Majesty right now! How dare you!"
Minister Pei was unperturbed. He had mentally prepared already and he knew his suggestion would raise alarms.
"Everyone, calm down." He said. "I understand how this may seem but I believe that I truly have the expertise to train our beloved Ivory Warlord. I would not even dare to suggest this in front of His Majesty if I didn't have confidence in my abilities. After all, I do have many Omegas and many families send their Omegas to me for training. Those Omegas are now happily wed, serving their husbands and children as they should."
He faced one of the Ministers. "Minister Shu, didn't I train your daughter for six months? After training, she immediately recieved a marriage proposal from the prestigious Zhao family and is living happily."
Minister Shu's face darkened. He wanted to object but he couldn't afford to offend Minister Pei for Minister Pei was not only a high-ranking minister but also the third young master of the powerful Pei family. It was said that the Pei family were extremely close to the royal family. No one could afford to offend Minister Pei.
As for his daughter, he had never laid eyes on her since she was taken by Minister Pei against their will to be 'trained and educated'.
Not waiting for a reply from Minister Shu, Minister Pei turned to a high-ranking soldier. "Soldier Ping, didn't I train your Omega brother last year? He is now happily wed to a wealthy merchant with two beautiful sons. Your brother is living a good life."
Soldier Ping gritted his teeth in anger but nodded. His brother was forcefully taken by the Pei family and there was nothing he could do. He had not seen his brother since he was taken. He only received a letter in his brother's handwriting, stating that he had completed his training and was happily wed.
Minister Pei grinned. "You see, I have successfully trained many Omegas and they are happy. I am sure that I can train our beloved General well." He then turned to Hua Chen, speaking in a mocking tone. "And what did you say earlier, Hua Chen? You said you can train your own son? You can teach him how to be a proper Omega? What a joke. You call yourself the General's father and you knew that he was an Omega but you allowed him to join the military and deceive His Majesty. You allowed such a rare treasure to go to the front lines of battle, witnessing all the horrors and Omega should never have to witness. You have no control over your own son yet you say you can train him on how to be a proper Omega?" He spoke with compassion and eloquence, as if he had nothing but Hua Ren’s interest at heart.
He shook his head. "His Majesty is kind and that is why you are still here with your head on your shoulders. For being such an irresponsible parent, you should be stripped of your rights to the General!"
"Minister Pei!" Hua Chen shouted angrily. "How dare you!"
Minister Pei didn't spare Hua Chen another glance. He moved towards Hua Ren and placed his grubby hand on Hua Ren's soft hair, rubbing gently. "Don't worry, Hua Ren." He said in a soothing tone. "I will be gentle and I will teach you all the things you need to know."
Hua Ren glared at the smiling chubby man. His words were like poison, wrapping around Hua Ren like chains, attempting to bind him to a fate of exploitation and control.
"I know that deep down, you want to be yourself." Minister Pei continued. "You want to be a proper Omega and serve your hus- ahhhhh!!!"
The crack of bone echoed through the Hall of Heavenly Justice as Hua Ren twisted the minister’s hand. It was done so fast that none of them knew when it happened until Minister Pei screamed.
Minister Pei’s knees buckled, his entire body trembling as he squealed like a pig. Fat tears rolled down his reddened face his chest heaving as he clutched his broken hand. The pain was immediate and excruciating.
As the third young master of the Pei family, even as an Alpha, he had never suffered so much as a scratch. How could he bear the pain of a broken arm?
Hua Ren was livid. Be a proper omega? Serve his husband? If he wanted to do any of those things, he would have listened to his father and gotten married. He would have never joined the army.
"I serve no one but the Emperor." Hua Ren declared, not releasing Minister Pei. "Touch me so casually again and I promise, you will never be able to touch another person again."
With a final twist, Hua Ren released the minister, letting him fall to the floor, clutching his mangled hand to his chest.
Minister Pei writhed in pain, his face contorted in a mixture of shock, fear and anger. "You bastard!" He screamed. "Do you know who I am?! I am the third young master of the Pei family! Do you know how close we are to the Emperor?! My father evern has the power to influence the Emperor’s decisions! I will have you killed for this!"
"Is that so?" Everyone heard the Emperor, who had been quiet for a long time, say. His calm, icy tone far more terrifying than any shout could have been.
The atmosphere in the Hall of Heavenly Justice grew stifling as the air itself seemed to thicken with tension.
The Emperor’s pheromones, potent and suffocating, flooded the room, making it difficult for anyone to think clearly. It was as if a dark cloud had settled over the hall, and the oppressive aura emanating from the Emperor gripped every heart with a primal fear. Some of them did not dare to even breathe.
Minister Pei, who moments ago had been shouting threats, now looked as though he had seen a ghost. His face drained of colour, and he swallowed hard, his broken hand momentarily forgotten in the wake of the Emperor’s wrath.
"Is that so, Minister Pei?" the Emperor repeated, his voice carrying a dangerous edge that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.