Zhong Tianque's speech spread through the network and to every corner above the Galaxy via live video broadcast.

Tang Fei and Phoenix were also watching this live broadcast. They knew Shen Wuxiang would retaliate and imagined this kind of counterattack.

Yet, when the scene truly unfolded, Phoenix still felt a piercing pain, as though struck by countless arrows.

How cruel could sibling slaughter be?

Tang Fei saw Phoenix's face turned pale and reached out to hold her small hand.

Her palm was cold, even slightly trembling.

Whether from heartbreak or anger.

Or perhaps both.

During the conference, Zhong Tianque continued to condemn the crimes of the former Empire Princess, Zhong Yu Xiu Xue: "I saw scenes of bandits massacring innocent civilians, and I also saw those Barbarians tearing people apart on the spot, then eating human flesh and swallowing hearts... They are not humans, but a bunch of Devils."

"When I was very young, my father taught me: Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. The citizens are the water, and the Royal Family is the boat sailing on the water."

"The Empire is the citizens' Empire, and the Royal Family must protect the life and safety of every citizen. Zhong Yu Xiu Xue is my biological sister, whom I once cherished and wanted to take care of."

"But when she colluded with the bandits and allied with the Barbarian Clan, conspiring in villainy, allowing them to wield the butcher's knife against our fellow clan members... She ceased to be my sister, ceased to be my family."

"Therefore, I hereby declare, Zhong Yu Xiu Xue is no longer a member of the Zhong Royal Family, nor my sister... She is a traitor, a member of the bandits, an enemy of every Empire citizen."

"I also promise all the citizens of the Empire that blood debts must be repaid with blood... Where the Empire's mighty army goes, traitors will be killed, and deceit destroyed, restoring stability and peace to the Empire."

"God bless the Phoenix."

Zhong Tianque deeply bowed to the camera to express his apology.

Next to him, Dongguo Chenxi also bowed.

Once the two left hand in hand, the press conference came to an end.

Wow!

As the Fengming Palace staff just departed, the conference room erupted in chaos.

"Phoenix betraying the country? How could that be possible?"

"Get it together... Didn't His Highness just say it? She seduced the bandits and drove the Barbarian Clan..."

"My God... How could such a thing happen? I used to... But it's all in the past now."

"She brought the Barbarians in? It's simply unforgivable."

"Don't overthink, His Highness appeared on camera, setting the tone for this matter..."

"Does the truth matter? It doesn't. Just write according to what they said... Or it won't be published."

------

Zhong Tianque and Dongguo Chenxi returned to their residence at the Light Pavilion, where Sun Shehu was already sitting in the living room drinking tea.

Seeing the couple arrive, Sun Shehu smiled and said to Zhong Tianque, "His Highness's stage presence is very stable, and the mastery of the script is quite impressive."

"The lines were all drafted by you guys, I merely read them out in public once according to script."

"That's different." Sun Shehu shook his head and replied with a smile, "The script is dead, but people are alive. If there's no emotional delivery, it will feel false, wooden, and lifeless."

"Citizens won't get angry or feel indignant. That way, there's no way to stir their emotions and leverage their voices to do what we want."

"I'll take Mr. Sun's words as a compliment." Zhong Tianque said expressionlessly.

Publicly declaring his sister as a traitor and severing sibling ties, his feelings were very complicated.

A mixture of satisfying release and uncontrollable sorrow.

But mostly humiliation.

The humiliation of being forced to act against his wishes.

"It's certainly a compliment." Sun Shehu replied with a radiant smile.

He adjusted the glasses on his nose and when he lifted his head again, his smile faded, replaced by a grim expression.

"But why add drama for yourself? The Empire's mighty army will eliminate traitors, destroy deception, and restore stability to the Empire... Who told you to add that line?"

"What, does Mr. Sun lack confidence in the Military Minister?"

"Confidence is one thing, but saying it out loud... If there's a minor setback militarily, won't it affect the Military Minister's reputation?"

"I didn't think that far... I believe the Military Minister is invincible, that wherever they go, both the Barbarian Clan and bandits will be defeated, scattered..."

"Haha..."

Sun Shehu chuckled coldly, knowing full well what Zhong Tianque was thinking, being a puppet unable to defy fate, yet harboring resentment, thus playing little tricks and making subtle moves...

Like a mischievous child.

However, they still had some uses, so it was not yet time for a complete cleanup.

"Hope what you meant by God bless the Phoenix... refers to the Phoenix Empire..."

"Of course." Zhong Tianque replied firmly.

------

Snap!

Tang Fei turned off the virtual television.

Turning to Phoenix, he saw her reddened eyes and softly asked, "Are you alright?"

Phoenix smiled wryly, sarcastically saying, "Isn't it laughable? Empire Princess, Zhong Royal Family... declared as a traitor and bandit by her own brother in public, and said wherever I go, cities are destroyed, and there are countless casualties..."

"What does this count as? He even says the Barbarian Clan eats human flesh and swallows hearts... Even Little Fatty, no matter how undiscriminating, wouldn't eat these things, right?"

Tang Fei knew Phoenix felt deeply hurt and tried to change the topic, wanting to lighten her mood with humor and jokes.

Phoenix understood Tang Fei's motive but couldn't feel happy no matter what.

In this world, people she could rely on...

No, she no longer dared to hope for such things.

Even her blood relatives were growing fewer and fewer.

How could a perfectly good family become like this?

If mother had a spirit in heaven, she must be a hundred thousand times more distressed than she?

"You shouldn't be too heartbroken..." Tang Fei squeezed Phoenix's hand, softly comforting her: "You know, his current position is very awkward and dangerous..."

"If Shen Wuxiang really coerced him, he had no way to refuse... Of course, whatever others wrote, he must say."

"But in this way, their declaration, on the contrary, lets the Empire's citizens know we exist and understand what we are doing..."

"Otherwise, if we wanted to make our voices heard, to create such a big impact... It would indeed not be easy..."

------

Of course, they were 'bandits,' traitors with extremely limited resources.

Particularly media and official communication channels, if Shen Wuxiang wanted to control...

He could even cut off the Starlink network.

Even if they managed to send messages, there were already many ways to delete them.

It couldn't be helped, as official media and major network companies were mostly centralized in Phoenix City, subject to multiple jurisdictions of propaganda and security departments.

Who dared to disobey orders?

A single word could determine loyalty and deceit, a single word could also decide life and death.

"How could the Zhong offspring fall to such a state?" Phoenix lamented, "Before, I only thought he was inadequate in expansion but adequate in defense... Now it seems, he is useless."

"If he truly inherited the throne, unified power, that would be a national calamity, a disaster for the citizens..."

"Dragons give birth to nine offspring, each different. Did you think everyone would be as smart as you?" Tang Fei said with a smile.

"Stop trying to comfort me." Phoenix looked at Tang Fei, playfully said, "Just think about how to deal with it."

"They don't want me as their sister anymore, removed me from the family register... Our uprising lacks legitimate reason now."

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