“He’s the Primus chosen by the late emperor. I didn’t anticipate his audacity in attempting to seize control of the Great Qin Empire. His greed, shamelessness, and detestable behavior know no bounds!”

The Second Prince restrained his fury and continued, “Nevertheless, had it not been for Sun Pu’s incessant accusations of rebellion, we might not have suffered defeat! If he truly believed Shao Yunduan was plotting treason, he should have acted decisively to apprehend him. Instead, he repeatedly alerted the enemy, resulting in our repeated setbacks! Sun Pu not only brought disgrace upon the Sun Family but also humiliated me!”

“Uncle, you’re a seasoned general with battlefield experience. Sun Pu is your son, but he can’t even outmaneuver a feeble scholar worth a fraction of his weight in silver. Tell me, isn’t it shameful if word of his failures spreads?”

General Sun couldn’t help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. However, his current stature demanded even greater dignity. He couldn’t afford to lose face in front of the Second Prince.

Thus, he placated, “Please forgive my son’s shortcomings, Your Majesty. Sun Pu means well, but he lacks the guile and cunning that Shao Yunduan possesses. It’s only natural for him to be outmatched in such matters. Rest assured, Your Majesty, his moment of dissatisfaction will be short-lived. Once you and the esteemed ministers return to court, we shall exact our vengeance without delay!”

General Sun harbored no personal vendetta against Shao Yunduan. In his eyes, Shao Yunduan was unworthy of such attention.

Wouldn’t it seem like he’s paying Shao Yunduan too much respect if he appeared in person? Instead, he’d delegate the task to his trusted aides.

Despite maintaining a composed exterior in the Emperor’s presence, General Sun seethed with anger internally. How dare Shao Yunduan humiliate him and cause such loss of life! The mere thought of it stoked a burning rage within him.

Restitution would be exacted with Shao Yunduan’s blood!

The Second Prince released a heavy sigh, casting a meaningful glance at General Sun. “Shao Yunduan is undoubtedly remarkable. I never imagined he possessed both strategic prowess and military acumen. Truly rare… Uncle, do you think he would consider serving me if I offered him a position in my service?”

The Second Prince’s remorse gnawed at him. How could he have overlooked Shao Yunduan’s potential?

He should have recognized it sooner!

Despite thwarting many of his plans, he harbored no personal animosity toward Shao Yunduan. Loyalty to the Crown Prince was understandable, and their adversarial relationship was to be expected.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t deny Shao Yunduan’s admirable qualities.

With the Crown Prince and his heir no longer in the picture, extending an invitation to Shao Yunduan out of goodwill might yield favorable results.

What a lamentable situation…

General Sun felt a surge of revulsion.

His disdain for Shao Yunduan deepened.

In fact, it morphed into a sense of trepidation.

The Second Prince’s admiration for Shao Yunduan spelled trouble for the Sun Family. If Shao Yunduan were to join their ranks, the Sun Family’s influence would undoubtedly wane–a scenario General Sun found unacceptable.

Moreover, Shao Yunduan’s blatant humiliation of the Sun Family only intensified General Sun’s aversion towards him. If Shao Yunduan were to indeed join them, how could the Sun Family ever face him again?

“I fear your hopes may be misplaced. Shao Yunduan is, after all, a scholar, prone to certain unsavory tendencies. Loyalty to the Crown Prince doesn’t necessarily translate to loyalty to you. Furthermore, given his current traitorous status and the harm he’s inflicted upon your forces, it’s doubtful that even the Emperor’s forgiveness would extend to you.”

“I’m afraid the Emperor’s trust in you may be compromised. That’s my assessment.”