The Only One Who Is Generous, Benevolent and Modest Is I, Cheng Kong

　　Fu Xiang's reputation was severely damaged by Long Zaitian in the flying fish pavilion. But thankfully, his men had finally come back to report in and make a good showing. And it wasn't just one team that came back. A total of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven teams returned!

　　They didn't return to report in for a long time, but now they had, and seven teams had returned at that. Fu Xiang felt relieved and daggered Long Zaitian, but Long Zaitian just looked unhappy. Fu Xiang, feeling relieved loudly ordered: "Come up and report to his majesty. Hurry up!"

　　Of course, he didn't forget to turn around and seek credit for their work: "I did tell you they would return anytime now. Please do not worry, your majesty. The people that this old man trained cannot be failures……"

　　Before he could finish, Long Zaitian started taking shots at him: "Wow, wow, wow! Are you seriously talking to his majesty in that rude tone? Throwing your weight around because of your advanced age, huh? Wow, 'this old man'? What, you think you're old enough or do you think you're of high status?"

　　That was a very disparaging remark, hence why Fu Xiang's expression changed: "Long Zaitian! What are you after?! I have always spoken like this. His majesty is right before you. Don't even think of trying to sow discord."

　　"Wow, wow, wow. Now that's just overboard. You need to brush up your acting skills." Long Zaitian looked at Fu Xiang as if he had high hopes for him and continued: "Old Fu Xiang, in the political world, reason is vital. I shall educate you on the topic as your senior on the topic."

　　Fu Xiang was speechless. Fu Xiang was sixty this year while Long Zaitian couldn't be more than forty at most. He was old enough to be Long Zaitian's father, yet he was calling himself his senior? Long Zaitian was a brash man and looked brash for that matter. Fu Xiang placed heavy emphasis on looking after his appearance so he looked lively and energetic even though he wasn't handsome. If they stood next to each other, you really wouldn't be able to tell who's older. He didn't know what to verbally sling back at him so he just brushed it off.

　　Long Zaitian then said: "There's no minister that doesn't act. Ask his majesty. Ask him if it's common for us ministers and officials to act. But your acting fails! You can't get in over your head with your acting like that. You'll make his majesty angry like that. I can understand you accusing me of sowing discord, I mean, I get that you're just trying to look good in front of his majesty. But your tone is too overbearing. You're going to ruin the harmonious atmosphere between us as colleagues. Am I right, your majesty?"

　　Long Zaitian is seriously a sc.u.mbag. He actually went and accused me of acting in front of the orange prince.

　　Ministers acting and pretending in front of ruler is something that has always been done since the existence of imperial courts. But the court-veteran Long Zaitian could come up with all sorts of trickery. He's even informed of the environment the orange prince grew up in so he was able to take advantage of the orange prince's sensitive thoughts.

　　"Keke. It's not good for there to be too much tension between colleagues. You are both important pillars of mine, so stop arguing."

　　The orange prince helped neither side and instead suggested they stop. But then the orange prince went on to say: "Fu Xiang, you will be following me on my journey in the future. Calling yourself 'this old man' is kind of……" The orange prince said in a softer voice: "I'll make you the military chief, so you should refer to yourself as 'I' in future."