The hall was much quieter after Ning Que led Zhu Xuan, Ning Zhao, and Lin Suo out. Yu Hongxi's face was carefully blank, although her disapproval was radiating off her in waves.

Lu Qing'er was worried that Yu Hongxi would speak words in her upset state and make things awkward. She quickly went to tug on her mother's crossed arms and played coy. "Mom, Li Luo and Qin Zhulu might be a teensy weensy bit weaker than Zhu Xuan, but I'm familiar with them. I believe that trust is more important than power."

Yu Hongxi looked at her sharply. "So Zhu Xuan is not trustworthy? I don't think he's done anything to deserve that unkindness."  

"I'm just not familiar with him," Lu Qing'er protested. "We haven't really talked much. Of course I can't just trust him."

Yu Hongxi sighed deeply. "There are few...