“Eliminating the old comrades who’ve followed you for years, one by one, and then claiming the world is safe and the military threat resolved!”
“Across 5,000 years of history, founding Emperors of every era loved to reflect on the reasons for the fall of the previous dynasty.”
“Among them, the one thing they loved most was stripping military power… but unfortunately, they were all wrong. Ridiculously wrong!”
The more Mu Qingbai spoke, the darker Yin Qiubai’s expression grew.
“Enough!”
Mu Qingbai stopped. The little monk listening in the corner, completely absorbed, was also startled.
“Even if Her Majesty truly wants to weaken the military’s power, it’s for the sake of the realm! What right does a mere death-row prisoner have to criticize her?” Yin Qiubai said sternly.
Mu Qingbai couldn’t help but laugh aloud, “Can’t even tolerate criticism? If that’s not the mark of a foolish Emperor, what is?”
Yin Qiubai’s expression turned grim. “Watch your mouth!”
“Of course I’ll speak freely. If I weren’t bold, how could I have ended up in death row? If you don’t want to hear or see anything, better to deafen your ears and blind your eyes!”
“You dare say more!”
Mu Qingbai smiled slightly. “Back when I was innocent, I wanted to speak. Now that I’m a sinner about to die, I insist on speaking… ‘Foolish Emperor!'”
Yin Qiubai trembled with rage, pointing at Mu Qingbai, unable to utter a word.
“Using bronze as a mirror, one can tidy their clothes. Using people as a mirror, one can see gains and losses. Using history as a mirror, one can understand the rise and fall of dynasties.”
“If you can’t even bear to hear the words ‘foolish Emperor’ and only care about superficial glory, then this so-called Great Yin Empire is nothing but a fleeting illusion.”
Yin Qiubai was so shaken by those words that her lips moved, but she couldn’t speak.
Outside the cell, a hint of appreciation flashed in Yin Yunlan’s eyes. “Using history as a mirror, one can foresee prosperity or ruin. Who would’ve thought a mere youth could speak such wise words? Why is someone like him in death row?”
Sensing her gaze, the eunuch beside her trembled all over, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
“Your Majesty, this servant…”
Just as he didn’t know how to respond, another voice echoed from the cell.
Yin Yunlan raised her hand to stop him from speaking further. The eunuch quietly exhaled in relief.
“All of this is just your speculation! Her Majesty has always treated her meritorious officials with respect, never once causing them harm!” Yin Qiubai clarified seriously.
“Of course she treats them well. Otherwise, she’d be cursed to death by the world. There are many ways to strip military power.”
The little monk, now curious, asked, “Like what?”
“For example, I’d first invite all the generals to a banquet in the palace.”
“And then?” the little monk asked.
“Then I’d suddenly sigh in front of everyone.”
The little monk scratched his bald head. “Then what?”
“Then I’d say nothing.”
The little monk thought for a moment, then clapped his hands in realization. “Oh! I get it. That’s when I’m supposed to ask, ‘Your Majesty, why do you sigh?'”
The two continued acting the scene out. Yin Qiubai, oddly enough, didn’t find it inappropriate.
She even nodded slightly, as if it made sense.
Mu Qingbai laughed and pointed at the pile of straw under him. “Then I’d say, ‘Too many people want this throne.'”
With that, he looked toward Yin Qiubai with a cheerful grin.
Yin Qiubai frowned and replied, “The throne belongs to Her Majesty by divine will. Who would dare harbor disloyal thoughts?”
Mu Qingbai became even more animated.
“You all hold military power. If one day, your soldiers suddenly place a dragon robe on your shoulders and support you as Emperor, even if you don’t want to rebel, would you even have a choice?”
After his words, Yin Qiubai fell silent.
When she raised her eyes and met Mu Qingbai’s gaze, she realized he was waiting for her response.
“If Her Majesty truly said that, then everyone at the banquet would surely kneel in fear,” she said.
Mu Qingbai burst into laughter. “Hahaha! Just a joke! You are all my beloved kin and loyal brothers. Don’t be so tense! Music, resume! Dancers, continue!”
The little monk objected, “Even if the female Emperor really said that, no one would dare laugh or take it lightly!”
“Exactly. So we wait for the next day’s court session to see how many submit their resignations. Those who resign voluntarily, I would reward greatly and grant them honorary but powerless titles.”
Mu Qingbai’s words struck deeply at Yin Qiubai’s heart.
She felt completely unsettled, because everything he described could very well come true.
The little monk asked, “What if a small group still doesn’t resign?”
Yin Qiubai also looked at Mu Qingbai, clearly wanting to know the answer.
Mu Qingbai laughed, “This banquet was the Emperor’s final gesture of dignity toward his ministers. If they don’t want dignity, then the Emperor will make sure they leave with dignity!”
“What dignity? Say it clearly!” the little monk was still confused.
Yin Qiubai remained silent—she had understood.
Mu Qingbai shrugged, “It’s nothing more than two choices: either your head falls, or you enjoy glory and wealth.”
At that very moment, faint sounds of kneeling echoed from outside the cell.
All the attendants around Empress Yin Yunlan had fallen to their knees, trembling uncontrollably.
Yin Yunlan still stood tall. Though none could see her expression, they knew these were words not meant for them to hear.
Yin Yunlan murmured, “This youth is exceptionally wise. He even foresaw the plans in my heart. Could there really be someone in the world with foresight?”
The others trembled even harder, wishing they could pierce their own eardrums.
That death-row prisoner had actually guessed right!
Several imperial guards looked toward the eunuch, seeking help.
The eunuch clenched his jaw, crawled forward, and knelt at Yin Yunlan’s feet, bowing his head hard.
“Your Majesty! This man has defied the sovereign! His heart must be punished!”
Yin Yunlan lowered her gaze with indifference.
“I haven’t ordered you to kneel, yet you knelt. I haven’t told you to speak, yet you speak.”
The eunuch froze, lying flat on the ground, not daring to move a muscle.
“I haven’t even gotten angry over a death-row prisoner, and you’re already rushing to kill someone who’s already sentenced to die.”
The eunuch turned pale, almost suffocating.
“This servant… deserves death!”
“Go investigate this man’s background. If a single word is missed, I’ll take your head.”
As if receiving a pardon, the eunuch quickly accepted the order and withdrew.
Yin Yunlan was about to step forward to see what this sharp-tongued youth looked like, when she suddenly heard his unruly laughter from the cell.
“Hahaha! Just two sentences and you’re already scared?”
Yin Qiubai said, “With such bold and outrageous words, it’s hard not to be scared!”
Mu Qingbai pointed at the little monk beside him. “He’s not scared.”
The little monk chuckled, “I didn’t say anything that’ll get me beheaded, so what’s there to be afraid of?”
Yin Qiubai scolded, “You shameless fool who can’t even step onto the stage!”
The little monk shrank his head and immediately gave in.
He leaned toward Mu Qingbai, asking for another story.
Yin Qiubai, full of worry, suddenly had a flash of insight. She looked up at Mu Qingbai.
“You just said… Her Majesty was wrong?”
“Hmm?”
Mu Qingbai turned his gaze, puzzled, only to see her eyes filled with curiosity and hope.
He immediately grew cautious and denied, “No! When did I say Her Majesty was wrong? I said she’s a foolish Emperor!”
“You said it! You said all founding rulers were terribly wrong!”
Mu Qingbai argued, “The female Emperor doesn’t count as a founding ruler.”
Yin Qiubai pressed on, “You called her a foolish Emperor. Then you must know how not to be one!”
How to be an Emperor… and not be wrong.
It was a good question. Even the little monk looked at Mu Qingbai with anticipation.
Even Empress Yin Yunlan outside the cell couldn’t help but take two steps forward.
“Hmph! So in the end, you’re just like Duan Xiangqing, a man chasing empty fame. At least he was a pedantic scholar, but you? You just spout arrogant nonsense!”
Mu Qingbai snorted in laughter. “Fine, fine, I’m already a dead man. What do I have to fear from you? First question—also the first matter the female Emperor should reflect upon—do you know why the previous dynasty collapsed?”