“What kind of man is your son? A courtesan ruined by merchants, yet treated like a treasure, risking imperial displeasure to indulge her. He has utterly disgraced eighteen generations of your Song family ancestors. If I had a son like yours, I would have killed myself long ago.”
“Nonsense! I see you’re deliberately framing him.”
“Framing? You old wretch, I will sue you for slander!”
“It’s you, it’s always been you; you’ve long harbored resentment.”
The two of them faced off, swords drawn metaphorically. On the court, the others tried to intervene. Whatever grudges they held should not be played out in the hall of the court.
No one knew who struck first, but the clash escalated quickly.
The young Minister Ye landed a punch. Don’t be fooled by the Taifu Minister’s age—he could not be underestimated, wielding his ceremonial tablet in a sweeping attack.
The court became chaotic.
Emperor Linhui’s eyes lit up. At that moment, he could hardly resist grabbing some melon seeds.
In all the years since the founding of Daqian, this was the first time ministers fought openly in the main hall.
Interesting, very interesting.
“Gentlemen, stop, stop!” Li Dequan panicked. Beside him, the court historian had already taken out his pen and paper to record everything.
He glanced at the Emperor still smiling, watching the scene like a spectator.
Internally, he was on the verge of collapse.
Your Majesty, my little ancestor, how can you still laugh now?
If this record spreads to future generations, it would be humiliating.
“Your Majesty, if this continues, someone will be killed,” Li Dequan whispered, occasionally glancing at the historian recording everything.
“Your Majesty, the historian is still present.”
“How amusing. Let him record it; not a word shall be altered by anyone,” Emperor Linhui replied.
No—Li Dequan screamed internally, Your Majesty, my little ancestor!
The hall was in utter chaos, blood smeared everywhere. The ministers were hysterical and on the verge of losing control.
The falsely accused Minister Guo rushed in.
“Your Majesty, I apologize for arriving late.”
At his words, the fighting halted immediately.
“You—” Guo looked at the bruised officials, furious. He strode forward and respectfully bowed. “Your Majesty, these people have been too reckless, causing you alarm.”
Guo, a three-time senior minister, held high authority. In the court, no one dared to disregard him; sometimes his words carried more weight than the Emperor’s.
Emperor Linhui smiled at the sight of bruised Taifu Minister and the bleeding Minister Ye, clapping his hands. “Indeed, my ministers are both learned and martial. Look at your generals below, strong but lacking wisdom.
I often urge you to study more, yet you all resist.
When the day comes that these civil officials take your place, I wonder if you will still laugh.”
“I humbly follow Your Majesty’s command,” Ruan Xi spoke first, followed quickly by his martial attendants.
Guo frowned but said no more.
“Your Majesty, what happened today is indeed partly the ministers’ fault, but fundamentally, it stems from Your Majesty’s decree. In my humble opinion, this decree goes against divine law.”
Emperor Linhui’s smile faded, his gaze cold. “Guo, if you call it ‘humble opinion,’ why speak at all?”
The young Emperor’s smile unsettled, and his seriousness was even more terrifying.
The court fell silent; no one dared to speak first.
“Hahaha!” Emperor Linhui suddenly laughed. “Minister Yue, I was only joking. Your words are right; indeed, this decree is somewhat improper.
But this decree was drafted by the Secretariat and announced to the world; how could it be treated as a mere joke?”
His narrow phoenix-like eyes radiated imperial authority.
“Minister Cui,” Emperor Linhui called.
“At your service,” came the reply.
Dressed in purple, tall and composed, his features serene as snow-capped mountains, lips tight, holding the ceremonial tablet, posture upright like pine and cypress, young yet wise, exuding righteousness that eclipsed the surrounding nobles.
Without Cui, Daqian could not function.
The Cui family of Hexi, head of the Seven Prominent Families, traced back centuries. The laws of the founding of Daqian were initially drafted by the Cui family.
Cui Hao was the brightest of the young generation, already Minister of Justice at a young age.
“Minister Cui, you understand Daqian law best. What do you advise?”
Cui Hao lifted his eyes respectfully to the Emperor. “According to Daqian law, defying an imperial decree is punishable by hanging.”
The Taifu Minister panicked. “Minister Guo—” he looked at the Emperor. “Your Majesty—”
“Minister Cui, the law cannot ignore human sentiment. Minister Song has only this one son.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Then the punishment is castration.”
The Taifu Minister froze. “Your Ma—”
A glance from Minister Guo silenced him. He could not save his son.
“Minister Song, I am not heartless. Though your son is punished, you still have a daughter-in-law. Three days from now, the Secretariat will draft a revocation of the decree.”
Absurd.
Minister Ye laughed. “Your Majesty is wise. Though the child is not your son’s, the daughter-in-law is your son’s.”
A blatant insult, wearing a green hat publicly. What humiliation.
The Taifu Minister clenched his hands.
Guo frowned. “Your Majesty, this may be inappropriate.”
Inappropriate? The daughter-in-law can still bear children.
Emperor Linhui shrugged. “Minister Guo, if I had not shown mercy, Minister Cui would have ordered hanging. Minister Song’s heartache, I understand. Yet Minister Guo is also reasonable.
Minister Ye, outspoken, has a grandson three months old. According to Minister Guo’s advice, the child shall be recognized as Minister Song’s grandson.”
Minister Ye was struck, rushing forward. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I erred.”
The Emperor’s words are absolute. He rose. “I am tired; court dismissed.”
Outside the palace gates.
Guo’s son, Guo Wei, frowned. “Father, Your Majesty’s actions are too absurd.”
“Absurd?” Guo Zhen snorted, brushing dust from his robe. “Our young Emperor is no simpleton. He simply finds us elders in the way.”
Guo Wei was puzzled.
“The Emperor trusts father greatly; even my daughter, Consort Guo, is favored in the harem. Only the Empress’s father is ever so addressed. Today, Your Majesty called you Yuezhang, father.”
Guo struck his son’s head with his ceremonial tablet. “You born fool.”
“I ask, why did the Emperor issue such a decree?”
“This absurd decree involved two high-ranking officials: Minister Pei, a noble, and Duke Ruan Xi, a new court noble. The Emperor’s intent is to prevent the people from speaking freely.”
“I ask you, who will hold grudges in the future? Minister Song? Minister Ye?”
“Minister Song will resent Minister Ye, but most he will resent Duke Ruan, and also Minister Cui who sentenced his son.”
Guo Wei frowned. “Minister Ye will naturally resent Minister Song, but he may also—”
“Resent me, his father,” Guo Zhen interrupted. “Our Emperor is untouchable; this matter slipped through his hands and landed on us. Minister Song is my disciple, of the old aristocracy; Minister Ye is aligned with the princess, the new nobility.
What would have been private is now public. The Emperor sits above, watching the old aristocracy and new nobility fight to the death. He does not trust us and seeks to reclaim all power.”
Wan Hong Courtesan House
“Master, thank you for saving my life. I can never repay this favor; in the next life, I vow to repay with all I have.” Hong Yao knelt, gripping her contract tightly.
She could finally live properly. She thought she would die at the hands of the Taifu Minister’s son, but heaven had mercy.
Across from her, a figure in black carp-patterned robe, a short dagger on his back, face masked, eyes filled with killing intent.
In a low voice: “Remember, you are a subject of Daqian. In the next life, your gratitude must be to Daqian.”
“I understand, master.”
When she moved away, he slowly stepped behind the screen. “Your Majesty, leave this matter to me; there is no need for you to appear in the palace.”
Wei Wuyan had been the Crown Prince’s companion since childhood, entrusted with the Emperor’s protection. Head of the Northern Ban Guard, Left General of Divine Martial, closest guardian of the Emperor.
Emperor Linhui stood, bored, patting Wei Wuyan’s shoulder. “Did I do a good deed today?”
“What Your Majesty did benefits the present and will benefit a thousand autumns to come.”
“If not for Your Majesty’s compassion, how could a mere courtesan meet a good end?”
Flattering words, yet he felt they did not sound as pleasant as what Jing Miaoyi had said.
He traced the Bodhisattva jade pendant with his fingertip.
“Since I did a good deed, should not the Bodhisattva protect me?”
“Of course. Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, a true dragon. Naturally, the Bodhisattva will protect you.”
“Then she probably thinks her prayers worked, raising her tail to the heavens.”
“Sigh,” Emperor Linhui gazed into the bronze mirror. “I am too perfect. Bodhisattva cannot compare to me. Why pray to a Bodhisattva when you can pray to me?”
Wei Wuyan: “……”
The Emperor just says whatever comes to mind?
He frowned. “What is that expression? Are you mocking me internally?”
“I dare not, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Linhui tossed a jujube at his forehead. “Even your wooden head would not dare. Go tell Li Dequan, I will not return to the palace tonight. Ensure everyone in Changsheng Hall keeps their mouths shut.”
“Your Majesty, I am sworn to protect you. Where are you going?”
The Emperor smirked, arms crossed, wiping a kumquat on his purple robe. “I am going to… have a secret tryst. You follow me? How is this proper? Such matters must be discreet, unnoticed by others.”
Wei Wuyan: “……”
He could not close his jaw.
What did His Majesty just say?
A secret… tryst?
What… what is happening?!
His Majesty!