The Great Escape

‘I can still salvage this.’

With a plan taking shape in his mind, Yan Shou finally knew what to do.

At daybreak, he emerged from Jingzhe’s palace looking refreshed and in high spirits before heading to court.

He had even deliberately arrived a little late, all so the ministers would have enough time to stew in their emotions.

The moment he settled onto the dragon throne, the junior commander of the Imperial Guards standing below the imperial steps immediately announced,

“If any minister has a memorial to present, step forward. If there is nothing to report, the court is dismissed…”

She had received explicit instructions from the Commander of the Imperial Guards.

She had to fulfill her duties properly.

That line absolutely had to be spoken by the Imperial Guards.

If the emperor said it himself, what would the Imperial Guards even be for?

It would be tantamount to denying their very purpose, making it impossible for them to maintain their place in court.

“So you’ve learned to answer before anyone asks?”

Yan Shou merely glanced at her.

He made no objection and let her continue.

“This subject has a memorial to present.”

A minister stepped out from the ranks some thirty feet beyond the golden bead curtain.

Yan Shou couldn’t make out his face clearly and couldn’t be bothered to find out who he was.

“Your Majesty, Earl Cangting intended to rebel…”

Before he could finish, Yan Shou interrupted him.

To deal with censors, one had to fight magic with magic.

“Whether he rebelled or not isn’t for you to decide.

It’s for me to decide.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.

This subject merely speaks out for justice.”

“Justice for whom?”

“For Great Yan and the realm.”

“You believe you’re speaking on behalf of Great Yan and the realm?”

“This subject does.”

“Then answer me this.

Who governs Great Yan and the realm?”

“Your Majesty does.”

“Who am I?”

“Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, the Emperor of Great Yan.”

“Then tell me.

Are you the emperor, or am I?”

Silence fell over the court.

The censor who had stepped forward froze where he stood.

‘This is bad.

He’s coming after me.’

He glanced around.

Several colleagues who had been preparing to impeach Earl Cangting quietly withdrew the feet they had been about to step forward with.

He then looked toward the Grand Commandant.

Time itself seemed to come to a halt.

The great hall became deathly silent.

Everyone felt an invisible pressure descend upon them.

It wasn’t the pressure of overwhelming strength or bloodline.

It came from the dragon throne…

And the man sitting upon it.

From his identity as emperor.

“Your Majesty, this subject believes he truly was speaking for Great Yan and the realm.”

After a brief hesitation, the Grand Commandant stepped forward.

“So the Grand Commandant believes he was speaking for Great Yan and the realm?”

Yan Shou looked directly at him.

“A man who believes he can stand in my place and speak on behalf of Great Yan and the realm?”

“This subject does not believe he meant any disrespect toward Your Majesty.”

“Are you him?”

“No.”

“Since you’re not him, how do you know he wasn’t speaking from my position?

How do you know he wasn’t disrespecting me?”

“This subject…”

The Grand Commandant was a military man.

He had never been eloquent.

But this censor had been one of the few officials he had painstakingly cultivated.

“Your Majesty…”

“Grand Commandant, I honor you with your office.

Please show me the same respect and answer my question directly.”

This time Yan Shou referred to himself as ‘Zhen’ rather than ‘Gu.’

The meaning behind that choice couldn’t have been clearer.

The Grand Commandant was left speechless.

The officials’ hearts trembled.

To him, today’s emperor felt strangely unfamiliar.

“Your Majesty…”

The Minister of Rites, Ning Shu, stepped out, intending to ease the increasingly tense atmosphere.

“Silence.

Did I ask you?”

“Your Majesty, the Grand Commandant is a veteran minister who has served three reigns.

This old subject merely feels…”

“I don’t want you to ‘feel’ anything.

Return to your place.”

With a sharp rebuke, Yan Shou turned back to the Grand Commandant.

“This old subject has served as Grand Commandant through three reigns.

The censor would never make accusations lightly.”

After all, Earl Cangting’s rebellious poem had echoed across the city the previous night.

Many people had heard it.

“Wouldn’t make accusations lightly?”

“You’re not him.

How do you know he wasn’t making accusations lightly?

Or is it the Grand Commandant who’s making the judgment now?”

“This subject would never dare.

Everything I do is for Great Yan and for Your Majesty’s realm!”

“Your realm?

Or mine?”

Those words instantly rendered the Grand Commandant speechless.

That was something no one could answer.

Standing nearby, Bai Dingshan broke out in a cold sweat.

‘Your Majesty…’

‘You don’t have to be this direct in court.’

‘Politics is supposed to be elegant while doing dirty work.’

‘You’re not even giving the Grand Commandant a chance to save face.’

‘I have to salvage this somehow.’

“Your Majesty…”

Bai Dingshan stepped forward, preparing to offer his own remonstrance.

“Minister Bai, have you eaten breakfast today?”

Bai Dingshan blinked.

“This subject has been waiting outside the palace gates since before dawn.

So… no.”

“Anyone who hasn’t eaten breakfast, stand to one side.”

Ignoring Bai Dingshan completely, Yan Shou looked back at the Grand Commandant.

“Didn’t you say you had much to say for the sake of the realm?

Go on.

What else would you like to say?”

“This subject is but a soldier.

I am poor with words and unable to defend myself.

But my loyalty can be judged by Heaven and Earth!”

He… retreated?

The officials aligned with the Grand Commandant were dumbfounded.

‘Grand Commandant!

You can’t back down now!

Once you retreat once, you’ll retreat again and again!’

Yet if he refused to retreat, his position had become dangerously confrontational.

If the Grand Tutor chose to kick him while he was down, he might not even have the chance to withdraw.

“Grand Tutor?”

Yan Shou swept his gaze across the hall before finally resting it on the Grand Tutor.

He sincerely hoped a few more people would step forward.

The more opposition he attracted, the greater his infamy—and the more Fatuity Value he’d earn.

If even the Grand Tutor thought him a foolish tyrant, that would be perfect.

“Your Majesty, this subject understands the principles of the sages.

I exist only to assist Your Majesty in governing the realm.

How could I dare utter reckless words?”

“Naturally, I trust the Grand Tutor.

What about the rest of you?”

“Your Majesty, we would never dare speak recklessly!”

“Very good.

Since none of you are speaking recklessly…

Then who is?

Me?”

“Your Majesty, this subject requests the execution of this censor to restore order to the court.”

Bai Dingshan stepped forward once more.

“Anyone who hasn’t eaten breakfast, stand aside.”

“Actually, this subject did eat breakfast today.

I have plenty of strength and plenty of methods at my disposal.”

“So now you’re deceiving your emperor as well?”

“This subject would never dare.

But I do believe someone has deceived Your Majesty.

Please execute this censor to rectify the court.”

“A reasonable suggestion.

Drag him out and behead him.”

Two Imperial Guards immediately entered and dragged the censor outside.

“Your Majesty! You mustn’t do this!

This is no different from the actions of a tyrant!

You’ll throw the court into chaos!

You’ll lose virtue, lose the people’s hearts, destroy the ancestral foundation of the empire… Grand Commandant… Aaah…!”

Not long afterward, an Imperial Guard reported from outside the hall.

“Your Majesty, the execution has been carried out.

Would Your Majesty like to inspect it?”

“Bring it in.

Let every official in court see what becomes of those who recklessly slander loyal ministers.”

The Imperial Guard entered carrying the severed head.

Standing before the throne, he raised it high for all the officials to see.

The thick smell of blood spread throughout the hall.

Many ministers’ expressions changed.

“Your Majesty, how can you execute a censor so arbitrarily?” the Minister of Rites protested.

“Enough, enough.

He’s already dead.

Talking about it now serves no purpose.”

“Let this be a lesson.

If censors can casually accuse anyone of treason, what happens when one day they accuse every single one of you?”

The hall instantly fell silent once again.

“Your Majesty is wise.”

The Grand Tutor glanced at the displeased Grand Commandant before smiling and raising his jade tablet.

Those ministers who had intended to impeach Earl Cangting also hurriedly knelt.

“Your Majesty is wise!

Your Majesty is truly wise!”

“Since we’re here, I have several matters I’d like to announce.”

“Effective immediately, the Northeastern Protectorate shall be established.

Bai Dingshan is hereby promoted to Protector-General of the Northeast while concurrently serving as Protector-General of the Qiang to guard the northeastern frontier…”

None of the ministers objected.

The court wasn’t providing troops or provisions.

It was merely granting a title and drawing a circle around a piece of land in the northeast.

They could let him do as he pleased.

Still…

Suppressing the Grand Commandant one moment, then appointing another frontier military commander the next, certainly gave everyone something to think about.

Most ignored it.

Only the Grand Tutor’s eyes flashed with interest when Yan Shou announced the Three Noes Policy for Jade Gate Pass.

Unlike every previous True Dragon, the emperor proposed an entirely different strategy for dealing with the demons beyond Jade Gate Pass.

No provocation.

No harassment.

No military expeditions.

Maintain stability at all costs.

Would such a strategy work?

Perhaps.

Perhaps not.

The Grand Tutor didn’t know the answer.

But none of the previous emperors had ever truly pacified the northern frontier.

Trying a new approach might not be a bad idea.

Still…

Was this merely a strategic decision?

Or had His Majesty foreseen something?

Could something be about to happen beyond Jade Gate Pass?

At that thought, the Grand Tutor felt a hint of relief.

The new emperor really was beginning to mature.

“Your Majesty…”

Just as Yan Shou was speaking enthusiastically, an official from the Court of Judicial Review hurried into the hall.

“What is it?”

“Your Majesty… Earl Cangting has escaped from prison.”