"His Majesty arrives! Ministers, prepare for the morning court!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live, long, long live!"
The five-year-old Little Emperor was carried into the Great Hall on a dragon palanquin. Zhu Si, the Chief Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, stepped across the jade threshold and hoisted the boy onto the dragon throne.
"Hah... rise... rise... hah... rise, everyone!"
The Little Emperor, eyes bleary with sleep and stifling a series of yawns, cursed Zhu Si in his heart.
*Just wait until I take personal control of the government. You’ll be the first one I execute! How dare you wake me up this early!*
The Little Emperor slumped on the dragon throne, struggling to keep his eyes open, wishing he could just use the throne as a pillow and drift off again.
"Ahem, ahem, ahem!"
The beaded curtains behind the throne rustled. A fair, jade-like hand pushed them aside, and a stern gaze fixed upon the Little Emperor. He pouted in annoyance, but despite his reluctance, he straightened his posture and sat properly.
*Just wait until I’m in power. I’ll get rid of the Empress Dowager right along with you!*
The ministers below whispered among themselves.
"Have you heard? Jia Ruoxiang is coming today with his simple-minded third brother to demand a title from His Majesty!"
"A servant from the Jia Mansion came knocking last night. Jia Ruoxiang wanted me to support him—what a joke! I didn’t even dare open the door, terrified the Empress Dowager would think I’m part of the Jia Tu faction."
"If that old villain Jia Tu were still alive, perhaps he could pull some strings. But now that the old thief is dead, how could that half-witted son of his possibly consolidate power? The Prime Minister seat rotates, and it's anyone’s guess who’s next. I suspect it might be Minister of Justice Murong Chong!"
"Hard to say. Though Murong Chong is the Empress Dowager’s father, the Duke Defending the Country, Guō Lǐ, is a disciple of the old Grand Preceptor and also serves as Minister of Revenue. Who’s to say it won't be him?"
"I’ve got some explosive news: Princess Taiping went to the Jia Mansion yesterday to pay her respects, but she actually used the funeral to call off the engagement. The Jia family has lost every shred of dignity!"
"That is most intriguing. The Princess calling off the engagement—is it her own wish, or... is there an order from above?"
"Did you all go to pay your respects?"
"Are you joking? At a time like this, apart from that hot-headed fool Fa Yun, who would dare go?"
...
"Zhu Si!"
Hearing the Empress Dowager’s voice, Zhu Si pushed aside the beaded curtain and bowed low.
"What is your command, Empress Dowager?"
Empress Dowager Murong Qingqing sat elegantly upon the phoenix throne. Her graceful form was concealed beneath her elaborate robes, adorned with a golden phoenix hairpin and intricate jewelry. Even as a eunuch, Zhu Si couldn't help but feel a flicker of awe at her peerless beauty. It was an open secret in the palace that the Empress Dowager might still be a maiden. When she entered the palace at eighteen, the Late Emperor was already gravely ill; though she was crowned Empress, he was never strong enough to consummate the marriage. When he passed, he bequeathed the throne to his fourth son, Cao Zijian. Once the boy ascended, she naturally became the Empress Dowager. Yet, Zhu Si had to admire her; despite her youth, she was ruthless and decisive, keeping the various princes from ever daring to covet the throne.
"Why hasn't your godfather, Zhu Linhai, come?"
Murong Qingqing’s voice was laced with a chilling authority. Zhu Si immediately stopped his wayward thoughts and stiffened.
"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, my godfather is not feeling well; he is unable to attend today."
*The old fox!*
Murong Qingqing’s moth-like brows furrowed, and her phoenix eyes widened. Despite her rising fury, she had no choice but to suppress it.
"Send men. Even if you have to carry him, bring him here!"
Dawei had twelve directorates, including the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Directorate of Ceremonial (Dozhijian). Zhu Linhai was the Chief Eunuch over all twelve. The heads of these directorates were all his protégés or spiritual sons. The Directorate of Ceremonial had sent word last night that the three Jia sons were coming to court to demand titles. The situation was tense, and Murong Qingqing needed Zhu Linhai to publicly support her. She hadn't expected the old man to try and remain neutral.
Zhu Si wore a troubled expression. "Empress Dowager, you know my godfather’s temper. If he is forced to do something he dislikes..."
Murong Qingqing waved her hand impatiently.
*Being Empress Dowager is truly suffocating. Even a eunuch dares to threaten me! It’s all the fault of that dead husband of mine, leaving me such a mess. The court is crawling with sycophants and wolves. If only he had left behind one single loyal official, I wouldn't be in this desperate position!*
"Hmm?"
Murong Qingqing peered through the beads. A black line was moving rapidly toward the palace hall. As it drew closer, she realized it was a contingent of the Imperial Guard, clad in armor and clutching blades. Their expressions were grim, their steps synchronized, and they exuded a chilling aura of violence. Leading them were the commanders: Jia Ruoxiang, Jia Yi, and Jia Lingyun.
"Insolent Jia Ruoxiang! How dare you bring troops into the hall? Are you planning to revolt?"
The speaker was the Censor, Fāng Rú, a loyalist of Murong Chong. He had intended to push for Murong Chong as Prime Minister today; seeing Jia Ruoxiang barge in with guards ruined his plans, and he was naturally incensed.
Jia Ruoxiang ignored Fāng Rú, ordering the guards to line up in two rows before bowing to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, as the Commander of the Imperial Guard, I brought these men to protect you from the treachery of corrupt officials. It is my duty. Does Your Majesty find this inappropriate?"
The Little Emperor was merely a child; he had never seen such a scene and trembled in fear.
"N-no... nothing inappropriate!"
Fāng Rú flicked his official robes and scoffed. "Your Majesty, fear not! There is justice in heaven and millions of commoners on earth; surely there is room for the heart of a loyal subject?"
"Dawei has suffered under the old thief Jia Tu for too long. Now that the old thief is dead, are we to let some minor thief take his place to control the government? To keep the people of Dawei in misery?"
Fāng Rú spoke with passionate indignation, his saliva flying. Jia Lingyun sighed, took a sword from Jia Yi, and waved at Fāng Rú.
"Come a little closer!"
Fāng Rú took two steps forward, puffing out his chest. "You fool! So what if I come closer? Do you dare kill me in the imperial court?"
"Big brother, second brother, hold him down! If I don't give him a thrashing today, my name isn't Jia Lingyun!"
Fāng Rú realized something was wrong. He never expected Jia Lingyun to be so brazen as to strike someone in the middle of a court session.
In the blink of an eye, Fāng Rú tried to flee, but he was too old and frail. Jia Ruoxiang and Jia Yi rushed forward and pinned him to the ground.
Fāng Rú let out a shrill scream. "Let go of me! Let go! I am an official of the imperial court, a fifth-rank official!"
*Swish!*
Fāng Rú’s voice stopped abruptly!
The old man felt a sudden chill below. He looked down and saw that Jia Lingyun had pulled his pants down!
A complex expression crossed his aged face—a mix of shame, humiliation, and the sudden desire to die.
This shocking display caught everyone off guard. The young officials sneered in contempt, while the older ones looked away in deep, burning shame. Behind the beaded curtains, the young Empress Dowager’s face flushed scarlet. Being a woman, this was her first time witnessing such a scene, and she couldn't help but shield her eyes.