Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Young Emperor (1)
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The grand banquet hall nestled in the deepest recesses of the imperial palace existed solely for the Ten Attendants.
The room was stifling with the scent of expensive incense and the boozy breath of half-drunken eunuchs.
This feast was ostensibly to celebrate the end of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, but there was no joy on the faces of the Ten Attendants.
Only a murmur of unease and forced smiles filled the air.
Seated at the head table, Chief Attendant Zhang Yang raised his golden goblet and spoke. His voice carried the leisure of a victor.
"Come now, everyone, raise a glass. Those wretched yellow-turbaned scum have fallen—this is cause for celebration, isn't it? Especially since Lu Bu, whom I recommended, beheaded two of their leaders, saving our faces proper."
At Zhang Yang's words, the other eunuchs reluctantly lifted their cups.
Among them, Guo Sheng, whose complexion was particularly poor, spoke up. His voice brimmed with worry.
"Chief Attendant Zhang, don't get ahead of yourself. Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun—their achievements from the Qingliu faction aren't to be trifled with. And of all things, that Ye Gang fellow released funds from the imperial treasury, letting those bastards back into court. Who knows when they'll hold a blade to our throats? How can we drink in peace?"
At Guo Sheng's words, Cao Chong—who had been gnawing on a greasy chicken leg—waved his hand dismissively as if annoyed.
"You're too cowardly for your own good. So what if their merits are great? In the end, it's we who divvy up the spoils and distribute the rewards. Just thinking of the 'tributes'—er, modest gifts—they'll offer to save their skins has me salivating already. Isn't that right, Chief Attendant Zhang?"
Even at Cao Chong's greedy question, Zhang Yang merely smiled.
Then, Ge Shi—who had been silently draining his cup—joined the conversation in a low voice. His eyes were as sharp as a soldier's.
"That blade called Lu Bu proved quite useful indeed. But a blade too sharp cuts its own master's hand. Zhang Yang, do you have a plan to control it? No matter how good a hunter, you don't need a dog that bites its owner."
"Hahaha!"
Zhang Yang remained unfazed by Ge Shi's overt challenge. He set down his goblet and slowly surveyed the room.
"Control? A dog follows its master only if fed. And the real problem isn't a dog that runs wild—it's the one that betrays its pack and strikes from behind. Like that Ye Gang fellow."
The moment the name 'Ye Gang' was uttered, the room's air turned ice-cold. Zhang Yang savored the chilling silence before continuing.
"Ye Gang... Word is he's gaining fame among the scholars now? Handing swords back to those Qingliu scum who wanted us dead and earning a name for it—what nonsense! He betrayed us. Pretending to be pure and loyal to His Majesty while freeing the Dang Party lot."
Zhang Yang slammed his goblet down with a sharp thud. Murderous intent gleamed openly in his eyes.
"What good are the Qingliu faction's merits? In the end, they'll brand us traitors and try to kill us. Ye Gang's given them wings. We can't let a man like that sit as a fellow Chief Attendant."
Guo Sheng asked in his persistently anxious tone.
"But His Majesty trusts him deeply. Accusing him of colluding with the Qingliu faction alone isn't enough! We have no evidence!"
"Hah, think I don't know that?"
Zhang Yang curled his lips slyly.
"That's just our pretext. I've prepared separate bait to convince His Majesty and the court."
Zhang Yang paused, basking in everyone's attention. At last, he spoke.
"Heard the rumors lately? Ye Gang spends every night reading the Annals of Guo Guang and can't hide his admiration."
Ge Shi's brow twitched at that.
"First I've heard of it. Zhang Yang, where'd you pick up such drivel?"
"Haha, I didn't say I heard it. I just asked if you had. But... what if such rumors reached everyone's ears starting tomorrow?"
"Oh ho..."
Cao Chong forgot to chew his chicken leg as he mulled over Zhang Yang's words.
"Guo Guang... Guo Guang, eh..."
A sinister smile crept across Cao Chong's face after a moment's thought.
"Kuhaha! Brilliant, Chief Attendant! What His Majesty fears most is a minister wielding merit to usurp his throne. Guo Guang... perfect bait."
"That's not enough. Even if it sows doubt in His Majesty, if the Qingliu scum rally around Ye Gang, it'll be a headache. We need filthier rumors to shut their mouths too."
"Filthier rumors... like what?"
Cao Chong licked the grease from his fingers and asked. Zhang Yang glanced at Guo Sheng before replying.
"Rumors that Ye Gang's 'clean' image comes from his brothers taking bribes on his behalf. Spread it through the markets: he's a sly hypocrite who gains fame while his house pockets the profits. Better to be like us—openly greedy—than like you, Guo Sheng, pretending otherwise while spitting sunflower seeds behind closed doors, eh?"
"Wh-what's that supposed to mean?!"
Guo Sheng flailed his hands in panic as the arrow turned on him. Cao Chong burst out laughing, clutching his belly.
"Kuhahaha! That's a stroke of genius! People love watching heroes fall—especially when they're hypocrites!"
Zhang Yang nodded in satisfaction.
"Treason for His Majesty, hypocrisy and greed for the ministers. Together, Ye Gang won't survive."
Finally, Zhang Yang turned to Ge Shi.
"Ge Shi, prepare to move the Imperial Guard. The moment His Majesty's permission comes, we cut off that bastard's air."
Ge Shi nodded wordlessly.
A perfect consensus formed to eliminate Ye Gang, each driven by their own interests.
The moment I returned to Luoyang, I shed my armor.
It had been soaked in blood and sweat for months—utterly revolting. Wei Sok nagged me to hit the brothels, but I ignored him and headed straight for my master's residence.
Strangely, this place felt more comfortable than anywhere else amid the festivities. Maybe because it smelled of ink instead of gore.
A simple spread of drinks was laid out in the study. The world outside the window buzzed noisily, but the lamplight inside cast a serene glow.
Chae Yeom silently poured clear liquor into my cup.
My hand, gripping the cup, was callused and rough; hers, holding the bottle, was pale and slender.
I didn't drink right away.
Instead, I pulled a silk sash from my bosom—the one I always carried—and placed it on the table. It bore the marks of my grip but was still clean.
"Thank you."
At my words, Chae Yeom looked up.
"In this war... it must've served as a talisman. Thanks to it, I came back unscathed."
It felt embarrassing to say, but it had to be said. She gently shook her head.
"Not at all. That's all due to Lord Prayer's own skill. I did nothing."
I drained my cup at her words. As she refilled it, a shadow seemed to cloud her face.
"......"
She parted her lips as if to speak, then bowed her head and closed them. She's definitely hiding something.
"Is something wrong?"
"No. Just... lost in thought for a moment."
"No need to wall yourself off even in front of me. You're Master's daughter, but... this isn't empty talk. Tell me. Do I, Lu Bu, seem that untrustworthy?"
My words made her shoulders tremble faintly. After long hesitation, she sighed deeply, as if resolved.
"Do you... know why my father was exiled to Saibang?"
"I heard it was slander from treacherous eunuchs."
"Yes. But... the original sentence wasn't exile. It was execution."
Execution? First I'd heard of it. As my eyes widened, she continued.
"When everyone feared Chief Attendant Zheng Huan and shunned Father, one man believed in his innocence and pled to His Majesty, saving his life."
"Who was that?"
"Chief Attendant Ye Gang."
—Ye Gang.
The name flashed through my mind. The old eunuch I'd first met in the markets. The one who'd led me here.
"That man saved Master?"
"Yes. If Chief Attendant Ye Gang hadn't visited His Majesty daily, pleading Father's injustice, he wouldn't be in this world."
Damn, things just got complicated.
That old man wasn't just any eunuch—he'd saved my master's life. Which made him my benefactor too.
Yet Chae Yeom's face darkened again as she brought it up.
"But... lately, vicious rumors about Ye Gang are circulating in the capital. That he's likening himself to Guo Guang with treasonous ambitions, or his family takes bribes behind his back... It must be someone's plot.
She gazed up at me imploringly.
"Ye Gang is upright; if His Majesty suspects and summons him... he'll prove his innocence with death. If that happens..."
Chae Yeom bit her lip, unable to continue. Tears welled in her eyes.
Those bullshit rumors about Guo Guang and bribes.
'The Ten Attendants are definitely up to something.'
They're trying to kill my master's benefactor—my benefactor? What a shitty situation. But no need to overthink.
I stood up.
"Don't worry about a thing. I'll handle it."
"Pardon?"
Chae Yeom looked baffled, but merit like 'gong' was made for saving a man from the death penalty once, wasn't it?
Especially over mere 'rumors.'
When the edict summoning him arrived, Chief Attendant Ye Gang resigned himself to fate.
'It's come at last.'
He'd known from the spreading rumors that someone was driving him to death.
Ye Gang dressed neatly in his official robes.
'I fear not death. But I'm worried those upright scholars I saved might end up imprisoned again—or worse, spark a revolt because of me.'
Ye Gang sighed deeply. Then he took up his brush and penned his final testament.
The minister Ye Gang has served loyally to the end, devoting himself to state and sovereign! Yet the eunuchs' slanders have obscured the heavens. Summoning this old body to prison for humiliation—better to die proving my innocence!
He set the testament on the table and drew the sword from the wall.
The keen blade gleamed with light. Just as he raised it to his neck—
—Crash! Thud!
A commotion erupted outside. The desperate shout of his guard rang out.
"Who goes there! Dare to disturb Chief Attendant's chambers— Gah!"
A short scream, then a body thudding to the floor. Heavy footsteps grew louder toward the door.
—Bang!
The door flew open violently, and a massive man in red robes strode in.
I knocked out the annoying guards blocking my way and entered to find the old man drawing his sword for suicide.
"Old timer. Why'd you draw that blade?"
His eyes widened at my sudden appearance. But he quickly masked his surprise with a hearty laugh.
"Heh heh, Bai Gai's disciple, what brings you? I'm busy now—come back later."
"If I wait, you might not be of this world anymore."
My words froze his smile.
I ignored it, plopping down in the middle of the room. I uncorked the wine jug I'd brought and tossed it to him.
He stared silently at the jug in his hand, then snatched it and took a deep swig straight from the bottle.
"Krr, strong stuff."
"It's Bing Province brew—of course it is. Old timer, forget that and come with me."
Ye Gang tilted his head at my words.
"If you're set on dying, better to smash the slanderers' heads than prove innocence through death."
"......"
He fell silent for a long while. The room filled with heavy quiet.
At last, his shoulders shook, and he burst into roaring laughter.
"Kuhahaha! Yes! That's right! Fitting of Bai Gai's disciple! But if you enter the palace with me, plenty will hate it."
"The whole world already hates me enough."
At my reply, he laughed even harder.
Ye Gang sheathed his sword, drained the rest of the wine, and stood, setting the empty jug on the floor.
"Good. Let's go together! His Majesty awaits."