Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Emperor Ling (2)
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I entered the grand hall of the imperial palace alongside Master Ye Gang.
All along the corridor, I could feel the other officials whispering as they looked at us. Their eyes held a mix of curiosity, contempt, and a hint of pity.
Me, receiving pity? As if...
The hall was already packed with countless bureaucrats.
The emperor seated on the jade throne was stifling a yawn, gazing down below with a bored expression.
Flanking him were the Ten Attendants.
Zhang Yang's face especially bore a cruel smile that said, "It's finally here." When our eyes met, that smile deepened.
'Let's see how long you can keep grinning, you bastard.'
The emperor, propping his chin, opened his mouth. Irritation laced his voice.
"Ye Gang. Do you know why We summoned you?"
His tone carried the air of a question already answered. As Ye Gang moved to speak, Zhang Yang stepped forward and prostrated himself first.
"Your Majesty! Your servant Zhang Yang has a petition!"
There was something in Zhang Yang's voice that tugged at the heartstrings.
"Rumors abound that Chief Attendant Ye Gang, overconfident in his merits, reads the annals of Guo Guang every night and compares himself to that great man, harboring treasonous thoughts! Moreover, his brothers' greed pierces the heavens—this is surely the precursor to rebellion! I beseech Your Majesty to deploy the Imperial Guard, imprison Ye Gang, and personally interrogate him to uphold the laws of the realm!"
What fluent nonsense.
With those words as the signal, the other eunuchs began denouncing Ye Gang as a traitor in unison.
"Your Majesty! Chief Attendant Zhang Yang's words ring true!"
"The people of the realm now resent Ye Gang; he must be interrogated."
"Ye Gang claims his own incorruptibility, yet his family's granaries are so full the grain is rotting."
The hall's atmosphere grew taut, ready to snap at any moment under the eunuchs' words.
"..."
Ye Gang merely bit his lip, saying nothing. He knew any words here would just sound like excuses.
As the emperor nodded at the sight and moved to speak— I stepped forward.
I strode boldly to the center of the hall, blocking Ye Gang's front. All eyes turned to me.
"—Your Majesty."
My voice was soft, yet it rang clearly through the entire hall.
"Your servant, Imperial Guard Commander Lu Bu, has words to say."
I drew my strongest weapon first.
"By Your Majesty's command, I have beheaded the rebel leaders Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang."
"Hmmm..."
"...What the hell is that guy thinking...?"
The hall stirred at my words. Ignoring the reactions around me, I stared straight at Zhang Yang and continued.
"Chief Attendant Zhang Yang petitions to punish a loyal servant based on 'rumors,' yet those rumors lack any proof."
Then I bowed toward the emperor again.
"Of course, I too have no proof of Chief Attendant Ye Gang's innocence."
I paused. Everyone in the hall held their breath, awaiting my next words.
"Thus, Your Majesty. In lieu of proof, I stake all my achievements. For Chief Attendant Ye Gang's innocence, I wager everything I earned risking my life in this Yellow Turban Rebellion."
"...What!?"
"He said he's staking his merits?"
The hall erupted the moment I finished. Gasps of shock burst out everywhere. The eyes of the Qingliu scholars, who had seen me as little more than 'Zhang Yang's dog,' went wide.
"Heavens! Is that bastard in his right mind?!"
"He's throwing away all his hard-earned merits... for just one eunuch?"
"But Chief Attendant Ye Gang is different, isn't he? Still, wasn't this guy in league with Zhang Yang? What's his game...?"
The Qingliu faction exchanged confused glances.
They'd pegged me as one of the Ten Attendants' lapdogs, only for me to suddenly hold a knife to their master's throat. Their heads must be spinning.
Of course, not everyone was confused.
Grand General He Jin's face was stiff with open displeasure. He didn't like this unpredictable wildcard shaking up the board.
And Zhang Yang.
His face was flushed beet red with rage. He'd thought of me as his dog, only for it to bite its master—no wonder he was pissed.
But amid all the chaos, only the emperor watched me with evident amusement.
The boredom gone from his face, he straightened on the throne, interest gleaming in his eyes.
"Ho... Lu Bu. Your achievements could make you a commandery administrator or even a general leading central forces. And you're saying you'll throw it all away for one eunuch's life?"
I met the emperor's gaze without flinching or hesitation.
"No office can outweigh the life of a loyal servant."
At my short, concise reply, the emperor eyed me a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Kuhaha! I thought Sun Jian was amusing, but you're even more entertaining!"
Collecting himself, he turned to Zhang Yang, a chill in his eyes.
"Zhang Yang. We know your loyalty well. But the law cannot punish a minister loyal across three generations on mere rumors."
Then he looked back at me.
"Very well, Lu Bu. Since you desire it so, your grand merits shall cover Ye Gang's 'crimes.'"
"...!"
At the emperor's declaration, Zhang Yang and the Ten Attendants paled white.
The emperor had known of their scheme all along. He'd merely feigned ignorance. Ignoring them, he asked me,
"Lu Bu. Don't you regret throwing all your merits away on baseless rumors?"
"What's a mere merit or two? I can always earn more."
At my response, Emperor Ling clutched his belly and roared with laughter.
"Uhahaha! Yes! That's how a true man should be!"
His laughter filled the hall. As he rose to end the audience, he glanced at me with a whimsical grin.
"Hm, come to think of it, We hear you have quite a few fathers. Is Ye Gang one now too?"
At the joking question, Ye Gang stepped forward with a calm retort.
"Hohohoho. Your Majesty, how could I be a father without a man's parts?"
Emperor Ling exploded in laughter once more at Ye Gang's witty reply.
"Kuhahahaha! Then you've gained a new mother! Uhahahaha!"
Leaving behind his jolly laughter, Emperor Ling departed the hall.
Behind him remained the ministers with complicated expressions, Zhang Yang glaring daggers at me, and I, taking it all in stride.
'Fuck, I've really painted a target on my back.'
But it didn't matter. This world survived on backstabbing anyway, didn't it?
The moment I returned to the barracks and opened the door, three men charged at me as if on cue.
Wei Sok clung to my arm, nearly in tears.
"Brother! No, what the hell were you thinking?! Throwing away all those merits you risked your life for, over one lousy eunuch! What are we supposed to eat now?!"
Beside him, Cheng Lian and Wei Yue looked equally doomed.
"Commander... We don't mean to overstep, but... couldn't you have given us a heads-up? Suddenly all the merits are gone—it's pitch black ahead."
I brushed off the three annoyances and snorted, plopping down in my seat. A perfect dismissal, ignoring their yapping.
Wei Sok, even more furious at my reaction, yelled at Zhang Liao, who was calmly polishing his sword in the corner.
"Hey, Zhang Liao! Say something! Brother's clearly lost his mind!"
Zhang Liao didn't even glance up from his blade. Staring at his reflection, he clicked his tongue in pity.
"This is why I can't deal with ignorant fools."
"What'd you say, you prick?! Your tongue's longer than your sword! Come here—I'll rip it out today!"
As Wei Sok lunged at Zhang Liao to tussle, I had no choice but to open my pouch.
"Hah, fine... Take this and get lost."
I pulled out a heavy money pouch from my bosom and slammed it on the table with a thunk.
"Go get shitfaced with it. If you're still yapping after, I'll rip out your tongue. Got it?"
Wei Sok froze mid-grab at Zhang Liao's collar.
All three pairs of eyes locked onto the pouch. Wei Sok swallowed hard.
"B-Brother... This... even if we all drink...?"
"Keep stalling and I'll split it with Zhang Liao, halfsies."
"Thank you! Brother!!"
The three snatched the pouch and vanished out the door in a flash, as if their complaints never happened.
With the noisy lot gone, the barracks fell quiet again.
"Cheng Lian and Wei Yue are starting to look more like Wei Sok every day."
"Fools are contagious, they say. Be careful, my lord."
"As if."
After the brief banter, Zhang Liao turned to me seriously. Admiration shone in his eyes.
"My lord. Your move today was truly masterful."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"You rose to your position with the aid of the Ten Attendants, especially Zhang Yang. Thus, despite your great feats, many in court still see you as the 'eunuchs' blade' and regard you with suspicion. Your merits were so vast they could have become poison."
Zhang Liao paused for breath, then continued.
"Yet you used all those merits to save Chief Attendant Ye Gang—a eunuch respected even by the Qingliu scholars. And by betraying the very Zhang Yang who raised you."
Excitement crept into his voice.
"What do you think the result is? Rumors must already be spreading through the markets: 'Lu Bu wasn't Zhang Yang's dog after all,' 'He's a righteous man who staked everything for a loyal servant,' 'As expected of Master Bai Gai's disciple.' You've traded tangible rank for something far harder to obtain: 'righteousness' and 'reputation.'"
Listening to Zhang Liao's analysis, I was dumbfounded inside.
'Fuck, he interprets it like that?'
I snorted inwardly in disbelief.
"Hmph. I just smashed the back of a head I didn't like. No need to overcomplicate it."
My real motive was simple. Save my master's benefactor. And smack the back of Zhang Yang's head for treating me like a dog.
That was it.
But chewing over Zhang Liao's words, not a single one was wrong. My simple act had been wrapped in the grand packaging of 'righteousness,' yielding massive political gains.
'So whether backstabbing or betraying, you need that fancy 'righteous' wrapper after all.'
Thinking of Zhang Yang probably frothing at the mouth right now, I figured I'd sleep soundly tonight.