Chapter 718
Chapter 718
“Are you aware that the Imperial Grand Secretariat has been abolished? The Cabinet has been established, with Yuan Chengbi as its Prime Minister and Zhu Hongtu as its Vice Prime Minister.”
Hearing this, Ying Qi’s heart skipped a beat. With the empire’s recent cabinet reshuffle, the Zhu Clan of Yan Capital had finally reaped a great harvest. Yuan Chengbi was already seventy-five; he wouldn't hold the position of Prime Minister for long. In contrast, Zhu Hongtu was only in his fifties this year. Didn't that mean the Zhu Clan of Yan Capital would control the empire's highest seat of power for the next two decades? Truly befitting of a prestigious family with a thousand-year legacy.
With Zhu Hongtu’s control over the Imperial Cabinet a foregone conclusion, the fates of most of the world's vassal states would be decided by his hand. Following His Majesty the Emperor's will, the monarchs of the world would soon be granted the title of Imperial Prince in large numbers. The vassal states would gradually transition into dependencies, after which their various princes would submit petitions requesting the Imperial Cabinet to guide their governance. Eventually, the Imperial Cabinet would dispatch a large number of officials to these dependencies to serve as chancellors in their Grand Secretariats. After a decade or two of such rule, the chancellors of the various states would be filled with appointees from the Imperial Cabinet, and the governance of the dependencies would largely fall under its control. With Zhu Hongtu in the Imperial Cabinet, the Zhu Clan of the State of Yue would naturally see their status rise as well.
The Imperial Prince Yan continued.
“At such a critical moment, how terrified do you think the monarchs of the world will be over the King of Chu's death? Tell me, how should this political fallout be resolved?”
Ying Qi bowed his head and said, “This subject has sinned. This subject is terrified.”
The Imperial Prince Yan spoke each word with precision.
“Ying Qi, you are suspected of assassinating the former King of Chu. Since you know you have committed a heinous crime, why not take this poison and end your own life?”
Ying Qi’s entire body trembled violently before he quickly composed himself.
“This subject accepts the order.”
Prince Yan took a small bottle from his robes. The tea had finished steeping. He poured a cup for Ying Qi, then emptied the poison from the small bottle into the tea.
“This is Buduo Mountain’s deadly poison. After taking it, you will pass away peacefully as if falling asleep, without any pain. If you drink this now, your body will remain intact. You don't have to drink it. If you refuse, a public verdict will be declared, and you will be executed by law, beheaded before all.”
Ying Qi stood up, walked over to Prince Yan, and sat down.
“This subject will pay for his crimes.”
He then lifted the teacup before him, preparing to drink it in one gulp.
“Ying Qi, are you certain you’ve thought this through? Do you have any last words?”
“This subject will obey any decision made by the Imperial Envoy.”
He then drank the tea. A moment later, dark blood began to trickle from his nose and the corners of his mouth. He sat motionless. After his heart and breathing stopped, he slumped and fell to the floor.
***
Seeing Ying Qi lying on the floor, bleeding from his seven orifices, his body growing cold, the new King of Chu trembled slightly. Prince Yan asked him.
“How does Your Majesty wish for the empire to handle this matter?”
The new King of Chu knelt and kowtowed.
“This king will obey any decision made by the empire.”
“You are an intelligent man, far wiser than your royal father. It must have been difficult for you to conceal your remarkable talents in recent years.”
“Not at all. I am not even a ten-thousandth of my royal father. However, I can vouch for my loyalty to the empire and His Majesty the Emperor.”
Prince Yan sighed and said, “To think the world holds so many outstanding individuals…”
He stood up, walked over to a map, and spoke slowly.
“It isn't apparent when the world is at peace, but the slightest turmoil brings forth a flood of brilliant talents. Ning Zheng in the south; Shen Lang, Ning Zheng, and Ying Qi in the State of Yue; and you in the State of Chu. It seems our Eastern Dynasty produces many a remarkable figure.”
Hearing this, the new King of Chu dared not reply, remaining prostrate on the floor, perfectly still. He was indeed intelligent and knew that this imperial envoy was here not only to decide Ying Qi’s fate but his own as well. The former King of Chu had been disobedient and excessively greedy, leading to his assassination. Wasn't the imperial envoy here to see for himself if the new king was sufficiently compliant?
And if he wasn't? Then it was possible they would use the other secret letter Chu Ren had brought. The one that claimed the Crown Prince of Chu had an affair with Consort An, and upon its discovery, the prince had struck first and assassinated the king. Of course, this explanation was too far-fetched and would only be announced to the world as a last resort. Nevertheless, the new King of Chu had to display an attitude of absolute submission.
“Intelligent, very intelligent…”
At the Imperial Prince Yan's words, the new King of Chu remained prostrate on the floor, motionless. A duck is the first to know when the river water warms in spring, and one can discern the course of an affair by its subtle signs. Simply from Prince Yan’s attitude, one could tell the empire’s policy had changed. How gentle and amiable the old Prince Yan had been. He showed no airs, calling King Ning Yuanxian of Yue his brother and even adopting a relatively humble posture before the King of Chu. But now, his attitude was that of someone looking down from above. He was an imperial prince, but the King of Chu was the monarch of a vassal state. In some respects, the King of Chu held more power and a slightly higher status. Yet now, Prince Yan acted as the King of Chu's superior.
Of course, this wasn't him acting imperiously on his own; it was to display the empire's stance. It was a declaration that members of the imperial clan were of higher status than the vassal kings, that the imperial clan were the masters and the monarchs of the world their subjects.
The new King of Chu and Ying Qi’s suspicions were correct. After completing its new policies, the empire had shifted its approach from a path of virtue to a path of dominance. The world was about to change.
***
How much time had passed? Ying Qi felt as if he had plunged into darkness, truly fallen into the eighteen levels of hell. He had tasted death itself. It was a feeling of everything turning to ice, of all life force completely vanishing. No words could describe the boundless fear and solitude that washed over him. Then, another light appeared in his mind. All his senses gradually returned, and vitality surged anew.
The deceased Ying Qi opened his eyes again, only to see the Imperial Prince Yan looking down at him. Though his entire body was weak and numb, Ying Qi used all his strength to immediately prostrate himself on the floor, remaining motionless.
“One could call you intelligent, or perhaps cunning. In the end, you have passed the test His Majesty set for you.”
At Prince Yan’s words, Ying Qi kowtowed.
“This subject is terrified. My life is eternally in the hands of the supreme His Majesty the Emperor; the empire may take it at any time.”
“Rise and drink some tea.”
Prince Yan once again poured Ying Qi a cup of tea. It was the same cup as before, the very one that had made him bleed from his seven orifices after he drank from it. Ying Qi respectfully accepted the tea and drained it in one gulp.
“How is Ning Zheng?”
“He is well. Upright, decisive, with a will of steel.”
“And Shen Lang?”
“Supremely intelligent and meticulous, but willful. As long as he is happy, he doesn't care if the world is flooded.”
Prince Yan nodded in agreement, then stood and said, “His Majesty has issued a verbal command.”
Ying Qi once again prostrated himself on the floor.
“The Third Prince of Yue, Ying Qi, has done well!”
Ying Qi kowtowed and said, “This subject is moved to tears by my lord's profound grace. Long live, long live, long, long live!”
Prince Yan nodded. Ying Qi was indeed supremely intelligent. In the past, the phrase "long live" could be used rather casually. When the populace or soldiers were excited, they all liked to shout "Long live the State of Yue" or "Long live the King." But the Imperial Cabinet had spread the following rumor:
Furthermore, the practice of naming taboos had officially begun. In the past, both the common people and the monarchs of the world named their children rather freely. For example, the King of Wu's name was Wu Ji, and Ning Yuanxian's uncle was named Ning Ji. Many people shared names with members of the imperial clan. But from now on, any character found in the names of the Emperor, Crown Prince, Empress, or Empress Dowager must be avoided. Even existing names had to be changed if they contained a character shared with the imperial clan. This "Long live, long live, long, long live" was, in fact, a cheer that the Imperial Cabinet had just started using. It was unexpected that Ying Qi would know it.
“Ying Qi, you have done very well! I will report very favorably on you. I hope that under your leadership, the State of Yue will set an example for the monarchs of the world.”
Hearing this, Ying Qi repeatedly struck his head on the floor.
“This subject holds the empire in awe. How could I not strive to serve the empire until my bones are ground to dust?”
Then, Ying Qi performed a full prostration, pressing his knees, arms, and forehead to the ground. His whole body trembled, and a warmth rose from within him. His gamble had paid off. He had wagered his life and won the empire's support. Prince Yan had made it exceedingly clear that the empire supported Ying Qi as the Crown Prince of the State of Yue.
‘This moment has finally come.’
Ying Qi was so overjoyed he felt tears welling up.
***
Shen Lang and the imperial envoy galloped north as if on wings. They did not delay for a moment, pressing on day and night. They crossed the states of Chu and Liang, then entered the territory of the new State of Qian. Liang had originally been a vassal state, but was later conquered and annexed by Jiang Li. After Jiang Li’s sudden death, the Great Qian Kingdom was fractured, and only then was Liang able to break away and regain its independence. For three days and four nights, they had traveled over three thousand li, yet they still hadn't entered the borders of the Great Yan Empire. Yan Capital was still several thousand li away. Shen Lang could finally appreciate the immense scale of the Great Yan Dynasty.
‘Truly ten thousand li in all directions, a territory of over ten million square kilometers. It seems His Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Yan Empire, genuinely wishes to unify the Eastern world, but with the current state of transportation and communication, how can he possibly govern this incomparably vast territory?’
They were now very close to the borders of the Great Yan Empire; they would probably cross into it tomorrow. Shen Lang would finally be visiting the Great Yan Empire for the first time. But the Emperor’s envoy suddenly ordered a halt. The envoy then led Shen Lang into an imperial lodge, which spanned a massive one thousand mu. This was the territory of the new State of Qian, still over ten li from the Great Yan Empire.
Shen Lang was surprised by this decision. Why were they not entering the empire's territory? Was this decision aimed entirely at him? Shen Lang stayed alone in the imperial lodge, where he soon witnessed an incredible scene. Troop after troop of soldiers marched into the lodge. Over thirty thousand imperial cavalry and palace guards surrounded the entire compound, sealing it tight. Then, a multitude of eunuchs and palace maids, along with over a hundred imperial physicians, entered. All official roads within a two-hundred-li radius of the lodge were blockaded, and a curfew was imposed on all surrounding cities and towns. The spectacle was truly beyond imagination. Not even the heads of state on modern Earth commanded such a display. Was this the might of the imperial clan?
After a long wait of two full days, the dignitary finally appeared. Hundreds of people carried a moving palace, over a hundred square meters in size, into the imperial lodge. Throughout the entire process, the moving palace remained perfectly steady, advancing at a uniform speed without the slightest jolt up or down.