Chapter Seven, The Emperor's Confession

Zuo Ji knelt down, and the King of Donghai cast an approving glance at Han Ruzi. Suddenly noticing that Jing Yao was still staring at him, he hurriedly knelt down as well, leaving only the Emperor standing in the room

Zuo Ji smiled. At that moment, the door of the warm pavilion opened again, and the first to enter was Jing Yao from the Central Supervisory Office, followed by the King of Donghai. The King of Donghai, usually arrogant, was now timid and hesitant. As soon as he entered the room and had not yet steadied himself, he loudly declared: "I know nothing. It was he who asked me to pretend to fall. I have no choice but to obey the emperor's orders; I do not know anything else."

His Majesty meets with the Empress Dowager every morning. The smile on Zuo Ji's face stiffened

At that moment, Zuo Ji arrived, entering without any announcement, as if he were the master of the room. Once inside, he remained silent, strolling leisurely and examining everything. After circling around, he finally stopped in front of the bed.

Jing Yao knelt there motionless, his usual amiable demeanor transformed into a dark aura, and this time it was he who remained silent

Two eunuchs immediately knelt down, and Han Ruzi looked up at the Empress Dowager's attendant, realizing that the matter had been exposed, starting from the secret edict he wrote last night, exactly one whole day ago

Jing Yao nodded his head

Han Ruzi felt that the situation was not too bad after all

"Your Majesty, please prioritize the nation and its people," Jing Yao said

Zuo Ji was taken aback, "See the Empress Dowager? Why?"

Yang Feng took out a small paper package from his sleeve, "The original document is here, the Empress Dowager has already seen it, it is not a big deal"

I am not joking, this is..." Before Han Rizi could finish his sentence, another person entered from outside

Zuo Ji stood for a moment before bowing in greeting, then straightened up and said: "Your Majesty has disappointed the Empress Dowager"

This matter requires a comparison of both sides, and we hope to receive Your Majesty's direct statement

The King of the East China Sea also stood up, watching the scene with great interest, curious about how long the Emperor's stubbornness could last

Han Rizi took a step forward and said, "Please inform the two gentlemen to convey to the Empress Dowager that she should forgive my momentary rashness and spare those two individuals. I will tell you the contents of the note."

The original document brought by Yang Feng bears the same four characters written on the white paper on the table: I want to eat meat

Jing Yao respectfully bowed his head, knelt for a long time, and said in a low voice: "Someone come."

Zuo Ji stood up, personally prepared the paper and ink, then turned around and said: "Your Majesty, please write down the contents of the note again, so that we may report back to the Empress Dowager."

I am not a stranger; you have said that the Empress Dowager is my only mother, and I believe the same. We are mother and son, while you and Duke Jing are the outsiders. It is not an excessive request for a mother and son to meet.

At this point, Han Rizi did not wish to say anything, and even harbored a slight hope that the Empress Dowager might, in a fit of anger, depose him.

Han Rizi still did not speak

That night, Han Ruzi indeed awaited a significant event

Jing Yao stood up, secretly despising the favored eunuch, yet outwardly showing no sign of disdain. Instead, he subtly nodded at him, indicating that everything was under control

Jing Yao knelt before the emperor, while Zuo Ji stepped aside

Han Rizi felt a slight obstruction in his throat. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to suffer because of him, but the current situation was entirely beyond his control. "Confessing" could only serve to demonstrate his submission; no matter what he did, the eunuchs would exploit every excuse to target the ministers.

Is it merely Your Majesty's own idea

The eunuch walked slowly to the emperor's side, glanced at the white paper on the table, and asked, "Your Majesty, do you feel that the two punished eunuchs have been wronged?"

King Donghai let out a sigh, "Do you still not believe me? Even if I were to collude with the ministers, there would be no need to choose the Minister of Rites."

Zuo Ji let out a chuckle, while Jing Yao cast a cold glance at Yang Feng, "Why does Yang Gong speak in such a manner? We are acting on the orders of the Empress Dowager; how can we simply stop here?"

Han Rizi felt an intense anger, as a fundamental line within him had been crossed, yet he did not shout; instead, he picked up a pen and swiftly wrote four characters on the prepared paper

Who does the term 'we' mentioned by Duke Jing just now refer to? asked Han Rizi

Han Rizi no longer refused, and with a pale complexion, he had already realized the extent of "the Emperor's power." He walked barefoot to the table, picked up the brush, and prepared to write. Beside him, Zuo Ji softly said: "The Empress Dowager is compassionate and gentle; she will surely forgive Your Majesty. I also ask Your Majesty not to disturb the Empress Dowager with personal motives, as the country is currently facing a tumultuous autumn..."

Since it is an unforgivable crime, what can I say?

I earnestly request Your Majesty to understand the Empress Dowager's heartfelt intentions. " Jing Yao continued to apply pressure

Zuo Ji's expression changed repeatedly as he turned to look at Jing Yao

Yang Feng, who had not appeared for a long time, finally showed up, even omitting the superficial pleasantries. He did not kneel or bow deeply, but merely bent slightly at the waist, saying, "Let this matter come to an end."

Han Rizi still refused to disclose the contents of the note, as he wanted to see just how much power he, as the emperor, truly possessed. King of Donghai also wished to know, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Jingyao and Zuoji.

Jing Yao and Zuo Ji were both taken aback, and the King of Donghai was even more surprised. The Emperor, in a secret edict, sought help from his ministers, and it turned out to be nothing of great importance

Because I have not yet met the Empress Dowager in person since entering the palace, and I need to personally explain this matter to her

It is not correct; I have only knelt before the Empress Dowager's palace and have never seen her true appearance.

The other three looked over simultaneously, and King of the East Sea said in confusion, "The Emperor has gone mad." Zuo Ji shook his head with a smile, "His Majesty has let down the Empress Dowager's earnest efforts." Jing Yao's expression darkened even further, "Is His Majesty joking?"

Zuo Ji chuckled twice, saying, "When Duke Jing mentioned 'we', he was certainly referring to the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty. Your Majesty, please rewrite the contents of the note; it is merely to demonstrate Your Majesty's genuine filial piety towards the Empress Dowager, without any thoughts of another mother." Zuo Ji then put away his smile and asked Jing Yao, "The beautiful Wang has already moved, hasn't she?"

The old eunuch placed a hand on the emperor's shoulder, an act that was somewhat disrespectful, yet he felt entitled to do so. He sighed and said, "We will handle the matter of the note; there is no rush. Let it ferment for a few days. If Yuan Jiuding is clever, he will hand over the note tomorrow—preferably today, but he is not that clever. If he continues to withhold it, we shall see how many ministers he can rally. Perhaps this is an opportunity to eliminate a group of treacherous officials from the court."

Jing Yao's expression changed; it was somewhat unexpected for him that the young emperor remained so stubborn at this point

Lord Jing, spare us! The two of them know to whom they should plead for mercy

The two eunuchs trembled all over, from their voices to their bodies

Four eunuchs entered the room sideways, startling the King of Donghai, "Do you dare to capture the Emperor?"

Have you not already seen it

The King of the East Sea pointed at Jing Yao and said, "Ha, you are lying, you haven't received the note yet!"

The East Sea King, kneeling at the door, let out a chuckle. Having experienced the Emperor's skill in using others' words to counterattack, he was not surprised at all. However, Zuo Ji was rendered speechless, completely unprepared for the usually taciturn Emperor to suddenly become eloquent.

Jing Yao looked at Zuo Ji, who said: "His Majesty said the same."

The goal of these four individuals, however, was not the emperor, but rather the two unfortunate souls who were crawling on the ground, trembling in fear, as they were dragged outside the room.

What did Your Majesty write on the note?" asked Zuo Ji, his tone neither harsh nor severe, revealing a hint of warmth and curiosity

What did Your Majesty write on the note?" The question posed by Jing Yao was the same as that of Zuo Ji.

Han Rizi pondered for a moment, "I am the emperor, and I do not need to answer your questions."

"It was all my idea." Han Ruzi did not betray King Donghai

It is none of their business. Han Rizi got out of bed and stood barefoot.

Zuo Ji sighed again and turned to the other two eunuchs, "Were you the ones who served His Majesty last night?"

It is all the same, the Empress Dowager is in her palace, unwell, and unable to meet outsiders

Jing Yao let out a light sigh, "Your Majesty, do you still believe in the ministers outside? I have served four emperors, so allow me to tell you the truth: the ministers have their own interests. They chant 'the ruler and the subjects' with their mouths, but in their hearts, they think only of deceiving their superiors and exploiting their subordinates. If you randomly arrest a minister and throw him into prison, within three days, he will reveal a whole series of accomplices. These people fight fiercely in the court during the day, but at night, when no one is watching, they drink and celebrate together, with only one purpose: to deceive the wise and take advantage of the chaos. Every memorial and every eloquent statement hides ulterior motives; while they impeach their opponents, they will always cleverly praise their allies. Today you recommend me, tomorrow I promote you. The eunuchs are humble, but we have no ulterior motives, nor can we have any. The Empress Dowager and Your Majesty are our only pillars of support; without you, we are worth less than dirt."

Jing Yao turned his head to take a glance, and the King of the East Sea immediately fell silent

The King of Donghai smiled and flattered, "Your Highness, what a brilliant strategy, to use a long line to catch big fish..." He fell silent to avoid offending the emperor, refraining from revealing the entire truth.

Zuo Jilian nodded repeatedly in agreement, while Donghai Wang disdainfully raised his eyebrows. Han Rizi said: "The situation is not as serious as you think; I merely handed a note to the Minister of Rites... The note does not contain the content you are worried about."

The screams from outside grew louder, and after a while, only the dull sound of clubs striking flesh remained

The two eunuchs were both in their thirties, rarely speaking in daily life, and were meticulous in serving the emperor. Han Rizi had just deceived them once yesterday, feeling a slight sense of guilt in his heart. Therefore, he smiled at the two and said "thank you." The two exchanged a glance, appearing quite tense, and immediately bowed and stepped back, standing with their hands at their sides a few steps away. They had to wait until the emperor lay down and fell asleep before they could rest, with one remaining in the room on a chair and the other guarding outside.

Jing Yao approached, took the paper package, and stared at Yang Feng with a look of deep suspicion for a while. Only then did he open the package, and upon seeing its contents, he revealed a look of surprise. Zuo Ji walked over, and after taking a look, appeared quite awkward. The King of Donghai could not contain his curiosity and came to stand between the two eunuchs to observe the characters on the note.

I have never considered the vast lands of the Great Chu to be mine. Han Ruzi finally spoke, and the two eunuchs kneeling on the ground prostrated themselves even lower, almost touching the floor.

Han Rizi sat on the edge of the bed, attended to by two eunuchs who were arranging his hair, as if the emperor must also maintain a sense of dignity even in his dreams

Zuo Ji sighed, "Your Majesty is the ruler of the world and can do as you please, but Your Majesty also bears the greatest responsibility towards the realm. Every word and action of Yours will have immeasurable consequences. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked. A small action from Your Majesty may undermine the foundation of the Great Chu. The Empress Dowager has asked me to remind Your Majesty: the territory of the Great Chu was left by our ancestors, not solely Yours.

King of the East Sea furrowed his brows, not daring to interject. Jing Yao bowed again, saying, "Your Majesty is not at fault. It is normal for Your Majesty, upon first assuming the throne, to overlook certain protocols. All blame lies with those two lowly servants who failed to understand their duties and did not serve Your Majesty diligently; their crimes are unforgivable. As for the matter of the note, we shall discuss it later."

Not long after, a scream echoed from outside the window, sounding particularly desolate in the dead of night

I have already said that it has nothing to do with them. Han Ruzi was taken aback

Han Rizi set down the ink-stained brush and turned to say: "I wish to see the Empress Dowager"