Chapter 10: If You’re Dissatisfied, Then Quit

“Your servant, your servant obeys!” Murong Yun grew even more emotional.

Tang Yu nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the Chief Physician and the others, commanding, “Wu Cheng, your foremost duty now is to root out the traitors within the Imperial Guards. Grand Historian, Provincial Inspector, your offices are unique; purging traitors will not be accomplished overnight and must be planned carefully. For now, review all old cases for retrial, and gather trusted protégés and disciples—present me with a list.”

“Yes!” the three responded in unison.

Having dealt with these matters swiftly, Tang Yu withdrew from the morning court, hurrying to the Imperial Study to review memorials, his head throbbing.

“Your Majesty, all three of them are subject to the Six Ministries. Rooting out traitors may not be so simple,” Ye Yue said, her brows tightly knit, reminding Tang Yu out of necessity.

Such a move would surely alert Prime Minister Su; by then, he could easily offer a few scapegoats as traitors, and with the testimony of the Six Ministries, how could the Chief Physician and the others assert themselves? The Six Ministries—Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works—controlled crucial posts, each infiltrated by Su Li’s confidants.

Just as Tang Yu was about to step into the Imperial Study, he paused, sighed, then proceeded inside.

“Do you think I don’t know? But it must be done nonetheless.”

He had burned the midnight oil last night, poring over years of memorials from across the realm, and had already made up his mind.

Ye Yue wished to say more, but seeing Tang Yu’s furrowed brow, the words caught in her throat.

“Your Majesty, above all, take care of your health.”

She softly closed the door and stood guard outside.

At dawn the next day, officials dressed in ceremonial robes embroidered with auspicious beasts knelt outside the palace gates, while crowds of commoners gathered, whispering among themselves.

“What’s going on here? Why are they all kneeling?”

“Look, aren’t those officials? Second Ox’s mother, come here and see!”

As the crowd swelled, the lead official’s eyes darted about, and he suddenly wailed at the top of his lungs, “Your Majesty, you mustn’t! Your Majesty, the execution of nearly a thousand people the other day has already chilled the hearts of the people, and now you recall those who neglected their duties to the palace, which breaks the hearts of the court as well!”

“Your Majesty, reconsider! The posts of Chief Physician, Grand Historian, and Provincial Inspector are of utmost importance, overseeing the people and the lifeblood of the court. Such actions will plunge the Great Xia into disgrace!”

“Your Majesty, heed not the words of sycophants, lest you lose yourself in debauchery and the embrace of courtesans!”

One plea after another echoed through the capital, their sorrowful cries deafening, reaching even the heavens.

The elder officials wept and pleaded, their words urging the emperor to turn back before it was too late. Even the illiterate among the commoners could sense what was afoot, and debate flared. Among the crowd were planted agitators.

“The emperor killed so many, and now he reinstates the unworthy—how vital is the post of Provincial Inspector? What rights will the people have in the future?”

“This emperor is worse than useless—he should abdicate!”

A few words quickly incited public outrage. The people already harbored resentment toward the emperor, and news of his misdeeds only fanned their anger.

“This worthless emperor! He does nothing about the southern barbarians, cares nothing for the people, only stirs up more trouble!”

“What good is this emperor? Anyone could do his job! Look at this city—it’s full of refugees. We can’t even eat or keep warm. Can’t the emperor think of us common folk?”

Complaints spread like wildfire.

Corruption was rampant in Great Xia, officials shielded one another, and the people had no way to discern right from wrong. They clung to a single conviction: “All of this is the emperor’s fault.”

The emperor’s indulgence in women and pleasure was common knowledge, his folly well-known, and the people’s protests had long simmered.

Seeing the growing momentum, the ringleaders among the kneeling officials were pleased with their scheme. “Let’s see how you handle this, dog emperor,” they thought. Outwardly, they begged Tang Yu to reconsider, but in truth, they dragged him into the mire of popular anger, exposing his supposed crimes. Before long, word would spread across the land—how could he continue as emperor?

“Isn’t that the Assistant Minister of Works? What brings you here today?” A voice cut through the clamor. Tang Yu emerged from the palace gates, a faint smile playing on his lips, appearing in good spirits.

Seeing Tang Yu in his imperial robes, the people instantly fell silent, some lowering their heads in fear. No matter how foolish the emperor, he could easily have them killed.

“Uh, uh…” The Assistant Minister of Works, realizing he’d been recognized, panicked, wanting to speak but unable to form the words, as if a great hand gripped his throat.

On either side of Tang Yu stood Ye Yue and Murong Yun, all three fixing their gaze on the Assistant Minister, a look that left him speechless.

“Go on, why stop now?” Tang Yu asked with a smile.

He had anticipated this spectacle—a righteous uproar to make his position untenable before all under heaven. Yet, it was a bit premature; he had to force himself out despite his exhaustion.

“Your Majesty, what crime have I committed?” the Assistant Minister demanded, emboldened by Su Li’s backing.

“What crime?” Tang Yu shook his head with a smile.

“Did I say you were guilty? Go on, continue.”

The Assistant Minister was at a loss, suspecting Tang Yu’s retinue had come to punish him. But since there was no accusation, he felt emboldened, sneering and raising his voice, “Your Majesty, we ministers have gathered to urge you to rescind your decree, or else…”

“Or else what?” Tang Yu raised an eyebrow. “You are very dissatisfied, are you?”

That single look made the Assistant Minister’s scalp tingle; his eyes flickered, inching away. The imperial aura Tang Yu now carried was truly intimidating.

Tang Yu’s expression cooled. “If you are so dissatisfied, perhaps you should resign.”

What!

The officials gasped in shock.

Was he dismissing an official in public? Had the young emperor lost his mind? How could he command the people’s respect? What was he planning?

A hundred questions raced through their minds.

The Assistant Minister of Works was not the most revered, but he was still a high-ranking official—never had he been so humiliated. Rage surged within him, his face reddening, veins bulging on his forehead.

“Even as emperor, you cannot dismiss me without cause! How will the people respect you?”

The crowd joined in chorus.

“That’s right! That’s right!”

Tang Yu’s smile faded, his expression turning stern. “Let me ask you, as members of the Six Ministries, you neglect court, shirk your duties, and sow disorder—do you have any regard for Great Xia? Do you behave as ministers should, abandoning your posts and caring nothing for the people? If you are so discontent, you may as well retire to your hometowns.”

He then pointed into the crowd at a poor scholar.

“You must be Su Huan? I recall you took first place in the imperial exams this year, yet were denied office—is that so?”

Su Huan, stunned, stepped forward angrily.

“Indeed—you, the emperor, personally decreed my dismissal…”

Even an emperor could not break the spirit of a true scholar.