Chapter 12: Is the Emperor Intending to Cheat?

Tang Yu frowned slightly and turned away, unable to bear witnessing the scene any longer. He spoke in a low voice, “Serve the Great Xia. If your mother’s spirit watches from heaven, she will see you.”

Honor and office meant everything to people of this era. For impoverished scholars, pursuing their studies was as arduous as scaling the skies—books themselves were held tightly by the powerful, leaving only relentless effort and perseverance as their means to rise to the top. And yet, even after winning the highest honors, if the court refused to employ them, how could scholars not feel aggrieved? Their resentment toward the emperor was rooted in the belief that he had trampled on the toil of over a decade with a single edict, a careless word.

Listening to Su Huan’s mournful voice behind him, Tang Yu sighed softly. “Let us go.”

Within the Six Ministries of Court, though Su Li had indeed planted many spies, only one or two held truly key positions, and now all had been replaced—one matter of the heart resolved. After a simple midday meal, Tang Yu hastened to the imperial study to deal with the mountain of memorials.

The moment he entered, he was struck dumb, pointing at the towering stacks of memorials before him. He stammered, “Are these all ones I’ve already handled, or not yet…”

Ye Yue cast him a reproachful glance and replied, “Your Majesty, in years past you neglected state affairs in favor of amusement, and these memorials are merely the accumulation of several months. The backlog from before was simply stored in an empty room by the servants.”

Good heavens!

Tang Yu’s eyes widened, his mouth twitching—so this was just the tip of the iceberg. Memorials were heaped like mountains on the dragon desk, with many more piled on the floor; the imperial study, not large to begin with, was packed so full there was hardly space to stand. Tang Yu picked his way gingerly to his dragon throne, fearful of disturbing the piles and having to sort them anew. At last, seated, he felt as though his energy had been drained at once.

Ye Yue, seeing his slothful state, revealed her displeasure and reminded him, “Your Majesty, did you not set three rules with me before, that you would be diligent in governance? Do you remember?”

Tang Yu gave an awkward laugh—he hadn’t expected his thoughts to be so easily read by Ye Yue. He ducked his head and replied, “Of course, of course.”

Ah, none know me better than my wife!

“Your Majesty, do you recall the matter of the Southern Barbarians? By the calendar, their envoys will arrive in Great Xia by midday,” Murong Yun interjected, worry etched upon his face; several times he hesitated, but finally spoke.

After the cession treaty with the Southern Barbarians was issued, before Great Xia could respond, they began harassing the borders. Murong Yun happened to be stationed on the frontier; each incursion was repelled by him. Seeing no advantage, the Southern Barbarians sent their envoy, urging the foolish young emperor to swiftly sign the cession agreement.

Tang Yu’s brow furrowed as a memory surged in his mind. Indeed, it was so. He clenched his fist in secret, his expression darkening—he hadn’t expected their arrival so soon. The cession treaty bore Su Li’s handiwork; it was clearly meant to force him from the throne. Yet what could such traitorous dealings bring Great Xia?

“Very well. Commander Murong, hear my order—prepare a grand banquet. I shall personally await the Southern Barbarian envoys!”

Let them come; it was the perfect time to deal with foreign threats and then turn his attention to those old schemers at court.

Murong Yun hesitated a moment but finally bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Once the others had withdrawn, Tang Yu buried himself in memorials from years past, many concerning tax collection and sundry trivialities. The suddenness of the event meant the new ministers of the Six Ministries were all scrambling to prepare the banquet.

The Hall of Harmony was chosen for the occasion—a pavilion reserved for entertaining foreign guests, showcasing the grandeur and etiquette of Great Xia. Both the inner and outer eaves were adorned with paintings of golden dragons and imperial motifs; the ceiling was gilded with a mighty dragon in relief. Nine golden dragons were painted on the walls, while five dragon columns supported the hall, symbolizing the sovereign’s supreme authority.

The ministers were seated on the left, while the right was reserved for the Southern Barbarian envoys and their retinue. Tang Yu sat with hands on his knees, surveying the assembly. His gaze was cold and aloof, yet suffused with a daunting majesty; standing alone, he exuded the imposing aura of one who looks down upon all beneath heaven.

The Southern Barbarian envoy was the first to step forward, leading his attendants to kneel on one knee, right hand pressed to his chest. “We pay our respects to the Son of Heaven of Great Xia.”

Tang Yu gestured for them to rise. “Be seated.”

He studied the unremarkable envoy, named Bluff. Among the notable generals of the Southern Barbarians, he had never heard of such a man. Could it be they sent a minor figure this time? Tang Yu mused inwardly. Did they look down on Great Xia so much?

He glanced at Ye Yue, who shook her head—she too knew nothing of this man.

The banquet began.

All the officials harbored their own schemes; with the recent changes in the Six Ministries, many new faces had replaced the old. Those living near the capital had already arrived, while others were still on their way. Few from Su Li’s faction were present; Su Li himself had not appeared, clearly wishing to distance himself from the Southern Barbarians.

Thinking on this, Tang Yu picked up his cup, sipping leisurely—his mind was on anything but the wine.

After several rounds, the Southern Barbarian envoy, already somewhat inebriated, began to shout, “Drink, drink! The cuisine of Great Xia is indeed exquisite—far surpassing that of my homeland!”

His boorish behavior, amplified by drink, caused many brows to knit in displeasure. Taking advantage of his drunkenness, he staggered forward and spoke in a slurred yet pointed tone, “Your Majesty, now that I have drunk my fill, should we not discuss matters between Great Xia and the Southern Barbarians?”

Tang Yu smiled, feigning nonchalance. “Naturally.”

The envoy laughed heartily, thumping his chest. “The Son of Heaven of Great Xia is indeed a straightforward man. I, Bluff, admire you!”

“In that case, may I ask, the cession treaty was drafted by Great Xia and sent to us, agreed upon by both parties and signed. Yet more than half a month has passed and we have received no reply. Is it that Your Majesty believes the Southern Barbarians, distant and remote, can do nothing to Great Xia, and so you wish to renege on your word?”

His words were sharp as blades; were it not for the flush on his face and the drunken cast of his eyes, none would believe he was truly drunk. His true purpose was to embarrass the so-called foolish young emperor, and he seized every opportunity to press his advantage. He calculated that Tang Yu, aware of the incessant border raids, could do little—could he command the defense of the frontier forever? Inevitably, innocents would perish by Southern Barbarian blades; it was no lasting solution.

Tang Yu’s eyes turned cold as he snorted, “The Southern Barbarian envoy is bold indeed. Are you here on a different errand altogether? Was the treaty you speak of stamped with my imperial seal?”

Imperial seal?

The envoy was stunned; he had never heard of such a thing, and Su Li had not mentioned it—he had only handed over the treaty, saying the matter was settled.

Seeing this, Tang Yu could not help but laugh. How utterly foolish. Even if Su Li wielded immense power, obtaining the imperial seal was nigh impossible. If he had truly succumbed to Consort Su’s charms and affixed the seal, then there would have been no turning back.