Chapter 15: Help Me With Something!
As Tang Yu launched his sweeping actions, the entire Prime Minister’s residence found it increasingly difficult to remain calm. Minister of Justice Lin Ze and his associates had all gathered at the estate, waiting for Prime Minister Su to offer them some reassurance.
Lin Ze, in particular, was anxious. Only a few days prior, he had joined forces with Zhou Cheng to challenge the emperor, but now, seeing the sovereign gradually reclaiming his authority, his heart was in a far greater turmoil than the others’.
“Prime Minister, I heard that at today’s banquet, His Majesty lost his mind—not only did he tear up the treaty with the southern barbarians, he even wishes to throw the whole nation’s strength into a decisive war!”
“Indeed! Not even the tyrants of old were so mad!”
In their eyes, the emperor, once timid and weak, must have gone insane.
Su Li was fully aware of everything Tang Yu had done in recent days, and thus he understood better than anyone that the emperor truly intended to fight him to the bitter end. The emperor no longer concealed his intentions, wielding imperial power with shameless abandon to erode all that Su Li had painstakingly built over decades.
“Prime Minister, you must stand up for us!”
“We cannot let His Majesty continue this reckless course!”
“Prime Minister, the realm is in grave peril!”
Hearing these ministers wail and complain, Su Li, despite his usual composure, could not suppress a sudden surge of anger. He slammed his palm on the table and shouted, “Enough!”
His outburst was so abrupt that the assembly shrank back and fell silent at once.
Regaining his composure, Su Li took a deep breath. “We are all loyal servants, devoted to the nation and its people. His Majesty is merely deceived for the moment. I believe he will soon come to his senses…”
He paused, his expression darkening. “If he does not, I have ways to make him see reason. For now, all of you may return.”
Though this vague promise failed to satisfy them, the ministers could only depart in reluctant resignation.
Once the crowd had dispersed, Su Li’s eyes darted to a servant at his side. “Summon Yasha.”
Shortly, a burly man clad in black, exuding a menacing aura, entered the room.
“Yasha greets the Prime Minister. What are your orders?”
Su Li stroked the tuft of beard on his chin. “You still have men in the palace dungeons, do you not? Xin’er has suffered much these days. Take her away from the Great Xia…to the southern tribes.”
Xin’er was the childhood name of Imperial Consort Su.
Yasha stiffened at the command, and hesitated. “But if the consort refuses…”
Su Li’s eyes narrowed. “Tell her only this: those barbarians are being cowed by Tang Yu. If the southern tribes dare not go to war, the Su family will face disaster. She is my daughter—she knows what must be done.”
Only then did Yasha bow and withdraw.
Night had fallen. Tang Yu, rubbing his sore arm, set down his vermilion brush and grumbled, “I wonder what these officials are even good for!”
Some of their memorials were truly a disgrace.
Leaning against the doorway, Ye Yue turned to him with a gentle smile. “Your Majesty has worked hard today.”
She was gratified by Tang Yu’s rare diligence.
Gazing at Ye Yue in the moonlight, Tang Yu saw her graceful form swathed in silvery mist, as if she wore a gown of gauze, her tender smile glowing with warmth.
“I think I see a fairy before me…” Tang Yu murmured unconsciously.
Though his voice was soft, Ye Yue’s martial skills made her hearing keen, and she caught every word. Glancing at Tang Yu’s enraptured face, a faint blush crept across her cheeks and she turned away.
Tang Yu rejoiced inwardly. In his memory, whenever he had shown Ye Yue the slightest affection, she would scold him with a frosty glare. But now, she was bashful.
“There’s hope! There’s hope!” he exulted, yearning for more than just Ye Yue’s body.
“From tomorrow, I will enter seclusion for three days as usual. Commander Murong will guard Your Majesty during this time. Unless absolutely necessary, please do not leave the palace.”
With a formal bow, Ye Yue slipped away with graceful steps.
On her way out, she felt her ears burning—a sensation entirely new to her, and one that left her unsettled.
Tang Yu watched her flee in embarrassment, his heart swelling with triumph. He shouted after her, “I will obey your imperial command, Your Highness!”
Far off, Ye Yue heard him and spat in annoyance, hurrying away even faster.
“If only it weren’t so late…otherwise I could visit the pleasure houses—or rather, meet that madman.” Tang Yu quickly corrected himself.
Eunuch Feng, well aware of the emperor’s inclinations, chuckled. “Your Majesty, the concubines in the inner palace have yet to serve you since entering the court. Perhaps now is the time to visit them.”
Tang Yu, feigning surprise, replied, “Ah? I have neglected them under the spell of that bewitching consort. I must make amends.”
With this excuse, and a few words of agreement from Eunuch Feng, Tang Yu made his way toward the harem.
As he walked, he reviewed the beauties in his mind and counted himself fortunate. Thanks to that jealous consort, who feared any other woman would bear the crown prince before her, the emperor had been kept from the newer concubines—leaving them all untouched. Now, they were his for the taking.
“Which lady’s chambers does Your Majesty wish to visit?”
Tang Yu smiled. “Lady Lan.”
Her image rose in his mind—a lovely face and slender waist. Though she could not compare to Ye Yue or Consort Su in beauty, she was charming in her own right.
While Tang Yu strove for the future of the Great Xia, a burly man entered the cell where Consort Su was held.
“What took you so long!” Su Xin’er complained as soon as she saw Yasha.
He unlocked her chains as he answered, “Forgive me, Your Grace, for the hardship you’ve endured.”
“Hmph! Where are Tang Yu and Ye Yue? They’re not dead, are they?” Consort Su assumed her father had complete control of the court.
Yasha’s hands paused. “Your Grace, please come with me.”
Sensing something amiss, Consort Su pressed him urgently, “What has happened outside?”
Unable to withstand her repeated questioning, Yasha relayed all that Tang Yu and Su Li had done in recent days.
The news struck Consort Su like a bolt of lightning. “Impossible! My father has been in power for decades—how could a mere boy climb over his head? I don’t believe it! Take me to my father!”
Yasha bowed respectfully. “The Prime Minister has ordered me to escort Your Grace to the southern tribes…”
“The southern tribes?” Consort Su’s eyes widened in fury. “Did you say the southern tribes?”
When she received confirmation, her jaw clenched in rage. “Once was not enough for my father—he would sell his daughter again?”
Years ago, the king of the southern tribes had asked for her hand, but Su Xin’er, proud and ambitious, had always aspired to command power and influence—never deigning to consider a barbarian suitor.
“Your Grace…” Yasha faltered, unable to comfort the beautiful woman before him.
“No need for your sympathy! I know what’s at stake… but I am not resigned to this fate. Yasha, help me do one thing!”