102 Overheard Conversations (1/2)

Soon enough they heard a high-pitched voice from the other room.

”What kind of bad luck is this? I don't understand how that pleb of a monarch returned safely from his northern barbarians and is now the top dog in the entire kingdom.”

”Shh. Lower your volume, if someone hears your crass words, you will create more troubles for your father and everybody else as well.”

Another boy seemed to be coaxing the first one.

”Pah! Do you think I am afraid of him? All he knows is to give idiotic edicts left, right and centre. What was that about sending in our genealogy records and the other one about the slaves? Is he that free to mind all these matters?”

At this point, another voice piped up, ”We all know that you are just grumbling because that edict about the slaves made you lose your chance to have some fun with that daughter of one of your servants.”

The crisp sound of flesh hitting a wooden surface was heard, ”Ptui! As if those words could stop this master from having anyone that this master wants.”

The second person cleared his throat and continued, ”Okay. Let's not talk about these trivialities. What my father is more worried about is the grasp that person seems to have of politics and court.”

Another voice concluded, ”It looks more like he was sent to some great scholar and has an advisor all these years instead of spending them while being held hostage against the late emperor.”

”What's even more frustrating is that he hasn't allowed anyone to dip hands into any of the lucrative deals that go on behind the scenes. I heard that he will send one of the three army Unit Commanders to look into the salt mine cases and the unrest at the borders.”

The high-pitched voice gave in his own two-cents.

”More importantly, he seems to want to do all the important things by himself and doesn't ask any of the Imperial Clan members to help in any way. At least, if he gave them the chance, it could help them to win some of his and the commoner's goodwill.”

P”If only we could know and exploit his weakness. Sadly, our side doesn't have comprehensive information about him.”

Those words seemed to get murmurs of agreement.

”Well, we do know his one weakness. That runty boy he keeps close to him.”

Those words seemed to ignite a fire in Su Li because she loudly placed her won't cup on the table and she clenched her hand so tightly that the blue veins could be seen straining under the pale white skin.