Chapter 569: First battle, the price of a sharp tongue (2/2)
Chief Minister Lin had no more time to waste with Duanmu Baiye. He promptly decided to enter the palace, where Emperor Kang Cheng was currently in a meeting with his officials. Long Feiye and Han Yunxi had arrived in the afternoon. According to custom, the Court of Dependencies would host them for the night before they met with Emepror Kang Cheng tomorrow morning. Moreover, Emperor Kang Cheng had long said that tomorrow night would be a banquet held in the Duke of Qin’s honor.
One Chief Minister Lin told the room what had happened instead, the entire study fell silent. After a moment, Emperor Kang Cheng exploded with rage, sweeping everything off his table. He was even too angry to speak, but only cursed, “Unfilial son! Unfilial son!”
If Western Zhou had enough power and its crown prince ample skill, he could allow Duanmu Baiye to make impertinent remarks even if Long Feiye made overtures to see them. But their country didn’t have such confidence. Furthermore, they were dealing with the Duke of Qin, Long Feiye, a man feared all across Cloud Realm Continent. Forget about the losses they’d suffer and the sacrifices they’d pay—once news of this spread, Duanmu Baiye’s idiocy would be taken as stupidity for Western Zhou’s entire imperial clan!
“Zhen wants to dispose with him! Dispose him utterly!” Emperor Kang Cheng was beside himself with fury.
All of the officials were panicking and nervous as well. General Chu kept his head bowed, a complicated look in his eyes. But soon, someone quickly suggested, “Your Majesty, we should take this time to salvage the situation before the Duke of Qin leaves the city. This old official dares to suggest that you personally make an appearance to have them stay.”
Immediately, there were rejections. “We can’t, we can’t! Most definitely not! If His Majesty appears in person, it’ll only lose more face for our Western Zhou! It has to be the crown prince who does it.”
While in the southern central regions, Long Feiye had neither proclaimed himself emperor or officially acknowledged the two territories of Tianhui’s Tianning and Tianmo’s Tianan Countries. Instead, he had kept his title as Tianning’s Duke of Qin.
By contrast, Emperor Kang Cheng was the sovereign of an entire nation. It would be against the levels of etiquette and thus inappropriate for him to personally call back a prince of the first rank from an allied state.
“If the crown prince goes, he might infuriate the Duke of Qin further. Your Majesty, please think thrice!”
“If His Majesty goes, he won’t lose any face, but make the emperor seem magnanimous instead. In the humble opinion of this old official, Your Majesty can first dispose the crown prince, then chase after the Duke of Qin to show your sincerity! The crown prince’s actions have 1) placed the sovereign in contempt, 2) defied the emperor’s original intentions, 3) lost decorum and propriety, 4) decrease the dignity of our nation, and 5) caused a great disaster. He’s earn the right to be disposed!” Naturally, the speaker was from an anti-crown prince faction of the court.
“Impudence! Is dethroning the crown prince a topic you can comment on so casually? Your Majesty, Official Chen’s disciple was executed on the spot by the crown prince a few days ago for forcing himself on a commoner woman. He’s simply exaggerating things to avenge personal wrongs in the name of public interest! May Your Majesty mete severe punishment!” an ally of the crown prince’s Eastern Palace immediately spoke up.
Here was the nature of political debate. Neither side would give up a golden opportunity to decry the other, and the opposing factions were dragged into another heated argument. Emperor Kang Cheng sat there with a long face in silence, his expression growing more awful by the minute.
As part of the crown prince’s faction, General Chu didn’t miss his chance to speak, either. “Your Majesty, no matter how crude or rash His Highness Crown Prince might be, he shouldn’t have made impertinent remarks without reason. As this soldier sees it, perhaps the Duke of Qin goaded him into lashing out instead?”
If this was any other day, Emperor Kang Cheng might be able to accept his suggestion. Although the crown prince was the same age as the Duke of Qin, his wisdom and temper were still a far cry from the man. It was understandable if he was taken in by a plot or scheme. But now Emperor Kang Cheng was too riled up. Moreover, the arguing factions were testing his already thin patience, so he roared back, “Goaded him into it? Why would the Duke of Qin even waste his time on that? Are you planning to tell Zhen next that the Duke of Qin came to White City with the express purpose of provoking that unfilial son?”
General Chu had no words to retort, so he resentfully shut his mouth.
Emperor Kang Cheng kept his rationality despite his anger. He didn’t delay but rose to his feet and proclaimed, “Someone come, prepare a carriage. Zhen is leaving the palace incognito!”
Leaving the palace in disguise to chase after the Duke of Qin was another solution—one that took the middle stance between both views. It was also the best idea at the moment. Not only would Emperor Kang Cheng keep the dignity of his status as emperor, it’d also show off his good faith and sincerity. None of the officials present dared to object. Once Emperor Kang Cheng left, General Chu hastily told Chief Minister Lin, “Hurry and make reservations at the Carefree Restaurant1 and have the crown prince accompany His Majesty there. You can tell His Majesty to invite the Duke of Qin to the place for tea and an apology.”
Duanmu Baiye was the giant tree supporting the Chu Clan. No matter what, he couldn’t topple!
—
Long Feiye had hardly reached Western Zhou before saying a single sentence that shook it to its foundations. No matter the outcome, the reality of this fact would leave any nations afterward wary of offending the married pair. Currently, the two of them were sitting in a carriage heading towards the capital gates. By now, Han Yunxi had understood why he’d let Duanmu Baiye prattle on—just to irritate him on purpose.
“If Duanmu Baiye falls, the Chu Clan will hate you even more,” Han Yunxi grinned.
Long Feiye came for the express purpose of dealing with the Chu Clan this time. Today he’d showed an impressive display of force. Now he looked over at Han Yunxi and asked, “Happy now?”
Han Yunxi gave a start. It took her some time to process his meaning, but Long Feiye then added, “When Emperor Kang Cheng arrives, I’ll have him apologize to you personally.”
“This…” Han Yunxi was startled as she came to a realization. Long Feiye had calculated against Duanmu Baiye just so he could get Emperor Kang Cheng to say sorry!
Really, this man…
1. Carefree Restaurant (陶然居) – taoran ju, in which “taoran” means “happy and carefree” while ju is “residence, house, restaurant.”