Chapter Ten The Second Divine Martial Contest Section Four: The Scheme

Section Four: The Conspiracy

“Your Majesty, I am innocent! I have always been loyal to you...”

The king had just accused and punished a general, then executed a minister. The others dared not speak, fearing that any word might provoke the enraged Prince Zheng to find fault with them.

The queen, listening from within, was deeply worried. Suddenly, she realized something and hurriedly sent for Chief Minister Zuo. At this moment, the only person who could calm Prince Zheng was likely Chief Minister Zuo.

Before long, Chief Minister Zuo arrived. Among the assembled officials, a few looked on with schadenfreude, believing his arrival unlucky, but most breathed a sigh of relief, hoping he could soothe the prince’s anger.

“Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”

The once furious Prince Zheng suppressed his anger, paused calmly, then said, “Chief Minister Zuo, no need for formalities. I have said before, you may see me anytime without bowing.”

“Your Majesty’s kindness humbles me, but I am still your servant; it is proper to bow when meeting the sovereign.”

Prince Zheng sighed deeply, then gestured to Chief Minister Zuo, glancing around the court. “Look closely. Chief Minister Zuo’s loyalty is the model you should all follow!”

“I have heard that Your Majesty is furious over the matter of the Zhou emperor. I rushed here to hear your commands.”

“Chief Minister Zuo!” Prince Zheng shook his head and motioned for him to sit beside him. “Tell me, I have been wise all my life, yet now that yellow-haired boy is about to enter the capital. Am I to kneel before him in front of the world?” Saying this, Prince Zheng struck his throne repeatedly in regret. “I regret not listening to you back then…”

“Your Majesty’s mercy was the reason you did not heed my advice, not a lack of wisdom. Most ministers do not understand the relationship between Your Majesty and the late Emperor Zhou. Naturally, they believed Your Majesty should have executed the emperor. My counsel was flawed; I knew Your Majesty was grateful toward the late emperor but advised you to prevent unforeseen disasters. That was my mistake.”

Prince Zheng sighed again. “Chief Minister Zuo, only you truly understand my heart. Though I regret it now, after ordering the Zheng army to kill the late emperor, I still could not bring myself to do it—”

“Your Majesty is benevolent and righteous. Yet I did not expect Emperor Zhou Ao Pan to be so reckless as to come to Zheng’s capital and flaunt his power before you. Had I known this, I would have risked disobeying orders and facing death rather than leaving such a threat to tarnish Your Majesty’s honor.”

“Chief Minister Zuo, do not blame yourself so harshly. You have always been loyal to Zheng. I repeatedly instructed you, and you would never disobey. But at this moment, my heart is heavy. What merit or ability does that yellow-haired boy possess? Chief Minister Zuo, tell me, what should I do? My misfortune comes from not heeding your advice. If you have a plan, speak freely—I will not refuse!” The prince then looked at a minister who hung his head. “Minister Chen just submitted a memorial urging the execution of the emperor to prevent future troubles. Chief Minister Zuo, what do you think?”

“I think it must never be done.”

“Why?”

“The whole world knows Emperor Zhou has entered Zheng. How could we kill him now?”

Prince Zheng’s expression faltered, and he whispered, “Chief Minister Zuo, I was too soft-hearted before, too hesitant...”

“What I just said is only part of the matter.”

“Very well, continue.”

“The Zhou imperial bloodline is not limited to Ao Pan alone. The Late Sunset clan still has the Moon Worship and Star Worship branches. Killing Ao Pan will not solve the problem.”

“Well reasoned, well reasoned. Although the world has never had a female emperor or king, our Zheng kingdom has the greatest martial sovereign—the prince’s own sister. The Zhou kingdom, in desperation, might dare to enthrone a female ruler. The Black Wolf clan once had formidable women as great Luo Bi leaders, so they might accept it more readily.”

“Exactly so.”

“Then what does Chief Minister Zuo propose?”

“Ao Pan is insignificant now. If Your Majesty wishes to preserve face, you need not perform the kneeling ritual before him. Your Majesty and the late Emperor Zhou shared a deep bond, and the late emperor once decreed that Your Majesty be exempt from kneeling. How can the new emperor be allowed to surpass the late emperor?”

The late Emperor Zhou never actually said this, but Prince Zheng understood the implication. The former emperor spent his final days under Zheng’s custody. Whether he truly said it mattered little—if Zheng said so, then so it was.

“Chief Minister Zuo speaks wisely. I was foolish, indeed foolish! Though the late emperor declared it, I have always felt grateful and dared not refuse the kneeling. Without your reminder, I would have forgotten!”

Resolving this lifted Prince Zheng’s spirits considerably.

“Why does Chief Minister Zuo say Ao Pan is inconsequential?”

“Ao Pan himself is ineffectual and unlikely to achieve much. Though he seems a threat, the true danger lies elsewhere.”

Prince Zheng’s eyes brightened. “The Late Sunset clan’s Princess Bai and the Luo Bi leader Zuo An?”

“Your Majesty is insightful. But the Bai sisters are secondary compared to Zuo An. From my investigations, without Zuo An, Princess Bai would not have achieved her current status. Without Zuo An, the Late Sunset clan would soon be wiped out by the Black Wolf clan’s Luo Bi, even without Zheng’s intervention.”

“This Zuo An is that formidable?”

“He embodies the fate of the Late Sunset clan. His unmatched martial prowess ensures no internal strife as long as he lives. Without him, the clan would be torn apart irreparably. This audacious Zuo An personally accompanied the emperor into Zheng—a perfect opportunity to eliminate him!”

“Then why, if Zuo An is so capable, would he risk entering Zheng?”

“He is extremely ambitious. Consider this, Your Majesty: the emperor comes to Zheng to witness the Divine Martial Arena, where heroes from all over gather. Your Majesty must show proper respect, and envoys from other states must be reverent toward the emperor. How will the world perceive this?”

Prince Zheng pondered briefly, then understood. “Hmph! That Zuo An is so arrogant! He uses the Divine Martial Arena to flaunt Zhou’s power, reminding the world of Zhou’s might, hoping all lands will rally to them! But since the emperor appointed him as Northern Lord, we cannot accuse him of killing our general. What is your view, Chief Minister Zuo?”

“Your Majesty, I have long planned for this, but it depends on your decision. Zheng cannot openly harm a Northern Lord appointed by the emperor. You should overlook the killing of General Ling by the Northern Lord. But Zheng has a kingdom within the kingdom—the Fei Xian Sect. The Northern Lord killed disciples of Fei Xian Sect, and his two princess consorts led attacks killing several more. The Fei Xian Sect is known for relentless vengeance. If they seek retribution, Your Majesty cannot interfere.”

Prince Zheng suddenly understood and clapped his hands in approval. “I once said, matters concerning my sister and the Fei Xian Sect must be judged by different laws. When Fei Xian disciples seek vengeance, Zheng’s laws do not apply as usual. The Fei Xian Sect’s pursuit of vengeance is beyond my authority to intervene. Summon the attendants—Chief Minister Zuo and I will visit the Divine Martial Arena. Request Sect Leader Zheng Linran to discuss this important matter.”