From CEO to Concubine-Chapter 112: Last Laugh

An old saying always struck General Guo Quan as a universal truth; a tiger would not have a dog for a son. Coming from a long line of established generals, who had been keeping the southwestern borders and feudal lords at bay ever since the start of the dynasty, he had taken pride in this fact. He was certain that if his wives had managed to bear him male heirs, they would also be exemplars of this statement.

But the reverse was also true; a dog was a dog and could not raise a tiger.

This was why, even when the young emperor had sharpened his teeth and claws on the bones of the officials foolish enough to be caught red-handed with their misdeeds, Guo Quan had thought nothing of it. Granted, the young man had been eager to prove his mettle—too eager, in fact, and had foolishly offended the old noble families, who were more than ready to put him in his place; even if the emperor was the one to wear the dragon robes, the last say did not only fell with him because he hadn’t pushed any of them too far yet. His ironclad rule in the past couple of years had been alarming, yes, but after the first few waves of trepidation had passed and they had noticed that the emperor was more bark than bite, his teeth only clamping down on the neck of those who he could afford to offend, Guo Quan had dismissed him as a viable threat.

The late emperor had been a failure and if the young boy who replaced him didn’t learn how to tuck his tail beneath his legs and roll over for the noble families, he would soon follow in his old man’s footsteps.

Guo Quan had always been of this opinion and as the head of the Guo Clan, he was certain that most of his counterparts thought so too. The upstart was an upstart and nothing more. He could eradicate ’corruption’, uprooting and dismissing officials as he wished with the caveat being that he didn’t touch upon the interests of those who were truly in power.

Like the old noble clans. Like some others who had climbed to the top after wielding their ambitions like a blade.

Like Grand Protector Li.

It was just another day in Weiyang Hall and Guo Quan had been partially dozing off while waiting for morning court to begin. His mind had already drifted off to idle thoughts on how best to leverage his negotiating position against the emperor’s wishes later so that he could benefit the most from the private meeting they were to have, when the emperor took to the throne, dismissed their formalities with more curtness than usual, and dropped an edict which caught Guo Quan so unawares that he felt like he’d been struck by lightning that had descended from clear skies without warning.

"Arrest Grand Protector Li," the emperor said, so calmly that he could have been making small talk about the upcoming banquet for the scholars who successfully passed the examination. The results were to be announced soon and the capital was thrumming in anticipation.

No one reacted at first, officials exchanging incredulous, puzzled looks from beneath the brim of their court hats. It wasn’t until two members of the imperial guard, in their navy uniform, marched up to seize the outraged grand protector that it finally caught up to everyone that this truly was happening.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

The outcry was instantaneous. Guo Quan, who was ambivalent towards Grand Protector Li, found himself following suit as shock sank uneasily into his chest.

What was going on? The emperor was making a move against a member of the cabinet? The esteemed grand protector, who had served three generations of emperors and might even go on to serve a fourth if the emperor weren’t so stubbornly fixated on a dead man and a dancer?

Guo Quan could care less about what happened to the Li Family but he couldn’t turn a blind eye to the implications this had for the old noble clans. The only reason why the Li Family wasn’t considered one of the most prestigious six was because it had only risen to power after the ascent of the imperial forefather to the throne. But its influence in court was not to be disregarded. If the emperor’s wings had hardened (1) to the point where he was ready to make a move against the grand protector, if he was confident enough that he could stand up to one of his benefactors even with the Yulin Army’s seal in the grand protector’s hands, then how long would it be before the pup became bold enough to chase after the rest of them?

Arresting Grand Protector Li wasn’t the same as arresting a greedy prefecture magistrate. They could close one eye if the boy on the throne wanted to play at being a good ruler, so long as he remained too much a weakling to infringe on their interests. But first, the little surprise he’d planned for them during the imperial examination and now this...

This couldn’t be allowed to happen.

Grand Protector Li’s face was purple with indignation. "What has this old subject done to warrant such disgraceful treatment from Your Majesty?" he barked, fighting against the firm grip that the guards had on his arms. "This old subject has only ever served the throne with the utmost loyalty, Your Majesty’s unexplained betrayal of this subject’s trust will only turn the hearts of those who serve you cold!"

Guo Quan murmured his agreement along with the soft concurring chorus from the officials that supported Grand Protector Li. He would have to be a fool to believe that Grand Protector Li was being honest about his allegiances but their agenda aligned at the moment and Guo Quan knew which camp to contribute to if he wanted to apply pressure on the emperor and make him back down.

But the emperor didn’t look ready to concede anytime soon.

"Loyalty," he murmured, lips curving upwards like he had just heard something laughable. "Grand Protector Li demonstrates loyalty to the throne by attempting to poison this sovereign?"

His voice rang out like a clear clap of thunder. Guo Quan felt his hands turn clammy with sweat. Grand Protector Li had attempted to assassinate the emperor? Why? Because he, like the rest of them, had felt that the puppet was slowly extricating itself from their strings and wanted to replace it with a more obedient one?

Immediately, a flood of relief washed over him. Relief that when the Wu Family, the in-laws whom he regretted forming a marital alliance with, and the fourth prince, had approached him with their tentativeness, he had made a show of hesitation to try and coax out more benefits from them first. This emperor of theirs might play at being an addled lovesick idiot obsessed with a beautiful slave and negligent of the rest of the harem, a straightforward tyrant who only knew how to wield a knife but not manoeuvre mind games.

But now, it was obvious that he’d been playing them for as long as they’d been playing him, if not longer.

Agitation broiled in Guo Quan’s chest, irritation that he had underestimated this weakling and given it room to grow into a formidable opponent. But now was not the time to make silly mistakes. He held his breath and listened to the head eunuch as he announced Grand Protector Li’s crimes in a nasal voice, each line more damning than the rest.

Interfering in the fairness of the imperial examination, attempting to harm the dragon body, instigating Noble Consort Li to carry out his bidding in the inner palace, each crime alone was worthy of execution, with enough to point towards treasonous intentions.

"This subject does not admit to anything!" Grand Protector Li remained adamant, his eyes turning into hard agates as he glared up at the foot of the throne with a tightness of his jaw and hands trembling for fury. "Your Majesty has maligned this subject!" If Guo Quan weren’t aware of what a cunning old fox he was, he might even have fallen for the act and believe that Grand Protector Li was a stalwart supporter of the imperial family who was being falsely accused and betrayed by the very liege he pledged to serve. Indeed, some younger, less experienced officials were already exchanging uncertain glances.

"This is the result of an investigation by the Court of Judicature," the emperor concluded. "Naturally, this sovereign has also offered the Ministry of Justice the opportunity to hold trial concurrently on the same matter, but this sovereign’s beloved subject, Minister of Justice Ren, was kind enough to remind this sovereign that since the issue concerns this sovereign’s inner palace, this sovereign’s Eastern Depot is the more appropriate choice in this situation."

Ah. Guo Quan understood straight away what had happened here. For a military official, he was uncannily sensitive to the politics in court. Minister of Justice Ren was a distant relative to the right prime minister, the Ren Family, whose honour was so far above even the rest of the old noble clans that Guo Quan could only look upon them enviously and hope to one day elevate the Guo Family to the same status such that he could face his ancestors with pride when he finally passed.

Evidently, the Ren Family had decided to remove themselves wholly from this current quagmire.

Grand Protector Li was glaring daggers at Minister of Justice Ren, who did not so much as spare him a glance as he stepped out and bowed deeply to the emperor. "It is as Your Majesty says," he intoned solemnly. "Noble Consort Li’s involvement complicates matters and requires a trial conducted in the inner palace too. As a department whose scope does not extend into Your Majesty’s family matters, this trial falls out of the Ministry of Justice’s jurisdiction. Please forgive us our incompetence, Your Majesty."

"Not at all," was the emperor’s flippant reply. "This sovereign’s beloved subject has worked hard in other cases and cannot be blamed for something you have no right to meddle in...is this sovereign right?"

"..." The unspoken words were heard loud and clear. His Majesty was resenting all of them for attempting to chip power away from the throne in their own individual ways.

"As for Noble Consort Li..." the emperor murmured. There was no warmth in his voice as he spoke about the woman who had once been his crown princess, who was still the highest-ranking lady in his harem apart from his mother...although, from the sounds of things, this was about to change.

And change it did.

"On the orders of her grandfather, Noble Consort Li made use of her authority to collude with servants and smuggle black fragrance into this sovereign’s Tianlu Pavilion. Her active involvement in this plot to subjugate this sovereign by enslaving this sovereign’s mind to that addictive substance cannot be tolerated. As such, this sovereign hereby strips her of her status as a concubine and banishes her to the cold palace where she will await the results of your trial, Beloved Subject Li." The emperor’s tone turned mocking as he addressed Grand Protector Li. "Rest assured, this sovereign will not keep the both of you from a touching reunion for long."

Grand Protector Li’s glare was vicious. "Your Majesty’s mind has been poisoned by demons and you have turned against those loyal to you, even your legal wife!"

"Legal wife?" The emperor’s laughter was so soft at first that Guo Quan thought he misheard it. But it soon grew louder, was filled with genuine mirth that was chilling to hear as it resounded to the rafters in the pin-drop silence that took over the rest of Weiyang Hall.

He reached up to cover his eyes and the smile spreading across his face was jeering. "There is no bearer of the phoenix crown, this sovereign has no legal wife."

Before Grand Protector Li could continue his accusations and besmirch the imperial name, the emperor waved and the guards renewed their attempts to haul the old man out. He might be a man crafted from a lifetime fighting wars on horseback too but he was no longer young, Guo Quan realised with a start, his resistance feeble against the able bodies that flanked him on either side.

"Emperor! Emperor!!" he shouted with increasing fury as embarrassment and maybe even the first hints of fear started surfacing in him. "LIU YAO! You will regret this decision!"

Guo Quan chose this moment to steal a glance at the emperor’s expression, which was impassive as ever as he regarded Grand Protector Li’s futile struggling like he was nothing more than a tiny insect, a pest that had to be squashed before it caused a pestilence and ruined the crops.

But the emperor held up his hand suddenly and the guards dragging the grand protector out paused in their tracks. Smug triumph flashed in Grand Protector Li’s eyes, but confusion quickly replaced it when the emperor did not order him released.

"What will this sovereign regret?" the emperor asked softly.

Grand Protector Li didn’t reply.

"This sovereign is asking a question. What will this sovereign regret?" The emperor drummed his fingers on the armrest of his throne and glanced down imperiously at the man kneeling in the centre of his throne room. He was nothing like his father, Guo Quan realised out of the blue; he had the same handsome features, the same cockiness that the late emperor had first exhibited when he’d taken ascended upon the throne, but beneath the brashness, which had been a veneer he’d utilised as a scabbard, was a blade that was so sharp it sent a sudden jolt of terror coursing through Guo Quan.

If the emperor ever found out about the Guo Family’s dealings in the southwest...

No, no. He wouldn’t. Guo Quan was too careful for that. He just had to renew that caution in the future.

He tried to reassure himself but the emperor’s next words sent a chill down his spine.

"Did this sovereign’s grand protector mean that this sovereign would regret throwing you into jail when your Yulin Army storms the palace tonight to seize the throne in a rebellion?" he asked casually, in that same light tone of his that he liked to use whenever he was breaking shocking news to his officials.

Grand Protector Li’s face drained of blood. "W-what—how—"

The plan must be true then, General Guo concluded. Otherwise, the old man wouldn’t be so shocked to have it unveiled in broad daylight that he forgot to deny it.

He was just about to feel a frisson of pity for the Li Family and its inevitable downfall, sort of how the fox mourned when the rabbit died (2), when the emperor spoke again.

"Rest assured, Grand Protector Li, this sovereign will come to no harm as a result of your ploy, so you wouldn’t have to shame all your ancestors by failing your duties as the ’grand protector’ of the throne and soiling your hands with imperial blood." The emperor cocked his head and smiled. It was the first genuine smile he gave this entire morning court session, made him appear more youthful and conjured up a vague memory of the carefree young prince that had once donned black armour and tied his hair up with a simple red ribbon before charging into battle and amazing the country with his chivalry.

But times had changed. Nowadays, his handsome visage was obscured behind the jade bead headdress and no young lady would dare openly admire him anymore.

"It just so happens that Great General Pan had returned to the capital faster than this sovereign had thought possible and had oh-so-coincidentally stumbled upon an assembled Yulin Army well-concealed in several seemingly abandoned farming estates in the outskirts of the city."

The emperor’s grin widened and there was a glint of knowing in his eyes.

"Isn’t that so lucky of him?" he asked. "Accidentally saving this sovereign’s life, this sovereign might just have to grant him a noble title to serve as repayment."