The Empror's Trap-Chapter 79: Ch - Controversy

However, facing this situation, Kenji didn’t make the first move.

He couldn’t move first. Though his power was indeed great and most court ministers would give him face - besides the Emperor and Chancellor, few in court dared to openly oppose him - he still needed support from these officials below him.

Although his power was great enough to influence the Emperor to dismiss certain officials, such power couldn’t be used carelessly. So usually when dealing with his colleagues, he remained quite polite unless there was a major issue. If there needed to be opposition, he couldn’t do it personally - he needed someone of similar rank to do it.

Kenji glanced back slightly and gave a meaningful look to a military commander behind him. The commander understood Kenji’s meaning and immediately stepped forward, bowing: "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

"Speak freely," Pluvia said.

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"Just now several ministers said if Your Majesty executes Prince Yunis, the world will criticize Your Majesty. May I ask these ministers, how do you think the world will criticize Her Majesty?"

The commander’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at them.

"This... naturally they will say her Majesty disregards family ties and loyalty to meritorious officials... the world will generally criticize thus," that minister hesitated briefly before saying.

"Yes, if speaking of criticism, it would mainly be such. However, minister, Camelot empire has its laws, and according to law, execution is appropriate. The rebellion Prince Yunis incited caused over ten civilian deaths in the city. If he is not executed now, how can we comfort the people’s hearts?"

"I once heard the sages say: ’The way of rulership is to comfort the people’s hearts and establish the ruler’s credibility; with the ruler’s credibility the people’s hearts are at peace, without it they scatter.’ Now Your Majesty acts according to law - not Camelot’s royal family law, but Camelot empire’s universal law. How can there be problem in laws that serve country and people?"

"The law was established by Camelot. Executing Prince Yunis now precisely demonstrates Your Majesty’s fair and impartial enforcement of the law. How can the common people criticize? So-called criticism is merely the method of pedantic scholars."

The general stated these points simply and logically. For a moment, the minister had to consider carefully before speaking his thoughts.

"General, I don’t necessarily agree," he said. "Your Majesty executing Prince Yunis won’t much help Camelot’s current internal stability. The problem now is that there are still various ill-intentioned people throughout Camelot. If Your Majesty acts, they are already sensitive - such stimulation might..."

"Following your meaning, minister, being so timid, how can we intimidate others? Though Camelot empire promotes benevolent governance, benevolence is neither negligence nor pure tolerance. Forgive my directness, but Your Majesty’s willingness to act according to law is truly Camelot’s fortune - what’s wrong with that?"

The general spoke these words at a measured pace. In current Camelot, it was common for military leaders to be well-read in various texts. Though there were still many illiterate officers in the military camps, that proportion was steadily decreasing. Having literature in one’s mind made arguments more persuasive in such settings.

Kenji gave him an approving look. The general had directly spoken everything he wanted to say - this was good, now Kenji didn’t need to speak personally.

The minister still wanted to argue, but thinking carefully, he found he couldn’t. If he continued arguing in court like this, the topic might shift to civil officials and scholars. That wouldn’t do - if the topic really turned to them, he might not even keep his position. The previous emperor had deeply despised such pedantic scholars; who knew if the current emperor had inherited that excellent style?

So this minister tactfully withdrew.

Seeing this, Court Advisor prepared to step forward and refute the general, but was grabbed by the arm by the elderly Judicial Officer beside him.

The elderly officer gave him a look and slowly shook his head.

"Court Advisor, that’s the Grand Marshal’s man," the old man whispered in his ear.

Court Advisor froze, then could only continue standing quietly.

He was indeed still somewhat young.

He hadn’t noticed the general’s identity, nor the subtle communication between Kenji and that general. He also hadn’t understood a fact - at this time when the Grand Marshal and Emperor jointly held power, what his subordinates said in court likely represented the Grand Marshal’s position.

And now, the Grand Marshal’s subordinate had spoken, indicating the Grand Marshal’s suggestion was...

Actually this point had been clear early on - after all, the Grand Marshal had organized the suppression and arrest of Prince Yunis, and he was handling related affairs in the Ancestral Court. This death sentence was definitely a joint decision by Her Majesty and the Grand Marshal.

So in court, there was no point opposing them - it wouldn’t benefit oneself. If one had to speak of victory or defeat, it was simple - if the Chancellor also opposed the Grand Marshal and joined in the criticism, that would be fine.

The problem was, the Chancellor appeared completely calm and showed no intention of continuing the discussion. Clearly, on this matter, the Chancellor also didn’t want to support sparing Prince Yunis’s life.

Finally, in court, the matter was left unresolved. The ministers’ joint petition naturally came to nothing.

With the sound of court dismissal, the ministers left the hall, but only Kenji remained standing there.

"You haven’t withdrawn - do you have something to tell me?" Pluvia returned to the hall and asked.

By custom, at court dismissal, she as emperor would withdraw first, then the ministers. So she had actually been about to leave, but seeing Kenji hadn’t moved at all, she came back to ask.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I have a message from Prince Yunis - something he wishes to request of Your Majesty."

"You went to see Yunis?" Pluvia looked at him and asked.

"Prince Yunis rebelled - naturally I needed to understand clearly and investigate his accomplices thoroughly," Kenji said calmly.

"Mm, thank you for your hard work. What does he want to tell me?"

"He hopes that when he is about to die, you can be by his side."

After speaking, Kenji watched Her face.

Pluvia’s eye corner twitched imperceptibly, then she nodded: "I understand. I will consider it."

After saying this, she turned to leave.

Suddenly, she turned her head back to look at Kenji: "You’d better keep your distance from Yunis. I don’t want to really become an emperor who kills meritorious officials."

"...Your Majesty need not worry, I know my limits."

Kenji bowed, then slowly withdrew.