World's First Traitor System (454)

Chapter 454 - The World's Greatest Flattery

Great Ming, the Imperial Palace.

A phoenix cry resounded through heaven and earth!

The Investiture of the Gods scroll slowly unfurled, radiating sacred majesty!

Inside the Golden Luan Palace, the court officials stood ranked on both sides, silent as wooden carvings or clay statues.

A woman clad in phoenix robes, graceful and noble, knelt below the imperial steps.

She wore a silver mask that concealed her entire face.

Despite this, the despair occasionally revealed in the woman's eyes, seen through the mask, was utterly bleak.

Everyone knew who she was.

The former Female Emperor of Great Ci! Now, the Empress of Great Ming! Effectively, a prisoner.

Emperor Jiajing of Great Ming's greatest spoil of war!

On the Investiture of the Gods scroll, golden characters slowly materialized: Empress of Great Ming, Yao Guang.

"Your subject..."

Yao Guang parted her crimson lips, her voice utterly devoid of its former supreme arrogance.

All that remained was suppressed terror and trembling.

"Thank... Your Majesty... for your immense grace..."

The man on the throne merely glanced impassively at Yao Guang.

"Lü Fang."

"Your servant is here."

The old eunuch flicked his horsetail whisk and answered respectfully.

"Settle the Empress in Jingyang Palace."

"The Empress is weary from the long conflict and needs rest. From this day forth, she need not leave Jingyang Palace unless necessary."

The words 'long conflict' were deeply ironic.

After Emperor Jiajing spoke, Yao Guang's kneeling form visibly trembled.

The gazes the Great Ming officials stole at her grew increasingly complex.

Jingyang Palace?

The Ming Imperial Palace contained over seventy halls and more than nine thousand rooms.

Most halls were grand and magnificent or richly decorated, but some were remote and simple.

Jingyang Palace, located east of Zhongcui Palace and north of Yonghe Palace, was the most desolate courtyard in the imperial city – the so-called “Cold Palace!”

Indeed!

The officials immediately understood Emperor Jiajing's intentions.

Yao Guang held the title of Empress but none of the reality; she was merely a tool for him to flaunt his power to the world.

"Her Majesty the Empress, please come. This servant will escort you back to Jingyang Palace to rest."

Lü Fang approached Yao Guang.

Although his smile was amiable and his words respectful, his gaze towards Yao Guang was cold.

In terms of cultivation, Lü Fang was also a Unity realm expert, but far inferior to Yao Guang.

In status, he was an incomplete man, a palace servant, worlds apart from Yao Guang.

Yet Yao Guang nodded obediently. "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Lü..."

She rose, walking without making the slightest sound. As if afraid that loud footsteps might disturb or anger Emperor Jiajing.

Under the gazes of the Great Ming officials, Yao Guang's figure gradually disappeared into the rear hall, down a passage dark as a long serpent.

The foremost woman under heaven met such a bleak end.

The might of the Investiture of the Gods sank deep into the hearts of the Great Ming officials.

"Your Majesty!"

Suddenly, Second Grand Secretary Xu Jie stepped out from the ranks of the court.

"Your humble subject congratulates Your Majesty. Yao Guang has submitted, Great Ci is destroyed, and the five-nation alliance has collapsed without a fight."

"Your Majesty sweeping across the land and unifying the world is only a matter of time!"

Flattery had always been the Yan faction's specialty.

Xu Jie was not skilled in this art; although he spoke first, he offered nothing particularly novel.

But as long as he could seize the first opportunity, especially before Yan Song, Xu Jie considered it sufficient.

From the throne, Emperor Jiajing's faint laugh indeed sounded.

"Grand Secretary Xu has also worked hard."

"You, along with Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, Li Chunfang, Yin Shidan, Chen Yiqin, and others, successfully intercepted Emperor Liu Bei of Han, truly lightening my burden considerably."

"Grand Secretary Yan and Lu Bing also made indispensable contributions."

"With the assistance of all my beloved ministers, if I still cannot succeed, would I not be an incompetent and useless ruler?"

After speaking, Emperor Jiajing laughed a few more times.

Strange.

Xu Jie clearly sensed the Emperor's pleasure, yet he felt something was missing.

In his view, the battle on the island had shattered the balance between Great Ming and the five nations.

Yao Guang was defeated and submitted; the remaining four nations were merely clinging to life, unable to escape the fate of being destroyed one by one by Great Ming.

Why did the Emperor still seem preoccupied? Xu Jie subconsciously stole a glance at Yan Song.

For many years, he had considered Yan Song his enemy, but also his teacher.

Xu Jie suddenly realized that while he had rushed to flatter Emperor Jiajing, Yan Song had not only fallen behind but had remained completely silent.

Could he have been wrong?

Having lost to Yan Song for so long, Xu Jie suddenly lost his enthusiasm for his current 'lead.'

He must have been wrong!

But where exactly had he gone wrong? His stolen glances towards Yan Song now held a trace of expectation.

Xu Jie wanted to see what Yan Song intended to do.

"Weizhong, why haven't you spoken?"

Emperor Jiajing suddenly spoke, his voice gentle, addressing Yan Song by his courtesy name as always.

Hearing this, Xu Jie felt utterly dejected.

Was his position in the Emperor's heart truly never equal to Yan Song's?

A bitter expression appeared on his face, just as he noticed Yan Song glance sideways at him.

That look clearly held the condescension of a victor, mocking Xu Jie's overestimation of his own abilities.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this old subject indeed has something to say," Yan Song stepped forward and reported.

"Mm, speak then," Emperor Jiajing said with a smile.

"Your subject..."

Yan Song seemed hesitant, but Xu Jie saw it clearly as an act.

The old scoundrel must have had a plan long ago, but who knew what mischief he was brewing.

"This old subject brazenly wishes to ask Your Majesty for a reward."

As soon as these words were spoken, they indeed piqued the curiosity of the entire court.

"Hehe, ask for a reward?" Emperor Jiajing also smiled. "Weizhong, when have I ever shortchanged you, that you would take the initiative to ask me for a reward?"

Usually, when an emperor spoke like this, the subject should kneel and beg forgiveness.

Xu Jie found it even more baffling.

Had Yan Song truly become senile, speaking so recklessly?

Yan Song continued, "Your Majesty has always treated your subjects generously, but this time, leading Yan Shifan, Luo Longwen, Zhao Wenhua, and others, this old subject successfully intercepted Emperor Cao Cao of Wei and indeed performed a great service. If Your Majesty does not bestow a reward, this old subject... this old subject feels it would be too unfair."

An uproar!!!

After Yan Song finished speaking, the officials were shocked!

Had the First Grand Secretary truly become senile?

Even with merit, he shouldn't ask for a reward in this manner, making it seem as if Emperor Jiajing's rewards and punishments were unclear, forcing ministers to request rewards proactively.

Xu Jie was ecstatic inwardly!

"Heavens above!"

"Yan Song has truly become senile!"

"The end of the Yan faction is near! Men of justice can finally preside over the court, and Great Ming's destiny can be extended for thousands more years!"

The officials grew restless.

The Xu faction was excited and jubilant; the Yan faction was bewildered and stunned.

Only Yan Song remained like an old pine tree; though his figure was bent, his stance was firm and unmoving.

"It seems I have been negligent?"

Emperor Jiajing's voice remained calm, but now held a trace of coldness.

"Since the First Grand Secretary has performed a great service, what kind of reward do you desire?"

"Just speak your mind."

"Ennoblement as a Marquis, a Duke, or perhaps I should grant you the title of a King with a different surname?"

Hearing Emperor Jiajing say this, Xu Jie's heart pounded rapidly!

The Son of Heaven was angered!

Yan Song was indeed courting death!

Barely suppressing his turbulent emotions, Xu Jie looked towards Yan Song with anticipation.

Speak!

Hurry up and say what reward you want!

Let's see what reward His Majesty grants after you speak!

Preferably, a reward of executing your entire household and exterminating your nine relations!

Strangely... Yan Song did not speak first but slowly turned his head and gave Xu Jie a peculiar smile.

This smile actually made the hair on Xu Jie's entire body stand on end!

"Your Majesty."

Yan Song knelt on the ground, kowtowed first, then spoke.

"Your Majesty is wise and divine, your might shakes the cosmos. This old subject hopes to serve Your Majesty for thousands upon thousands of years."

"Not only this old subject, but also Yan Shifan, Luo Longwen, Zhao Wenhua, and others share the same sentiment."

"Therefore, this old subject boldly requests Your Majesty's grace... Grant this subject a place on the list!"

Xu Jie's mind buzzed as if it had exploded!

Unexpected!

Why hadn't he thought of it!

The Investiture of the Gods awed the world; everyone feared it like a tiger.

But as a subject of Great Ming, voluntarily asking to be placed on the list was the flattery that would please Emperor Jiajing the most!