The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  In the hall, the others could only crease their brows, awkward expressions on their faces.

  Chapter 1942 - Secret Meeting!

  Chapter 1942: Secret Meeting!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  The imperial censors were loose-lipped because they were tasked with the duty of supervising the realm. They had the privilege to speak so flippantly about the Emperor’s conduct, but the others did not.

  Moreover, the Sage Emperor was an energetic ruler whose civil and military accomplishments made him stand out amongst other rulers. It was a bit too much for the imperial censors to call him an incapable ruler.

  King Song stood up and spoke comforting words. “Everyone, quite a few incidents have happened recently, but His Majesty is still the Great Tang’s Son of Heaven. Whether it’s the selection of talents or the construction of the Peace Pavilion, these are all within His Majesty’s authority, and the Great Tang has the finances to bear the burden of constructing the pavilion. As for not attending the court… I am confident that this is only a momentary thing. After all, His Majesty is the reigning sovereign. We simply need to wait, and the court will naturally begin to operate normally again!”

  The imperial censors had fierce personalities, but in front of so many other officials, they still needed to keep some dignity for the Emperor. Moreover, the others could not mimic the imperial censors and also speak of ‘incapable rulers’.

  King Song turned to Wang Chong and said, “Wang Chong, after thinking it over, I find the recent incidents far too strange. His Majesty has never been one to delight himself with women, so why would he suddenly want a large-scale selection of women to enter the harem? Moreover, His Majesty was always one to issue a decree commanding the Prime Minister and other major officials to handle court affairs if he could not attend. It is not like him to withdraw from court without a word. There’s something strange about this incident, some story that we don’t know.

  “Moreover, this matter has already caused panic in the court and amongst the people. Fortunately, it only started recently, but if this goes on any longer, the people will grow more and more concerned, and troublemakers will start to get restless. No matter what, we have to resolve this matter to avoid that development.”

  Wang Chong was the youngest of the officials present, but in terms of status, he outranked everyone except the Crown Prince.

  Wang Chong was also the King of Foreign Lands, personally invested by the Sage Emperor. In terms of title, he was equal to King Song, and his string of military achievements placed him above.

  And when it came to favor, no one could compare to Wang Chong. This was also why everyone had gathered here today.

  “That’s right. Wang Chong, Imperial Father favors you the most, and you’re the one with the greatest understanding of Imperial Father. We can’t let this situation persist!” Li Heng added.

  Everyone began to focus their gazes on Wang Chong, and the entire hall fell silent.

  In the corners of the hall, Xu Keyi and Su Shixuan were stunned. At some point, their liege had become one of the most powerful officials in the court, as they could see now.

  Wang Chong said nothing, but he had countless thoughts on his mind.

  Without him realizing it, after taking a massive detour, the entire world had seemingly returned to its original course.

  Defeating the coalition of Mengshe Zhao and Ü-Tsang, crushing Arabia, and thwarting Ü-Tsang had changed the fate of the court and the people of the Central Plains, but it had seemingly not changed the Sage Emperor’s fate. Wallowing in women, building new palaces, not attending court… the behavior of the Sage Emperor in the end days of the Great Tang was emerging once more.

  Even though these incidents differed slightly from his memories, they were clearly of the same nature.

  After a long period of thought, Wang Chong finally spoke. “On this matter, there is no need for everyone to be anxious!

  “The Sage Emperor’s absence from court is only a momentary matter. It won’t be long before the Sage Emperor attends court again. There is no need for everyone to worry.”

  Wang Chong spoke with an infectious confidence.

  Everyone was greatly surprised to hear this.

  “Your Highness, is what you say true?” the other officials blurted out.

  Foremost of their worries was the fact that the Sage Emperor was not attending court.

  As subjects, if they could not see the sovereign, their avenues of communication were essentially blocked, and even those with the most extraordinary of abilities could not display them. And the imperial censors could do nothing if they could not even submit their memorials of criticism. But everything changed if the Sage Emperor attended court.

  Wang Chong only gave a slight nod.

  Although the Sage Emperor’s various acts appeared very strange, ever since the Xia and Shang Dynasties, even the most incapable of rulers did not remain absent from court for too long. More importantly, Wang Chong clearly remembered that the matter of the Sage Emperor not attending court lasted for only a very brief period.

  “Wonderful!”

  Everyone was invigorated by Wang Chong’s reaction.

  They didn’t understand how Wang Chong could be so certain, but his confidence bolstered their own. All of them knew that Wang Chong was never one to speak without reason. If that was what he said, that was what was going to happen!

  Only King Song slightly frowned.

  The group discussed several other matters of court before quickly dispersing.

  “Wang Chong, are you really certain that His Majesty will appear soon?”

  King Song intentionally lingered behind so that he could ask this question.

  Li Heng had also stayed behind, and he also turned to look. He was also curious to know the answer.

  Even though Li Heng resided in the palace, he found it very hard to see the Sage Emperor after that incident. Not even he was sure that the Sage Emperor would appear in court soon.

  “It’s a long explanation, but if all goes as expected, His Majesty should appear in court in a few days. In addition, when the time comes, Lord Zhangchou, please send someone to promptly notify me.”

  Wang Chong turned to Zhangchou Jianqiong with his second sentence.

  The two of them had become friends through the war of the southwest and had fought alongside each other during the conquest of Arabia, an experience that had drawn them even closer together.

  “Mm.”

  Zhangchou Jianqiong nodded. He was also at a loss for what to do. Meanwhile, Wang Chong served as everyone’s hope and had clearly become one of the empire’s lynchpins.

  Wang Chong paused before turning to the Crown Prince.

  “In addition, Your Highness, can you get in touch with Eunuch Gao? There are some things I need to personally ask him.”

  The Sage Emperor’s recent actions were far too abnormal, and as an outsider, he could only wildly speculate. But if there was anyone in the empire who knew the truth and could give an explanation, it was Eunuch Gao.

  As the Sage Emperor’s most faithful and senior official, Eunuch Gao had followed the Sage Emperor since he was a teenager. He was the most loyal official in the Great Tang, and Wang Chong was confident that he would be even more worried about the Sage Emperor’s condition than himself.

  Buzz!

  Li Heng instantly shuddered, his face grimacing.

  “What happened? Did something happen to Eunuch Gao?”

  Wang Chong saw his expression and felt his heart thump.

  “This… In truth, I also wanted to ask Eunuch Gao what was going on, but I couldn’t find him.”

  Crown Prince Li Heng bitterly smiled.

  “What?!”

  Wang Chong paled.

  Eunuch Gao was the eunuch director of the inner court, responsible for all the eunuchs and palace maids of that part of the palace. Moreover, Eunuch Gao was incredibly loyal to the Sage Emperor and never lef
t his side. How could he not be found?

  The hall grew still. While Zhangchou Jianqiong was just as shocked as Wang Chong, King Song and Li Heng were unperturbed. It was clear that King Song had known about this as well.

  “After the Eastern Palace incident, I actually already began to search for Eunuch Gao. This was because I discovered that during the incident, the eunuch at Imperial Father’s side was one I had never seen before, not Eunuch Gao. You understand that the Eastern Palace is no ordinary place, and Imperial Father would never bring anyone else except Eunuch Gao.

  “At the time, I thought that Imperial Father had sent Gao Lishi on another mission, but I realized later that something was wrong. Eunuch Gao had not left the palace, but he was also not at the Sage Emperor’s side, and I could not find any trace of him in the rest of the palace.”

  Li Heng worriedly frowned.

  “But my greatest concern was that when I was searching for Eunuch Gao, I discovered that everyone around Imperial Father had been switched out. I never imagined a situation like this, nor do I dare to recklessly speculate!”

  The mood became oppressive, and even Zhangchou Jianqiong turned grim.

  He suddenly understood why Li Heng had come out of the palace for this meeting, and also why he had lingered behind.

  It seemed that Wang Chong had also realized something and had waited until the end of the meeting to ask this question.

  Eunuch Gao was gone and everyone around the Sage Emperor had been switched out. This was no small matter, and if it got out, it was certain to send shockwaves through the court!

  The hall was quiet, the mood strange. If this had happened before the Rebellion of the Three Princes, they would have immediately believed that the First Prince was plotting a coup, but the rebellion was over, and Li Heng would never harbor treasonous aspirations. But this left them even more confused.

  “Your Highness!”

  Wang Chong turned to King Song. King Song had known the Sage Emperor the longest, and if something had happened in the palace, King Song would probably be the first to know.

  Given their relationship, Wang Chong truly wanted to hear King Song’s opinion.

  King Song understood Wang Chong’s meaning, and after a few moments of silence, he gave his opinion.

  “Eunuch Gao should be safe for now!”

  The Sage Emperor had only grown abnormal recently, and Eunuch Gao possessed extraordinary strength. If something had really happened in the palace, there would have undoubtedly been a great commotion.

  “The selection of talented women and the building of a new palace will not have too great an influence on the country at large. From this, I determine that Eunuch Gao should be safe!”

  Wang Chong and Zhangchou Jianqiong could only frown. If Gao Lishi was safe but also not at the Sage Emperor’s side, this was even stranger and more confusing than if something had happened to him.

  Chapter 1943 - The Predicted Court Session!

  Chapter 1943: The Predicted Court Session!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  King Song turned to Wang Chong and said, “Anything involving the Sage Emperor and Eunuch Gao is no minor matter. This was why I had the Crown Prince seal off this news. It is best if as few people know about it as possible.”

  “Regardless of the truth, once the Sage Emperor attends court, everything will become apparent!”

  Li Heng and the others quickly departed, leaving Wang Chong alone with his thoughts.

  “Xu Keyi, get in touch with Bian Lingcheng and have him find Eunuch Gao’s location as soon as possible!”

  Everyone knew about Wang Chong’s connection to the Eastern Palace, and after the rebellion, almost the entire court knew that Wang Chong and Yang Zhao were sworn brothers.

  But not many people had realized his connection to Bian Lingcheng, General of the Palace Gates.

  Eunuch Gao, Li Jingzhong, Bian Lingcheng, and the socializer Yang Zhao were his four information sources in the palace, and all of them possessed large amounts of authority.

  There was no piece of information in the palace that could escape the notice of all four of them at once.

  If Eunuch Gao had gone missing and none of the other three could find out where he was, then it was probably impossible to find Eunuch Gao.

  “Yes!”

  Xu Keyi quickly turned and left.

  ……

  Several days went by in the blink of an eye, and the news that the Sage Emperor was returning to court came much faster than anyone had expected. Before Bian Lingcheng had found Eunuch Gao, Wang Chong received word that the morning court session was being called.

  “Prepare my court robes!”

  Upon receiving the news early in the morning, Wang Chong immediately prepared to attend.

  While Wang Chong had already withdrawn from the court, his list of illustrious titles and the Imperial Dragon Bracelet endowed him with the right to attend court whenever he desired.

  Putting on his robe embroidered with clouds and golden threads, and donning his golden crown, he boarded his bronze carriage and headed for the palace.

  When Wang Chong arrived at Taihe Palace, the place was already packed with ministers.

  The news that the Emperor was attending the court session had sent great waves through courtly society, and almost all the officials had come, even those old officials who had retired to their homes.

  The major officials were carrying out whispered conversations with each other while the imperial censors were rubbing their palms. They had been waiting ages for this day.

  Wang Chong stood next to King Song with just as much anticipation. As King Song had said, when the Sage Emperor appeared, everything would become apparent.

  “The Sage Emperor has arrived!”

  A whip cracked, and everyone turned to see palace maids, eunuchs, and guards file out from a side palace.

  Behind them was that familiar and revered figure adorned in dragon robes.

  The entire hall fell silent as an invisible energy swept over the area.

  Even after all the recent incidents, the Sage Emperor was still the True Dragon, Son of Heaven, possessing a supreme status in everyone’s hearts.

  While everyone was focused on the Sage Emperor, Wang Chong spotted a figure in the back and trembled.

  “Eunuch Gao!” Wang Chong softly called out, his eyes twitching.

  Several days ago, Wang Chong, King Song, and Li Heng had been wondering where Eunuch Gao had gone and talking about how to find him, with Wang Chong even getting in touch with Bian Lingcheng. They had all believed that they would need some time until they could find him.

  Wang Chong had never imagined that the ‘missing’ Eunuch Gao would reappear in this fashion.

  Wang Chong glanced at King Song and saw that King Song’s eyes were wide open in shock.

  Eunuch Gao was wearing his silken robe as he followed behind the Sage Emperor, his expression as it usually was.

  But upon closer inspection, Wang Chong realized that Eunuch Gao had lost his ruddy complexion. His face was slightly pale, and he had also lost weight. Those smiling eyes of his had become murky and dispirited.

  Wang Chong’s brow creased, a dark cloud of worry flitting across his face.

  “May the Emperor live ten thousand years!”

  The officials bowed as they resoundingly cried out, bringing Wang Chong back to his senses.

  A eunuch waved a horsetail whisk and stepped forward. “Honored officials, if there are any concerns, please present a memorial. Otherwise, you may withdraw!” This was not Eunuch Gao, but a eunuch in his thirties that Wang Chong had no impression of.

  “Your Majesty, this subject has a memorial. For dynasty after dynasty, the sovereign has always attended court to handle government affairs. This is the duty of a sovereign! Your Majesty has not attended court for more than seven days in a row and has issued no decree. This is simply unprecedented and is unacceptable!”

  “Th
is old subject must censure Your Majesty. Profligate and licentious behavior and the selection of talented young women affects the entire realm and its people. These are the actions of an incapable sovereign!”