Chapter 12: Using Punishment As A Pretext

Having ordered Rong Tai to investigate Fang Zhan’s preferences, Fang Rui took from his bosom a poisoned dagger wrapped in cloth and handed it to Rong Tai.

“This contains a poisoned dagger that has been tempered, deal with it.”

Rong Tai received it with both hands respectfully, but when he heard what His Majesty said next, his hands trembled.

“Remember to return the dagger and this pillowcase to me after you’ve dealt with it.”

Rong Tai trembled. Your Majesty! Don’t treat your servant like he can do everything, will you?

Won’t you?!

Fang Rui gave Rong Tai a trusting smile. “Rong Tai, you are the most capable person under my command.”

Rong Tai… he had nothing to say to that.

…

At the morning court, Fang Rui announced Shen Yu would act as supervisor for the Chen Chi case. The ministers below all stewed in anger and shame, and seeing how they clearly wanted to oppose but were afraid to, he felt an indescribable satisfaction.

In the past, whenever he proposed major reforms, these ministers would jointly petition to block him. Very few stood with him and the reforms were reluctantly shelved. Now he had learned to be smarter: say nothing at first, make an example of someone, then bring it up again. The result proved his method worked.

Appointing Shen Yu as supervisor signified the Emperor’s favor. Shen Yu was not one to accept flattery, was rigid and straightforward, and would never work around people. How could they accept him as the supervisor for this case? But remembering Chen Chi’s fate in yesterday’s court, how could they dare oppose it?

After all, behind Shen Yu stood no one else but the man sitting on the dragon throne. The Emperor’s deep favor for Shen Yu was known to all civil and military ministers. The Emperor favoring a minister outside the Wang clan would naturally alarm the Wangs, so while Shen Yu enjoyed imperial favor, nearly half the court held grievances against him and any slight fault would be seized upon. Yesterday’s affair was an example. But no one expected the Emperor to outmaneuver them.

Yesterday’s matter had only just passed and was far from settled. Who would dare provoke Shen Yu again? Provoking him would surely anger the Emperor.

Seeing that no one dared oppose Shen Yu’s appointment, a faint smile flashed in Fang Rui’s eyes. He then straightened his expression and said, “Chen Chi has been stripped of his office, and now the post of Minister of Personnel is vacant. The Ministry of Personnel must be well managed without mistakes, so I intend to select from among you someone outstanding to take this post as soon as possible.”

As soon as Fang Rui finished, the ministers’ gazes all fell on Shen Yu, thinking no one else in the Emperor’s eyes seemed as outstanding. Since that was the case, it would be better to put Shen Yu forward immediately. At this moment, few among them dared to speak against it.

Fang Rui on the dragon throne curled the corner of his mouth and smiled, “I do have a candidate.”

The ministers thought: They all knew it!

Fang Rui’s gaze fell on Senior Minister Gu and to everyone’s surprise he said, “The candidate I mean is Director Gu Changqing of the Ministry of Personnel.”

Gu Changqing, the one named, was stunned, eyes full of surprise. He had not expected to be promoted.

Before Gu Changqing could react, a minister, emboldened by the fact the Emperor’s chosen one was not Shen Yu, stepped forward in dissent. “Your Majesty! Gu Changqing is only a fifth-rank Director. The post of Minister of Personnel is extremely important—how can a Director leap two ranks at once?!”

Fang Rui glanced at the objecting minister with a calm expression and mild tone, retorting, “So you mean that the person I deem outstanding, in your view, is not outstanding, Lord Lu?”

Lord Lu’s face changed. “I would never mean as much, Your Majesty. It’s just that Director Gu is still young, perhaps not yet competent.”

Hearing this, Fang Rui thought angrily to himself: If I weren’t the Emperor, I’d kick your face off with my shoe*. Too young and therefore not competent? Do you know Gu Changqing and I are *the same age!

Fang Rui’s expression changed briefly, and Lord Lu realized he’d likely misspoken. His face grew sullen, cold sweat beaded on his brow, and he fell to his knees with a thud, “Your Majesty, I had no intention of mocking you.”

He snorted coldly, looked around at the court ministers and said, “Gu has served in the Ministry of Personnel for four years and is familiar with its procedures, so there’s no need for him to…” His gaze returned to Lord Lu and his voice turned suddenly cold, “Are you suggesting, Lord Lu, that as Minister of War you also want to take over the Ministry of Personnel?”

Throughout history emperors most feared ministers monopolizing power. His words were enough to frighten a man to death.

Sure enough, Lord Lu went pale with fright, the intimidation effective. Fang Rui nodded once, “Rise. You only said a few words, must you go so pale? As a third-rank minister, how can you accomplish great things like this?”

Lord Lu didn’t know how to respond.

It really wasn’t his imagination! When His Majesty’s gaze fell on him just now, he felt as if a knife had been drawn across his throat. Such a look felt deadly! How could he not be afraid? It was out of fear that he chose to keep his mouth shut.

Wang Zhongyuan, standing in the court, glanced at Fang Rui on the dragon throne with a slightly pensive look.

The Emperor seemed somewhat different now.

Both Gu Changqing and Shen Yu’s matters were settled as fait accompli. No one dared step forward to oppose.

When court adjourned, Fang Rui still wore a cold expression as he looked at Lei Shengda and said, “General Lei, remain after court.”

Lei Shengda showed a terrified expression.

With His Majesty’s tone and expression, he was afraid…

Could it be he’d done something wrong again? His arm had only regained mobility today! He didn’t want to be flogged again!

Before Fang Rui expected it, Lei Shengda flung himself to his knees with a thud and wailed, “Your Majesty! I was in the wrong!”

Fang Rui really wanted to pick up the document on the table and slap it across Lei Shengda’s face.

At least he knew that he ought to admit his mistake, though he probably didn’t even know where he had erred!

Shen Yu glanced at Lei Shengda, puzzled. What ridiculous thing had he done this time? Recalling how Lei Shengda had barged into her room last night and the black-clad man had been able to take advantage because of that, she was angry and hoped His Majesty would punish him properly.

Unexpectedly, Fang Rui had Lei Shengda remain and then called to Shen Yu, “My beloved aide Shen, you stay as well.”

Shen Yu was stunned. Could this matter involve her?

At Great Yuan Hall.

Fang Rui wore a stern face. Lei Shengda stood to one side, not daring to breathe. In this world, the only two people who could discipline him and make him submit wholeheartedly were his deceased mother and Fang Rui.

Back when at Spoon Mountain, before Fang Rui ascended the throne, the crown prince Fang Rui personally led troops to suppress bandits and targeted this mountain chieftain. When he first saw Fang Rui he mocked him, saying a pretty boy royal son like him should stay in the palace with a book to look proper, not go brandishing blades and risk marring a handsome face.

It proved he’d severely underestimated the ‘pretty boy’ prince. Alone, with a spear, Fang Rui stormed his stronghold at night, even into his chamber, holding a spear to his throat and saying, “If you surrender, I’ll enlist you under my banner. If you don’t, I’ll drag you before your brothers so they know you are inferior to me.”

Lei Shengda didn’t know how to react to that.

His pride mattered more than his life…

Fang Rui had not even sent a single soldier to make him submit. What truly convinced him was when he was incorporated into Fang Rui’s forces. Fang Rui said he’d be enlisted, but Fang Rui also had him form his own troop that was directly under his command and not subject to other generals’ control.

He once asked the Emperor, what if he suddenly raised his troops in rebellion? The Emperor only said he trusted him, so for five years he served only the Emperor.

Great Yuan Hall was extremely quiet, quiet enough that Lei Shengda could hear his own breathing. He was very anxious. As a general for so many years he’d made numerous mistakes, all forgiven by the Emperor. But the more mistakes he made, the less confidence he felt before the Emperor and the more insecure he became.

Fang Rui raised his hand and slapped the table with a crack, anger on his face as he looked at Lei Shengda. “Last night, Grand Guardian Shen sent someone to the palace to tell me you showed no regard for your image as a general and stormed the Grand Guardian’s residence at night. Did this happen?”

After the Empress Dowager left, someone relayed that people from the Grand Guardian’s house had come to see him. He immediately knew what it was about and could use this to warn Lei Shengda: if he stormed Shen Yu’s bedchamber again and she happened to be getting dressed…

…he felt his first instinct would be to find a knife and stab that bastard to death!

“Your Majesty… I only went to ask Shen Yu for a drink…” That old man*…*how dare he complain before the Emperor!

He turned to Shen Yu, “Shen Yu, quick, tell His Majesty that I didn’t barge in, I just came to drink with you.”

Shen Yu, angered and more afraid Lei Shengda would barge into her chamber again, bluntly replied, “What do you mean by you wanted to have a drink with me last night? This was clearly an unreasonable intrusion into the Grand Guardian’s residence!”

Hearing this, Lei Shengda widened his eyes and protested, “Hey, Shen Yu, I only interrupted your little tryst, and you slander me like this? Are we no longer friends?!”

Shen Yu was puzzled. Since when have they ever been friends?

Fang Rui looked at Shen Yu, quite puzzled, “Does my beloved aide Shen have a woman?”

As the so-called woman of Shen Yu who was under the sheets that night, Fang Rui’s face betrayed nothing at all. He seemed completely detached from this matter.

Rong Tai at the side thought: *Last night… the one who went to **look for **Shen Yu was clearly Your Majesty! What on earth did Your Majesty do!? Why would Lei Shengda say he **interrupted *Shen Yu’s little tryst!?

Rong Tai felt the amount of information he’d just heard was enormous. He seemed to have learned another secret of His Majesty, and not voluntarily. Whether he could ever die peacefully now was unknown…