The loss of the Nanjiang Royal Court, the capture of Profound Spirit Taoist and Chi Tian, the total annihilation of Barbarian Slayer, Wildland Suppression and King Slayer, and the serious injuries Wei Nanhua suffered were transmitted to the Chu capital and entered the ears of the most respected person of Chu at first notice.

Right now, the air inside the Chu imperial palace—also known as Qian Yuan Palace and the symbol of power and status in Chu—was so silent, so suffocating, that one could hear a pin drop.

A few breaths later, a man opened his mouth and said accusingly, “What has happened to the war situation in Nanjiang, General Li?”

The speaker was a middle-aged man in his forties. He had a handsome face and a long, refined beard. Right now though, his eyes were sharp and threatening.

His name was Cui Qingshan. He was the Director of the Imperial Secretariat of Chu.

“Don’t you already know, Director Cui?” Another man answered.

The other speaker was in his fifties, refined in manner yet soldierly in appearance. His eyes were deep and unfathomable like seas of stars.

His name was Li Chengzhong, and he was the Strategist-Generalissimo of Chu. He was also the man responsible for supervising the armies of Chu and general military affairs.

“I am aware of the outcome, but not the process,” Cui Qingshan said.

“If you don’t know, then you shouldn’t know.”

Li Chengzhong replied coldly, “There is no need for you to know either.”

“This is a military affair. Of course I have the right to know about this.”

Cui Qingshan’s tone grew even more threatening, “Or is there something fishy that you are afraid of letting us know?”

“Freedom of speech does not mean freedom of consequences, Director Cui. Watch your mouth,” a military officer next to Li Chengzhong said sternly.

“Consequences?” Cui Qingshan let out a cold chuckle. “Speaking of consequences, can you please tell me how we lost the Nanjiang Royal Court, how Barbarian Slayer, Wildland Suppression and King Slayer were annihilated, and how Wei Nanhua took serious injuries, General Zhou?”

“It might be presumptuous for me to say this, but I don’t believe that the Meng Clan remnants alone could do this.”

“Put yourself in my shoes and tell me you don’t think that something fishy is going on. I dare you.”

“You…” Zhou Yuchong could not respond immediately.

“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”

Cui Qingshan did not hesitate to press his advantage. “So, was it negligence of duty, inflation of self-importance via nurturing the enemy, or outright collusion with the Meng Clan remnants?”

“Enough!”

Li Chengzhong looked at Cui Qingshan with eyes completely devoid of any emotion or temperature. “Enough is enough, Director Cui. I will be reporting the details to His Imperial Majesty himself in time. I alone will bear all the responsibility resulting from this incident as well. Your concern is unnecessary.”

“‘It is our natural duty to share the tribulations of the sages’. How can I not be concerned about this?”

Cui Qingshan sneered. “Besides, the Nanjiang war is a war that affects the foundation of our empire. Now that it has gone to shit, our armies are annihilated, our reputation is lost, and His Imperial Majesty’s dignity has suffered, do you seriously think that a simple, ‘I will bear all the responsibility’ is enough to make up for everything?”

“Besides, this is a matter that affects the foundation of our empire as I said earlier. Can you even bear the responsibility yourself?”

“Ahem… stop arguing. You’re all giving me a headache. Can’t an old man get some shut eye?”

The tension was sharp enough to lob heads when suddenly, an old, lazy voice came from a corner. There, an old man who seemed to be dozing off until a moment ago stretched and swept his murky gaze across the group.

“My apologies for disturbing your nap, Elder Wan. Can you please offer us guidance?” Cui Qingshan said in a respectful tone completely unlike the one he used against General Li earlier.

The old man might look like he had one foot in the grave, but there wasn’t a single person present who dared to underestimate him.

The old man’s name was Wan Bainian, and he was a hundred and thirty years old this year. He was also the Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat of Chu.

If that was all he was, then the people present would not be so wary of him. After all, there wasn’t a single person in this palace who wasn’t a high official with tens of thousands of people under their command.

The crux of the matter was that Wan Bainian wasn’t just the current Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, but also an elder with three imperial reigns under his belt. In fact, he was the Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat for three reigns straight.

He had started as nothing during the first year of the late Emperor Wen Jing and climbed all the way to Senior Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat. He was the one who assisted Emperor Wen Jing in establishing an age of literary prosperity. After Emperor Wen Jing passed away, and Emperor Long Qing ascended the throne, he continued to hold the position and toiled long and hard in support of his emperor, achieving countless merits in the process. When it was finally Emperor Jing Run’s to rule, the emperor boldly and decisively conducted a reorganization that would see the replacement of almost all of the high officials in the court. Wan Bainian was the one and only person who wasn’t affected as if he was untouchable.

Today, even Emperor Jing Run must address Wan Bainian respectfully as “Elder Wan”. He was also one of the handful of people who were allowed to enter the imperial palace on a litter, not kneel when he had an audience with the emperor, and take a seat during an assembly.

To say that he was revered would be an understatement. That was why even the arrogant Cui Qingshan had no choice but to treat him with the deepest respect.

“What guidance can I possibly offer at my age? I just find it annoying that you are speaking too loudly, that’s all.”

Wan Bainian said slowly, “At my age, it’s so easy for me to doze off without me noticing. Please empathize with this old man and speak a little quieter. And of course, try to keep the conversation on the useful side of things.”

“What’s happened has happened. It is already too late to assign blame. The important thing right now is to find a solution. As Director Cui says, this is something that affects the roots of the empire. If we don’t manage it properly, it could easily cause a major upheaval in all levels of society. We must be careful.”

“Besides, I’m sure His Imperial Majesty would not enjoy us shouting expletives and throwing spit at each other like fishwifes, and yet produce nothing of use in the end.”

“You are right, Elder Wan.” Cui Qingshan and Li Chengzhong both saluted him before Cui Qingshan asked, “Can you please offer us your expert opinion, Elder Wan?”

“You jest, Director Cui. I am an old man with one foot in the grave. What expert opinion can I possibly give you?” Wan Bainian waved him off. “It is up to you younglings to share the burden of His Imperial Highness now!”

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

“That said, considering that His Imperial Highness hasn’t arrived yet, I believe that he has already arrived at a decision.”

“Oh? How do you know?” Cui Qingshan asked curiously.

“It’s just a guess.” Wan Bainian chuckled good-naturedly.

Like I’ll believe that, you terrible, cunning old man!

Cui Qingshan sneered mentally.

It was at this moment a palace attendant stepped in from the inner hall.

“Where is His Imperial Majesty, Eunuch Li?” Cui Qingshan asked the palace attendant.

“His Imperial Majesty has gone to the Heavens' Eye Tower, so there will be no court. Please return,” Eunuch Li reported.

“He’s visiting the Heavens' Eye Tower?”

Cui Qingshan, Li Chengzhong and more all exchanged a confused glance with each other. This hardly seemed like the time to be visiting the Heavens' Eye Tower.

A flicker of intelligence appeared in Wan Bainian’s murky eyes. “Is His Imperial Majesty planning to use the Heaven’s Eye?”

“You are as wise as ever, Elder Wan,” Eunuch Li replied with a smile.

“Heavens’ Eye?” Li Chengzhong frowned deeply. “His Imperial Majesty is planning to take out the Nanjiang Royal Court himself?”

The Heavens’ Eye was the national relic of Chu and ranked sixth on the “Strange Artifact Register”. It could guard the realm, suppress evils, and even move mountains and turn over seas.

It was clear now that Emperor Jing Run was planning to destroy the Nanjiang Royal Court using the Heavens’ Eye.

“The Heavens’ Eye is an important artifact that guards the entire realm. Isn’t it a little too risky?” Li Chengzhong voiced his worry.

Heavens’ Eye could suppress evils and guard Chu because fragments of its power was scattered across the entire realm. If Emperor Jing Run plans to use Heavens’ Eye, then he must first assemble all these fragments. Once Heavens’ Eye unleashed its full power, it would become much weaker than before and require a long time to recover.

As a result, Heavens’ Eye would no longer be able to watch over the entire realm as it had before. The prefectures and the commanderies were one thing—they had enough guards and elites to handle the Strangers and protect the people from harm—but the counties, villagers, and other secluded and backwater places where manpower was low would surely be beset with disaster.

Besides that, Heavens’ Eye was the national relic and the guardian of the Will of the Empire. Therefore, unleashing its power would damage Chu’s Will of the Empire as well.

Finally, Heavens’ Eye could only be used by the emperor, and Emperor Jing Run was not a Sage. The consequences were unimaginable if something bad were to happen during this time.