Wouldn’t that be no different from selling pigs?
No, that wouldn’t do. Definitely not. He couldn’t say that—his master would kick him to death.
“My lord.” Just as he stepped outside, a young soldier hurried over. “An imperial decree has arrived from the palace. His Majesty wishes to see you in the Imperial Study.”
“Understood,” Shen Xiabai said in a low voice. Yu Feng, standing beside him, furrowed his brows as well.
“Master, could His Majesty have found out about you and Madam recently…”
“We’ll discuss it after I get there.” Shen Xiabai straightened his robes and boarded the carriage into the palace.
Inside the Imperial Study, the emperor was holding a book, reclining in his dragon throne as he read. The brazier in the room crackled loudly.
Shen Xiabai stood in the middle of the hall, unable to see the emperor’s face at all. “I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”
The emperor slowly lowered the book, revealing his face. “Minister Shen has arrived. Come, sit, sit.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Shen Xiabai took the seat to the emperor’s lower right.
The emperor lifted his teacup and took a sip, gesturing for Shen Xiabai to drink as well. Then he asked, “Has the Office of Punishments been very busy these past two days? I haven’t seen you come to the palace to keep me company.”
“It has been manageable.” Shen Xiabai’s replies were always curt.
The emperor nodded. “I hear the Office of Punishments has recently been conducting a thorough investigation into corruption among the court officials?”
Shen Xiabai inclined his head. “It has been some time since we last investigated any cases, and certain officials have grown increasingly bold. Since I have earned Your Majesty’s trust, I must naturally help you purge these parasites and restore clarity to the realm.”
“Mm.” The emperor nodded. “Well said. The court’s silver belongs to the countless people of Great Liang, not to those who would line their own pockets. How is the investigation going? Have you achieved any results?”
“Several officials who embezzled vast sums have already been imprisoned for further investigation. As for the others, in consideration of their contributions to the state, they have merely been given minor punishments as a warning.”
“Mm, you’ve done very well.” The emperor set down his book and looked at Shen Xiabai. “However, those capable of embezzling such large sums must hold positions of no small rank. Most of them are protected and concealed by fellow officials. I know as well as anyone that there are many factions operating in secret within the court.”
Shen Xiabai said nothing.
The emperor fixed his gaze on him and continued, “I imagine countless people have their eyes on your position, and even more have tried to win you over. Has no one offered you gifts, seeking your protection?”
The Imperial Study fell utterly silent. Even the eunuch standing nearby scarcely dared to breathe.
Shen Xiabai slowly raised his eyes to meet the emperor’s gaze. The emperor was watching him as well.
After a long moment, the emperor suddenly laughed. “I was only speaking offhand. There’s no need to take it to heart, my beloved Minister Shen. Since I placed you in this position, I naturally trust you.”
Shen Xiabai cupped his hands and smiled faintly. “Your Majesty flatters me. If I come across something I take a fancy to, I may keep it for myself—but accepting it will not hinder me from investigating and dealing with them.”
The emperor laughed heartily. “That forthrightness of yours is precisely what I like.”
“They say censors are paragons of integrity, untouched by wealth and corruption. Have you uncovered anything from them these past few days?”
Shen Xiabai’s eyes narrowed, sharpening the already keen edge at their corners. “Your Majesty, you’re speaking with an ulterior motive.”
The emperor rose and paced down from the dais. Shen Xiabai rose with him.
The Emperor patted him on the shoulder and motioned for him to sit. “Those censors in court yesterday were acting on your orders, weren’t they?”
With his hands folded inside his sleeves, the Emperor gazed up at the beams. “I’ve thought it over carefully. There are only a handful of people in the entire court who could threaten the censors—and I’m afraid you’re the only one among them, my dear minister.”
He turned his head and fixed his eyes on Shen Xiabai. “Why are you so determined to drive Xiao Lan to her death?”
Shen Xiabai’s expression did not change, though the fingers hidden inside his sleeve tightened slightly. “The princess committed a crime and deserves to die. As the head of the Office of Judicial Review, it is my duty to uphold the law without leniency.”
The Emperor said, “But she bears the surname Xiao. She is a princess, my younger sister, and the daughter of the Empress Dowager. She is a member of the imperial family. I, at least, still have some regard for familial ties.”
“Your Majesty was the one who said that when a prince breaks the law, he is to be punished just as an ordinary citizen. The only person to whom I owe loyalty—and the only person I fear—is Your Majesty.”
“But is that truly how you have acted?” The Emperor’s voice grew heavy.
“Is Shen Xiabai’s loyalty truly given to me?”
“It always has been,” Shen Xiabai replied.
The Emperor stared at him for a long while before suddenly laughing. “I won’t ask why you insist on killing her anymore.”
He paced back up the imperial steps. “The Empress Dowager has intervened and granted her ten days’ respite. Do you think you can still have your way?”
Shen Xiabai’s eyes were filled with icy light. He cupped his hands and said, “That will depend entirely on Your Majesty’s wishes.”
The Emperor nodded. “I can grant you your wish.”
“The position of Minister of War has been vacant for some time. Cui Yunli and the Second Prince’s faction have been fighting over it tooth and nail. In your opinion, who has the greater chance of winning?”
Shen Xiabai’s heart sank. “The entire Great Liang belongs to Your Majesty. For such a minor matter, it should likewise be decided according to Your Majesty’s wishes.”
“I hope neither of them gets it,” the Emperor said. “There is a Lord Zhou in the Ministry of Personnel. I find him capable; he should be able to take up the position of Minister of War.”
Shen Xiabai frowned.
For someone from the Ministry of Personnel to take over the Ministry of War—and as its minister, no less—did not conform to the usual requirements. But once the Emperor gave the order, there was naturally no further question.
And the Emperor’s move clearly meant that he intended to cultivate another trusted subordinate and build up another power base. He had grown suspicious of Shen Xiabai and was beginning to keep him at a distance.
“To have won Your Majesty’s regard, Lord Zhou must possess no small measure of ability.”
The Emperor nodded. “He can be considered a veteran official as well. He has spent years as a vice minister without receiving a promotion, and has long been frustrated and unfulfilled.”
“Oh, that reminds me.” The Emperor continued, “I believe Lord Zhou has a daughter around your age. I saw her from a distance at the palace banquet some time ago. She is as lovely as a flower, dignified and poised. I think she would make an excellent match for you. What do you think?”
Shen Xiabai abruptly raised his eyes and met the Emperor’s faint smile.
“I already told Your Majesty my answer some time ago.”
The Emperor said, “My dear Minister Shen, the most important thing in officialdom is knowing how to adapt. I’ve made my meaning this clear, and you still intend to walk down this path to the bitter end?”
“Are you not afraid,” the Emperor said, raising a hand to point at him, “that at the end of it, an arrow will be shot straight into your chest?”
“Then it will simply mean that my allotted fate has run its course, and that I am meant to die.” Shen Xiabai lowered his eyes, his voice calm and detached.
The Emperor was startled for a moment, then gave a cold laugh. “Very well. You may leave.”
Shen Xiabai rose, bowed, and withdrew from the imperial study. The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, watching his departing figure.
“I’d like to see just how capable you are—whether you can actually force Me to arrange a marriage for you.” He let out a cold snort and smashed the teacup beside him.
The eunuch at his side bent at the waist and withdrew with Shen Xiabai.
“His Majesty has given you chance after chance, my lord. Why must you be so stubborn? Lord Zhou’s daughter is quite a fine young woman—I’ve met her myself.”
Shen Xiabai glanced sideways at the eunuch. “If you’d had a choice back then, would you have chosen to become a eunuch?”
“…”
The eunuch faltered. “To be able to remain at His Majesty’s side is this old servant’s greatest blessing in life.”
“That’s only because you don’t dare speak the truth. You had no choice.”
With that, he strode out of the palace.
The eunuch watched his departing figure for a long while before sighing. “If there had been a choice, who would willingly become a eunuch?”
Then, as the thought settled in, he suddenly understood. He was merely a servant with no choice—but Lord Shen was different. He had a choice. Naturally, he intended to risk everything for it.
The eunuch shook his head. “Is it really necessary? Whom you marry shouldn’t matter.”
