The Empror's Trap

Chapter 79: Ch 79 - Controversy

However, facing this situation, Kenji didn’t make the first move.

He couldn’t move first. Though his power was indeed great and most court ministers would give him face - besides the Emperor and Chancellor, few in court dared to openly oppose him - he still needed support from these officials below him.

Although his power was great enough to influence the Emperor to dismiss certain officials, such power couldn’t be used carelessly. So usually when dealing with his colleagues, he remained quite polite unless there was a major issue. If there needed to be opposition, he couldn’t do it personally - he needed someone of similar rank to do it.

Kenji glanced back slightly and gave a meaningful look to a military commander behind him. The commander understood Kenji’s meaning and immediately stepped forward, bowing: "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

"Speak freely," Pluvia said.

"Just now several ministers said if Your Majesty executes Prince Yunis, the world will criticize Your Majesty. May I ask these ministers, how do you think the world will criticize Her Majesty?"

The commander’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at them.

"This... naturally they will say her Majesty disregards family ties and loyalty to meritorious officials... the world will generally criticize thus," that minister hesitated briefly before saying.

"Yes, if speaking of criticism, it would mainly be such. However, minister, Camelot empire has its laws, and according to law, execution is appropriate. The rebellion Prince Yunis incited caused over ten civilian deaths in the city. If he is not executed now, how can we comfort the people’s hearts?"

"I once heard the sages say: ’The way of rulership is to comfort the people’s hearts and establish the ruler’s credibility; with the ruler’s credibility the people’s hearts are at peace, without it they scatter.’ Now Your Majesty acts according to law - not Camelot’s royal family law, but Camelot empire’s universal law. How can there be problem in laws that serve country and people?"

"The law was established by Camelot. Executing Prince Yunis now precisely demonstrates Your Majesty’s fair and impartial enforcement of the law. How can the common people criticize? So-called criticism is merely the method of pedantic scholars."

The general stated these points simply and logically. For a moment, the minister had to consider carefully before speaking his thoughts.

"General, I don’t necessarily agree," he said. "Your Majesty executing Prince Yunis won’t much help Camelot’s current internal stability. The problem now is that there are still various ill-intentioned people throughout Camelot. If Your Majesty acts, they are already sensitive - such stimulation might..."

"Following your meaning, minister, being so timid, how can we intimidate others? Though Camelot empire promotes benevolent governance, benevolence is neither negligence nor pure tolerance. Forgive my directness, but Your Majesty’s willingness to act according to law is truly Camelot’s fortune - what’s wrong with that?"

With the sound of court dismissal, the ministers left the hall, but only Kenji remained standing there.

"You haven’t withdrawn - do you have something to tell me?" Pluvia returned to the hall and asked.

By custom, at court dismissal, she as emperor would withdraw first, then the ministers. So she had actually been about to leave, but seeing Kenji hadn’t moved at all, she came back to ask.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I have a message from Prince Yunis - something he wishes to request of Your Majesty."

"You went to see Yunis?" Pluvia looked at him and asked.

"Prince Yunis rebelled - naturally I needed to understand clearly and investigate his accomplices thoroughly," Kenji said calmly.

"Mm, thank you for your hard work. What does he want to tell me?"

"He hopes that when he is about to die, you can be by his side."

After speaking, Kenji watched Her face.

Pluvia’s eye corner twitched imperceptibly, then she nodded: "I understand. I will consider it."

After saying this, she turned to leave.

Suddenly, she turned her head back to look at Kenji: "You’d better keep your distance from Yunis. I don’t want to really become an emperor who kills meritorious officials."

"...Your Majesty need not worry, I know my limits."

Kenji bowed, then slowly withdrew.