The Vassals Pay Homage

Year 8 of Di Xin

Fourth Month of Summer

The four Great Earls of the realm led eight hundred lords to pay court to Shang. All the lords entered the city of Chaoge.

"Earl of the East, Jiang Hengchu, enter and pay court to the Great King!"

"Earl of the South, E Chongyu, enter and pay court to the Great King!"

"Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, enter and pay court to the Great King!"

"Earl of the North, Chong Houhu, enter and pay court to the Great King!"

The herald stood below the jade steps and shouted loudly. Four men, dressed in neat court attire and adorned with tinkling jade pendants, walked in from the Meridian Gate.

"Your subject, Earl of the East, Jiang Hengchu, pays his respects to the Great King!"

Jiang Hengchu was a middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion, a clean face without a beard, and a strong build. Just standing there exuded an indescribable majesty.

After Jiang Hengchu took his position, the herald took out the ceremonial silks and shouted loudly:

"Earl of the East, Jiang Hengchu, presents one dou of purple-patterned pearls, ten ten-thousand-year coral trees, ten lucky golden fish, five night-blooming pearls, and slaves, slaves..."

As he reached the end, the herald's face showed a look of horror. He looked at Di Xin on the throne with a deathly pale face, clearly flustered and at a loss.

"What excellent gifts my Imperial Father-in-law has given me, to render my herald speechless with excitement."

Di Xin laughed heartily and flicked his golden-sleeved robe:

"Continue reading!"

"Yes!"

After Di Xin spoke, the herald calmed down considerably, though his voice still trembled: Something big is about to happen!

"Thirty thousand slaves!"

--Whoosh!

As expected, when the herald announced the last item of tribute, the entire hall erupted in an uproar!

"How dare you, Earl of the East! How can you present slaves as tribute?"

"Slaves are only presented during funeral rites. Jiang Hengchu, you are a disgrace to your title as Imperial Father-in-law. Do you wish for Yin Shang to fall?"

"Great King! Your subject requests the beheading of Jiang Hengchu to quell the people's resentment!"

Slaves? Well done!

Behind the beaded curtain, Di Xin's expression was one of mild amusement. It's been months since I've attended court, and it seems some people can't wait any longer.

"Enough."

Di Xin spoke, and the entire hall instantly fell silent. Loyal ministers like Shang Rong were all wearing angry expressions. Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was furious and strode out of the hall in a few steps:

"Guards! Go to the Grand Tutor's mansion and fetch the King-Beating Whip bestowed by the Late King!"

"Grand Tutor, wait a moment. How could my father-in-law harm me? There must be some hidden reason. Why don't we quiet down and hear what my father-in-law has to say first."

Di Xin spoke, stopping Wen Zhong. The show had just begun, and they needed the performers to complete their act.

"Hmph!"

Wen Zhong grunted and turned back into the hall, his face still showing a hint of anger.

The Earl of the East, Jiang Hengchu, his heart deserves to be punished!

"Great King, you may not know, but these thirty thousand slaves are the families of the strong laborers who built the Star-Gathering Pavilion. I have taken this opportunity of the grand celebration to reunite ten thousand families with the Great King, congratulating Yin Shang on its eternal prosperity!"

Jiang Hengchu spoke with genuine emotion, his voice powerful and his demeanor unwavering.

"This? That does make sense!"

"Bah! Only when the Late King dies can the eight hundred lords send slaves to Chaoge for burial! Now that the eight hundred lords are celebrating Chaoge together, Jiang Hengchu's actions are clearly malicious!"

"I heard that the Great King has not visited the Central Palace for several months. Is Jiang Hengchu trying to use this opportunity to support his daughter?"

"So that's how it is. Excellent!"

Di Xin clapped his hands and laughed heartily, showing no displeasure towards Jiang Hengchu. However, Jiang Hengchu showed a hint of strangeness on his face: Has this Di Xin truly changed his ways?

Earl of the South, E Chongyu, a burly man, exchanged a look with Jiang Hengchu and Ji Chang before stepping forward to stand beside Jiang Hengchu:

"Your subject, Earl of the South, E Chongyu, congratulates the Great King on his boundless fortune and golden peace!"

After E Chongyu took his position, the herald began to announce the gifts according to etiquette:

"Earl of the South, E Chongyu, presents ten thousand catties of top-grade warm jade, one thousand roots of golden nanmu, ten clever spirit birds, and slaves, slaves, twenty thousand!"

The herald stammered out the last gift, and the entire court fell silent once more. Unlike the questioning of Earl of the East, Jiang Hengchu, this time even a blind man could see that these two Earls had definitely colluded!

"Good. Marquis of the West, proceed with the announcement directly."

Di Xin reclined on his throne, resting his head on one hand, speaking with a lack of energy.

"Your subject, Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, congratulates the Great King on his boundless fortune and everlasting reign."

Ji Chang was an elder with white hair and a kind face. At this moment, he slowly stood alongside the other two, and the entire great hall fell so silent one could hear a pin drop.

"Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, presents one Seven-Fragrance Chariot, one Sobering Felt, ten Spirit Monkeys, and ten Beauties, along with twenty thousand slaves!"

"Excellent, excellent. I presume the families of those slaves I conscripted from all directions have now arrived in Chaoge. I was just worried that the killings in the north were too severe, leaving fertile land barren. I never expected my three loyal ministers to understand my thoughts so well, delivering a pillow right when I was about to fall asleep. You deserve rewards! You deserve rewards!"

Di Xin struggled to rise, took two steps forward, and reached out to pat Yin Jiao's shoulder.

"Now that the Star-Gathering Pavilion is completed, with not a single one of the one hundred thousand slaves dead, this is the true auspicious sign for my Yin Shang!

Now, the three great Earls have sent the families of our auspicious ones from Yin Shang. Isn't this a sign of continuous good fortune?

Jiao'er, you are the Crown Prince, tell me, how should these... slaves be rewarded?"

Yin Jiao was stunned. Why did Father King sound like he had hidden meanings?

"Reporting to Father King, your child believes that these slaves and their families should be granted the removal of their slave status and be promoted to commoners.

My Yin Shang was founded with Ancestor Tang, whose discerning eye recognized the talent of Yi Yin, who was originally a slave. This led to the prosperous era of my Yin Shang's empire, with all the feudal lords paying homage.

Now, auspiciousness has once again descended upon ordinary slaves. Isn't this a sign for Father King to emulate our ancestors and elevate Yin Shang to greater heights?"

"Inappropriate, inappropriate."

Di Xin shook his head, feigning disapproval.

"If we merely allow them to shed their slave status, then what benefit is there compared to actual slaves? Jiao'er, you must understand that auspiciousness descends upon 'slaves,' not just a group of people.

Moreover, with the eight hundred feudal lords congratulating Chaoge, using slaves as gifts, this must have a deeper meaning."

"Great King! Great King! Your subject Fei Zhong has guessed it!"

Di Xin and Yin Jiao, father and son, were putting on a show. Fei Zhong was engrossed in listening and, seeing Di Xin give him a look, immediately understood a sentence Di Xin had once said:

"Fei Zhong, you understand my thoughts best. These slaves are also human. It is truly too cruel for them to be innocently buried alive."

"Great King! Your subject Fei Zhong has guessed the profound meaning of the three Earls."

"Oh, then you tell me."

Di Xin inwardly gave Fei Zhong a thumbs-up. What a cunning minister, his cooperation was indeed excellent.

"The Great King once asked the court officials, 'Are slaves also human?' I recall the officials' reply was 'Yes.'

And yet, though slaves are human, they are made to be buried alive like livestock. Such a custom is against the will of heaven, yet because it is an ancestral ritual, no one has dared to abandon it.

Now, the three Earls are presenting the 'ritual of burial alive' as a 'ritual of congratulation.' Isn't this saying: Great King, should the old ritual of burying slaves alive be abolished?

Your subject Fei Zhong agrees with the proposal of the three Earls to abolish the old ritual of burying slaves alive!"