"Is there anything else that needs attending to today?"
"It's all been taken care of. I'll take my leave now, Your Majesty."
Watching the minister of state walk away at an unhurried pace, Emperor Si Nan Liang let out a faint sigh.
That minister, honestly. At first, he'd been so respectful, but now he was using fewer and fewer honorifics...
Still, it couldn't be helped. Si Nan Liang was emperor in name, but within the Si Nan Family, his standing was no better than a Great Elder's—and he had even less say than most elders. After all, the emperor was little more than a puppet, in name only. He knew his place. The family had "foisted" the job of emperor on him because he had no ambition to speak of and wouldn't overestimate himself by doing anything foolish.
To be honest, Si Nan Liang wasn't dissatisfied with his situation. In fact, he rather enjoyed it. He was an emperor, after all. He might have no real power, but he still had the finest treatment. Besides, the family elders made all the important decisions. He only had to carry out their orders, so there was no need to worry about anything himself. His only work was the day-to-day business. Once he'd finished his duties, he could spend the rest of his time however he pleased. Where else could he find such a cushy job?
As he strolled through the somewhat deserted palace corridors, Si Nan Liang considered where to while away the time. The imperial garden? The study? The lotus pond? The harem? He was sick of every one of them. He couldn't help feeling a little bored.
Someone familiar came toward him: a hunched figure, gray-white beard and hair, and a comical face with an expression that always made people