After Shen Gongbao took the Investiture List and the Xuanyuan Sword's hilt, he withdrew to Zi Shou's side.
Zi Shou stood dazed for a moment. Seeing no further stir between heaven and earth, he began to ponder.
It should be my turn to take the stage now, right?
With the Ten Charges laid out and the Investiture List revealed, my reputation as a muddleheaded ruler is firmly established.
A whole bunch of feudal lords and nobles have openly rebelled. Surely I can't still be praised by all.
Now I should cement it.
Zi Shou worked himself into the right mood, then said:
"This is April of Di Xin Year Twelve."
"Five years ago, Yuan Futong of the North Sea rebelled with the Seventy-Two Route Lords. The realm fell into chaos, and it has not settled down since. I have scarcely enjoyed a peaceful day."
"Four years ago, an immortal came to the palace and declared that he would do away with my beloved consort. A few months later, my elder brother launched a rebellion with generals who had loyally served Great Shang for decades. A senior grandee of the court even tried to assassinate me."
"That same year, the Four Seas Dragon Kings flooded Chentang Pass, bringing days of torrential rain. Meanwhile, Guanjiangkou suffered years of drought because it had offended some immortal or god. How far apart were those two places, really?"
"Later, Tu Fang, whom the late King Wu Ding had driven onto the grasslands, plucked up the courage to march south. They even besieged Chaoge and killed our Great Shang envoys. They declared that they would withdraw only if I handed over my consorts and paid annual tribute. After that, even the Eastern Yi, who had never dared breathe too loudly, rebelled."
"Three years ago, the feudal