The emperor refused to affix his seal, insisting on promoting Qin Zhong!!
The Court Hall fell into a deadlock.
Emperor Jingde swept his gaze over the assembled ministers and declared with iron resolve:
"I am the Nine-Five Supreme! The Embroidered Uniform Guard is the Emperor's Personal Guard! My authority is absolute!"
He would not yield!
Jia Huan was defiant and disrespectful, utterly disobedient. Letting him command the Embroidered Uniform Guard posed far too great a danger!
The Chief Grand Secretary hesitated for a moment, then fulfilled his duty, remonstrating in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, Pacification Commissioner Jia's command of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is what everyone desires. Great Qian's martial world also submits to his authority. For the stability of the state and its altars, it must be Pacification Commissioner Jia. Otherwise, there will be great upheaval."
"Upheaval?" Emperor Jingde's face darkened as he demanded sharply:
"With me here, why should we fear upheaval? Which fiends harboring sinister schemes would dare challenge the Great Qian Realm?"
The Chief Grand Secretary fell silent.
It was not that he could not argue, but that he no longer wished to speak.
The other ministers likewise bowed their heads without a word.
Only that morning, His Majesty had allowed Jiang Wuyuan to leave the Capital precisely to avoid upheaval.
Now, every other word out of his mouth was that he feared no upheaval.
At bottom, he simply did not want Pacification Commissioner Jia to rise to power, regardless of the consequences.
Jia Huan watched the Imperial Throne, then stepped forward without a word.
The two eunuchs from the Ancestral Hall kept their eyes fixed on him.
Jia Huan merely presented the case files to the Retired Emperor.
The Retired Emperor opened them and read through them. Soon, his brows knitted tightly, and he