The Winds Rise, Left Prime Minister Leaves the Capital

At the Imperial Garden, by the Curved Lotus Lake.

A middle-aged man in a dragon robe sat on a small boat, feeding the fish in the lake.

"My dear companion, do we have any new candidates for promoting Sacred Emperor Rice?"

Emperor Yuanchu scattered a handful of fish food and asked casually.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there is a new candidate."

"The Minister of Revenue has recommended the Left Prime Minister to promote the Sacred Emperor Rice."

Eunuch Su recounted everything in detail.

"The Left Prime Minister?" Emperor Yuanchu shook his head. "Unsuitable, indeed unsuitable."

"The Left Prime Minister is already advanced in years. To have him travel across the Seventy-Two Commandery of Great Qian—how would the people of the world view Us?"

"Would they think We are mistreating an old official?"

Eunuch Su understood Emperor Yuanchu's thoughts and quickly played along.

"Your Majesty, besides the Minister of Revenue, there are also the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, and twelve Censors, totaling thirty-nine people, all unanimously recommending the Left Prime Minister."

Upon hearing the identities of those who made the recommendation, a glint of shrewdness flashed in Emperor Yuanchu's eyes.

These were all the Crown Prince's people.

It seemed the Crown Prince wasn't entirely foolish.

After listening to Eunuch Su's report, Emperor Yuanchu sighed, a helpless expression on his face.

"Alas—"

"The Left Prime Minister, truly the choice of the people!"

"Though We are reluctant, We cannot disappoint the public's hopes. We can only trouble the Left Prime Minister a little, so that the common people of the world may enjoy some benefits."

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty; the common people across the land will surely know that it is Your Majesty who has brought them these benefits."

Eunuch Su showered him with flattery, pleasing Emperor Yuanchu to his core.

"Issue an edict: the Left Prime Minister is to undertake the task of promoting Sacred Emperor Rice. He is to depart immediately, without delay."

At the Left Prime Minister's Residence.

The Left Prime Minister's expression subtly changed as he listened to Eunuch Su read the imperial edict.

Even after decades of navigating political storms, his heart was still stirred by a tumultuous wave after hearing the contents of the edict.

For a moment, he couldn't react.

Seeing no movement from the Left Prime Minister, Eunuch Su urged him.

"Left Prime Minister, are you not accepting the edict?"

"Could it be that you intend to defy it?"

Eunuch Su's sinister words startled the Left Prime Minister awake.

The Left Prime Minister sighed inwardly and said helplessly, "This old official accepts the edict!"

The Left Prime Minister saw through the intent of Emperor Yuanchu's edict at a glance.

However, this was an overt scheme.

It used the meritorious deed of promoting Sacred Emperor Rice—a deed worthy of being recorded in history—to make him leave the central government.

As a subject, what more could he say?

Aside from expressing gratitude, he could do nothing.

If he refused, the people of the world would only think he was ungrateful.

"Eunuch Su, does His Majesty have any other instructions?"

"His Majesty said that you, Left Prime Minister, are to depart immediately, without delay."

"The countless common people of Great Qian are eagerly awaiting you, Left Prime Minister."

The Left Prime Minister's heart sank.

Fast!

Too fast!

His Majesty was clearly impatient to have him leave the central government.

"Oh—that's right!"

"There's one more thing His Majesty instructed this old servant to convey to you, Left Prime Minister."

"This old official awaits the imperial decree."

The Left Prime Minister bowed, his face solemn.

"Left Prime Minister, there's no need to be nervous. His Majesty merely wishes to discuss his experience with feeding fish with you."

Feeding fish?

The Left Prime Minister paused, then saw Eunuch Su slowly begin to speak.

"His Majesty said that feeding fish is like governing a nation. If the fish are well-behaved, then feed them more. If they fight and snatch, then starve them for a few meals. And if they still refuse to settle down, then one can only harden their heart and kill them."

"After all, there's more than one fish."

After hearing this, a glint flickered in the Left Prime Minister's eyes.

His Majesty's words weren't meant for him.

Instead, they were meant for the Crown Prince, conveyed through his ears.

Why must it come to this?

Why must it come to this!

After Eunuch Su left, a young man in green robes congratulated him with a joyful expression.

"Congratulations, Father, congratulations!"

"Your name will be etched in history; it's only a matter of time."

Seeing his son foolishly congratulate him, the Left Prime Minister frowned deeply and shook his head.

"Do you really think this is a good assignment?"

"Father, isn't it? Every official in the court is vying for this opportunity. His Majesty still values you, Father, which is why he entrusted this task to you."

After listening to his son, the Left Prime Minister sighed, not even having the heart to scold him.

His son had absolutely no political acumen.

If not for my protection, he'd be sold out and still help count the money for those who sold him!

Leaving the chaotic Jade Capital might not be a bad thing after all.

"After your father leaves the Jade Capital, who will oversee matters for the Crown Prince?"

"Huh?"

The young man in green robes was instantly dumbfounded.

He hadn't considered that at all.

"Father, what do we do?"

"You've already accepted the imperial decree. If… this… you can't defy it."

The young man in green robes shrank back, his face filled with worry.

"What to do?"

"What else can we do?"

"Return all the gifts sent by the Crown Prince to the Eastern Palace."

"From today onwards, you will accompany your father to the commanderies and counties to promote Sacred Emperor Rice."

"We will not return to the Jade Capital until success is achieved."

"What do the storms and troubles of the Jade Capital have to do with us?"

After speaking, the Left Prime Minister felt a sense of relief and invigoration, his posture even straightening a bit.

Eastern Palace.

"All the gifts sent to the Left Prime Minister were returned?"

"Reporting to His Highness, these gifts were untouched, not a single item missing."

The Eastern Palace's chief clerk reported, his head lowered.

He could already feel the surging rage from the Crown Prince.

Bang!

The Crown Prince kicked over the low table, his expression twisted, like an Asura from the Nine Netherworld.

"Why?"

"Why?"

"Imperial Father, what did your son do wrong?"

The Crown Prince roared in anger, like a wild beast in the wilderness.

In the dimly lit secret chamber.

Candlelight flickered, illuminating a corner of the room.

"Saintess, your foresight is truly divine. As expected, the Left Prime Minister has left the capital."

"Just one fake letter was enough to sow discord between the dog emperor, the Crown Prince, and Prince Zhenbei."

"Your wisdom, Saintess, truly earns my utmost admiration."

The ethereal young woman's lips curved slightly upward upon hearing her subordinate's flattery.

Her smile was as beautiful as a secluded orchid in an empty valley, pure, flawless, and elegantly refined.

"Flies don't land on seamless eggs."

"If the dog emperor, the Crown Prince, and Prince Zhenbei were truly inseparable,"

"I wouldn't be able to drive a wedge between them, no matter how hard I tried."

"Ultimately, all I did was hand the dog emperor a knife, and he used it to stab the Crown Prince himself."

The ethereal young woman nodded slightly.

There was no surprise in her clear eyes.

The relationship between emperors and their Crown Princes has always been like this throughout history.

"Heh heh, Prince Zhenbei probably still doesn't know he's been saddled with a scapegoat."

The old man chuckled, recalling the Saintess's scheme, and couldn't help but feel admiration.

A forged letter was deliberately left for the Black Ice Platform's spies to discover and deliver to Emperor Yuanchu.

And then...

The Left Prime Minister, head of all civil officials, was demoted and exiled from the Jade Capital.

Truly, brilliant!

"How are things with Wildcat?" the ethereal young woman asked, changing the subject.

"Because that letter was exposed, he's being hunted by Prince Zhenbei."

"However, the Grand Elder has already gone north to cover Wildcat's retreat."

"Have Wildcat come to the Jade Capital. I have a new person for him to meet."

"Understood, Saintess!"

"Also, when do we start making contact with the Crown Prince?"

"No rush!" The ethereal young woman shook her head. "It's not our time to appear yet."

"The Crown Prince is still like a trapped beast fighting for its life."

"Without the Left Prime Minister, his greatest support, the Crown Prince will certainly not give up."

"He will most likely set his sights on Shang Hongye."

"Shang Hongye's marriage recruitment?"

"Exactly! The Crown Prince, having lost an arm, is desperate to replenish his strength."

"Is there any better tonic than Prince Zhenbei's military power?"

The ethereal young woman could almost see that once Shang Hongye entered the capital, a fierce struggle would undoubtedly erupt.

All the imperial princes would surely fight tooth and nail for Shang Hongye.

"However, the harder he struggles, the tighter the dog emperor's chains will become."

"Ultimately... he will be strangled to death."

"Only when the Crown Prince is in despair can we approach him."

"After all, we are rebels and traitors."

"Unless he's desperate, why would the Crown Prince listen to us?"

Seeing the Saintess's confidence, the old man felt relieved and made a hand gesture.

"Wusheng Laomu, True Emptiness Homeland."

"The Unborn Mother will surely protect us, and the plan will succeed."