Chapter 6
Edward Quan ·
The Grand Preceptor’s expression changed violently. His legs weakened.
“Your old servant greets Your Majesty!”
Jiang Xueci hurriedly knelt too.
“This humble woman greets Your Majesty!”
I grinned at the emperor.
“Your Majesty, a moment later and I’d have had to start killing.”
He shook his head helplessly.
“Minister Su, I knew you were a troublemaker. I’d barely returned to the palace before hearing you’d crippled someone in the street.”
At “Minister Su,” the Grand Preceptor began trembling.
He raised his head in disbelief.
“Your Majesty… what did you call her?”
The Minister of War stepped forward and pointed at him.
“Jiang Quan, have you gone senile? His Majesty personally examined Su Yuqiao and named her martial champion! You brought troops to surround and kill the newly selected champion. Are you planning rebellion?”
The old man went ashen and kowtowed desperately.
“Your Majesty, see the truth! I didn’t know she was genuine. I thought she was an impostor!”
Jiang Xueci still refused to give up hope.
She looked up, her face full of grievance.
“Your Majesty! She’s a village girl. How could she understand strategy? Look at her. She clearly bribed the Minister of War with her body to get that title!”
The minister’s face darkened with fury.
“Bullshit! His Majesty and I reviewed Champion Su’s strategy essay together! ‘On the Fastest Way to Decapitate the Enemy Commander’—her tactics were brilliant! His Majesty was so delighted he slapped the table and named her champion on the spot! Who the hell are you to question his decision?”
Jiang Xueci was completely stunned.
“Your Majesty… how… how could…”
The emperor looked at her coldly.
“Must I explain my decisions to you?”
Then he turned his icy gaze on her father.
“Jiang Quan. Did you just say I had become confused and allowed myself to be deceived?”
The Grand Preceptor was terrified.
“Mercy, Your Majesty! I deserve death! I spoke recklessly! For the sake of my service through three reigns, spare my life!”
The emperor snorted.
“Three reigns? You trade on your seniority, form factions, and pursue private gain at court. I’ve wanted to deal with you for some time. Today, you brought troops to murder the reigning martial champion. Your crimes cannot be pardoned!”
He swept out his hand.
“Strip Jiang Quan of office and investigate him. Put him on death row! Confiscate the Jiang family’s entire estate for the treasury! Exile the men to the frontier. Assign the women to the Bureau of Court Entertainment!”
Guards seized the Grand Preceptor and forced him facedown.
“Your Majesty! I’m innocent!”
Jiang Xueci broke down and crawled frantically toward the emperor.
“I know I was wrong! Spare me, Your Majesty! I don’t want to go to the Bureau of Court Entertainment! I’m the Grand Preceptor’s daughter!”
He didn’t so much as look at her.
“Take her away.”
As the guards dragged her off, she struggled wildly and suddenly screamed like a madwoman.
“I’m a transmigrator! I come from the modern world! You ancient people aren’t worthy of competing with me! I’ve studied five thousand years of history! I know every ending! How could I lose?”
The emperor frowned.
“Transmigrator? Modern world? Gag her.”
The Minister of War murmured, “Your Majesty, I fear the woman is mad.”
“Then deal with her under the laws for the insane. Put her on death row too.”
They dragged Jiang Xueci away.
I turned toward the crowd.
The white-robed gentleman was hiding at the back, trembling.
“You in white. Come here.”
His legs gave way. He fell to his knees and slapped his own face desperately.
“Mercy, Champion! I was blind! I have a filthy mouth! I deserve death!”
I kicked him in the chest.
He spat blood and passed out.
I looked at the other scholars.
They prostrated themselves, shaking.
“Spare us, Champion! Jiang Xueci misled us!”
The emperor surveyed them coldly.
“You call yourselves well-read, yet filth is all that comes from your mouths. You cannot tell right from wrong. You gather to cause trouble and insult an official of the court.”