It was a rush to get back to the Capitol.

Once they arrived, the Conqueror had been quickly informed.

His calm demeanor betrayed no sentiment as he merely stated, "Is that so?" while motioning a eunuch to come closer. Usually, a slight grin from the Conqueror sent shivers down the spine of his enemies, making even his allies balk at the sight of it. However, the General thought differently. As someone who had practiced interpreting body language as partially deaf, those like the Conqueror who kept their feelings buried deep below the surface were the most dangerous.

In his eyes, it only confirmed that the Conqueror was a cold ruthless killing machine for even a timid introvert would exclaim out loud on hearing of their imminent assassination!

"Your Majesty?", asked a eunuch with his head lowered upon entering the study.

"Call the court to order."

The head eunuch slightly coughed. "Sire, they are on break..."

He sighed. "For those vacationing with their family, it is alright that they continue to do so. I only ask that those nearest should be sent a message by horse, or falcon."

"We shall send the decree out right away, your Majesty," the eunuch said. Although the Conqueror's poker face did not reveal anything, the General had still interpreted his words as a threat.

Meaning: Should those closest not come upon hearing the message, their families will be at risk.

"Yes, I truly do not expect those from the farther reaches to receive the message today, but those from the capitol may hear the falcon."

Meaning: If those in the capitol did not come...pray that the Buddha have mercy on their souls for they would not see reincarnation!

The eunuch bowed, made his way to leave when the Conqueror added, "Call Lyu Biming. Ask him...for a sword dance."

Nodding his head, the eunuch clapped his hands, gathering the servants as they sprinted down the palace hallways.

Eyeing the General, the King motions for him to leave so the General wastes no time. From the message the Southern General had given him prior through the messengers and in-person, he suspected that stuff would go down in the court this afternoon. Should one have a weak countenance, their stomach might not be able to handle it.

Immediately hearing the good news, Lyu Biming clicks his tongue before setting aside his performance sword and calling one of his academy's female dancers to come with him. It looked like his wish was to be granted, albeit at a special court session called by the Conqueror.

Those in the Capitol then mow over their mothers-in-laws to see who can arrive earlier. At this rate, the latest man will lose face! Court ministers, nobles, and princes show up with formal attire that does not outshine their King. A lowkey presentation and humble countenance marks the participants as obedient lambs.

How the Conqueror wishes to scoff at this sight! However, he keeps his composure, checking his wrath at the door and calling Lyu Biming to sword dance in front of the court.

Slightly perturbed, the famed dancer shines as a star as he and the gorgeous dancing lady complete a sword dance duet, battling it out to an energetic tune. Even the deaf general, whose ear is slightly damaged, can feel the vibrations underneath his feet! The pair mingle, bobbing back and forth as they demonstrate nimble agility and strong prowess to the beat of a war drum.

Having ended their performance, the court claps when the Conqueror does. Flabbergasted at the reason for them being roused from their rest, they face the Conqueror with a combination of nervous smiles and stern frowns.

The Conqueror whispers into a nearby servant's ear, receiving a cup of wine almost immediately.

Instantly, the Prime Minister surmises something is amiss. Just the smell of alcohol is disdained by both the Conqueror and the Other Prince, the late Empress's son. Furthermore, the king never tastes food that his concubines have not tasted, let alone drink liquid from a cup he has not poured himself! Why on Earth would he drink that vile concoction willingly unless...

CRASH. Splattering on the floor, the alcohol leaks into the tile, shards of china everywhere as the Conqueror's fists clench in anger. The servant girl who brought the gilded cup can only tremble in fear as the Conqueror goes back and sits comfortably on his throne as if nothing had consequential happened.

"Justice Minister how goes the revelations from the Southern General?", asked the Conqueror like he already knew the answer.

"That traitor deserves to be forced to answer for his crimes of tax evasion!", said the minister.

"Is that so? How come he was denied medical treatment and died on the way then?"

Shocked, the Minister of Justice bowed his head as the Conqueror grinned. "Dead men can tell no tales, is that not right Head Astronomer?"

"Your Majesty?", balked the Head Astronomer, a commoner-turned-noble on insistence from a distance noble relative. He was of poor origin, and indeed the man coerced to order a servant girl to poison him this very day.

"Please, your Majesty. Spare my uncle!", called out the servant as she kneeled in admonition.

Head astronomer interrupted her pleas falling on deaf ears. "Quiet, girl! I will take the blame your Majesty. We have not taught her well. That is our fault."

"Minister of Education, do you think education, or lack thereof, had a part in this?", the Conqueror asked, directing it to deceased Justice Minister's son.

"What would he know? I am the Minister of Justice!", proclaimed the Minister, already on thin ice as it was. "It would be like asking the Prime Minister's son to voice his opinion!"

Scarcely had the Conqueror a chance to reply, before the Minister of Education strongly rebuked him.

"Justice Minister, are you perhaps implying that Education has no relevance in how Justice is carried out in this nation?" Proceeding to lecture the ignoramus who had taken over his late father's position, the serene fairy debated so thoroughly all will left in awe.

"An educated man may contribute more to their nation than one not. To have knowledge of the laws and customs of court, one must know how to read and write. Where does one acquire this knowledge? From teachers and masters, scholars in their own right, that teach the children, even your children, on the etiquette, language and traditions of our grand nation. For a magistrate to practice, they must be first be instructed, yes? If they are not, many will suffer because of it. Even those who come from humble beginnings and rise up like the Head Astronomer here can attribute their success at least in part to their willingness to study and pass the official exams."

"But punishment..."

"Crime statistically has been proven to decrease the more learning a person acquires and the more opportunities for advancement one has. As a Minister of Justice, you shall do well to keep in mind that punishment is meant for mal-doers to repent of their crimes and turn back, however if we can prevent criminals from doing it in the first place, there is less need for prisons and military officers to guard them. More can be diverted to the borders and capitol security instead. Furthermore..."

He took a breath before continuing, "You should also remember that Lyu Biming, the Prime Minister's son, is a royal whom you addressed so casually. And that part of disciplining oneself is in the arts for which every cultured man makes sure to partake in. Does not the four arts of the Chinese scholar ,(the guqin, Go, calligraphy and painting), make an aristocratic gentleman? And if he is a dancer, which he is a master of by the way, does he not entertain and enrichen our minds so that we may be more at ease? Even the Confucians do well in maintaining one of the Six Arts to be Music."

At this, the Justice Minister face boiled red, embarrassed over his rudeness in front of the whole court. Others cheekily hid their smiles and chuckles as they watched the crude man eat his words.

"That is quite true, Education Minister. I am glad to see people with such open minds here."

Meaning: Justice Minister showed his brash nature and was shown what true discipline was!

"Back to the matter of hand, Head Astronomer did not act alone. Did you now?"

Suddenly, the Minister of Revenue bowed, and took the fall for his distant cousin. "Please have mercy on him, Lord! It was me who did it!"

"Southern General suspected your officials, did he not? Supplies were sent scarcely, money misappropriated by yourself as you extorted those under you, while you had a large salary, for even more money. Once you found out they accepted bribes from the pirates, you panicked and colluded with the pirates to let the man who knew your secret die instead of reporting to me."

"Your Majesty!", he cried. While this was going on, the Prime Minister continued massaging a walnut in his hand as if it was an ordinary bright spring day.

"Did you order your men to make sure the Southern General would die? And if case he did not perish, was it you who placed the blame of your tax evasion and other crimes on him, telling the Justice Minister to interrogate him thoroughly? Did you try to poison me to cover your inane actions?", the Conqueror exclaimed, fists clenched the only sign of rage.

"Leave the Head Astronomer out of this."

"Justice Minister," the king started. "Strip the Head Astronomer of his rank, and make his family commoners. Now, as for the Revenue Minister...how many immediate family members reside at his mansion?"

"Twenty-eight."

"Torture him for twenty-eight days, and then behead him." Dragging the minister by his heels, he called out "Your Majesty!" till they could no longer hear him.

All eyes locked on him when the Conqueror suddenly stood up.

"Court is adjourned."

_________________________________________

History note: Walnuts, hetao, to stimulate blood circulation and exercise the hands. Think of it as hand therapy, rotate objects in hand. Can also use wooden marbles or marbled stone. Prime Minister Lyu in the story does this constantly.

Six Arts-Rites, Music, Chariotry, Archery, Calligraphy and Mathematics. Developed during pre-imperial period, but became standard practice of Confucians.

Four Arts-four main artistic and academic accomplishments to make an ancient Chinese aristocratic gentleman, thought to be developed from Six Arts. Guqin, a Chinese stringed musical instrument

Author's note: The Revenue Minister went down easily...hmm. what could be the reason? Explored in next chapter! And yeah, the Southern General was denied medicine and died unfairly, nooooo. (One of my favorite characters and he died off so quick!)