If the Emperor were to die, I wouldn’t get the slightest benefit, and my daughter would have to become a widow as well. Who knows which faction the new Emperor will belong to? Besides, I don’t have another daughter to marry off to the new Emperor. That would mean an end to my status as the Emperor’s father-in-law. The honor, wealth, and power of the Shih Family would be directly and greatly harmed. How could this be allowed! I absolutely won’t permit such a thing to happen.
After much thought, he gritted his teeth!
"Your Majesty, the front lines are too dangerous. You are the ruler of this nation, carrying the burden of all your subjects. How could you risk your life..."
Grand Tutor Shih indeed had a way with words. He delivered a long and eloquent speech. Unflustered, his heart beating steadily, he made his points with righteous and majestic conviction!
Zhao Junyao: "..."
The corner of his mouth twitched; he was at a loss for words.
It’s not as if I’m going into battle, just catching a few bandits—could that even be considered ’leading the troops in person’?? These remonstrance officials really... are making too much of a fuss, aren’t they? Why do I suddenly find it a bit amusing? I almost can’t hold back my laughter!
"AHEM! AHEM!"
He coughed twice to cover up, then said, "It is only about suppressing bandits; it does not merit the description of leading the troops in person. Besides, it’s not my first time..."
Zhao Junyao spoke slowly. He genuinely wanted to go, not to intimidate anyone.
The remonstrance officials realized the Emperor wasn’t joking and immediately grew serious. They knelt down in unison and kowtowed.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Zhao Junyao’s lips curled slightly, a look of determination on his face.
"My mind is made up. My dear subjects need not persuade me further!"
Upon finishing, he gave Li Shengan a look. Li Shengan understood and quickly shouted, "Petition if there is a matter, withdraw from court if there is none!"
The remonstrance officials became utterly panicked, shouting even louder.
"Your Majesty, you must not risk your life, Your Majesty!"
"Behind you stand all the commoners! If something were to happen to you... PTUI! PTUI! PTUI! In short, you must not go!"
The remonstrance officials persistently surrounded and blocked him, as if the Emperor’s disapproval would only encourage them to continue their shameless pestering.
Witnessing the chaotic scene of remonstrance officials kneeling on the ground, Zhao Junyao felt extremely irritated. Suppressing his anger, he said, "It’s just a mission to destroy bandits; I’m not heading into battle to kill enemies!"
It’s just that I haven’t had the opportunity, Zhao Junyao thought. Otherwise, I’d really want to personally enter the battlefield and slay enemies with my own hands. Otherwise, wouldn’t all the martial arts and strategy I’ve learned be wasted? I’ve lived for over twenty years: ten as a Prince, nine as a Crown Prince, and now five as an Emperor. I’ve learned many great skills, mastering horseback archery and the six arts befitting a gentleman. I am both wise and brave, skilled in civil and military arts! My heart burns with passion and ambition. I resolved to be a good Emperor, protecting my subjects, my people, and the vast lands of the Zhao Family from foreign humiliation and the suffering of internal turmoil. However, now someone is committing atrocities right under my nose, endangering lives. Yet I cannot go; I have to stay in this gilded cage, helplessly watching others take action. How unwilling I feel! I guess it’s fine if I can’t go to the battlefield. After all, if I were to die, the country would be thrown into chaos. But these are just a few bandits! Can’t I even satisfy my itch to practice my skills on them?
Zhao Junyao was very annoyed.
These damn old remonstrance officials are really in need of a lesson! I really want to swing a plank and spank them one by one!
Zhao Junyao fumed internally.
But I can only think about it. Since ancient times, emperors haven’t killed remonstrance officials for speaking out. Even without just cause, they couldn’t even be beaten. The most infamous tyrants in history were cursed by their remonstrance officials until they vomited blood, yet they didn’t dare lay a finger on them. As for me, Zhao Junyao, I’m not a tyrant, so... I can’t hit them! What a torment!
"Court dismissed!"
The young Emperor let out a low growl and strode out.
And then... he sensed a flurry of footsteps behind him. That group of remonstrance officials actually started to follow him spontaneously.
Zhao Junyao’s face went completely dark. "I said, court dismissed!"
The remonstrance officials looked at each other. "Your Majesty, we didn’t say court wasn’t dismissed!"
Zhao Junyao was furious, grinding his teeth as he spoke. "Court is dismissed, and you’re still not leaving? All of you, get out! SCRAM!!"
The remonstrance officials exchanged glances again. Then... they knelt on the ground and actually began to roll away.
Zhao Junyao felt like he was about to spit out a mouthful of blood. He pressed a hand to his forehead and looked up at the heavens. Who can take these old men away? Who?!
The remonstrance officials gradually rolled further away. Zhao Junyao looked for an opportunity to make a run for it. However, those old men, who usually looked as frail as if a gust of wind could blow them over, could run faster than the wind when they needed to. They caught up just as the Emperor’s foot was about to cross the threshold of the great hall, each one kneeling before him.
And then... they each began to deploy their full arsenal of persuasion techniques. Having been remonstrance officials for so many years, who didn’t have a few special tricks up their sleeve?!
Some were master orators, their silver tongues capable of weaving tales so convincingly they could seemingly talk the dead back to life, spittle flying as they spoke.