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World's First Traitor System (91)
🕑 Added 2024-02-19 10:00:07 +0000 UTCChapter 91 - Xiang Chong Asks About Governance
Xiang Chong was dumbfounded.
What? What did Fan Li say? Was he speaking human words? Why couldn't he understand a single thing?
Although Xiang Chong was from the Xiang clan's imperial household and Empress Dowager Li's own son, he wasn't the previous emperor's son. So he had been dismissed from the palace early on and sent for sect training. His innate talents were decent, but he wasn't familiar with all the systems, laws and customs of the Great Chu court at all.
What did it mean to "not hurry when entering court"?
And what did "not needing to bow and state name during court sessions" signify? It took Xiang Chong quite some time to vaguely grasp the meaning of "wearing swords while entering the throne hall" and "not kneeling when seeing the lord". But the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt.
Who gave Fan Li these kinds of privileges?
He was just a minister in the end. How could he wear swords into the throne hall? What if Fan Li wanted to assassinate his lord? Wouldn't he already have weapons prepared!?
"No, I cannot agree. These privileges of yours must be revoked!" Xiang Chong immediately spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Fan Li wasn't angry at all. He nodded with a smile and said, "Alright, so does that mean Your Majesty wants to dismiss me from my position as Prime Minister and revoke my noble title as Duke of Jin?"
"Ah? I didn't say that..." Xiang Chong was somewhat confused.
Chen Gonggong really couldn't bear to continue watching. He quietly reminded, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister holds the supreme authority of the Three Dukes. And as a duke, Jin also has a very high nobility ranking. According to Great Chu's ancestral system, those who hold such official titles and noble ranks do have these kinds of privileges. If you negate Fan Li's privileges, it would be equal to dismissing him from office."
"Damn." Even Xiang Chong knew that dismissing Fan Li now would only paralyze the entire Great Chu.
The Sage Rulers of the Brahma Sound Pure Land could kidnap Xiang Ying, but they could never replace Fan Li in upholding Great Chu's military, administration, and economy.
He waved his hand in irritation and said, "Forget what I just said. Pretend I never spoke."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Fan Li was still smiling.
A golden-mouthed Son of Heaven's words were as precious as jade. On the first day of court during his reign, Xiang Chong was already going back on his own words, slapping himself in the face.
The civil and military ministers saw this situation and inevitably lost some more of the little respect they held towards Xiang Chong.
Xiang Chong also felt wronged. He quietly grumbled, "Which damned turtle grandson set up such an unreliable ancestral system?"
"Uh..." Chen Gonggong wanted to explain, but still held himself back.
Since it was an ancestral system, of course it would've been established by their ancestors. Cursing the hegemon Xiang Yu as a turtle grandson, Chen Gonggong suspected Xiang Chong was the first person to do so since Great Chu's founding.
"Anyways, since this is my first time holding court, do my ministerial colleagues have any matters to report?" The unfavorable opening made Xiang Chong impatient, but he wasn't anxious either.
An emperor led all his civil and military officials through his exceptional talents and grand vision, his emperor's aura and might. He believed that as long as he personally took care of state affairs, he would naturally be able to awe his subordinates and benefit his people, uniting the realm under him.
"Speak whatever is on your minds. If there are any difficult affairs of state you cannot resolve, you may ask me for guidance!" Xiang Chong grandly said.
Below the imperial dais, the civil and military ministers were exceptionally quiet. Other than Fan Li smiling at him, the other officials seemed like lifeless puppets.
"What do you mean by this? Why does no one report any matters? Can it be you all look down on me!?" Xiang Chong angrily demanded.
Seeing that he was furious, one of the Nine Ministers, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, stepped forward.
"Oh? Doesn't the Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments manage the ceremonies of enfeoffment, courts of vassal states, diplomatic missions, banquets, receptions, and other rituals for the feudal princes and lords, as well as domestic dependent tribes? Minister, do you have any affairs to report on these?"
In the last few days, Xiang Chong had stayed up late memorizing the responsibilities of most of the officials in court. He deliberately spoke up first to show off a bit.
The Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments was almost a hundred years old with white hair and beard. He hobbled out of the ranks and knelt below the imperial dais.
"Your Majesty, our Great Chu has favorable winds and timely rains, peace in the country, robust border defenses, abundant resources, and prosperous commoners... There really are no matters requiring any memorials."
Upon hearing the first half of his words, Xiang Chong thought the Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments was praising him. But after listening to the full reply, he almost jumped up in irritation!
"Bullshit!" Xiang Chong inwardly cursed. But he remembered this minister was also of the Xiang imperial clan and even an elder of his grandfather's generation, so he could only endure.
"The vital affairs of state lie in sacrifices and warfare! My court doesn't have a Minister of War, so who takes charge of all those important military and political affairs?!" Xiang Chong demanded.
"I’m in charge." Fan Li replied with just three words, instantly dissipating Xiang Chong's anger. But Fan Li still honestly reported, "Since the previous emperor's reign, I have assumed the authority of the Minister of War."
Xiang Chong gave him an aggrieved look. He felt this guy was like a Bodhisattva in the temple - couldn't afford to provoke or touch him, only carefully worship him.
"Cough! We'll put aside military matters for now. Where is the Chief Censor? The Chief Censor leads the Censorate in supervising all officials and administering law and justice, bearing heavy responsibilities. I want to ask the Chief Censor about state administration!"
As Xiang Chong spoke, he swept his gaze across the civil and military officials, intentionally avoiding Fan Li. But the strange expressions on the ministers' faces told him something was off again.
Damn, could it be...?
Just as the corners of Xiang Chong's lips twitched, he saw Fan Li step forward.
"I am in charge. Since the previous emperor's reign, I have also assumed the Chief Censor's responsibilities." Fan Li smiled brightly.
"...Aren't you tired?" Xiang Chong couldn't help asking.
Fan Li shook his head. "For the sake of Great Chu's imperial dynasty lasting thousands of years, I am willing to spare no effort until death."
Forget about sparing no effort, please hurry up and die! That was Xiang Chong's inner thought at the moment, but outwardly he still had to praise, "Duke Jin works hard."
"I thank Your Majesty for your praise." Fan Li saw how unhappy Xiang Chong was, but he didn't care.
As a powerful minister who concentrated the formidable authority of the Three Dukes, wasn't this perfectly reasonable?
"Your Majesty, if you have any questions regarding what falls under the Chief Censor's jurisdiction and duties, please ask me directly." Fan Li said.
Xiang Chong shook his head. No more questions. Just seeing you annoys me. The Three Dukes were out. But there were still the Nine Ministers right?
Xiang Chong suddenly recalled that the rest of the high ministerial positions definitely had other people since Fan Li couldn't possibly concurrently hold them as well.
"Uhm... Did the Minister of Finance come to court today?" Xiang Chong finally exercised some caution. He gingerly asked, taking care not to embarrass himself again.
A middle-aged official emerged from the ministerial ranks and knelt down. "Your Majesty, I am present."
It wasn't Fan Li. It really wasn't Fan Li! Xiang Chong was so moved he almost cried. "Rise, Minister. You're really... what is your noble surname?"
Xiang Chong wanted to be close with this Minister of Finance and demonstrate his amicable ruler-subject relations. But then he realized he couldn't even properly address the other party.
He really wanted to slap himself!
Of all things, why did he have to ask about his surname!?
Upon hearing the question, the Minister of Finance kneeled down again and replied, "How would I dare to claim any nobility in Your Majesty's presence? This lowly official is named Sang Yang, Your Majesty."
"Oh I see, Minister Sang!"
Xiang Chong quickly cast aside the awkwardness and began showing off again. "As the Minister of Finance managing our nation's treasury, you have achieved extremely meritorious deeds these last few years with Great Chu's abundant reserves and prosperous commoners!"
But just after he finished speaking, Xiang Chong saw Minister Sang Yang's aged face turn red.
"Your Majesty, I was only appointed to the Minister of Finance position a month ago..."
