Chapter 138: The Mystery of Identity

Within the imperial court of the Ye Dynasty’s capital, hundreds of officials knelt with heads bowed. Feng Yewu sat coldly upon the phoenix throne, gazing down at the assembly.

"I trust all you ministers know the reason for today’s court session."

The civil and military officials remained silent, their heads lowered, clearly waiting for her to continue. Feng Yewu’s cold gaze swept over them; she had been away for so long that it was disappointing to see they had not changed at all. She let out a cold snort and addressed the Minister of War directly.

"Minister of War, I heard you were home claiming illness. Are you feeling better today?"

Upon hearing this, the Minister of War hurried out of the ranks, knelt, and kowtowed. "I thank Your Majesty for your concern. My old ailment is difficult to treat; it is slightly better today, though I do not know how it will be tomorrow."

Feng Yewu sneered at his evasiveness. She knew he was merely testing the waters to see what orders she would issue, leaving himself an excuse for later.

"Since your illness is so difficult to treat, perhaps you should return home and recuperate properly. After so many years of working so hard for the Ye Dynasty, you deserve a good rest."

Her icy voice echoed through the hall. It sounded like concern, but it was, in fact, a dismissal. The Minister of War did not panic; instead, he put on a look of righteous indignation. "The Tidi tribe has breached eleven of our cities. I dare not rest now. Once the lost territories are recovered, I shall resign of my own accord."

Recovered?

Feng Yewu heard his grand, empty words and smiled faintly. She rose slowly, her phoenix-embroidered yellow robes accentuating her imperial authority. She looked down at him with contempt and snapped, "A fine sentiment, 'recovering lost territory.' If that is truly your wish, I shall grant it. Starting tomorrow, pack your bags and go to the Northern Frontier to guard the cities!"

"Ah!"

"This... this must not be, Your Majesty!"

The entire court immediately fell to their knees, begging for mercy on the minister's behalf.

"Must not be?" Feng Yewu asked with a cold laugh. "As the Minister of War, you claimed illness while the country was being invaded and the military left in disarray. Yet you have the audacity to speak to me of 'recovering lost territory'? If I relied on officials like you, the Ye Dynasty would be reduced to nothing but the capital city long ago!"

"Guards! Strip the Minister of War of his rank and finery. Send him to the Northern Frontier tomorrow to guard the border for me!"

Ignoring the pleas of the officials, she waved her hand, and the palace guards hauled the Minister of War away. It seemed that after a few days away, these people had forgotten her methods.

***

After watching the Minister of War being dragged away in silence, Feng Yewu sat back on the throne and observed the court. Authoritarian? She did not care if they whispered about her behind her back. If they had truly cared for the Ye Dynasty, would she have needed to be so heavy-handed? In her previous life, she had been cautious and careful, and yet what fate had that brought her? As an emperor, how could she let these people dictate her emotions?

"Enough. I have another matter to discuss with you all."

The officials bowed their heads, their faces bitter. It was clear that Feng Yewu was not asking for their input; she was simply informing them, with a thin veneer of politeness.

"The Prince of Pingyi has conspired to rebel and slaughtered the loyal. The evidence is irrefutable. Does anyone have any objections?"

The officials confirmed the rumors they had heard. Ever since the Divine Strategy Battalion had left the vicinity of the capital, whispers had spread. Spies hidden in Langya City had sent word, and now that Feng Yewu had spoken it herself, the matter was settled.

"I believe that the Prince of Pingyi’s rebellion and his slaughter of the loyal are heinous crimes. He should be punished according to the law: his entire clan should be executed!" the Inspectorate official stepped forward and declared righteously.

Feng Yewu did not respond but continued to look at the crowd. Led by the Inspectorate, many officials echoed the call for the execution of his entire clan.

Chen Pingwu, standing to the side, was displeased. The Prince of Pingyi’s family was already scattered; the Princess had been poisoned, and the only one left was Wang Jia, who lived in his residence. These officials were merely eager to wipe out the Prince’s house to avoid being implicated. He stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I believe this is inappropriate!"

Feng Yewu was not surprised to see Chen Pingwu step out; she knew he would never agree, given his relationship with Wang Jia. She nodded slightly. "Does the Heir Apparent have an opinion? Please, speak freely."

The other officials were nervous to see the Heir of the Prince of Changwu intervene, but they dared not argue.

Chen Pingwu bowed slightly and addressed the assembly. "The Prince of Pingyi took his own life, his family is displaced, and the Princess committed suicide by poison. His house is already ruined. To execute his entire clan now—do you intend to implicate other princely houses as well? With the war in the Northern Frontier raging, you should be devising strategies for the nation's prosperity instead of kicking a man when he is down and harming the innocent. What is your true intent?"

The major princes were all connected by blood; a full clan execution would inevitably drag down many other royal relatives. Chen Pingwu’s words silenced the room, as no one dared to offend the other princely factions.

Seeing their silence, Feng Yewu nodded. "The Prince of Pingyi and his wife committed suicide out of fear of their crimes. I do not wish to pursue this further. Now that the Lu family’s wrongful case has been cleared, I have decided to appoint Lu Jue as the Chief of the Imperial Guard, restoring his status and removing his slave records."

"Your Majesty is magnanimous. We thank you on behalf of the people of the world," Chen Pingwu said first, kneeling in salute, followed by the rest of the officials.

***

"What did you say?"

Yang Guang, having heard from Wolf Head about the existence of "twins," found it difficult to accept. A trace of confusion flickered across his normally indifferent expression.

Since he was a child, the Prince of Changwu, Chen Sinian, had spoken of his origins only in passing, claiming he had been rescued from Tidi captives and that his parents had been eaten by the tribesmen. If what Wolf Head said was true, one of his parents must have been Tidi. Yang Guang felt a profound sense of turmoil; his mind was in chaos.

"Perhaps my mother was merely a captive of the Tidi tribe?" Yang Guang asked, questioning his own origins.

Wolf Head looked at the incredulous young man and sighed, dispelling his final hope. "I fear it is not that simple."

"Why?" Yang Guang frowned, his eyes locked onto Wolf Head. If he was a twin, why couldn't his mother simply be a captive?

"Your 'twin' traits are more powerful than any I have ever seen. You are by no means an ordinary Tidi."