Court meeting

In the capital city of Great Yan, Yanjing.

In the Imperial palace.

A court meeting was being held in the Hall of golden chimes(throne room of emperor).

Many officials dressed in their court uniforms according to their ranks were standing in the hall. The Emperor of Great Yan, Yan Jun Hao in his court robe was sitting uprightly on the throne at the platform.

The Yan Emperor was 54 in age and looked slightly older due to the stress from the storm forming between the Great Yan and Hou kingdom and the shock he got from the assassination last night.

The court meeting was held today to discuss about the recent assassination attempt upon the emperor infront of all the nobles in the empress's birthday banquet.

Although the case was already given to the ministry of justice for investigation, the assailants who took part in the assassination were either killed or committed suicide after being caught. So there were no results about this case which made the emperor feel insecure and anxious.

"Today, Zhen(I, we) want to ask all my officials about what they think of the assassination attempt upon zhen. Who do you think is behind this and for what purpose?" The emperor asked in a deep voice which was neither fast nor slow. The officials looked at each other when they heard the question.

Just when no one was willing or hesitating about what to say, an official at the third row stepped out and bowed to the emperor.

"Your majesty, I have a thought about this case. Please allow me to speak." The official was a man in his forties. He was called Su Jiangxu, a third-ranked official.

"You may speak." The emperor replied.

"Thank you, your majesty. Your majesty, the assassination attempt this time was very strange. There were only more than 16 assassins who took part in it and some were in the disguise of palace servants or dancers and some came in from outside the banquet hall. There were many palace guards and other elite guards around the banquet hall for security but they could still attempt such a rebellious act upon your majesty in front of all the subjects present in the banquet. And the assassins were caught smoothly without much resistance and unhesitatingly committed suicide." Said Su Jiangxu.

" Get to the point." The emperor said.

" Your majesty, what I mean is that this assassination attempt wasn't really done to harm your majesty but infact was to give us a threat or warning from the culprit behind this. In my opinion, the culprit wants to tell your majesty that he can easily pass through the security and harm your majesty." said Su Jiangxu.

" Nonsense! Who could be so daring as to threaten his majesty in such a bold way?!" An official cried out in anger and other also echoed him.

" It is just a thought, I don't mean it as the real purpose. Please forgive me if I offended you, your majesty." Su Jiangxu knelt down and bowed his head.

"Silence. What minister Su said is also reasonable and makes sense. You just said what you had in mind about this case honestly so you don't have to ask for forgiveness about such a small matter. You may rise." The emperor said as he nodded his head in thought.

" Thank you, your majesty." Su Jiangxu thanked the emperor and got up.

" Anyone else have something to say about it?" The emperor asked again.

Today, not only officials but some princes were also present.

Yan Mo Jun, the second son of the emperor and Virtuous consort Shu stepped up and bowed to the emperor.

"Your majesty, your incompetent son has something to say." Yan Mo Xian said with his hands held up to his head.

"What is it?" The emperor replied.

"Your majesty, although the assassins from last night all died with no evidences and traces left behind, I, your incompetent son, did my best to investigate about this matter together with the ministry of justice and found out an important clue from it." Said Yan Mo Xian.

" Oh? An important clue? What did you find out?" The emperor asked as he leaned over slightly from his seat.

" The important clue is that the assassins who took part in the assassination were all the slaves who escaped from Hou kingdom to the Great Yan. From the investigation, these people were actually spies in disguise of escapees from the enemy country who were very good in martial arts and disguise. They could get inside the country either because of their good disguises or bribery. We also caught those corrupted officials in charge of the security in the border towns who usually took bribes from the people who came from other countries as escapees. Here is the list of those officials." Yan Mo Xian then took out a list from his chest pocket and handed it to the eunuch who then gave it to the emperor respectfully.

The emperor looked at the list with the names of the officials while the officials whispered among themselves in shock when they heard the report.

"Hmph! To think that the subjects under me, although far, were corrupted as such and even caused such a dangerous event to happen because of their greed. They are all to be executed! Let them become an example for those who dare to not fulfill their duties properly and act according to their greed." The emperor placed the list on the table with force and said in a powerful voice which made some officials shiver.

"Second brother, you must have worked very hard this time to find out such an important information. You are indeed the most diligent among us brothers. Then, second brother, what do you think should be done to prevent such a thing from happening again?" The fourth prince, Yan Mo Xing, the son of consort Lian asked as he smiled at Yan Mo Xian.

"Fourth brother, you have praised me too much. It is just my duty as a son to help father emperor to lift up such burdens off his shoulders. About the solution, I have thought about it before but don't know if your majesty would like this method." Yan Mo Xian said as he smiled slightly at Yan Mo Xing and then bowed towards the emperor.

"If you have a method in mind then say it. I will judge after hearing you out." The emperor said as he caressed his long beard.

"The method that I have thought about is to capture all the escapees from other countries and not let any more escapees in to our country till the war ends. The chances of them being spies sent from the other countries is very high so we should be vigilant about them and take proper cautions. The city gates shouldn't let in anyone suspicious without proper investigation or identification and strengthen the security around the cities in case the escapees tried to barge inside." He continued after a pause.

"This is the lightest method, while the heavier one is....to eradicate the source from its root." Yan Mo Xian said in a resolute way.

The ministers again started to whisper with each other when they heard it.

" What do you mean by that, Xian'er?" The emperor also frowned a bit and asked.

" Your majesty, what I mean is what you have already guessed. And it is to kill all the escapees without mercy. Although the first method is good but it takes too much time and we might not even get any results from the investigation. Meanwhile, the spies who got inside as escapees might take caution from this and get enough time to hide away which would make the investigation more difficult." Yan Mo Xian explained calmly with a hint of ruthlessness flashing through his eyes.

" But that would mean that many innocent lives would be lost if we killed them without discrimination. There are already so many escapees and slaves who came from other countries in our country which make at least one tenth of the number of citizens residing here. Isn't it too cruel to kill them all just to find the spies hidden among them?" The seventh prince, Yan Mo Jun, the second son of the empress Ying, also the favourite son of the emperor spoke up against it.

"Seventh brother is right. Killing so many innocent people just for this isn't a wise method." The crown prince, Yan Mo Xun, the eldest son of the emperor and the empress Ying, also said with his brows creased.

"crown prince, seventh brother, although this method is indeed very cruel but we have to do this for the safety of the state and his majesty, the emperor. Such a case as a close assassination happened right infront of all the nobles and the emperor inside the heavily guarded Palace because of us being unguarded against the slaves who escaped from other countries. If we don't get rid of them, it might again cause such dangers from happening again which might not guarantee the safety of his majesty like before. To kill all is better than let the danger sprout again. And those people are only slaves from other countries who aren't even our own citizens so why should we care about their lives when our own is in danger?" Yan Mo Xian raised his head slightly and said in a cold voice.

"Whether they are slaves or not, they are still humans with their own lives! Although there is a possibility of one among ten escapees being a spy but the innocents are still considered one of our own citizens after they escaped to our country. How could you determine their lives as nothing at all?" Yan Mo Jun retorted in a calm voice.

"Seventh brother, it isn't that I am saying they are nothing but that they should be sacrificed for the safety of our own country. I know that killing so many innocent people isn't good but for the sake of the state, we shouldn't let any potential threats near us in such a dangerous time where the war might break out anytime. We should be more resolute and ruthless in such times for the sake of the citizens and the country. Your majesty, please think about it carefully and make your decision. This is all I have to say." Yan Mo Xian then knelt down and bowed to the emperor. The officials who also agreed to him or followed him knelt down together as they urged the emperor.

The ministers quarreled among themselves with their own opinions while some stayed neutral, observing from the sidelines.

The Emperor thought about the method and the explanation of Yan Mo Jun and found it very reasonable. But he was slightly troubled upon this. If he chose to kill all slaves mercilessly, the citizens might not have the same reverence for the royalties and think of them as cruel tyrants like the ruler in Hou kingdom. So he made up his mind and looked at the officials who were quarreling against each other with their own opinions.

"Silence! You may rise. Zhen have made up my mind already. You don't have to discuss about it anymore." Said the emperor.

The hall finally quietened down and the officials and the princes also stood up properly, waiting for the emperor's decision.

The emperor stayed silent for a while then opened his mouth and said in a cold voice,"What Xian'er said makes sense and it is a good method. We shouldn't let such threats to remain in our lands in case it may cause more harm to the country. But killing all of them is not a good solution. Capture all the slaves and investigate every single one of them. If anyone tries to go against it, you may do as you fit. But let go of all innocent ones after the investigation. Close all the city gates and don't let any more slaves enter the country for the time being. That's all."

" But your majesty!" Yan Mo Xian tried to persuade the emperor but he was cut off by the emperor.

"Zhen have already decided. No need to say more. The decree is to be passed down and it should be put in action immediately! Zhen will let Xian'er be in charge of this. Do it as I said. Any objections?" The emperor's words were firm and decisive with no gap for further discussion. The princes and ministers who were against it could say nothing and just stayed quiet.

"Thank you, your majesty! I will do my best!" Said Yan Mo Xian as he bowed deeply. It didn't matter whether he could kill all slaves or not as long as he could be in charge of this case.

"We will obey your majesty's decree." Everyone said in sync as they bowed.

"The court is dismissed!" The emperor then got up from his throne and went out of the hall of golden chimes. Everyone present knelt down and bid him goodbye.

Yan Mo Xian and others then stood up after the emperor was gone.

Yan Mo Jun humphed and strode away together with the crown prince after he gave a cold glare at Yan Mo Xian.

Yan Mo Xian looked at their backs with a smirk on his face, different emotions hidden inside his eyes.

Yan Mo Xian then went out of the hall with a cold smile on his face.