Chapter 5: No Flirting in Court! Respect Your Villain Settings!
[Day 2 · Imperial Palace · Hall of Supreme Harmony · Hour of the Rabbit (5-7 AM)]
"The Regent arrives—!"
The eunuch's shrill voice pierced the silence of the great hall. Every minister turned in unison toward the entrance. On the dragon throne, the young Emperor instinctively tightened his grip on the armrests.
The boy wore bright yellow dragon robes and a ceremonial crown, his small frame nearly swallowed by the elaborate vestments. He gripped the throne's armrests with white-knuckled hands, struggling to sit up straight, though his gaze kept darting nervously toward the doors.
Imperial Uncle isn't here yet.
"The Regent arrives—!"
The announcement echoed again.
All heads turned as a figure in purple-gold python robes stepped into the hall. A jade belt cinched his waist, accentuating his tall, slender frame. His features were cold as frost, and his phoenix eyes carried an upward tilt that made him look perpetually disdainful. An aura of unapproachable chill radiated from every inch of him.
This was Regent Xie Lan.
Xie Qingyan strode into the hall, his gaze sweeping across the assembled ministers before finally settling on the child upon the dragon throne. The boy visibly stiffened under his scrutiny.
So this is the puppet emperor from the original novel. Xie Qingyan mused. He doesn't seem entirely useless—merely young and suppressed by those around him.
He stopped beside the dragon throne and did not kneel. Instead, he offered only the slightest inclination of his head. "Your Majesty."
The young Emperor swallowed hard and managed a small voice: "G-good morning, Imperial Uncle."
Xie Qingyan did not respond. He simply stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze turning toward the entrance.
The ministers exchanged glances. The Regent seems even colder than usual today.
"The Duke of Zhenguo arrives—!"
Another announcement rang out.
Yin Wuwang strode into the hall with thunderous steps, cutting an imposing figure in his black military attire. A long saber hung at his waist, and two gold stars gleamed on his shoulders in the candlelight. His expression was hard as iron, his brow carrying the killing intent unique to seasoned warriors. Where Xie Qingyan's presence was cold and distant, his was fierce and overwhelming—yet both commanded the hall equally.
Several ministers instinctively stepped back as he passed. The Duke of Zhenguo's reputation preceded him—a man who had once executed three generals for cowardice on the battlefield. No one wanted to catch his attention.
He took his place at the head of the military officials, and his gaze briefly met Xie Qingyan's.
Xie Qingyan lowered his eyes almost imperceptibly, looking away without a trace.
Yin Wuwang understood immediately. He let out a cold snort and lifted his chin, adopting an expression of obvious displeasure toward the Regent.
It's just acting. I have three thousand years of cultivation under my belt—surely I can play one hot-headed general.
As he stood among the military officials, his gaze swept across the hall, cataloging every face, every posture, every subtle shift in expression.
This court is no different from the Demon Realm. He realized with something like amusement. The Prime Minister with his sycophants is just like the Blood Demon Peak's elder council—always scheming, always hungry for more power. The fence-sitters are the same as the minor demon lords—waiting to see which way the wind blows before pledging loyalty. And Prince Huai in his wheelchair... he reminds me of the Shadow Serpent who pretended to be crippled for three hundred years before striking.
The stakes are lower, the players are weaker, but the game is identical. And I've been playing this game for three millennia.
Ding!
Little Deer Assistant 9527 chimed in his mind: "Today's court session recommendation: Publicly humiliate the young Emperor! Kick over the dragon throne! Display the dominance of an imperial relative by marriage! Show these officials who the real master is!"
Yin Wuwang's eye twitched violently. He nearly broke character on the spot.
Humiliate the Emperor? Kick over the throne? Was this broken system trying to get him executed along with nine generations of his family?!
He sneered internally. This sovereign isn't actually an idiot, you broken piece of junk.
Meanwhile, on Xie Qingyan's end, Little Deer Assistant 9528 offered its own suggestion: "Recommendation for the Regent: Publicly berate the young Emperor for his incompetence. Display your authority as a power-hungry minister. For maximum effect, consider throwing memorials or slamming the dragon desk."
Xie Qingyan's expression didn't change. In his mind, he responded with a single word: Ridiculous.
Ignoring the system's idiotic advice, he stepped forward. His voice rang out, cold and clear: "Your Majesty, what matters are to be discussed at today's court session?"
The young Emperor tensed at the question, stammering: "I-it's the taxation report from the Ministry of Revenue..."
Xie Qingyan frowned. "The taxation report? Has Your Majesty reviewed it in detail?"
Beads of sweat appeared on the boy's forehead. "W-we... we haven't had time to examine it closely yet..."
Silence fell over the hall. The ministers held their breath.
Xie Qingyan's gaze cut like a blade as he stared at the young Emperor. The atmosphere froze, as if the very air had turned to ice.
The child shrank under his scrutiny, eyes reddening at the corners.
Just as the tension seemed about to shatter—Xie Qingyan looked away.
His tone remained cold, but softened by a fraction: "Your Majesty is young. Reviewing memorials naturally requires time. However, as the Son of Heaven, you must be diligent in governance. Henceforth, before the Hour of the Rabbit each day, Your Majesty shall have finished reviewing the previous day's documents. No exceptions."
He paused, then added: "This minister will have the memorials sorted by category. Urgent matters will be presented first; trivial affairs may be addressed later."
The young Emperor blinked, clearly not expecting the Regent to offer him a way out. He nodded hastily: "W-we understand. Thank you for Imperial Uncle's guidance."
Xie Qingyan inclined his head slightly and returned to his position.
The ministers exchanged covert glances. What's gotten into the Regent today? Why didn't he press his attack? In the past, he would have mocked the boy mercilessly for so much as yawning during court.
Standing among the civil officials, Prime Minister Zhou Yanling stroked his long beard, eyes narrowing in thought.
Something is different. He noted silently. The Regent is far too mild today.
He had served three emperors and watched countless ministers rise and fall. His instincts had been honed by decades of political survival. And right now, those instincts were whispering that the Regent was playing a game he couldn't quite see.
The old fox's gaze flickered between the Regent and the Duke of Zhenguo. Those two had been at each other's throats for years—everyone knew that. But today's exchange felt... rehearsed. Too convenient. The Duke's objection had given the Regent a perfect excuse to appear magnanimous.
Or am I overthinking this? Zhou Yanling wondered. Perhaps the Duke is simply an idiot who stumbled into helping his enemy.
No matter. Whatever he's planning, I'll uncover it soon enough.
Court proceeded. The Minister of Revenue stepped forward to deliver his taxation report.
Yin Wuwang stood at the head of the military officials, listening to the tedious stream of numbers with mounting boredom. His thoughts had long since drifted elsewhere.
That was beautifully done, Fuguang. He marveled inwardly. In the original novel, the Regent only knew how to humiliate the young Emperor, which made him universally despised. But Fuguang turned it into stern guidance instead—maintaining the pressure of a powerful minister without escalating the conflict. A hundred times more elegant than that hack author could ever write!
He stole a glance at Xie Qingyan. The man stood with his hands behind his back, face expressionless, radiating an aura that warned everyone to keep their distance. The candlelight caught the sharp lines of his profile, casting shadows that made him look like a painting come to life.
So beautiful.
The thought flickered through his mind before he could stop it. Yin Wuwang quickly reined himself in.
Focus on the act, you fool. Three thousand years of waiting, and you still can't control your own thoughts?
Halfway through court, Prime Minister Zhou Yanling stepped forward and bowed. "Your Majesty, this old minister has a matter to report."
The young Emperor responded quickly: "Please speak, Prime Minister."
Zhou Yanling straightened, his gaze sweeping toward Xie Qingyan. A smile that didn't reach his eyes spread across his face. "Recently, there have been rumors circulating through the capital. It is said that the Regent's carriages have been frequently departing and returning late at night. Might this minister inquire what business takes Your Highness out at such hours?"
Whispers immediately rippled through the hall.
Xie Qingyan's brow furrowed slightly. He had indeed stayed up late last night—but only to familiarize himself with political affairs within his residence. He hadn't gone anywhere.
The Prime Minister was clearly testing him, probing to see how he would react.
"What this king does," Xie Qingyan said coolly, his voice carrying a hint of mockery, "need not be reported to the Prime Minister. Or has the Prime Minister already planted his spies within this king's household?"
Zhou Yanling's expression flickered. He hastily replied: "This old minister wouldn't dare. I merely heard the rumors and was concerned for Your Highness's safety."
"Concerned?" Xie Qingyan let out a cold laugh. "If the Prime Minister is truly concerned, perhaps he should first deal with the rats infesting the Ministry of Revenue. This king has heard that the capital's black market has grown quite bold of late. The illegal trading of old currency is rampant. Is the Prime Minister aware of this?"
Zhou Yanling's pupils contracted briefly before he recovered his composure. He bowed: "This old minister will certainly investigate thoroughly."
Xie Qingyan dismissed him and turned to the young Emperor: "Your Majesty, this minister requests an imperial decree to thoroughly investigate the black market and reform the currency system."
The boy nodded eagerly: "Granted!"
Yin Wuwang stood watching, the corner of his mouth curving upward.
Brilliant. He thought. Fuguang just redirected the conversation from 'the Regent's mysterious nighttime activities' to 'corruption in the Ministry of Revenue.' The Prime Minister walked right into that one.
Now it's my turn.
He cleared his throat and stepped forward. "The Regent's proposal is out of line!"
Every minister turned to stare at him.
Yin Wuwang lifted his chin, affecting an expression of righteous indignation. "Reforming the currency system falls under the Ministry of Revenue's purview. For the Regent to overstep his bounds—is this not an abuse of power? This duke believes such matters should be handled by the Prime Minister!"
Xie Qingyan shot him a sidelong glance, his voice ice-cold: "The Duke of Zhenguo should stick to leading troops. What business does a military man have meddling in court affairs?"
The two faced off, tension crackling between them like lightning before a storm.
The ministers held their breath. The enmity between the Regent and the Duke of Zhenguo was legendary—everyone knew they despised each other. Watching them clash was like watching two tigers circle before a kill.
The young Emperor shrank into his throne, not daring to speak. His small hands gripped the armrests so tightly his knuckles had gone white.
But Prime Minister Zhou Yanling quietly released a breath of relief.
So the Regent and the Duke are still at each other's throats after all. He thought. Perhaps I was overthinking things.
Court concluded amid the two men's "conflict." Ministers filed out in small groups, murmuring among themselves.
Zhou Yanling returned to his residence and immediately took up his brush. He penned a brief letter and dispatched it by fast horse to Prince Huai's manor in the southern district.
The message contained only one line: "The Regent behaved strangely today. Your Highness should take note."
[Prince Huai's Manor · Southern District]
In a dimly lit study, a middle-aged man sat in a wheelchair. His face was gaunt, his eyes sunken, but within those hollowed sockets burned an intensity that spoke of ambition undimmed by illness. This was Prince Huai, the late Emperor's younger brother—a man who had once been next in line for the throne before a hunting accident crippled him from the waist down.
He accepted the letter and read it carefully, a dark smile slowly spreading across his face.
"Strangely?" He tossed the paper into a nearby brazier and watched it curl into ash. "How very interesting."
He turned to the aide standing beside him: "Look into it. Find out who the Duke of Zhenguo has been associating with lately. And while you're at it, have someone watch the Regent's manor more closely."
The aide bowed and withdrew.
[End of Chapter 5]
Next Chapter Preview:
The Duke of Zhenguo has a public meltdown over military funding. The Regent delivers a verbal beatdown so savage that three ministers faint from secondhand embarrassment. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister thinks he's finally figured out their game—but he's not even close.
Chapter 6: How a "Brainless Brute" Designs a "Catch the Corrupt Officials" Mini-Game