Chapter 360 - , Best Steward Beneath Heaven
Chapter 360: Best Steward Beneath Heaven
The man in yellow gown walked slowly towards the throne as the servants on either side followed with deep bows. He looked quite thin, but his bright eyes looked at everyone present, lingering ever so slightly longer on the Luo clan.
This man was the current emperor of the Tianyu Empire.
“May Your Majesty live a long and prosperous life!” The instant he took his seat, the eight groups bowed.
The emperor waved, “As everyone knows, I have called you all here today to bear witness and rejoice, by the grace of Tianyu’s ancestors, to the rise of a new house in our empire!
“Tianyu has survived the past thousand years in no small part due to our seven houses’ assistance, bringing stability and prosperity, safeguarding peace along the ages. In all these years, the imperial family dared not neglect its duty, looking for talents to defend the wellbeing of its people. That is the purpose of the Esoteric Debate, to see a clan rise up and make Tianyu great. I am sad to say that this has never happened!
“We are fortunate that the heavens finally took pity on us and my rule, and presented us with a new house, working alongside the seven houses in strengthening our foundation. This is a blessing to myself, to the nation, and to everyone else!”
“Congratulations, Your Majesty! The land shall grow even stronger!” Everyone bowed.
Luo clan did the same, with humility, “We dare not accept Your Majesty’s praise!”
Everyone present knew this was just a high class act, and thus was shortly ignored. Even those who had never seen this new house knew that the seven houses never stopped fighting among each other since the empire’s foundation. [What working together? More like stabbing each other’s backs.]
With the coming of the 8th house, the fights would only grow bitter. A prime example was the two houses duking it out at the ruler’s gates.
While the emperor was saying all that, the empire was in fact on the verge of collapse, hanging by a thread. He didn’t believe what he himself said and neither did those people who were bowing. It was all make-believe.
Despite all of this, neither side was about to unravel the white lie. These were appearances and decorum that had to be maintained. Or poking holes in the paper thin charade would lead to Tianyu going up in flames, something no one wanted…
The emperor looked at them one more time and smiled, “Praise heavens!”
The Imperial Palace guards came forward and prepared the incense. The emperor bowed before it and even began reading a prayer.
It was more or less being thankful to the heavens for the prosperity of Tianyu. While every paper was perused, an hour passed by and the rest rose up along with the emperor.
He took his rightful place on the throne with traces of sweat on his brow, a clear indication that he was reaching the limit of his life.
He knew that, yet he would still put on a cheerful face, “Good, after we showed our respects to heaven and earth, we then have the son of heaven, which is myself. Luo Clan’s Head, Luo Yunhai, step forward!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Luo Yunhai stepped down on one knee.
“Young Luo Yunhai, your father has been taken from you at an early age, yet with your bravery and resolve, you have led the clan forward alone. You have followed Marshal Dugu in battle and showed marvelous skill in the Esoteric Debate. You are a true model of Tianyu’s heroes. I bestow upon the Luo clan, the title of the Eighth Noble House. Windgaze City shall be your domain along with the hundred cities around it. You shall be known as Regent of Prosperity, allowed to own a prince’s manor in the imperial capital!”
Raising his head, Luo Yunhai was bug eyed and so were the rest, looking at the emperor in disbelief.
None of them expected for Luo Yunhai to actually become a nobleman and even have a title!
Among the seven houses, only Regent Estate had the marquis title because they were related to the imperial family.
But Luo clan was a run down third rate clan. And it had just jumped in front of everyone with the title of prince!
Only Zhuge Changfeng, Zhuo Fan and Leng Wuchang understood. The emperor wanted to place the Regent Estate and Luo clan on opposite fronts.
Since the world couldn’t hold both of them, so too the eight houses could only have one boss. Two kings was one king too many!
The emperor’s title came with vile intentions!
Not that Zhuo Fan gave a hoot since his sole plan for Regent Estate was to drag it out. And Regent Estate wasn’t about to sway under the emperor’s taunt. So when the tripartite division took shape, all those titles became empty words.
On the contrary, the hundred cities offered made Zhuo Fan pleased as a punch.
What was of greatest importance in the cultivation world? Resources.
A hundred cities included the mountain range close by and the tens of spirit mines and endless herbs it offered. And all of that was the house’s private property.
Adding to that a part of the empire as well, Luo clan would soar with so many resources. It would no longer need its allies’ support. It had finally gained independence.
This was why many clans wanted to curry favor with the houses. Without resources, they’d wither and die.
And these resources were either the empire’s or the houses’.
Monopoly on the resources controlled Tianyu’s clans’ development. With Luo clan having a hundred cities to its name, if the clans wanted to join it, they’d have to move to the border.
Zhuo Fan finally showed a twisted smile.
Two servants came before Luo Yunhai, offering him a golden cape, embroidered with a majestic dragon. It only missed the four claws, or it’d be just like the princes’.
This was a symbol that showed the house was equal to the imperial family, not to mention Luo Yunhai was a regent.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Luo Yunhai bowed.
The emperor nodded and turned to his sister, “Young miss Luo, come forward!”
Luo Yunchang was stunned.
A male would take on the mantle of Clan Head along with titles, so where was he going by calling her?
Luo Yunchang still kneeled, “May Your Majesty live a long and prosperous life!”
“Luo Yunchang, dignified and virtuous, strong and loyal. After the misfortune that befell your clan, you held strong against all adversity, raising your little brother and guiding the clan. You are a model of virtue to all of Tianyu. I take you as my goddaughter, naming you Princess Yong’an, and expect you to become a good sister with my daughter Yongning in safeguarding Tianyu!”
Luo Yunchang turned to Yongning hiding behind the princes, who stared blankly back at her. Neither expected that from the emperor. They were to be sisters.
“Uh, Your Majesty, I would never…”
“This is an imperial decree!” The emperor cut her off with a stern face.
Luo Yunchang sighed, “Then, I shall accept!”
The emperor beamed and Luo Yunchang withdrew.
“Luo clan’s steward, Zhuo Fan, step forth!”
When everyone thought the award ceremony was over, the emperor called one more time.
Zhuo Fan was puzzled. He was just a steward, not the Luo Clan Head. [Why’s he giving me something?] But since the emperor decreed, he could only oblige and gave a half bow, “May Your…”
“You dare not bow before His Majesty?”
A sharp cry pierced the ears of everyone.
Zhuo Fan looked on with a frown, at the servant next to the emperor and his face grew cold, “You’re the one with the nerve calling it to attention when the Emperor said nothing, trying to kiss someone’s ass. Do you think of yourself better than the Emperor?”
“Uh, no no, His Majesty…”
The servant panicked. They had always been next to the emperor and basked in second-hand glory, getting used to pushing others around.
They were proxies dishing out the emperor’s orders, but as long as the emperor didn’t say anything, anything went. Perhaps they were even doing what His Majesty intended.
While other scared people never dared to refute in fear of the emperor’s anger.
But Zhuo Fan was a tough nut to crack. Would the grand Demonic Emperor from the Sacred Domain kneel before a no name emperor from the mortal domain?
The servant was way out of his league messing with him.
Especially when he knew the emperor needed him and wouldn’t sweat this particular detail.
The emperor waved and smiled at Zhuo Fan, “Then, Zhuo Fan, why do you not kneel?”
“My knees are wounded. With Your Majesty’s brilliant and wise character, I’m sure you won’t pressure the future house’s steward.”
Zhuo Fan’s words were a work of art. Throwing the emperor’s words right back at him.
[In layman’s terms, you just called us irreplaceable, in order to strengthen the nation’s foundation. So why the hell would you nitpick? Only a poor ruler would do that. Won’t that shame you? Won’t you lose Tianyu’s respect?]
Those words even contained a hint of threat.
Luo Yunchang lowered her head, filled with worry and anger at Zhuo Fan’s crass act. [Before the mighty Emperor, you kneel when spoken to! What the hell are you doing looking for an early death?]
[Offending the imperial family will give us a death sentence!]
She was unaware that this was a fine balance not even the emperor wished to break. Since he didn’t want to let Regent Estate come out on top?
Hence Zhuo Fan’s leverage was very much real.
Giving him a long look, the emperor smiled, “You truly are a worthy steward for the Luo clan, Zhuo Fan. Your reputation precedes you!”
“Then, Zhuo Fan will receive your title!”
The emperor coughed and shouted, “Steward Zhuo Fan of the Luo clan, you are a man of bravery and wisdom, holding your clan together through hard times, loyal and caring, a pillar of the empire! I bestow upon you the title Best Steward Under Heavens, wielding the power of the three armies and the bearer of my authority!”
Sss~
The people gasped in shock. Even Zhuo Fan…