Chapter 60 - Imperial Court Brawl

An older official with a long white beard kowtowed as well interrupting prime minister Ming's ranting and said, "Your Majesty, this servant personally experienced the war fifty years ago. A war that wiped out more than half of our population."

"Our population as it stands has shrunk and with the emergence of the half breeds, this servant suggests we keep the peace otherwise we will suffer great losses," before lowering his forehead on his hands pressing down on the ground.

Prime minister Ming wasn't one to be outdone so he bowed as well before voicing his opinion. "Your majesty, it is exactly for that reason that we should mobilise the troops. They are growing in numbers because of the half breeds and that Ji Wen thinks he is above the Son of Heaven."

"Most half nocru worship him and consider him their leader undermining the rule of the land. We have to clip his wings before he soars to the sky and decides the sea isn't enough for him and attacks the imperial city. Your Majesty, please consider it. Time and time again he has undermined the dragon throne defying you.....," he said but he was interrupted by the right prime minister's vicious scolding.

"Shut up you old goat," said prime minister Ming after being called a child barely out of his diapers. He had a grandson for heavens sake. That in itself should earn him some respect in this court. 

As soon as the word old goat was spat out a physical confrontation ensued. The right prime minister had a terrible temper which meant he wouldn't pass the opportunity to educate unruly children. 

He lunged his entire body at the left prime minister and clutched his lapel yelling. His spit was flying everywhere further infuriating prime minister Ming. Soon a group of officials gathered around them trying to pull them apart. 

The imperial guards tried to intervene but the man sitting on the throne lifted his finger to stop them. He wanted them to fight it out till one of them bled then he would stop them. 

The left prime minister had hit the nail in the head. Ji Wen had undermined him time and time again just because he was a half breed striking this emperor's ego. Ji Wen was a thorn in his eye and he also wanted to get rid of him but how to do that was the question?

He had even tried to acquire Red Bane but even then there was massive push back with no victory in sight. That incident increased Ji Wen's popularity among the people making him lose face. 

He had to deal with this thorn before it sinks deep into the flesh making it harder to remove. The emperor raised his hand slightly and the imperial guards broke up the fight that had gone beyond the two prime ministers. 

The group of men stopped fighting when the imperial guards intervened. Realising they had let their emotions control them they kowtowed before the emperor begging for forgiveness. 

Emperor Yun ignored their pleas and directly spoke to prime minister Ming. "What is your plan?" he asked going straight to the point. His question had the officials from the right faction looking at each other.

It seemed the emperor had made up his mind and it was in support of the left prime minister. Prime minister Ming suppressed the smile quirking up at the corner of his lips and said, "Your majesty we should attack his island. As we speak his guard against us is low so this servant suggests we surround him there. By the time the rest of his fleet comes to his rescue it would be too late."

"Your majesty!...," cried out the right prime minister but he was cut off by the glare sent his way by the emperor. He swallowed back his words. He surely hoped this plan of theirs works because if they lose there would be hell to pay. Ji Wen's entire armada is ten times bigger than their fleet which means this was basically a suicide mission. That armada wouldn't let them go until all of them are dead. 

The emperor seemed pleased with this plan as he dismissed them soon after that asking the left prime minister to remain behind. What they didn't realise was that they were simply being used as smoking mirrors by Prince Rui so he could get his batteries back. By batteries, he means the Rui siblings as they were his aether's power supply. 

On the other hand, the emperor had yet again underestimated the King of the seas and why is that? it's because when he set up this security measure in the imperial city he was confident that no nocru infiltrated his ranks but if Lord Mao could do it what more Ji Wen? He not only had one but ten people around the emperor and knew everything about him. 

His network was so intricate to the point that the emperor wouldn't sneeze without him knowing about it. Ever since that douche bag came after his darling Red Bane he had been watching him like a hawk. This meant his plan was bound to fail but of course, the emperor didn't know this. This time Ji Wen was most definitely going to cripple the emperor's pathetic little fleet and take over all trading at sea.

The only problem was whether he would still be around to personally give this emperor a good beating because Qilin Hao was also coming for him. One can only sincerely hope she reconsiders because there was no way of telling whether Ji Yao was prepared to take over in the absence of his father. The concord would surely respect him, well, apart from Zhang Ci. 

There was also the issue with the keystones.. If Ji Wen gets taken out of the equation would Ji Yao stop looking for them? Either way, it seemed young master Yao would have his plate full in the absence of his father.