Chapter 370: Appoint the Five Officials to the Celestial Office, confer the Grand Tutor title, and grant a fief of five thousand hous

"You damn son of a bitch think you can completely sideline me?!"

Yuwen Yan only felt a buzzing in his ears, as if a sudden thunderclap had exploded.

He abruptly lifted his gaze to Yuwen Heng, the weariness in his eyes instantly shattered by shock, even his breathing missed a beat.

The central authority is still divided?!

Yuwen Yan could barely contain the astonishment on his face, his eyes bulging, staring fixedly at the figure clad in a four‑claw python robe.

They intend to hand over all authority, including the portions previously held by Dugu Zhao and Zhao Qian, entirely to Yuwen Hu!

His fingers clawed the Dragon Throne's armrest, the wood grain digging painfully into his fingertips, yet he could not suppress the fury building in his heart.

Yuwen Yan opened his mouth, but said nothing, merely staring intently at Yuwen Heng, his eyes a swirl of shock, anger, and helplessness.

Like a trapped beast in a cage, he could only mask his fraying nerves with silence.

The silence was shattered by a resonant voice.

Hou Mo Chen Yi, standing at the front, stepped forward; the jade belt at his waist lightly clinked with the movement, producing a crisp sound. A shrewd glint flashed in his eyes, and when he looked at Yuwen Yan, his tone carried a few unyielding earnestness: "Your Majesty, I think the Grand Marshal's words are reasonable!"

He said, bowing slowly, the flowing‑cloud pattern embroidered on his Purple Robe rippled in the candlelight: "Please appoint the Five Officials to the Celestial Office!"

Now Hou Mo Chen Zhuguo mainly focuses on a group that…

Having been forced onto this ship by Chief Chen, they can only steadfastly follow Da Zhongzai!

Moreover, given Da Zhongzai's character, standing firm with him now will certainly not be repaid poorly in the future…

Yu Jie, seated at the front, rose again, first bowing to Yuwen Yan; his voice was hoarse yet full of vigor: "Your Majesty, to nip problems in the bud and prevent such chaos from recurring, we must entrust Da Zhongzai with great responsibilities!"

He paused, then emphasized: "Only Da Zhongzai can shoulder this burden!"

Both the words and the subtext exuded admiration for Yuwen Hu, and finally he bowed to Yuwen Heng: "The Grand Marshal is seasoned in statecraft; this proposal truly serves the realm, I concur!"

He hammered the four characters "must be him" with weight and solidity.

Having lived through several reigns, could Yu Jie not understand what Yuwen Heng's proposal implied?

Yet he still gave strong support.

After all, with all authority in Yuwen Hu's hands, it better aligns with his own and the Yu family's interests…

Moreover, the realm still bears the Yuwen name, living up to Taizu's trust.

"I concur!" Chen Yan stepped forward, his voice not loud but bearing a penetrating chill, unlike the deferential tone he used when giving thanks earlier.

He paused, turned toward the direction of the throne, though not meeting eyes, his tone added a solemn note: "Only by appointing the Five Officials to the Celestial Office can Da Zhongzai better safeguard the Great Zhou realm!"

This phrasing turned "seizing power" into "protecting and supporting", rendering the act in a grandly righteous light, overly beautifying it.

No one understands the art of language better than Chen Yan!

Immediately after, heavy ministers such as Shang Ting, Pei Xun, Wei Jianshen, Liu Zhaoming and others stepped forward in unison.

One by one they spoke magnanimously, extolling the benefits of appointing the Five Officials to the Celestial Office.

They really are a group of loyal ministers and fine generals! ……… Sitting on the Dragon Throne, listening to the rising and falling chorus of concurrence in the hall, he felt his heart bleed, sighed helplessly, and said, "Very well, then I shall comply with the ministers' request and appoint the Five Officials to…"

Every word from each of them spoke of "for the realm", yet none offered support to him as emperor.

Not even any opposition…

The entire court, yet not a single loyal minister!

Just as the young emperor spoke, a voice, deliberately urgent, cut in: "Your Majesty, absolutely not!"

Yuwen Hu slowly rose from the throne.

The four‑claw python robe unfolded with his movement, the hem brushing the carvings on the Dragon Throne's armrest, producing a faint scraping sound.

???

Yuwen Yan saw this, let out a cold snort, a chill glint in his eyes, muttering, "Isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

"You even declined?"

Witnessing this scene, the young emperor began to speculate:

It won't be that three‑step yielding game, will it?

Yuwen Hu kept both hands loosely tucked in his sleeves, his face showing a hint of sincere fear: "Your Majesty, I, the king, have been entrusted by the late emperor's will—how could I commit such a power‑hungry act?"

He paused, turned around, adopting a solemn demeanor, his gaze fixed on Wei Lin and Yu Lao Zhuguo, his tone suddenly sharp: "Grand Marshal, Grand Zongbo, are you trying to trap me in an act of disloyalty and injustice?"

Yuwen Hu's voice echoed in the hall, tinged with a deliberately angry tone.

"Ha!"

"Hypocritical!"

Yuwen Yan sat on the Dragon Throne, seeing Yuwen Hu's scolding demeanor crystal clear.

He paused, sneering repeatedly, silently cursing in his heart: "Weren't you already a power‑broker before?"

What a pretentious performance.

Just now, using everyone's words, he seized all central authority of the court.

He then turned his face toward the "meritorious officials" and scolded them in a pretentious manner.

He stripped himself clean, as if others had forced this authority onto him.

How could such shameless people exist in this world?

On one hand reveling in autocratic power, on the other draping himself in a "loyal to the sovereign, love the country" mantle, his performance flawless.

And he still has the nerve to call this a "power‑broker" act?

If there is any difference, it's that before there were restraints from those two old rascals…

Yuwen Heng heard this, and instead of recoiling, he straightened up, a look of "deep anguish" on his face, bowing deeply to Yuwen Hu: "Da Zhongzai, your words are erroneous!"

His voice rang clear, bearing the martial resonance of a commander: "In extraordinary times, extraordinary actions are required."

He paused, his gaze burning as he looked at Yuwen Hu, his tone full of sincere earnestness: "At this turbulent moment, consolidating central authority is also for the stability of Great Zhou!"

Where is this any rebuttal?

Clearly it is just following the script downwards.

He smooths out the reason for his own elder brother's "must accept authority" to make it more coherent.

"Indeed!"

Yu Jie suddenly straightens his spine, his graying long whiskers trembling with excitement, yet his voice lands solidly, carrying a resolute tone: "One's personal reputation is a minor matter; the safety of the world is paramount!"

He pauses, then retorts: "Can one neglect the world because of reputation?"

What does it mean for a person to become refined with age?

He speaks with such eloquence that no trace of selfishness can be heard.

"Grand Chancellor, are you willing to jeopardize Great Zhou in the storm for such a trivial reputation?"

"I, your servant, ask the Grand Chancellor to prioritize the realm and its foundations!"

"Such petty discussions are not worth mentioning!"

Chang Sunlan steps forward at the right moment, bows deeply toward the throne, picks up Yu Jie's thread, and, filled with righteous indignation, eloquently declares.

Speaking, without any hesitation, he kneels directly on the golden slab and bows his head.

A muffled thud suddenly rises.

Chang Sunlan knows clearly that this is a once‑in‑a‑millennium chance, concerning his future official career and the key to his family's prosperity.

He must grasp it firmly!

Support the Grand Chancellor!

Immediately, many officials in the hall begin copying Chang Sunlan, kneeling to plead and persuade.

"This…"

Yuwen Hu furrows his brows, as if a thousand‑pound burden presses on his shoulders, slowly lifts his hand, presses his forehead, and the Jade Ring at his fingertip glows with a somber light in the fire.

"What you are doing…" he sighs heavily, his voice wrapped in unspeakable difficulty, "You insist on roasting this king over fire!"

Yuwen Yan sits on the Dragon Throne, the bead strings of his crown drape down, just covering the cold surge in his eyes.

The hall is a sea of darkness, ministers either kneeling or bowing, each chant of "Please, Grand Chancellor, think of the world" strikes the golden slab like a heavy hammer on his heart.

"Each of them truly puts on a grandiose façade…"

"Yuwen Hu really knows how to act!"

He, watching this scene, sneers repeatedly in his heart.

Fine, very fine.

Each one performs the grandiose act to the fullest.

Using the pretext of "the world's safety," they turn flattery into loyalty, and opportunism into concern for the nation and its people.

And Yuwen Hu as well.

Yuwen Yan's gaze lands on that "reluctant" figure, the mockery in his eyes nearly spilling over.

This play is performed with such effort, from "reproach" to "struggle," and now this "forced helplessness."

Layer upon layer progresses, even the curvature of the furrowed brows is just right.

It truly seems as if it's forced, as if unwilling.

If you truly don't want it, then return the authority to me!

"For the sake of the common people, please, Grand Chancellor, do not decline!"

Unclear who led first, the hall suddenly erupts in a chorus of uniform assent, voices overlapping, causing the palace lanterns hanging from the beams to sway gently.

The ministers' voices rise higher, bearing an almost fanatical earnestness.

Someone presses their forehead against the golden slab, their posture supremely respectful.

Yuwen Hu stands in the hall, listening to the rising and falling shouts, his "difficulty" deepening, he lifts his hand to his chest, as if trapped with no way out: "You… you people truly have tormented this king!"

Yet his slightly raised chin cannot hide the increasingly heavy smile in his eyes.

This is not a superfluous act; some steps cannot be omitted, only then does everything follow logically.

"Grand Chancellor, have you forgotten the late emperor's final entrustment?"

Yu Jie, seeing the timing is right, lifts his head and declares loudly: "His old majesty's lifelong desire is to subdue the eastern Qi State and unify the Central Plains!"

He directly brings out Taizu Yuwen Xin, adding legal justification.

Shang Ting bows and echoes, his tone bearing a few notes of sudden enlightenment and solemnity: "I previously thought shallowly, but now hearing the Grand Marshal and Yu, the Grand Pillar of State, I realize this concerns the nation's destiny. If the Grand Chancellor does not comply, it would abandon the world's people; we… we will never agree!"

These words push the moral blackmail to the extreme, as if Yuwen Hu uttering another "no" would make him a timeless sinner.

Yuwen Hu lifts his hand to his brow, as if making a decision weighing a thousand pounds.

He remains silent for a moment, the hall's breathing sounds lightening, until the near‑frozen silence, then he slowly speaks, his voice bearing the helplessness of being "forced to the brink": "Very well!"

Then, pressing his hand, he says with weighty solemnity: "I, this king, will emulate the Duke of Zhou assisting the government, overseeing the Five Offices under the Celestial Office!"

"When Your Majesty personally governs, I will return this authority to Your Majesty in its entirety!"

The words "Duke of Zhou assisting the government" land with force, as if truly comparing himself to the ancient virtuous minister.

He stands with his hands lowered, the four‑claw python robe hanging at his sides.

It even conveys a hint of "dedicating oneself completely."

"Grand Chancellor, may you live a thousand years, a thousand years, ten thousand years!"

The entire hall's ministers, seeing the Grand Chancellor finally assent, bow in unison, their mountain‑like shouts surging like a torrent.

"After so much refusal, finally forced to accept…"

"What a fine tactic!"

"The Duke of Zhou assisted the king for seven years before returning power; Yuwen Hu, holding authority, would you still be willing to relinquish it?"

Yuwen Yan, witnessing this, continues to sneer in his heart, savoring the scene.

From tallying the two Grand Pillars of State, to the Five Offices under the Celestial Office, to the hall's mountain‑like shouts of "thousand years," each step interlocks tightly, airtight.

This senior brother of Grand Pillar of State didn't even act personally, uttered a few words about vying for power, and relying only on the Grand Marshal, the old Grand Pillar of State and their group to drum up support, he made this power‑seizing drama seem so "legitimate and proper".

If you don't accept it, you can't act!

We must find a way to eliminate him!

Thinking of this, a flash of murderous intent passed through Yuwen Yan's eyes......

"Your Majesty, since Grand Pillar of State has assisted the government, he has exhausted his mind and effort, worrying day and night, thereby bringing Great Zhou peace, abundance of goods and prosperity of the people......" Shang Ting stepped forward, saying in a deep voice.

"What does he intend to do now?" Yuwen Yan glanced, feeling a wave of weariness in his heart, and couldn't help muttering.

Shang Ting bowed and performed the salute, his demeanor more solemn than before: "Now appoint the Duke of Wei to eliminate treacherous officials in the court; I request that the title Grand Preceptor be conferred upon Grand Pillar of State!"

"To show honor!"

Having sole authority is not enough; he also wants the Grand Preceptor title—truly insatiably greedy!.......... Yuwen Yan twitched the corner of his mouth, muttered a curse in his heart, and without hesitation spoke loudly: "Minister Shang's request aligns with my own thoughts; I shall issue an edict to grant Grand Pillar of State the Grand Preceptor title and award him a fief of five thousand households!"

He lowered his eyes; the bead strings of his crown fringe covered most of his face, revealing only a tightly pursed jawline, taut like a bow about to snap.

Since they desire it, give it; first feign submission to pacify Yuwen Hu.....

Then quickly find a way to eliminate him completely!

"Little Emperor, your teeth are about to be crushed, aren't they?" Chen Yan captured Yuwen Yan's subtle expression in his eyes, a smile that was not quite a smile, and chuckled to himself.

Even from such a distance, he could feel that intense hatred.....

Indeed, still too young.

Will compromise but will not disguise.

"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace!"

Yuwen Hu turned toward the Dragon Throne and gave a deep bow.

"Congratulations, Grand Preceptor!"

Yuwen Heng was the first to speak.

That congratulation was like a spark thrown into hot oil, instantly igniting the hall's fervor.

The waves of "Long live the Grand Preceptor" and "Congratulations, Grand Preceptor" rose and fell, louder than before, nearly overturning the hall's ceiling.

"Retire from the court!"

Yuwen Yan let out a silent sigh, lightly flicked his dragon robe, and said loudly.

Speaking, he rose straight up and walked toward the back of the hall.

He didn't want to stay a moment longer, unwilling to watch Yuwen Hu and his followers' smugness.....

The officials retiring from the court drifted out in small groups; the murmurs faded with their steps, and on the stone slab road outside the Tai Chi Hall, only the light sound of boot soles scraping the ground remained.

"A Yan." Pei Xun called softly, with Pei Xilou following behind.

"Father‑in‑law, Second Uncle!" Chen Yan halted his steps, clasped his hands and smiled.

"This move that toppled the two Grand Pillars of State is truly a grand stroke!" Pei Xun sized up his son‑in‑law and praised.

"It was just luck!" Chen Yan shook his head.

"During these days you fake death, your mother‑in‑law is worried about you and your wife!" Pei Xun said, "When you have some free time these days, bring the year‑end back to the residence for a visit....."

"The younger son‑in‑law will return to the residence with the year‑end tomorrow to visit the elders!" Chen Yan nodded and replied.

Walking side by side, Pei Xilou glanced back at the Tai Chi Hall behind him and sighed, "The two Grand Pillars of State have fallen; Chang'an can finally be at peace....."

"Is Chang'an really at peace?"

Pei Xun heard this, a deep glint flashing in his eyes as he murmured softly.

He paused, looked at Chen Yan, and asked, "A Yan, have you noticed our Your Majesty's expression throughout?"

Unlike the others, Pei Xun, standing at the front, kept his gaze frequently on the little emperor on the Dragon Throne......

"Father‑in‑law, rest assured!"

Chen Yan blinked, a curve lifting his mouth, and said meaningfully, "The younger son‑in‑law knows; he cannot stir up waves..."

Naturally, the palace also has its arrangements......