Chapter 188: Court Envoys

Everyone, please take your time departing! I, the king, will certainly give you a satisfactory reply as soon as possible!

Yelü Hua's flattering voice faded behind them. The five nations' envoys walked along the stone‑paved path of the Forbidden City, the cold wind stirring the hems of their robes, producing a rustling sound.

"What a fine drama." German envoy Feng Shimit whispered to Baote Na, "This regent spouts nonsense, talking for ages yet saying nothing at all."

"He's merely trying to buy time," French envoy De La Val snorted, "All that talk of 'dispatching personnel promptly' and 'needing time' are just excuses!"

Baote Na halted, turned and stared at the distant golden‑and‑emerald palace, a cold sneer curling his mouth: "Buy time? Can he even afford that? The muzzle of the Far‑East fleet's cannons doesn't heed his flowery words."

He surveyed the other envoys: "We've already given them a final chance. After you return, immediately send a telegram home, recommending a strengthened naval deployment in the Far East. At the same time, keep pressuring them, demanding daily progress updates!"

"I agree," Eastern Ocean Country envoy Yamada said coldly, "If the Da Qian Court is incompetent, we don't mind 'helping' them restore order. Shen City is one of the Far East's most important ports; we cannot let a rogue warlord run amok there."

American envoy Wei Er Sen, however, appeared relatively cautious: "Perhaps we should first see who they send, whether they can keep the situation under control. After all, a stable Shen City serves our commercial interests. Acting rashly with military force could disrupt the entire Far East's trade order."

"Stability?" Baote Na sneered, "Mr. Wei Er Sen, do you think Shen City can be stable under a thug like Lin Yu? He dares to murder our expatriates today, and tomorrow he'll seize our assets!"

"Exactly," De La Val agreed, "It's a matter of principle. If we concede in Shen City, other warlords elsewhere will follow suit. Our decades‑long interests in the Far East would be shattered in an instant!"

Yamada's voice grew even colder: "Moreover, this is a perfect opportunity. Great Dry is already rotten beyond repair, unable even to control a local official. If they truly lack the power to handle this..."

He didn't finish, but the other envoys nodded in understanding.

"Alright, everyone," Baote Na straightened his dress, "return and prepare the telegram. Let our government see how incompetent and ridiculous this so‑called 'Celestial Empire' has become."

The five quickened their pace toward the palace gate. The cold wind howled, swirling the fallen leaves. Their silhouettes receded, leaving behind the palace that had borne centuries of imperial majesty.

Meanwhile, inside the Hall of Nurturing the Heart, it was unknown whether the young emperor and his regent realized that a storm capable of altering the dynasty's fate was brewing.

The hall doors shut again, sealing out the outside chill.

Yelü Hua's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a ferocious, twisted grin. He thrust his hand forward, sweeping the memorandum off the desk; the finely bound volume hit the floor with a "thwack", pages scattering everywhere.

"Scoundrels!" veins bulged on his forehead as he roared into the empty hall, "You worthless vermin! A pack of untrained white‑eyed wolves! You've been running amok in Great Dry's territory for years, and now you dare to lecture us!"

He kicked a teacup, hot tea splashing everywhere: "And that Lin Yu! Brat! He accomplishes nothing but creates more trouble! How dare he stab such a huge hole for me! Does he intend to rebel?!"

The ministers in the hall fell silent as if chilled to the bone, daring not even a breath. The young emperor, frightened by the sudden fury, curled up on the dragon throne, tears welling in his eyes.

"You!" Yelü Hua whirled, his gaze cutting like a blade over Prince Qing, Xu Shichang and others, "Look at yourselves! Each of you is supposed to be a pillar of the court! And yet? Not even a local militia can hold them down! You've let the Foreigners bully us! What use are you!"

"Your Highness, calm your anger!" Prince Qing hurriedly knelt, forehead pressed to the ground, "Lin Yu is overbearing, not a recent trouble. He commands heavy troops, well‑equipped, with astonishing combat power; surely he's no easy foe..."

"Enough!" Yelü Hua bellowed, cutting him off, "I don't want to hear this nonsense! Right now, find a way for me: how to retake Shen City, and how to eliminate that scourge Lin Yu!"

"Your Highness," Xu Shichang trembled as he stepped forward, "I think this matter calls for patience rather than haste. Perhaps we should first send a negotiator to Shen City..."

"A negotiator?" Yelü Hua sneered, "Do you want my envoy to be killed by him as well? He even dares to kill Foreigners; does he care about court officials?"

"Then..." Prince Qing said cautiously, "perhaps we should temporarily appease the Great Powers while secretly redeploying troops..."

"What troops to move!" Yelü Hua roared again, "In the north the Eastern Ocean Country eyes us like a tiger, in the west the Russians stir restlessly; where are there any troops left to shift!"

The young emperor was so frightened he nearly wept; Li An Da hurriedly cradled him, whispering soothingly, "Your Majesty, don't be afraid, don't be afraid..."

Yelü Hua paced back and forth inside the hall, his complexion shifting. Suddenly, he halted, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Xu Shichang!"

"Here I am!"

"Go at once to contact the various envoys. Tell them that as long as they can help me capture Lin Yu, the terms are negotiable!"

"Yes!" Xu Shichang replied promptly, yet inwardly he sighed. Inviting the wolf into the house, this expedient scheme was nothing more than drinking poison to quench thirst.

Outside the hall, the cold wind howled; inside, fury burned. This ancient palace seemed to bear witness to a dynasty's final struggle.

The fury within the hall gradually subsided, yet the air still hung with a suffocating oppression.

Yelü Hua sat back down, his fingers resuming a rhythmic tap on the armrest. His anger seemed somewhat calmed, but the glint in his eyes grew ever more sinister.

"Your Highness," Xu Shichang stepped forward cautiously, bowing, "In my view, the urgent priority is to dispatch a capable minister, under the court's imperial commission, south to Shen City. First, to appease the Foreigners and clarify the court's stance; second, to assert sovereignty and order Lin Yu; third, to act flexibly, ascertain the reality, and then make a decisive judgment."

"Hmm..." Yelü Hua mused briefly, the tapping ceasing, "Your suggestion has merit." He surveyed the ministers, "Who shall we send?"

"Vice Minister of Rites Chen Jingwen," Prince Qing quickly interjected, "is mature, consistently capable, and maintains decent relations with the southeastern provinces; he could shoulder this heavy responsibility."

"Chen Jingwen..." Yelü Hua's eyes flashed, "Good! He it is!"

He rose, his voice regaining authority: "Convey my decree, appointing Chen Jingwen as the 'Imperial Envoy for the Pacification of Shen River', grant him the royal sword, and have him set out at once for Shen City!"

"Tell him," Yelü Hua's voice dropped, a hint of coldness, "to stabilize the situation for me! If Lin Yu is reasonable, he can be temporarily restrained; if he refuses to be elevated..."

He did not finish, but the murderous intent in his gaze was already evident.

"Go! Draft the decree at once!"

Xu Shichang and Prince Qing hurriedly took the order and withdrew. The young emperor, supported by Li An Da, also retreated to the rear hall.

Yelü Hua remained alone in the hall, gazing at the gray sky beyond the windows. The deep‑autumn cold wind still howled, lifting fallen leaves that battered the window lattice.

"Shen City, Lin Yu..." a cold, cruel smile curled his mouth, "I shall see just how powerful you truly are!"

He turned to the map on the wall, his gaze landing on the red dot labeled 'Shen City'. A storm emanating from the empire's core was brewing within this ancient palace, soon to sweep toward the distant southeast.