Chapter 848

It was also because of Jochi's display that Wokuotai could not help but freeze on the spot.

"Great Khan..."

In fact, Jochi's actions had also exceeded Yelu Chu's expectations.

But he was, after all, a man of long experience in the world, having seen many scenes.

The moment he saw Jochi's display, he understood the intention of this once fierce-tempered eldest prince.

Thinking of Tie Muzhen's kindness to him, he took the initiative to speak up, softly reminding Wokuotai.

"Uh..."

Wokuotai, prompted by Yelu Chu, finally came back to his senses.

He recovered his previously solemn expression, then with a face full of surprise, half-stood, raised his hand in a gesture of empty support,

"Ah! Isn't this Big Brother? How could this be?

Those damned slaves, seeing the eldest prince so lacking in decorum, why don't they know to help him up.

With this order from the newly enthroned Great Khan, naturally there were Xiaohuang Sect attendants rushing forward in a flurry.

They blamed themselves on one hand, while on the other spoke gentle words to help Jochi up.

They did not expect Jochi's arms to be as if filled with lead, impossible to lift no matter what,

"Great Khan, it is not that this minister has lost decorum, but truly that this minister indeed has a crime!

The late Khan met with disaster, and this guilty minister was not by his side to protect him—this is unfilial.

The Great Khan has just ascended the throne, yet this guilty minister was not in the imperial court to offer congratulations—this is disloyal.

This guilty minister is both disloyal and unfilial; I beg the Great Khan to punish me!"

In the past, Wokuotai would have wished to immediately take the easy way out and order men to drag Jochi out the Meridian Gate and behead him.

But now that he had ascended the Great Khan's throne, he instead understood that a Great Khan truly could not act entirely at will.

Especially since Jochi had handed over the handle of the knife—if Wokuotai truly killed him,

He would likely immediately lose part of the Great Yuan's military and popular support.

What a brilliant move of retreating to advance!

Wokuotai had by now caught on, sneered inwardly, and looked toward Yelu Chu,

"Grand Tutor, Prince Jochi says he has so many crimes.

This Khan has just ascended the great throne and is not very clear on matters—what do you think?"

With this one move, he shoved the hot potato to Yelu Chu.

Yelu Chu, hearing this, could not help but feel a headache coming on.

If he went along with Wokuotai's intent, it would certainly mean finding a pretext to kill Jochi.

But doing so would be a betrayal of the late Khan Tie Muzhen's kindness, and would also earn the contempt of court officials and the gentry.

Yet if he did not go along with Wokuotai's intent, the man who had elevated him to Grand Tutor could just as easily bring him down.

Setting aside everything else, Boyan beside him had probably long had his eye on his position.

Fortunately, the more urgent the moment, the calmer Yelu Chu became.

Before long, a brilliant scheme suddenly occurred to him, and he immediately stepped forward and said,

"What Prince Jochi has said may seem absurd, but in fact there is some reason in it.

The late Khan and our colleagues meeting with disaster was truly a great calamity for our Great Yuan.

The Great Khan's enthronement is also an unprecedented grand occasion for our dynasty.

Both events were missed, and though Prince Jochi had no intention of it, he is nonetheless guilty!"

The moment these words came out, the assembled ministers all broke into an uproar.

Wokuotai, on the contrary, wore a smile on his face and could not help but nod.

This old Yelu, he had not raised him in rank for nothing!

651 The Thirteen Wings have a flaw?

Just as, in the great hall, some upright ministers were preparing to cast all caution aside and leap out to denounce Yelu Chu,

Unexpectedly, Yelu Chu suddenly shifted his tone and, addressing Wokuotai, said,

"But at present our Great Yuan has suffered a calamity and is precisely in need of talent.

Prince Jochi's martial valor is unmatched among the three armies; he is truly a first-rate talent.

To directly call him to account would, on the contrary, be somewhat improper."

"Mm?"

Wokuotai's face stiffened, but he still held his temper and asked,

"Then in the Grand Tutor's view, how should this be dealt with?"

"Let Prince Jochi be punished by being assigned to the Thirteen Wings!"

Yelu Chu suddenly straightened his body and declared in a ringing voice.

Crack!

Wokuotai, hearing Yelu Chu's verdict, was so startled that he crushed the jade ruyi he had been toying with in his hand.

Jochi, kneeling below the dais without raising his head, was so shocked that he also exerted force through his palms and shattered the floorboards.

The assembled ministers, including Boyan, were also rendered dumbfounded by Yelu Chu's proposal.

They did not know what manner of punishment this "assigned to the Thirteen Wings" was.

Old Prime Minister, have you gone senile?

What are the Thirteen Wings?

They are one of the protective wings of Great Yuan, existences capable of ascending the Heavenly Dao Golden List!

Is this even a punishment?

Even if you want to save Jochi, you don't have to go this far, do you?

For a moment, those who thought Yelu Chu was loyal to the late Khan couldn't help but silently curse.

Those loyal to Ögedei found Yelu Chu utterly unreasonable and immediately wanted to step forward and refute him.

Ögedei himself turned pale with rage, and after a long while, slowly forced out a few words from between his clenched teeth,

"Senior Chancellor, you're joking…"

This time, Ögedei did not use the title "Grand Tutor," but switched to "Chancellor."

Clearly, Yelu Chu's proposal had truly enraged the new Great Khan.

"Great Khan, permit your servant to come forward and explain."

Before proposing this suggestion, Yelu Chu had already anticipated this scene.

Ögedei's reaction was exactly as he had expected.

Thus, he calmly bowed and spoke with confidence.

"Fine! Come forward!"

Ögedei still had this much tolerance.

He wanted to hear what scheme Yelu Chu was truly hatching.

Granted permission, Yelu Chu lifted his robe hem, bowed low, and ascended the dais, arriving before the Great Yuan.

Bending low, he asked in a whisper so soft it barely carried,

"Great Khan, this time Jochi handed you the hilt of the knife—this move is truly a retreat to advance.

With your heavenly talent, you must see through it.

But does the Great Khan truly believe this is the best moment to kill Jochi?"

Upon hearing this, Ögedei shook his head without hesitation.

If he could have killed Jochi now, would he have needed to shift blame to Yelu Chu and make him find an excuse to act?

But not killing him doesn't mean you should give Jochi gifts!

Couldn't you just find some pretext to imprison him, like Tuo Lei?

These words, though Ögedei never spoke them aloud,

had already been conveyed through his gaze.

Though Yelu Chu hadn't heard them, he understood immediately and said,

"Great Khan may think finding a pretext to imprison him is best.

But in truth, doing so would only ruin everything!"