Chapter 771: The Emperor's Shift In Attitude

He had transformed into Qiu Jianhan with the help of his cloud manifestation power and had come forth under the veil of secrecy.

His Majesty shot up and asked anxiously, "Why are you back? Didn't we tell you not to come back?"

His tone was of panic, and no small amount of distress.

Yun Yang chuckled. "No worries. No one knows that I'm already back."

At the same time, the emperor breathed out in relief, another form of pressure weighed him down.

Yun Yang had come back.

This was both favorable and not for Tiantang City and the Empire of Yutang. If someone with ill intention had somehow found out, the aftermath would be a grave explosion that left nothing to be salvaged.

"How's the situation now?" asked Yun Yang.

"Ahh..."

The emperor sighed solemnly. "No matter what, it's good, as long as Supreme Cloud is still here and the nation's faith is still standing. Yun Yang, don't you be rash and act recklessly."

Yun Yang nodded. "I won't. Please go on."

"This is the situation. During the assembly yesterday..." Yun Xiaoyao recounted what happened the day before; as he spoke, he grew livid again. "Then, the countermeasure against the School of Kismet State was temporarily cast aside..."

Yun Yang, who was quietly taking in the narration, fell into silence. He was silent for a long while, like a sleeping volcano that was gearing up for its eruption.

"The School of Kismet State..." Yun Yang finally spoke his tone cold without any hint of emotion. "They said that they'll come for an answer today? Is that what they said?"

His Majesty turned around in shock. "Supreme Cloud! Do you know what you stand for now? If you act impulsively... Yutang - Yutang will be doomed! You have the capability to enter the palace without anyone knowing - you can leave in peace too. Just be patient for now..."

"I won't be impulsive, but there's no need to struggle on like this!" Yun Yang said in a low voice.

He sucked in a deep breath and said, "Well, we can do so and so..."

As he spoke, His Majesty and Yun Xiaoyao's eyes radiated, glowing brighter and brighter. Simultaneously, the vague thoughts in the emperor's mind slowly gained clarity.

When Yun Yang completed presenting his plan, His Majesty heaved a long sigh, feeling the huge rock that was weighing him down completely dispelled alongside the exhalation. He recovered his smile, his burden absent, and said, "Yun Yang, I was thinking to grant you an official title... Now, there's no need to do so..."

Yun Yang could not help grinning. "Luckily you didn't. I never had the talent to become a minister."

"Your position now is actually higher than mine!"

The emperor chortled. "I remember the first time I met you, I thought you were impish. The second time I saw you, I was sure that you were a popinjay. The third time, I thought you had something in you. The fourth time, I grew suspicious because of how wonderful your art of antidotes was. The fifth time, though, all my doubts were quelled by your father... Now, after all the twists and turns, my initial guess wasn't wrong at all."

"Your Majesty is wise. Yun Yang is impressed," Yun Yang said respectfully.

"Wise my *ss! I'm so wise that these fellows deceived me like I'm a fool. I'd, at most, think that others are insincere if they'd said this, but coming out from your mouth, I'm utterly ashamed." The emperor rolled his eyes and glared at Yun Xiaoyao, evidence that his fury still lingered.

Yun Xiaoyao coughed awkwardly. It seemed that his choice to hide Yun Yang's identity was going to be a lifetime stain here with his elder brother.

His Majesty then turned to remind the youth, saying, "Your plot is well-rounded, but there's always a chance it might go askew. Never take the risk. If anything feels wrong, you must leave at once. Your life is our priority, understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. My life will be the priority!"

Yun Yang could clearly feel the change in the emperor's attitude this time around. It was a shift in nature.

Previously, His Majesty had wanted to find Supreme Cloud with the intention to restrain him. After all, an uncommon force like his own, one that exceeded the sovereign power, threatened His Majesty too much. To a ruler, he could not and should not exist. Therefore, a wall had formed between Nine Supremes and Yutang's royalty. It was because Yun Yang understood the complexity of the situation and had not minded that nothing more severe erupted.

In spite of this, the sense of estrangement had thoroughly vanished when they met this time!

The wild eagerness to control everything was gone. Replacing it was a generous sense of magnanimity.

Facing Yun Yang, the wish to dominate no longer existed within the emperor, but there was an indescribable sense of respect.

Yes, it was certainly respect.

Yun Yang was not flabbergasted by the emperor's respect, however. He was collected and at ease. The contributions he had made as Supreme Cloud had given him a sense of cool composure despite the forms of respect he received.

...

A royal edict was announced by the palace to summon the civil and martial officials for an assembly. It commanded everyone to rush back to the palace within two hours.

The civil and martial officials left their residences with solemn faces. There was no peace in their expressions. They still remembered the humiliation yesterday and the time extension was about due now.

Must the emperor admit defeat right in front of them all? It would be pushing the limit!

At the same time, in the same golden court, the same number of people were present - including Qiu Jianhan who had vomited blood and fell ill yesterday, Fang Qingtian who failed to get up from bed upon returning, and others...

No one was absent from showing up at the throne hall. Despite being pale-faced, some huffing while others wore bloodstains on the corners of their lips, everyone was there.

'We are servants of Yutang. When His Majesty rules the world in valiance, we are his company overlooking the territory. When His Majesty governs in grace, we are his company of prestige over Tianxuan. However, if His Majesty has to bear the humiliation, we are here too! To face the jab with a smile!'

Gazing at the civil and military ministers who had assembled at the imperial court, the emperor felt a gush of warmth surging through him.

'These are my officials! These are my right-hand man, my sidekicks!'

The emperor sat on his throne with a dark face, as were the expressions of the ministers beneath him.

"I've called upon all you dear ministers today for what happened yesterday." His Majesty looked grim. "Regarding the School of Kismet State... how should the imperial court go about conferring them? Dear all, I need your suggestions. Do discuss."

There was only pin-drop silence.

Ragged breathing was all that could be heard from the officials, but no one said anything.

Even the ministers who usually conspired for personal gains - even the officials who were utterly corrupted and unreasonably greedy... No one made a sound!

The tense silence was tinged with a sincere sense of shame; it slowly spread across the hall, permeating the air.

The emperor was not in a hurry. His hawk-like gaze scanned his ministers as he said slowly, "No one's talking? Never mind. No hurry. There's still time. We can discuss this slowly."

"They'll have it anyway. We'll still have to face it," His Majesty said slowly, "To be angered, to feel wronged, humiliated... whatever for?"