Chapter 53: Have You Ever Felt Desire for Me? Part 1

The Vice-Envoy had endured a bellyful of frustration at the Court of Judicial Review.

First, he had failed to handle the task Yelü Chi assigned him; then, he had personally witnessed the madness of that Assistant Magistrate smashing the stone tablet. His heart was filled with both stifled rage and lingering dread.

He returned to the Diplomatic Hostel with a lowered head and submissive air, recounting every detail of the previous night’s absurdities at the Court of Judicial Review to Yelü Chi.

In truth, he didn’t even need to speak.

The news of the commoners flooding the court to turn themselves in had caused such a stir that it had already reached Yelü Chi’s ears.

At that moment, Yelü Chi was having his midday meal. Holding a gold knife, he was slowly and methodically slicing thin pieces of roasted venison from a platter.

After listening to the Vice-Envoy’s report, he used the tip of the blade to lift a piece of meat, chewing and swallowing it slowly. He uttered only one word: “Stupid.”

The Vice-Envoy let out a long breath and looked up, filled with righteous indignation. “Exactly! These people of Great Chen are incredibly stupid! They couldn’t even manage a proper bribe for a scapegoat; their testimonies were all blatant lies. They took us for absolute fools!”

Yelü Chi picked up a silk cloth to wipe his lips before finally looking at him. “I was saying that you are the stupid one.”

The Vice-Envoy choked on his words, his neck stiffening in protest. “I may not have handled things perfectly, but even if the Prince sent someone else, they might not have fared any better.”

Yelü Chi didn’t bother arguing. He toyed with the gold dagger with effortless grace, stating calmly, “Gu Huaiyu didn’t bribe those commoners. They went to confess for him of their own free will.”

The Vice-Envoy’s eyes widened in blank confusion.

The people of Eastern Liao were born on the grasslands and raised in tribes. The nomads moved wherever there was water and grass; they were never close to the King’s Court.

The commoners recognized cattle and sheep, not official seals. If they encountered injustice, they either endured it or drew their blades. It was impossible for them to go to a government office to turn themselves in for the sake of some general or noble.

This exceeded the understanding of an Eastern Liao man.

Yelü Chi slowly shook his head.

The biggest difference between him and other Eastern Liao men was that he was well-versed in the Han people’s classics, histories, and literature.

To know his enemy and himself, he had spent years studying Han texts. He knew that in the world of the Han, there was something called the “Mandate of Heaven.”

Under the Mandate of Heaven, the hearts of the people followed.

Once a person carried the Mandate of Heaven, the entire world would make way for them.

Everyone would believe they were right. Countless people would follow them, admire them, yearn for them, and even be willing to die for them.

This wasn’t bribery or coercion; it was the destiny of one chosen by heaven.

And Gu Huaiyu was that person, favored by the Mandate of Heaven.

Otherwise, how could it be explained?

He had held the reins of government for less than a year, yet he had managed to align the chaotic political landscape. Even the Pure Stream officials, who once saw him as a thorn in their side, were now willing to bow their heads.

The scholars of the Imperial Academy privately competed to praise his deeds. The once-scattered civil officials and the arrogant military generals were all vying to get close to him, to follow him.

Most incomprehensible were the commoners.

Those commoners, who didn’t even know him, were willing to sacrifice themselves to take the blame for him.

Yelü Chi suddenly twirled the gold knife. The polished surface reflected a pair of eyes burning with ambition, though his tone remained as steady as ever. “If there comes a day when the nomads of the grasslands are willing to die for me…”

The Vice-Envoy watched him blankly as he continued, “When the hundred officials view me as their backbone, and follow me unconditionally at a single word—tell me…”

“What would Eastern Liao look like then?”

No matter how dull the Vice-Envoy was, he could hear the terrifying ambition in those words. His face paled as he forced an answer. “Then, Eastern Liao would naturally belong entirely to the Prince.”

Yelü Chi raised a finger and wagged it, a low sneer escaping his lips. “Eastern Liao? You still want to live those bitter days of herding?”

With a wave of his arm, the tip of the knife pierced into the roasted deer head on the platter with a thwack. Fat dripped down the blade. “If I had Gu Huaiyu’s ability, what would Eastern Liao matter?”

“By then, everything under heaven would be within my grasp.”

He spoke such a monumental sentence with casual indifference, as if he were certain it was already a reality.

The Vice-Envoy felt a chill run down his spine. He stammered, “What ability does the Prince want from Chancellor Gu? Is it… that beautiful face of his?”

Yelü Chi stared at the Vice-Envoy for a long while before suddenly smiling. “I want the Mandate of Heaven to descend upon me as well.”

The Vice-Envoy naturally didn’t understand the implication, stumbling over the words “Mandate of Heaven.” “What does that mean?”

Yelü Chi had no intention of explaining further. He methodically wiped the grease from the table and gave a casual order. “Go get me paper and a brush.”

A moment later, the Vice-Envoy hurried back with the four treasures of the study and spread out the paper.