Chapter 69: I Quit Part 3

Each person would take their own tally and use a cinnabar brush to mark it with a “○” or an “×”. A circle meant retention; a cross meant dismissal. After the tallies were cast into a bronze brazier, the Commissioner of the Three Agencies would announce the results.

The atmosphere in the hall froze instantly.

The officials moved to collect their tallies. The sound of footsteps was chaotic, yet no one dared to speak.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted, shaking the very rafters of the hall.

“What tallies?! I’m not voting!”

Yan Zheng kicked over a tally tube, sending the ivory tallies clattering across the floor. “You want to dismiss the Chancellor? Then dismiss me as well!”

The military ranks exploded into chaos.

“Exactly! On what grounds are we voting for dismissal? What has His Excellency done wrong? Why dismiss him?”

“I’m standing right here. Whoever dares to vote for dismissal, I’ll twist their head off!”

“If the Chancellor leaves, who is going to lead us?! Grand Preceptor Dong? Does he even dare to step onto a battlefield and kill someone?!”

A huge crowd of men crashed to their knees. Some shouted hoarsely, while others broke into loud sobs, their kowtows sounding like falling rain.

The hall was instantly thrown into turmoil.

“You can dismiss anyone, but you cannot dismiss the Chancellor!”

The eunuchs turned pale and knelt on the ground, trembling. They didn’t even dare to try and persuade the soldiers, only knocking their heads against the floor to beg for peace.

Yuan Zhuo, however, allowed himself a small smile.

On the other side, the civil officials of the Gu Faction stood together. Shen Jun stood with his hands behind his back, looking straight ahead.

Wei Qingya laughed leisurely and whispered to him, “Look at that. See how well they show their loyalty? These generals aren’t stupid at all.”

Now was the perfect time to “solicit votes.” Once the tallies were in the brazier, the die would be cast, and words would mean nothing.

Grand Preceptor Dong and Qin Zijin exchanged a look. Since the Grand Preceptor had already spoken, Qin Zijin stepped forward on behalf of his mentor.

He bowed slowly toward the throne. “Your Majesty, this official has a report.”

Yuan Zhuo’s face darkened instantly, his eyes smoldering with suppressed rage, but he had no choice but to say, “Speak!”

Qin Zijin looked solemn as he pulled a thick scroll from his sleeve. It was three feet long. He unfurled it and took a step forward, his voice ringing out clearly. “I impeach Gu Huaiyu on eleven great crimes—”

Everyone in the hall was shaken.

Even the generals who had been crying on the floor froze as if they had been doused with cold water.

“First, for arbitrarily changing ancestral systems, destroying the legacy of the Founding Emperor, and granting military officers the right to participate in politics, thereby sowing chaos in the government;

Second, for monopolizing military and political power, acting without reporting or requesting permission, and behaving with arrogant tyranny;

Third, for abusing imperial favor, showing contempt for the throne, and lacking respect for the sovereign;

Fourth, for corruption and the sale of offices;

…

Tenth, for defying the law, acting as a de facto regent, and harboring treasonous intent.

Eleventh, for appearing before the Emperor in commoner’s clothing—a treasonous act!”

Silence.

The hall, which had just been as noisy as a marketplace, was now so quiet that one could hear the sound of cinnabar ink dripping.

According to the Laws of Great Chen, even an official as high as Gu Huaiyu must be turned over for a joint investigation by the Three Agencies once formally impeached.

The Three Agencies would investigate, the Censorate would inspect, the Transmission Office would file the case, the Bureau of Military Affairs would archive it, the Chancellery would review it, and finally, it required the Emperor’s personal approval.

Every step of this process was long and complicated, often taking over a month. During this time, every “doubt” had to be answered in person, with evidence and written responses.

Even if all the charges were eventually cleared, even if the entire court knew the impeachment was a baseless frame-up…

The process itself was an immense humiliation to Gu Huaiyu.

Not only that—

While under investigation, although Gu Huaiyu would technically remain Chancellor, he would be forced to spend his days dealing with interrogations, depositions, and public defenses.

This meant that during this time, he would have no way to manage the government or deploy troops for the war against Eastern Liao.

“Chancellor Gu.”

The Minister of Justice stepped forward, his face pale as death. He hated to do this, but the iron laws of impeachment could not be broken. “By law… Your Excellency must surrender your seals and tiger tallies to the Secretariat for safekeeping within three days.”

“Every morning at the hour of the Dragon, you must report to the Court of Judicial Review for questioning.”

“Without the permission of the Three Agencies, you may not leave the capital, nor may you interfere with military or political affairs—”

With every rule he recited, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop a degree.

It felt as if something heavy were hanging in the air, pressing the breath out of everyone present.

Yuan Zhuo’s expression was dark to the extreme.

The memorial in Qin Zijin’s hands trembled. Cold sweat soaked through his clothes, and it took everything he had just to keep standing.

Everyone held their breath, waiting to see how this all-powerful Chancellor would explode in rage or turn the tables—

But Gu Huaiyu simply stood up slowly. He tucked his hands into his sleeves and said nonchalantly: “Since you all feel I am unfit to be Chancellor—”

“Then, I resign.”

The hall became so silent a falling pin could be heard.

“I do not permit it!”

Yuan Zhuo suddenly bolted upright from his throne, the beaded curtain of his crown clattering wildly.

This shout was so sudden that it made Qin Zijin flinch.

Gu Huaiyu glanced at him, his expression remarkably calm. “Has Your Majesty forgotten?”

“The public deliberation for my dismissal today was decided by Your Majesty’s own lips. Since Your Majesty and these gentlemen all feel I am unsuitable, then I shall step down and make way for someone more worthy.”

With that, he patted the red sandalwood chair that symbolized the power of the Chancellor, his wide sleeves brushing over the back like a cloud. “This seat—”

“Whichever of you wants to sit in it, come and take it.”