In Luminara, at the Banquet Hall.
Various officials including court advisors, ministers, and judicial officers gathered here, drinking and socializing rrily amongst themselves. However, this seemingly casual official gathering actually concerned a major matter - how to handle Prince Yunis, the Fifth Prince.
"Let speak first," Court Advisor Jun said amidst the officials’ conversations. "Everyone, we gather here today not for anything else, but for Prince Yunis’s matter. As we all know, his highness is a ritorious official of our empire and Her Majesty’s blood brother. By all asures, this matter should be handled appropriately. Although his highness has offended imperial authority by attempting usurpation, a cri worthy of death, but..."
He looked around at everyone before continuing:
"But I believe that given Prince Yunis’s outstanding achievents - without him, our southern territories may not have been recovered - therefore, his highness cannot die."
"Indeed, think about it everyone, this is also for Her Majesty’s benefit. Prince Yunis is both a great contributor and Her Majesty’s brother. If Her Majesty really executes him, how will the world view it? They’ll think Her Majesty is using this opportunity to eliminate opposition. This would be very disadvantageous for Calot."
Soone imdiately echoed Court Advisor Jun’s view.
The elderly Judicial Officer, listening to everyone’s discussion, stroked his graying beard: "Everyone, you may have forgotten an even more important point. If Her Majesty executes Prince Yunis now, how should his followers be dealt with?"
The gathered officials fell into a brief silence.
"Take Court Advisor Jun for example - I recall you once had close ties with Prince Yunis. Our Emperor currently needs an opportunity to ’kill the chicken to scare the monkey.’ What do you think Her Majesty will do with those ’accomplices’ who were close to Prince Yunis?"
As he spoke, his gaze swept across everyone in the room. Actually, everyone present knew exactly why they had co today. How many of those present could say they hadn’t had close contact with Prince Yunis?
Now that Yunis had rebelled and been captured, and his collaborator Prince Liam had been sent to the judicial court for judgent, if Her Majesty were to handle Yunis according to the standard treatnt for rebels, then those who had been close to Yunis would probably be as good as dead...
This was precisely why everyone had gathered today. There weren’t actually many people here who had participated in the rebellion plot. Even if there were so, they had only provided so economic, political or social network support secretly. But who could guarantee Her Majesty wouldn’t eliminate the problem at its root?
"We old ministers all served the previous emperor. The previous emperor was decisive yet not without benevolence. Though Her Majesty today also has compassion for all under heaven, they cannot tolerate even a speck of sand in their eye. Prince Yunis’s case appears to be judging a rebellion, but it may actually affect Her Majesty’s future governing principles."
After saying this, the elderly Judicial Officer closed his eyes, waiting for others’ responses.
"Judicial Officer Rong speaks sense. How Prince Yunis is handled relates to Her Majesty’s future governing thods. Therefore, we must think of a way to at least make Her Majesty realize that his highness cannot be executed yet."
"I see no issue with this," Court Advisor Jun said, "Let’s do this - in a few days there will be morning court. At that ti, we’ll gather more people to jointly petition Her Majesty to spare Prince Yunis’s life, explaining the pros and cons. Her Majesty is wise and decisive, and surely won’t make a mistake in this matter."
"Good, let’s do it!"
….
Today Pluvia again faced morials.
The monthly court assembly was mostly just a ceremonial display of diligent governance, since Pluvia could resolve almost all decisions directly in her study. For major decisions, she could simply summon the relevant officials for a eting.
Additionally, with Calot’s systems operating more and more smoothly, many matters didn’t require everyone gathering to discuss - they could just communicate with her approval, without needing frequent court assemblies.
So today she had attended court with a routine mindset, but being confronted with a group petition from her ministers instantly soured her mood. She looked at the morial before her, bearing many officials’ seals and joint signatures, extensively detailing the drawbacks of executing Prince Yunis.
Pluvia finished reading the morial and looked up at these outwardly submissive ministers. She gave a cold laugh, then held up the morial: "My beloved ministers, you advise not to execute Yunis, but have you considered that since Calot’s ancestors, usurpation has been a cri punishable by execution of the entire family?"
Of course, since he was her blood brother, she wouldn’t sentence her own family to complete execution. But at least on matters of principle, she couldn’t compromise. If rebellion beca a cri one could escape death for, wouldn’t the empire descend into chaos?
"Your Majesty, we believe that this is just the beginning of your reign. Executing Prince Yunis imdiately would inevitably invite criticism. After all, his highness has great rits and is Your Majesty’s blood related family. If he is executed like this, how will the world view Your Majesty?"
"The cri of rebellion deserves death." At this mont, a minister suddenly spoke.
"How can you say that? This is the biggest matter since Her Majesty’s ascension. Now, the whole country, even foreign nations, are watching Her Majesty’s next action, waiting to see what decision will be made. If Her Majesty acts rashly, it will undoubtedly invite criticism, and may even be twisted by those with ulterior motives..."
The elderly Judicial Officer said.
Considering this statent alone, it wasn’t wrong. This was a major issue - Yunis had made such a big disturbance that now many eyes were watching her moves, seeing how she would deal with her rebellious brother.
However, Pluvia had already considered this point.
Executing her brother would indeed earn her a reputation for being cold and heartless, but it would also bring significant benefits. After taking action, Pluvia could gain considerable prestige and stabilize the country’s internal situation to so degree. She needed this execution now.
Thinking of this, Pluvia unconsciously turned her gaze to Kenji, who stood closest to her. Looking at this powerful minister and grand marshal, although he often contributed greatly to her low blood pressure, Kenji’s overall abilities were reliable.
Co on, Kenji, help out here.
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