Chapter 32: Human Hearts
The negotiation went much smoother than expected. Although Princess Sayeto remained suspicious that Su Xiao had some ulterior motive, the throne was right there—such a heaven-sent opportunity was not something she would miss.
When Sayeto walked out of the Imperial Parliament Hall, she couldn't help but look back and gaze up at the magnificent structure. Since the Black King's death, this had been the highest authority in the empire, where all major orders were issued.
If everything went smoothly from here on, the Imperial Parliament would cease to exist. Not just the Parliament, but even the Senate—Sayeto planned to gradually abolish it as well.
Furthermore, she intended to abolish the hereditary monarchy, stripping power from the dukes and ministers, replacing hereditary rule with an electoral system.
Regarding the hereditary system, Sayeto was both a beneficiary and a victim. The empire had gone over a decade without a new king precisely because of this system.
The electoral system was different. When the previous king fell, the people and officials would immediately elect the next king. Sayeto even planned to establish positions like "Councilor" to make the electoral system fairer.
It could be said that Princess Sayeto was full of ambition. This was why she loathed Su Xiao, Duke Silverfeather, Blumer, and the others. At one point, she even thought: "Just leave it to me. I'll make the empire better, more complete."
This was also the reason Sayeto seemed somewhat irritable when dealing with Su Xiao and his group.
However, the Black King had also believed he could govern the empire well at the beginning. Yet, for some unknown reason, he chose the hereditary system, abandoned the more effective electoral system, and sat on the throne for over three hundred years.
Leaving aside the ambitious Sayeto, who had already gone to rally her subordinates to become the new king, Su Xiao was also preparing on his end.
"Is everything settled now?"
The old divine stick, who was strolling down the street with Su Xiao while holding a metal book, spoke up.
"Basically settled. Sayeto has agreed. Wufu and the Finance Minister are about to lose control, but they won't dare jump out anytime soon."
Su Xiao crouched in front of a street stall, examining a palm-sized clay figurine. The craftsmanship was decent, and there was a trace of Eternal Force inside, somewhat like a protective charm. This gave him an idea—whether he could use alchemy to create disposable defensive equipment or items.
"They openly oppose you? Have they defected to Sayeto's side?"
The old divine stick's expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected this all along.
"Not for now, but it's only a matter of time."
When Su Xiao decided to support Sayeto as the new king, he had already anticipated the reactions of Wufu and the Finance Minister. This was only natural.
Wufu and the Finance Minister were willing to support Su Xiao simply to curry favor. If Su Xiao became the new king, they would become founding fathers and great figures.
But Su Xiao giving up the throne inevitably made Wufu and the Finance Minister have second thoughts. To put it bluntly, they were now Su Xiao's lackeys, and both had been hostile to Sayeto.
If Sayeto became the new king, it would mean Su Xiao had lost power. Once Sayeto settled old scores, Wufu and the Finance Minister would be in deep trouble.
This was human nature. In the struggle for power, no one is eternally loyal to anyone. Remember, Wufu was once Blumer's subordinate, and the Finance Minister had sworn lifelong loyalty to the Young Duke.
"If you explain to them the cost of becoming king, they might..."
Before the old divine stick could finish, Su Xiao, who had his back to him, waved his hand.
"Human nature is more complicated than you think. Don't you agree, Ken Lahan?"
"Perhaps..."
The old divine stick's gaze was complex. His lips parted, as if he wanted to say something to Su Xiao, but after a moment, he chose silence.
"Kukulin Bai Ye, I will always stand by your side."
The old divine stick lightly touched his chest with one hand, revealing the same smile he had when he first met Su Xiao.
"Oh."
Su Xiao tossed a few black coins onto the stall, stood up, and walked toward the end of the street. From start to finish, he didn't look back at the old divine stick.
"I'm sorry."
The old divine stick muttered softly, watching Su Xiao's retreating back, and continued in a voice too low for Su Xiao to hear: "If you go there, I'll go with you, until I die, Kukulin."
...
The next evening, 7 PM, at the Rose Manor.
Dozens of Holy City Guard soldiers stood guard on either side of the manor's main gate. They wore gold-black armor, and the standard-issue longswords at their waists were inlaid with rubies. Though their posture was neat, their brows revealed a hint of arrogance.
These guards were useless for war, but as a ceremonial guard, they were the perfect choice—each one young, handsome, and with some background.
Rose Manor was the property of Princess Sayeto. She didn't usually live here, but tonight, it was open to all imperial officials and wealthy merchants. Anyone with any status had to attend tonight, unless they didn't want to stay in the Holy City.
Several officials under Sayeto stood outside the manor's main gate. Tonight, they set aside all pretense. No matter how low-ranking the arriving official was, they welcomed them warmly, flattering the minor officials.
A carriage gilded with gold patterns stopped. The carriage door opened, and a few old servants got out first, followed by an eight or nine-year-old boy.
"Your Grace, you've arrived."
A fat, oily-faced official hurried forward. He was Sayeto's fourth-in-command, named Evan. In a previous confrontation, he had nearly been caught by Wufu and taken to the military camp outside the city. If that had happened, even as an important imperial official, Evan wouldn't have survived two hours. Sayeto had personally gone to the Right Imperial Manor to meet Su Xiao, saving him at almost the cost of cutting off a piece of her own flesh.
"You're Evan?"
The Young Duke spoke while chewing something in his mouth. The Finance Minister wasn't by his side today.
Although the Finance Minister was still loyal to the Young Duke, this was a matter of stance.
"Yes, Your Highness. Please, come in."
Evan smiled obsequiously and personally led the Young Duke into the manor.
Inside the manor's courtyard, a temporary venue had been set up. Of course, given the Young Duke's status, he was quickly led into the banquet hall inside the castle.
Guests arrived one after another. Most could only participate in the banquet in the courtyard, and some couldn't even see the manor's owner, Sayeto. But showing up was a statement in itself.
Inside the castle's banquet hall, most imperial officials were whispering to each other at the banquet tables. The dance floor in the center belonged to the young people, not the old fogies.
As for the manor's owner, Sayeto, she stood in formal attire at the inner side of the banquet hall, surrounded by a crowd of admirers. The empire's high-ranking officials were flattering her without restraint.
But from start to finish, Sayeto seemed distracted. The most important guests hadn't arrived yet, and the seat beside the head of the table remained empty.
"Is this... some reluctance?"
Sayeto smiled. She no longer doubted that Su Xiao would give up the throne. With tonight's banquet, her becoming the new king was inevitable.
...
Right Imperial Manor, a dim study.
Behind an antique desk, Su Xiao was flipping through a half-weathered notebook. Bubu Wang was lying on the desk, and Amu sat in a corner not far away. Due to the dimness of the room, only his outline was visible.
Moonlight streamed through the window. The old divine stick stood by the window, having completely ignored Sayeto's banquet invitation.
Thump, thump, thump...
The door was knocked. Wufu pushed it open and walked into the study, reeking of alcohol.
"You should have been at Sayeto's banquet."
Su Xiao didn't look at Wufu, his attention focused on the tattered notebook in his hands.
"I'm a rough man, Wufu. I'm not used to attending some damn banquet. When I was so poor I couldn't even pay pensions, that woman wouldn't even look at me."
Wearing full armor and looking somewhat angry, Wufu clanked as he sat down in the corner, holding a bottle of strong liquor and drinking in silence.
About a few minutes later, the door was pushed open again. The Finance Minister, wearing formal attire and carrying several tightly tied oil-paper bags, walked into the room. Without saying much, he found a chair and sat down, tossing one oil-paper bag to Su Xiao and another to Wufu.
"This is venison from my hometown. Try it, sir."
The Finance Minister, abandoning all decorum, took a big bite of the venison and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing loudly.
"Coming to me tonight isn't the best choice."
Su Xiao also picked up a piece of venison, put it in his mouth, and savored it. Though the meat fibers were coarse, it had a unique fragrance that made one want to take another bite.
"Good wine goes down fast, but it kills you quick too."
Wufu grinned, saying nothing else. Clearly, both he and the Finance Minister had chosen to stand by Su Xiao.
"That little bastard Zuo Si has grown wings. I heard Sayeto introduced him to the daughter of the Councilor. That kid has finally made it."
Wufu took a few gulps of wine, his eyes turning unusually fierce.
"Young people are easily tempted. But Sayeto promised me the position of Left Imperial Guard. Quite generous."
The Finance Minister shook his head with a bitter smile.
"That woman promised you Left Imperial Guard? What a coincidence. I got the Imperial Army Commander-in-Chief. How impressive, commanding all the empire's border troops."
Wufu looked at the Finance Minister with a smug expression, and the old gentleman tossed a deer bone at him.
Sayeto's actions weren't exactly despicable. But if she didn't take away military power and financial control from Su Xiao, she wouldn't feel at ease.
Unfortunately, the Finance Minister ignored her, and Wufu played deaf and dumb, accepting Sayeto's favors before sending them straight to the Right Imperial Manor.