Chapter 109: The Imperial Heart Is Hard to Fathom

Not only the court officials but even Jing Tianlie himself was stunned. From the very beginning, he had regarded Long Chen merely as a eunuch, completely disregarding his military merits.

"Hmm, the Ministry of Personnel makes a valid point. Long Chen'an has been performing well in the Ministry of Revenue. Since the military merits from the battle at Linjiang City have yet to be rewarded, it is against protocol to dismiss him simply due to suspicion." The Empress spoke in opposition, and the ministers agreed. Jing Tianlie and Bai Qiulian could not press the matter further; Long Chen's contributions were simply too great.

"Your Majesty, your servant feels that Minister Bai is also correct. A person who has erred should be dismissed." Long Chen suddenly stepped forward. "When Jing Heng was dismissed, he had not even committed embezzlement; he was merely implicated. Although I have some merits, they cannot serve as an excuse for exemption from responsibility. If I am at fault, I should be punished to set an example for the entire court and the nation. I am willing to relinquish my position as Minister of Revenue."

Just when Jing Tianlie thought all hope was lost, Long Chen stood up, admitted his fault, and voluntarily offered to step down. Everyone was bewildered by this unexpected turn of events. Princess Di Luoxi, unsure of what Long Chen was plotting, hurriedly objected, "What are you doing! Mother, he is rambling, don't listen to him!"

However, Bai Qiulian jumped at the opportunity, overjoyed. "Your Majesty, Long Chen'an has requested his own dismissal. A monarch’s words are final!"

The Empress was also taken aback, unable to fathom Long Chen’s intentions. "Long Chen'an, are you certain?" she asked, frowning.

Long Chen bowed and replied, "I am certain. However, I have a question for Bai Qiulian." He turned to her, and she retorted coldly, "Speak your piece!"

Long Chen sneered, "You said that anyone who has erred must be dismissed, correct?"

"That is correct!" Bai Qiulian replied coldly.

Long Chen then asked, "If you have committed an error, should you also be dismissed?"

Bai Qiulian hesitated. Knowing Long Chen was cunning, she feared a trap. However, determined to reclaim the Ministry of Revenue for Jing Heng and secure a marriage alliance, she insisted, "If you have evidence, I, too, can resign from my post as Minister of War."

"My lords, you have all heard her—a monarch's word is law!" Long Chen proclaimed loudly. He then turned to the Empress, "Your Majesty, I resign from my position as Minister of Revenue and yield it to Jing Heng, effectively offsetting the Grand General's military merits."

Jing Tianlie felt a sudden sense of unease. How did his own military merits get offset? Before he could process it, the Empress spoke, "Very well. Let the Grand General's military merits be accounted for, and let Jing Heng be reinstated as Minister of Revenue."

Jing Heng gleefully hurried to the center of the hall and bowed. "Your servant thanks Your Majesty."

The Empress, looking displeased, remarked, "Long Chen'an worked hard to clean up the mess in the Ministry of Revenue. You must manage it well and ensure no further problems arise!"

Relying on his father's protection, Jing Heng smirked and bowed, "Your servant will obey the decree."

The Empress asked if there was any other business. With no one responding, she rose to return to the inner court, and Ying Feng announced the end of the session. As soon as the Empress left, Di Luoxi dragged Long Chen out of the hall. Jing Tianlie watched their retreating figures, lost in thought.

"That damn eunuch must be using some form of sorcery; he has bewitched the Fourth Princess," Bai Qiulian seethed with hatred. Jing Tianlie cast a look of disdain at her before walking away. "Grand General..." Bai Qiulian tried to speak, but Jing Tianlie had already departed. Jing Heng, delighted to have regained his position, lingered to exchange pleasantries with other officials before stumbling out after his father.

Back at the estate, Jing Tianlie entered his study with Jing Heng following behind. "Father, it seems you are still the one calling the shots in the Great Zhou court." Jing Heng plopped into a chair, his obese frame filling it completely.

Jing Tianlie snorted, "You know nothing. In the past, no one dared to contradict me in court, yet today, Long Chen'an actually dared to defy me in public."

Jing Heng awkwardly replied, "But Long Chen'an yielded in the end, and the Empress agreed."

Jing Tianlie shook his head. "This eunuch is not simple. I have a feeling he has a hidden agenda." Jing Heng felt a pang of guilt, fearing that Long Chen might possess evidence of his collusion with the enemy.

"What do you think of Bai Tingting?" Jing Tianlie suddenly asked.

Jing Heng looked helpless. "She is beautiful, but she despises me!" Bai Qiulian was a sycophant to Jing Tianlie, but Bai Tingting had a fierce temperament and loathed both Jing Heng and her own mother.

"You are of age, and it is time for you to marry. I had hoped to have a princess marry into our family, but that seems unlikely now." Jing Tianlie had originally planned to have his sons marry Di Lingyi and Di Luoxi to make the Jing family imperial in-laws. But with Di Luoxi and Long Chen so close, that was clearly a lost cause. Di Lingyi was in the north defending against the barbarians, and letters from his eldest son, Jing Feng, indicated that she held him in contempt as well. With both sons failing, he had to settle for a secondary option. Since Bai Qiulian had long wanted to marry her daughter to Jing Heng, and Jing Tianlie considered Bai Tingting a decent match, he brought it up.

"That girl doesn't like me; she nearly beat me to death last time!" Unlike her mother, Bai Tingting was a famous knight-errant in the capital who enjoyed dressing as a man and righting wrongs. When Jing Heng had approached her about the arranged marriage, she had drawn her blade to kill him, and he only survived because his servants intervened.

"Useless! I told you to practice martial arts, yet you are beaten by a woman!" Jing Heng shrank back and scurried out of the study.

As soon as he left, Wuming appeared in the room. "Well? Did you find anything?"

"Nothing. Ever since Long Chen'an arrived in the capital, he has barely left the palace, spending his days idling with the princess in the Western Palace." Jing Tianlie had tasked Wuming with digging up dirt on Long Chen, but after a long investigation, he found nothing illegal.

"He really is just a eunuch, hiding in the palace." Jing Tianlie felt frustrated; he dared not send assassins into the palace. "What do you make of the Empress?" he suddenly asked.

Wuming shook his head. "Rumors say the Empress was critically wounded when besieged by Long Ye, but this time she killed Murong Xiao in an instant at Diaoyu City. I cannot tell if the rumors are true or false."

Years ago, Long Ye—then at the peak of the Martial Emperor realm—had led his five sons to besiege Linjiang City, with the Empress facing them alone. The six fought until heaven and earth darkened. Long Ye was severely wounded, and his sons were injured as well. Upon returning to the court, Long Ye reported to Li Chengdao that the Empress had been mortally wounded and her cultivation ruined. But this was only Long Ye’s word; the Empress showed no signs of injury, leaving it a mere rumor that no one dared to test.

Jing Tianlie was tempted by the rumor. He held the military power of Eastern Zhou, controlled the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, and commanded a secret force. If the Empress were truly failing, he could usurp the throne. But he was afraid—afraid that she was perfectly fine. An Imperial Sovereign-level cultivator, a half-immortal being—that was a terrifying existence. Even Long Ye couldn't defeat her; Jing Tianlie dared not challenge her.

"I pressed hard in court today, but the Empress didn't get angry; she yielded. What does this mean?" Jing Tianlie had been intentionally aggressive to gauge her reaction. Her restraint only deepened his confusion.

"The imperial heart is unfathomable," Wuming replied.

Jing Tianlie sighed helplessly, "We shall see."

In the Western Palace, Di Luoxi dragged Long Chen back to her chambers, fuming, "Are you out of your mind? Giving the Ministry of Revenue back to Jing Heng!"

The Empress had already reclaimed three of the six ministries—Personnel, Works, and Revenue. Now that Long Chen had handed the Ministry of Revenue back, Di Luoxi was furious.

"Your Highness, we have known each other for quite some time. Do you really think I am someone who would let myself suffer a loss?" Long Chen said with a grin as he poured two cups of tea.