Michael Bolton deliberately stopped in his tracks, and the other three, as if by tacit understanding, stopped as well. Michael Bolton gave a helpless, bitter smile. “His Majesty’s move is truly formidable!”

The three of them rolled their eyes wildly—did you really need to say that!

The death of Samuel Todd was simply too brilliant.

To put it bluntly, King Todd lived a lifetime of glory, but all of it combined was not as valuable as this one death!

“Mr. Lee, Mr. Smith, Mr. Wood, I’ve at least deciphered three layers of meaning—see what you think. First, King Todd defied His Majesty’s orders, intended to protect the Retired Emperor in fleeing south, and disobeyed the imperial command—His Majesty had to kill him to assert authority! Second, King Todd abandoned Taiyuan and boasted of the Jin’s strength; with his head, he can warn the officials and people, and boost morale. As for the third, it’s a warning to people like us.”

Michael Bolton looked at the three with a bitter smile. “For the Retired Emperor to be so heartless—it’s truly chilling!”

All three were suddenly overwhelmed by a strong sense of “when the hare dies, the fox grieves.” Thinking of Samuel Todd’s head still hanging at Tongjin Gate, they really didn’t know when their own heads might end up there.

Blake Smith sighed lightly. “If it were possible, I’d really like to shake off my robes and return home to farm. This Grand Chancellor position—better not to have it!”

Michael Bolton said nothing, but the upturned corners of his mouth made his meaning all too clear.

Wishful thinking!

Thinking of going home to hide now—aren’t you afraid His Majesty will accuse you of cowardice and shirking your duty?

There’s no escaping this. Suddenly, Philip Wood spoke up. “I’ve been thinking it over and over on the way here: if we can’t get the Retired Emperor to issue a self-condemnation edict and fully admit defeat to His Majesty, judging by His Majesty’s attitude, he’s bound to tear off all pretense and publicly declare the Retired Emperor’s flight to the whole world!”

“No!” Blake Smith shook his head in panic. “Absolutely not! The Retired Emperor fleeing south is a huge matter. Who was really behind it? It can’t possibly have been just Samuel Todd. Thomas Lee and his group have been sharpening their knives, eager to kill. This time, His Majesty held them back, but if all pretense is dropped and the Retired Emperor’s actions are made public, it won’t just be Samuel Todd’s life at stake—we might not escape unscathed either.”

Philip Wood gave a bitter smile. “Mr. Smith is right, but let me ask: if we force the Retired Emperor to issue a self-condemnation edict, that’s insubordination—makes us outright villains. Can we still stand in court? I’m afraid we won’t even get to be wealthy gentlemen!”

Blake Smith looked utterly helpless, sighed deeply, and fell silent.

With a single head—Samuel Todd’s—William Harris had stirred up the entire court, showing both thunderous methods and deep calculation. For decades, everyone had underestimated this His Majesty!

Richard Lee, who had been silent all along, kept his head down in thought, listening to the others’ discussion. They were all right, but he knew not to take it at face value. He understood exactly what they were thinking.

“Gentlemen, there’s no need to say more. Let me be the one to ask the Retired Emperor to issue the self-condemnation edict. No need for all four of us to get dragged in—I’ll take the blame alone!” Richard Lee smiled. “I only ask one thing of you three: if one day I lose my head, please look after my family. Lee would be most grateful!”

Blake Smith, Philip Wood, and Michael Bolton all hurriedly denied it, but their tone was perfunctory and their eyes even showed a hint of glee. Richard Lee knew it well—truly, these were men shaped by the Retired Emperor himself, all refined self-serving opportunists!

The four had come together, but the other three waited outside; only Richard Lee went in to see Charles Harris.

Richard Lee was about the same age as Charles Harris. Charles Harris was a romantic emperor; he was a playboy prime minister. The two had similar tastes and got along well. Richard Lee had often followed Charles Harris through secret tunnels and to the Imperial Fragrance Pavilion.

This time, he even felt a bit excited, because he saw a trace of fear in Charles Harris’s eyes!

“Mr. Lee, you—you’ve come to see me?”

Charles Harris’s voice trembled. With Ethan Brooks imprisoned, he truly was all alone now.

Richard Lee bowed and said, “Your Majesty, I come at His Majesty’s command to ask you to issue an edict explaining Samuel Todd’s rebellion!”

Charles Harris frowned deeply. “What do you want me to say? That it was all Todd the Thief’s doing and had nothing to do with me?”

Richard Lee’s lips curled up as he spoke earnestly, “Your Majesty, if it had nothing to do with you, then why was there the matter of abdication?”

“You!” Charles Harris stared wide-eyed at Richard Lee in disbelief—are you really that shameless? Don’t tell me you don’t know what’s going on! You were one of the masterminds!

Meeting Charles Harris’s gaze, Richard Lee showed no fear. “Your Majesty, at this point, it’s best to issue a self-condemnation edict and make everything clear! King Todd is already dead; he’s borne all the blame he can. Now the Jin are rampant, advancing unchecked, and ultimately it was Your Majesty’s incompetence that led to this…”

“Silence!” Charles Harris cursed furiously. “Richard Lee, you dare make me bear the blame? You’re betraying your sovereign!”

“That’s right!” Richard Lee actually admitted it, which startled Charles Harris even more. He stared blankly at Richard Lee—this guy really is defying heaven!

Richard Lee chuckled. “King Todd was loyal for decades, yet Your Majesty treated him like an old shoe. I am nowhere near as close to Your Majesty as King Todd was. If Your Majesty can disregard the bonds of ruler and subject, then I can only take Your Majesty as my teacher. Besides, the current sovereign is His Majesty, not the Retired Emperor.”