Chapter Four: Daji in Peril!

Jiang Yuan sat on the high throne, his gaze drifting, intentionally or not, toward Fei Zhong and You Hun, who stood to his left and right. The two greatest traitors of the Shang dynasty nearly collapsed with terror at this casual glance from their emperor, for today His Majesty was utterly different from before.

Jiang Yuan looked at them only to check the information displayed on their bodies—he wanted to know how much Tyrant Value he could gain from these two men.

Character: Fei Zhong
Title: Shang Dynasty Inspector-General, Greatest Traitor of Shang
Realm: Mortal
Possessions: Tiger Tally (Yin Talisman)
Cultivation Technique: None
Loyalty: 50
Affection: 70
Tyrant Value Obtainable: 30

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yuan was dissatisfied. Fei Zhong, at least on the surface, was the minister he trusted most, yet he could only yield thirty points of Tyrant Value? That was far less than the three hundred points he could gain from Shang Rong!

“System, what’s the matter here? Why can I only get thirty Tyrant Value from Fei Zhong?”

“Trusting a traitor like Fei Zhong is the act of a foolish ruler, not a tyrant. If not for Fei Zhong’s high rank and influence, the system would not grant you even this much Tyrant Value.”

So, the system was this sort of thing—even among officials, it had its own biases.

Still, Fei Zhong truly deserved death. Despite all the power he’d been given, his loyalty still didn’t pass muster. If the Zhou army from Xiqi ever marched upon them, Fei Zhong would probably be the first to surrender.

The more Jiang Yuan thought about it, the angrier he became, wishing he could have Fei Zhong torn to pieces on the spot.

He turned his eyes to You Hun.

Character: You Hun
Title: Grand Steward of Shang
Realm: Mortal
Possessions: Tiger Tally (Yang Talisman)
Cultivation Technique: None
Loyalty: 50
Affection: 60
Tyrant Value Obtainable: 26

Jiang Yuan nearly choked with rage. So the two ministers closest to him were nothing but decorations? Both of them could only offer such pitiful amounts of Tyrant Value?

At moments like this, loyal ministers like Shang Rong became all the more precious.

Jiang Yuan ignored Fei Zhong and You Hun, instead turning toward the assembled ministers and speaking calmly, “Beloved subjects, the Grand Chancellor summoned me to court—what is the matter?”

Jiang Yuan asked, though he already knew the answer. Though he had spent his days indulging in pleasure in the Star-Picking Tower, he was never truly ignorant; Fei Zhong and You Hun would always mention affairs of state that didn’t disadvantage them personally, to avoid future blame.

This was his way of giving them a chance to speak.

At that moment, a towering general at the head of the military ranks stepped forward. The clatter of armor echoed as he bowed with fists clasped. “Your Majesty, the northern barbarian demon tribe has rebelled. I request permission to lead troops and quell the rebellion!”

“I am already aware of this,” Jiang Yuan replied indifferently, neither granting nor denying the request.

It was somewhat amusing—Jiang Yuan had been playing the role of the tyrant king of Shang for several months, yet he still could not recognize all the prominent ministers. He had to rely on the system.

Character: Huang Feihu
Title: King of Martial Accomplishment (later enshrined as Eastern Peak Emperor after the Investiture of the Gods)
Realm: Late Physical Mystical Immortal
Possessions: Howling Sky Dagger, Scale Armor
Cultivation Technique: Eight Extremes Body Training
Mount: Five-Colored Divine Ox
Loyalty: 90
Affection: 60
Tyrant Value Obtainable: 350

So this was Huang Feihu, destined to become the Eastern Peak Emperor! If not for the tyrant’s lust for Huang’s wife, Lady Jia, which drove him to defect, the Shang dynasty would not have been left so vulnerable.

It seemed this world revered martial prowess above all—military generals appeared to hold higher status than civil ministers, as evidenced by the Tyrant Value obtainable from them.

But one thing puzzled Jiang Yuan: why did Huang Feihu have such a high affection rating toward him?

“System, what’s the explanation here?”

“To be precise, Huang Feihu’s affection is not for you, but for the previous king. How do you think the tyrant earned his reputation? Before building the Star-Picking Tower and descending into debauchery, he led Huang Feihu and other generals to expand the realm and win many battles!”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan could not help but sigh. “Indeed, history is written by the victors.”

Sometimes, the unofficial stories told among the people hold more truth than official history.

Seeing the king unmoved by his request, Huang Feihu grew frustrated, and snorted coldly. The king had truly changed; wine and women had consumed his ambition. Remembering their days campaigning together, Huang Feihu felt nothing but disappointment. The grand Shang dynasty was indeed on the verge of collapse.

Jiang Yuan maintained his impassive demeanor. He had heard Huang Feihu’s snort, but for the sake of gaining Tyrant Value, he chose to ignore him.

“Ding! The host arbitrarily disregards the great general’s request, in line with tyrant behavior—reward: 10 Tyrant Value points.”

Jiang Yuan was pleased by the system’s voice, though his face revealed nothing. He looked once more at the ministers and asked coldly, “Does anyone else have a matter to present?”

At this, Shang Rong stepped forward, bowed, and addressed Jiang Yuan, “Your Majesty, I have a petition.”

“Proceed.”

“I wish to impeach Fei Zhong and You Hun, two wicked ministers! They disrupt the laws of our great Shang, persecute the loyal and upright, and amass riches by abusing their power! If such villains are not purged, the very foundation of our nation is at risk!” Shang Rong declared, grief-stricken.

At these words, Fei Zhong and You Hun immediately put on looks of terror and prostrated themselves before Jiang Yuan.

“Your Majesty, we are wronged! We have always served the country with unwavering loyalty, yet we are falsely accused by villains. Please, Your Majesty, investigate thoroughly!”

At Shang Rong’s accusation, Jiang Yuan flared up and shouted, “Insolence! Can the very foundations of my great Shang be shaken by a mere pair of traitors? Chancellor, are you implying that I, your king, am blind to character, endangering the state?”

“Ding! The host disregards right and wrong, rebuking the Grand Chancellor—tyrant behavior detected. Reward: 12 Tyrant Value points. Current Tyrant Value: 34!”

“I meant no such thing,” Shang Rong replied respectfully, bowing with his aged frame. “Your Majesty is wise and mighty, merely momentarily deceived by petty men. It is for this reason that this old minister seeks to distinguish loyal from treacherous on Your Majesty’s behalf.”

“Then tell me, Chancellor—among all the officials in this court, who is loyal and who is treacherous?” Jiang Yuan retorted coldly.

“I shall clarify each case in my memorial, Your Majesty.”

“Enough! Who else has a matter to present?” Jiang Yuan left Shang Rong standing and asked again.

Now in the Hall of Nine Sections, Fei Zhong and You Hun knelt trembling at Jiang Yuan’s side, while Huang Feihu and Shang Rong stooped with fists clasped in the center of the hall.

Jiang Yuan sat above them all, radiating imperial authority.

All hearts in the hall were pounding; none could fathom the king’s intentions. Was this tyrant king enlightened or foolish? No one, loyal or traitorous, could divine the answer—at this moment, all were cowed by Jiang Yuan’s presence.

For a time, the hall was silent as a grave.

“What’s this? You summoned me to court for only these trivial matters? Do you think the king can be summoned at your whim? I ask you again—does anyone have anything to present?” Jiang Yuan thundered angrily.

At that moment, an aged white-haired official stepped forth from the ranks of the civil ministers. Jiang Yuan glanced at his information.

Character: Bi Gan
Title: Deputy Chancellor of Shang, Uncle to the Tyrant King
Realm: Earthly Immortal
Possessions: Exquisite Seven-Orifice Heart
Cultivation Technique: Xuantian Pure Method
Loyalty: 100
Affection: 70
Tyrant Value Obtainable: 330

The moment he saw his uncle Bi Gan wishing to speak, Jiang Yuan’s heart sank. It was over—his beauty Daji was sure to be in trouble!