Young Master System: My Mother Is the Matriarch

Chapter 207 206: Good Company

Li Wei moved to the scattered scrolls and began gathering them from the floor. His fingers brushed against aged parchment, smoothing curled edges as he stacked them atop the table.

The emperor watched him for a moment before crouching to retrieve those nearest his feet.

They worked in silence, the two men began restoring order to a room that had witnessed chaos moments before.

Hui Tong picked up the fallen dart between thumb and forefinger, holding it to the lamplight.

The tip still glistened with whatever mixture it carried.

He turned it slowly, examining the craftsmanship.

They were thin grooves that ran along the shaft, likely channels meant to carry the poison deeper once the metal pierced flesh.

"Undoubtably Councilor Wei's work," he said quietly. "I recognize the design and contours. He favored these during his younger days, long before he ascended to the parliamentary seat currently bestowed to him."

Li Wei placed the last scroll on the table and approached.

He studied the dart without touching it. "Then he has either trained these men himself or supplied them with his personal arsenal.

The young master sighed, "Either way, his involvement is without question deep."

Hui Tong set the dart on the table beside the blade.

Both of his hands remained there for a moment, fingers splayed against the wood.

"Three top echelon councilors in my chamber before midnight," he said.

"These were not minor functionaries either, each of them were powerful men with a great deal of authority and influence." The emperor's brow creased for a moment, "They would not have moved without support from others."

He looked up at Li Wei. "This was meant to happen tonight regardless of whether I signed the decree."

Hui Tong's voice grew hoarse with each passing word, "The assassination was the primary objective."

Li Wei nodded slowly, "which means the decree was merely a pretext to gain entry."

The logic held firmly with all three men of notable standing would not normally risk exposure unless they were certain of success

"The question becomes whether they acted alone or as part of a larger conspiracy," Li Wei said.

"Three blades can be removed from the board." Hui Tong moved away from the table and spoke, "Thirty is another matter entirely."

The emperor casually walked to the window, where the second councilor had stood a few moments before.

The fingers tracing the same lattice the man had inspected.

The wood was old, solid, fitted into the stone frame generations ago."My grandfather built this palace," he said.

"Every stone and beam was provided with his own affluence." Hui Tong was feeling nostalgic about his background, "He intended it to house a dynasty that would rule for ten thousand years."

A brief pause lingered in the room.

"He also built the passage behind that screen." Emperor Hui Tong pointed towards the impromptu exit, "Dozens of hidden alcoves that could be used as escape routes."

"Hollowed chambers within brick walls….." The old man was deeply remorseful about his own son betraying him, "My ancestor had somehow prepared for every threat except the one festering in his own court."

Li Wei said nothing.

The emperor's thoughts drifted audibly, evidently the rapidly unfolding events had caused the old man to process the gravity of what had just occurred.

"My father also understood the danger of internal discord," Hui Tong continued. "He spent his reign removing those he could not trust."

Li Wei interrupted him, "By emptying seats, filling them with loyal men. He had to have realized that loyalty purchased is not loyalty earned."

Hui Tong nodded, "Precisely, Due to this… the men have elevated and learned to hide their ambitions better than their predecessors."

His hand pressed against the lattice. "Now the task has fallen into my hands…. How do I effectively curb this unrest?"

The lamp flickered again.

Outside, the palace grounds lay dark and still. Somewhere in the distance, a guard called out the hour.

"You cannot remove them all tonight," Li Wei said. "But you can remove those who struck first. Use their failure to your advantage."

Hui Tong turned from the window.

His face carried lines that had not been visible earlier in the evening, sacks of weariness beneath his eyes.

There was a clear loss of vitality from the shocking discovery.

"How do we go about this?"

"The morning meeting will have to proceed as scheduled." Li Wei's voice remained level, "Everything including the decree they wished you to sign must happen in a routine fashion."

"When they ask why their colleagues are absent, you express concern. Even if they send guards to investigate, that will mean little…" Li Wei was rather sure about his plan.

I will plant gull discover evidence of conspiracy—letters, perhaps, or testimony extracted from the prisoners."

Hui Tong's brow furrowed. "You wish to use fabricated evidence?"

"Truth has always been shaped to serve necessity." Li Wei met his gaze. "The men in your cells will talk once they understand the alternative. The young master roamed around the room slowly, "I will give them reason to believe their lives depend on cooperation."

"They will name names…The emperor considered this Some true,others likely fabricated."

"We have to sift through the claims and act on those that serve your agenda without question." His fingers drummed once against his thigh, "And if the council rebels….they will be a step to late seeing through the ploy and might opt with moving against me openly"

"Then you meet the rebellion with open force." Li Wei gestured toward the door where the guards had stood. "The palace garrison still answers to you... Most of the city watch remain at your beck and call answers to you."

The council have always commanded ink and political matters…." Hui Tong understood the structure of his empire, "I may command both steel and soldiers, I wonder which proves more persuasive in the moment of decision."

Silence filled the space between them.

Hui Tong's eyes searched Li Wei's face trying to look for something.

A shred of doubt, perhaps.

Or simply confirmation that the path before him was the only one remaining.

"You speak of civil war," the emperor said quietly.

"I am only concerned with survival." Li Wei did not look away. "The council has shown their hand. They attempted murder in your own chambers." Hui Tong stood upright with a plain expression.

"Whatever comes after this moment," The emperor spoke in an impartial tone "I cannot return to the pretense that they are loyal subjects serving a unified throne."

"That goes without saying…" The young master smirked slightly, "Pretense died with that dart."