The Empror's Trap

The next morning.

Cui followed Lina step by step into the imperial palace.

Uncle Cui had originally been a minor servant in the palace, until Kenji's father recognized his worth and brought him to serve at the duke's residence. Because of this background, the palace environment wasn't unfamiliar to him.

For decades since then, Uncle Cui had served as a servant at the duchy. Compared to the old steward, he couldn't manage all household affairs as systematically, but he was quite skilled at many aspects of personal service.

This was his first time setting foot back in the palace after several decades.

Much had changed within the palace. There were far fewer servants hurrying about - reportedly because the new Emperor had cut many redundant staff to reduce expenses. Even so, everything in the palace remained clean and orderly.

After winding through several narrow alleys formed by palace walls, Uncle Cui finally saw the Imperial Family Court.

The Court was decorated magnificently. As the place managing imperial genealogy, it followed the highest ceremonial standards - its luxury rivaled even the main hall where the emperor held court.

"Is the young master inside?" Cui asked.

"Yes, he's working. We can go straight in."

Lina led Cui upstairs and pushed open a wooden door.

"Ah, Uncle Cui is here? Please, have a seat anywhere."

At Kenji's casual greeting, Cui looked around before spotting a chair in front of Kenji's desk and sitting down.

Kenji was working, with another stack of materials that had accumulated since last night - military reform reports from General Balinos and other commanders. Kenji studied these reform details daily, though it was inevitably a complex and massive undertaking.

He looked up at Uncle Cui and smiled: "So, Lina tells me you want to resign?"

Faced with his master's question, Cui was forthright: "Yes, young master. I'm getting older and don't have the strength I used to. While I can still move around, I plan to retire to my hometown."

"Is that so... planning to return home?"

"Yes, I've acquired some farmland there and had my son build a few rooms. I'll spend my remaining years in the countryside."

"That's good." Kenji nodded, then said, "Alright, if you insist on leaving, I won't stop you. But finally, Uncle Cui, is there nothing else you want to tell me?"

The old servant paused, then shook his head.

"Very well." Kenji reached under his desk and brought out an exquisitely crafted small box. "This is for you, Uncle- in gratitude for your years of service to my family."

"Thank you, young master."

"Open it and look - make sure I haven't tricked you with an empty box. Your neighbors would laugh you out of town."

"How could you say that, young master? Even if it were empty, coming from you, I..."

Uncle Cui didn't really care what was inside, but following Kenji's suggestion, he casually opened the box. His face instantly drained of color.

The elegant box contained Camelot Gold coins and some jewels. These weren't unexpected - he knew his young master wouldn't be stingy.

But among these items lay a small, deliberately cut piece of paper bearing his own handwriting.

The first line read: "To her Majesty."

"Y-young master!"

The old servant fell trembling to his knees, striking his weathered face hard with his rough hand:

"Young master! I deserve death! I am guilty! I betrayed your trust!"

But his plea for punishment was not met with rebuke from his master.

"Why?"

Kenji walked over and crouched before him, asking.

"Her Majesty summoned me personally, I dared not..."

Hearing this answer, Kenji nodded: "I understand."

He stood and helped the aging man up, then returned to his seat. He continued calmly: "Actually, Uncle Cui, I've long known who the spy in my household was. I was waiting for you to resign - I understand Her Majesty's thoughts clearly, she doesn't trust me."

"There had to be court spies planted in my household. I had Lina and the steward investigate, and suspicion fell only on you. However, you didn't report all my activities to the Emperor. At least in matters concerning my life and death, you maintained your loyalty to me."

There was no rebuke - to Kenji, that would be pointless. Did Uncle Cui want to be a spy? No. But that was the Emperor - how could Uncle Cui refuse Her Majesty's orders? For someone who had originally served in the palace, his reverence for the Emperor far exceeded normal levels.

True, Kenji had power to contend with the Emperor, but Uncle Cui was no politician. He couldn't see these things. To many, "Emperor" meant someone whose orders must be obeyed.

Uncle Cui had simply followed imperial orders. He could not and dared not disobey.

"Stand up, Uncle. I just hoped you would tell me everything before leaving - since you wouldn't speak, I had to say it. Otherwise, I believe your heart would never be at peace."

"Young master, I have wronged you..."

"You have indeed wronged me, but I never said I wouldn't forgive you," Kenji patted Cui's shoulder, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh right, Uncle Cui, your son - Yekart, correct? I should tell you, he's been transferred to the central government this year. Though it's a minor position, I'll look after him well for your sake."

Looking at Cui's face that seemed to have aged a decade, Kenji waved his hand: "Alright, Lina, see him out. Outsiders can't stay long in the palace - bringing him in was already against regulations."

With that, he returned to his seat. Faced with the old man's flowing tears, he said nothing more.

There was no need for more words. He had already shown all possible benevolence.

However, truthfully, the Emperor had gone too far in this matter. Planting spies so close to him...

I think …. It is time to teach her a lesson.

..........

Camelot Year 558, Early Autumn.

As harvest time approached, Camelot's Grand Harvest Ceremony was also drawing near.

As the name suggested, this ceremony celebrated the harvest. Held annually, its purpose was to pray for and celebrate a good harvest before the actual reaping began.

It involved a series of rituals - ancestral worship, heavenly offerings, and state ceremonies.

Because of this, preparations for the Grand Harvest Ceremony typically began far in advance.

But this year, the new Emperor was troubled.

Before the ceremony, the central government would dispatch people to inspect crop conditions across the regions. These inspectors would report the true situation of crops everywhere.

However this year, due to the disaster in Hexi, Pluvia had to consider granary reserves.

Hexi was one of Camelot's major grain-producing regions. After this year's disaster, they had already missed the optimal farming season. Then the floods had washed away much of the people's stored grain. To prevent starvation, Pluvia had immediately redistributed granary supplies from various regions to aid Hexi.@@novelbin@@

That had gone smoothly, but problems quickly emerged.

Hexi city's production this year was devastatingly low.

How should this be reported at the Grand Harvest Ceremony? It would be announced before many commoners. While the people wouldn't mind hearing about Hexi's disaster, opposition forces would certainly use that day to cause trouble.

So, following the principle of consulting the Chancellor for problems and the Grand Marshal for solutions, Pluvia summoned both Kenji and Chancellor Long.

Kenji's suggestion was: "Allow me to station 500 elite troops at the ceremony - no one will dare speak then."

This impractical idea that even Kenji himself hadn't planned to implement was naturally rejected.

Then Chancellor Long offered his opinion - they could mention the disaster and reduced production, but discuss both sparingly, focusing instead on how the nation had handled this major catastrophe. Essentially, don't dwell on the negatives.

Pluvia agreed with this view. Hexi's massive disaster couldn't be hidden anyway - better to redirect the people's attention than try concealing it.

Though pleased this issue was resolved, she quickly became unhappy again.

Her displeasure wasn't about the ceremony, but because...she received unbelievable news:

Duke Anos was currently buying up excess grain stores across the empire.

Most terrifying was that this large-scale purchase of surplus grain wasn't just his small personal operation.

Nearly the entire Camelot army was buying grain. Without her orders, military officers were personally negotiating prices with commoners.

Of course, given the army's strong discipline, there was no forced collection, looting, or deliberate price suppression - purchases followed market rates.

Pluvia immediately grew restless.

What are you doing?! Hexi just suffered a major disaster, the grain isn't even harvested and stored yet, and you're already collecting surplus everywhere? Have you lost your mind?

But when Pluvia summoned Kenji to question him, he gave only one reason:

"With this year's disaster, we should stockpile grain early for next year's needs. Hexi's granaries are empty - if the court doesn't collect and redistribute surplus grain now, we'll have to eventually. By then, it will be too late to act."

Yes, it sounded quite reasonable.

But Pluvia still felt uneasy.