Chapter 395: Chapter 395

For an entire morning, everyone just sat there. The Viceroy didn’t issue any orders, and they all seemed like lifeless clay statues.

A servant, who appeared to be the steward, entered the government office and proceeded to the secretariat, the administrative heart of the yamen. He walked up to his master and whispered something into his ear.

Immediately, a glimmer of hope and excitement flickered in the old man’s turbid eyes.

He grabbed his official hat from his head with trembling hands and placed it on the desk.

The King’s army! The King’s army is returning!

The old man’s heart surged with emotion.

But soon, his hand began to tremble again, and fear crept into him.

Because, although he had been coerced, he had indeed worn this official hat. Having navigated the treacherous currents of officialdom for many years, he knew: this hat, even if worn for a single day—no, merely by having worn it once—could never be removed for the rest of his life.

He had been tormented by his conscience all through the previous night.

The lofty aspirations of his youth, forged while studying the classics of sages; the glory of his name being announced at Donghua Gate after succeeding in the imperial examinations; the carefree spirit of retiring to his hometown, his sleeves unburdened by ill-gotten gains... His ambitions had never been grand, nor had his official rank been particularly high, yet his life had been largely smooth sailing. Despite some turbulence, he had generally prospered. Who could have predicted that now, in his twilight years, on the verge of being laid to rest, such a disaster would befall him?

Especially after learning that his old friend and his entire family had taken their own lives, the torment in his heart grew even more acute.

Had he... made the wrong choice?

He was glad the King’s army was returning to drive out the Yan people.

This is the territory of the Qian State! How could it be overrun by the Yan and Barbarians?! This is a land of royal rites and propriety! How could it be defiled by the Yan and Barbarians?! However, if the King’s army did return... what would become of him?

The steward beside him, though only in his early forties, had inherited his father’s position and served the family his entire life. Seeing his master so haggard and despondent, he sighed inwardly.

"Go and summon all the officials from the front hall," the old man instructed.

Soon, more than ten officials from the front hall arrived. The front hall of the government office had always been the domain of the high-ranking officials of the commandery, serving under the Viceroy. Some among them had been promoted just the previous night, while others had long held their positions. Now, summoned together, their expressions varied. Disdain was openly displayed on some faces; others wore expressions of helpless commiseration; still others were silent and numb.

After a brief silence in the secretariat, all the officials bowed in unison to the old man seated behind the desk:

"Greetings... Your Lordship."

A bitter smile touched the old man’s lips. He raised his hand and gently slapped his own face. He didn’t speak immediately, but continued to slap his face, each blow harder than the last.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

The steward rushed up to stop him.

The old man’s left cheek flushed red, but since his face was already so gaunt, it didn’t swell. The officials below were momentarily stunned.

The old man picked up the cup of tea from his desk—long since grown cold—took a sip, and swallowed the bitter mixture, now tinged with blood. He then spoke:

"I imagine you all know by now. The city is in chaos, the Yan people are in disarray, and the King’s army, it is said, is not far from our gates."

Everyone had known this since morning; their household servants had been continually delivering updates. Fresh chapters posted on noveⅼfire.net

"The Yan people have entered the city, yet here we sit in the government office... Heh, what a farce this is."

At the old man’s words, the expressions of everyone present turned grim, exceedingly so.

"However, I understand that you gentlemen are different from me. I... I was deluded, seeking high office and renown, and so I boarded the treacherous ship of the Yan people. But you, gentlemen, acted to preserve yourselves for a time when you could be of use. You and I... our paths diverge."

Among those below, some looked astonished, some perplexed, some blank. But who among those seasoned in officialdom could truly be a fool? Thus, it wasn’t long before they all grasped the implication of his words.

The old man coughed repeatedly. After a short while, he wiped the corner of his mouth with the sleeve of his official robe and continued, "It was I who compelled you all to assume your posts in the yamen today. All the blame, all the sin, rests upon me. When the King’s army reclaims Chuzhou, I shall submit a Memorandum to the Imperial Court, taking full responsibility for everything. However, I ask that you all look after my family somewhat in the days to come. For this, I offer my deepest gratitude now."

The old man rose from his chair and bowed deeply to the officials before him.

The officials below all fell to their knees at once, crying out in unison, "Your Lordship..."

Every one of them was already overcome with tears, unable to speak.

"You may all leave. You should know what needs to be done, what actions to take, and what preparations to make."

The officials acknowledged and withdrew.

The old man sank back into his chair, as if most of his vital energy had been drained from him.

The steward, his voice laced with heartache, said, "Master, why must you go to such lengths?"

The old man, however, merely smiled and said, "Do you imagine that if I hadn’t said all that, they wouldn’t have found a way to pin the blame on me anyway?"

"But..." the steward began.

"Upon hearing news of the King’s army’s approach, they must have already begun coordinating amongst themselves. Since I accepted this position, I must bear the consequences. Rather than be pushed out by them, it is better I step forward myself. This way, perhaps some goodwill can be preserved, and my family might receive some consideration in the future."

"Master, this is too much for you to bear."

The steward knew that if it weren’t to protect the lives of his entire household, his master would never have yielded to such coercion from the Yan people.