Chapter 404: Intentions

"There is naturally no problem with that. You are the emperor of Great Xuan, sovereign over all officials and all people. You may appoint whoever you wish."

The Old Ancestor spoke slowly, then shifted his tone and added with gravity, "But this old one must remind you of one thing. You are a descendant of the Zhao clan. This realm of Great Xuan was built by the Zhao ancestors. Everything you do in the future must be worthy of the Zhao clan's founding forebears and worthy of the Great Xuan imperial house."

At those words, Zhao Muning clasped her hands and bowed formally, "Thank you for the guidance, Old Ancestor. Muning will keep it always in mind."

The Old Ancestor waved a hand and slowly closed his eyes, "Take this cat and go. If matters arise that you cannot resolve on your own, you may come and find this old one again."

Zhao Muning gave a slight nod, called out to the large black cat, and took her leave from the hall.

The large black cat found the Old Ancestor deeply intimidating and had no desire to stay in that hall a moment longer. It immediately followed after Zhao Muning without any hesitation.

Zhao Muning brought the large black cat to her temporary quarters in the palace. Inside, her two Senior Aunts and a number of Inviting Moon Palace's experts stood guard.

Zhao Muning agreed at once to the large black cat's request for an official appointment. Though the idea of a cat holding an official post in the Great Xuan court was undeniably absurd, the large black cat was Li Musheng's companion, and even if it was not Li Musheng's idea, Zhao Muning would not refuse on the strength of their connection alone.

"Then I will appoint you as an official cat of the Censorate. Whenever you have any remonstrance, you may come directly to me."

Zhao Muning said this thoughtfully, looking at the large black cat crouching in front of her.

At those words, the large black cat's round green eyes blazed immediately. Though it had no idea what the Censorate actually did, this Great Xuan empress clearly understood how the world worked, and would not likely fob it off with some inconsequential little title.

Even so, it looked at Zhao Muning and then extended its paw to gesture again.

Zhao Muning frowned at first, then understanding crossed her face, "You are right, I overlooked that. I will draw up an imperial decree immediately as evidence that you hold an official appointment in my court."

The large black cat was being careful, apparently afraid she would give it nothing in writing, and was determined to get a document as proof.

And when Zhao Muning had finished writing the decree, the large black cat even reminded her not to forget to stamp it with the imperial seal.

Once everything had been done to its satisfaction, the large black cat tucked the decree Zhao Muning had written away beneath its belly with an expression of complete contentment.

It did not linger with Zhao Muning any further, and departed in a hurry. After all, it had been out for a long time tonight and had to get back to the inn as quickly as possible.

If Li Musheng wanted to pet it and could not find the cat, and then discovered it had sneaked out on private business, that would not be good.

Once the large black cat had gone, one of the elderly women stepped out from a corner of the hall. She looked at Zhao Muning in her jade throne, considered briefly, then said, "Your Highness has given a cat an official appointment, which is in truth rather irregular. If the Eighth Prince of Great Li should one day make even more demanding requests of Your Highness, does Your Highness intend to agree to all of them as well?"

At those words, Zhao Muning picked up a memorial from the desk before her and looked at it without turning her head, "The Eighth Prince is not that kind of person. He has no interest in Great Xuan's affairs. Otherwise he would have far more extreme means at his disposal to control me, the Old Ancestor, and the entire Great Xuan imperial house."

The elderly woman's brow creased slightly, "Your Highness is now the emperor of Great Xuan. Many things cannot be taken for granted. Anything is possible in this world."

"And that person is a prince of Great Li, a different nation from Great Xuan altogether. Your Highness should plan ahead and think through contingencies for the worst possible situation."

At those words, Zhao Muning withdrew her gaze from the memorial in her hand, then looked out toward the hall's entrance, "Senior Aunt must not forget that if not for the Eighth Prince, I and my brother might well have died at Zhao Kuang's hands."

"And this throne I now sit on was given to me by the Eighth Prince. If one day he were to ask for it back, I would hand it to him freely."

"My only request would be that he treat the people of Great Xuan with kindness. Whether I sit on this throne is not the important thing."

The elderly woman's expression shifted faintly. She gave Zhao Muning a long, searching look, and then said no more.

Over the past few days, Zhao Muning had already issued orders to withdraw the Great Xuan armies stationed along the Great Li border, and was planning to send envoys to form an alliance with Great Li once everything had settled.

These things, Zhao Muning had not mentioned to Li Musheng. In her view, they were simply what she ought to do.

And besides, none of it harmed Great Xuan's interests. On the contrary, bringing an end to the conflict between the two nations would benefit the people of both, sparing countless lives from the ravages of war.

"Five nations have been at war for a hundred years. I would much rather see the day when peace comes to all under heaven. I cannot make that happen, but perhaps Your Highness can."

Zhao Muning said this quietly, then withdrew her gaze and returned to reading through her memorials.

...

At the same time, once Zhao Muning had left with the large black cat, the Old Ancestor of the Great Xuan imperial palace's figure vanished from where he sat, descending to a hidden chamber beneath the hall.

The long-missing Director of the Great Li Hidden Intelligence Bureau was being held captive there, and the Old Ancestor had long since learned his true identity. Even so, he had shown no intention of releasing the man.

"Still unwilling to talk? Your loyalty to the Yuanwu Emperor is admirable."

The Old Ancestor looked at the middle-aged man before him, whose cultivation had been stripped and whose body was covered in blood, a cold glint surfacing deep in his eyes.