Chapter 370 - 259: Of Course, I, Henry, Am the Wildest

Chapter 370: Chapter 259: Of Course, I, Henry, Am the Wildest

"Dispatch envoys to the nobles throughout the land to proclaim my will. And use those who are dissatisfied with Henry to check his movements.

In short, I will make Henry understand that his every move is under my control!"

Once the Emperor finished speaking, the hall fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.

The heavy atmosphere made everyone hold their breath, not daring to make a sound. In the silence, only the Emperor’s breathing was distinct, laced with suppressed anger and helplessness.

At this moment, both sides were frantically cursing the Emperor in their hearts.

The ministers cursed the Emperor’s indecisiveness and short-sightedness. They had long seen Henry’s ambition, but dared not say more due to the Emperor’s indulgence.

Now that the situation was out of control, the Emperor was taking his anger out on them, making them the scapegoats.

They cursed him under their breath, wishing Henry would raise an army and rebel at once, so the Emperor could taste the bitter fruit of his own actions.

As for the Emperor, he too was frantically cursing himself.

It could be said that Henry’s current power was a direct result of his own negligence; he had practically groomed him for it!

He recalled a time not long ago when he and Henry had shared a close relationship in the study. Back then, Henry had been humble and courteous, his words so earnest that the Emperor had placed great hope in him.

He had showered Henry with rewards—fiefs, titles, riches, even handing over military authority in the eastern grasslands—all in the hope that he would conquer new territories for the empire.

Yet, Henry had used it all as capital to expand his own power. Now, he was openly defying the Emperor’s command to develop his existing lands and cease expansion. This blatant defiance was a complete loss of face for the Emperor.

The Emperor seethed with a hatred so intense it made his teeth itch. He could tolerate the emergence of a new, powerful Border Count or Marquis. After all, the empire needed capable men to guard its frontiers.

But he could not tolerate this upstart noble defying his commands!

His authority was inviolable, and the empire’s situation could not be allowed to spiral out of control.

He knew he had to make a decision, even if it meant making an enemy of Henry.

"Your Majesty, do you truly intend to take a hardline stance against Henry?" Duke Calvin’s voice rang out once more, shattering the hall’s silence.

He knew the Emperor had already made his decision, but his intuition told him this was perhaps not the best choice.

Calvin had once taught Henry etiquette, and his impression of the man was of an arrogant face hidden beneath a humble expression.

’A smile on his face... People like that are the most terrifying. What’s more, Henry’s deep-seated indifference to a noble’s etiquette worried him even more.’

’Someone with no fear of "the rules"...’

’With a person like that, you either crush them early and ensure they can never get back up, or you make sure you never become their enemy.’

"Hmph!" The Emperor snorted, his gaze sweeping over Duke Calvin like a blade.

"I have made my decision. The empire can no longer be swayed by the likes of Henry. If he were truly loyal to the empire, he would understand!"

Duke Calvin lowered his head and said no more. He could only pray that this decision would not plunge the empire into a deeper crisis.

’The empire is a colossal, dilapidated building right now. The strongmen inside are busy patching it up, but if they start fighting amongst themselves, the whole structure will soon collapse.’

The court meeting in Lukaron concluded. As the ministers and guards departed, the news from the assembly spread like wildfire, both within the palace and without.

As the news spread, it was constantly embellished and exaggerated, each sentence imbued with more drama.

The ministers emerging from the meeting wore complex expressions: some of worry, some of resignation, and some of schadenfreude.

They returned to their respective estates to discuss the meeting’s contents with confidants and family, and these discussions were soon overheard by servants, who then spread them through the streets and alleyways.

The palace guards also murmured amongst themselves, speculating on the Emperor’s next move. These speculations were then carried back to their families and social circles.

And so, the news spread rapidly between the court, the nobility, and the common folk, growing more outrageous with each telling.

Before long, a shocking rumor began to circulate throughout the city of Lukaron: His Majesty the Emperor, having reached the end of his patience, was preparing to lead a campaign in person. He would march to Odoche, confront Henry face-to-face, enumerate his transgressions, and even punish this disobedient Henry himself.

The rumor spread with such vivid detail it was as if the Emperor had already donned his armor and was marshaling his forces.

Those dissatisfied with Henry were secretly overjoyed, believing the Emperor was finally making a move against him. Perhaps the empire’s political landscape would shift because of it.

Meanwhile, those sympathetic to Henry began to worry, fearing the conflict would spark greater turmoil or even escalate into a civil war.

For instance, academy alumni like Yiduo Kais and Daimon Horner didn’t want to see their fellow alumnus and their headmaster come to blows, a prospect that pained them greatly.

The news spread so fast that even commoners, who normally cared little for court affairs, began to discuss it.

They pictured the spectacular sight of the Emperor leading his army, imagining themselves caught up in the coming storm.

Meanwhile, those who truly understood the court’s inner workings could only shake their heads and sigh. They knew these were just exaggerated rumors, but the power of such gossip was enough to plunge the entire city of Lukaron into a state of tension and anxiety.

After all, aren’t many things just a result of someone’s hand being forced?

Plans are no match for swift changes. Academy graduates scattered across the empire slowed their journeys, now uncertain if they should go and pledge their allegiance to Henry.

’After all, in their minds, no matter how badass Henry was, could he be more badass than the Emperor? Besides, the rumors were so detailed—who knew if the Emperor was truly about to launch a campaign against Henry?’

’If it was true, they’d be totally screwed. If they went to join Henry now, they wouldn’t get to share in any of the good fortune, only in the disaster that followed.’

But there was still a group that pressed on toward Odoche without a second thought, determined to join Henry. They were taking a gamble! Fortune favors the bold!

’If our gamble pays off and Henry weathers this storm, we’ll be the loyal alumni who came to his aid in his time of need! Our futures will be limitless!’

These graduates mostly came from the empire’s lower-to-middle-class nobility. Their birth made it difficult for them to secure a place in the empire’s center of power.

Henry’s rise, however, presented them with what might be a rare opportunity.

Some of them had known Henry during their time at the academy and believed he had the potential to change the status quo.

’Have you ever seen someone so formidable that one week he could only practice stabbing a straw man on horseback, and the next he could couch a lance and charge?’

’Have you ever seen a master who would miss the target one week, only to hit the bullseye every time the next?’

They had! This decision could change their entire lives!

If Henry could truly hold his ground in this storm, or even turn the tables and emerge victorious, then those who pledged their loyalty to him early on would be handsomely rewarded.

They would become core members of Henry’s faction, gaining more power and resources.

However, they were also well aware that if Henry was truly suppressed by the Emperor, they could become outcasts of the empire, or even be purged for their allegiance to him.

But they were mentally prepared for that outcome. After all, life is short, and they didn’t have many other options.

In the empire’s game of power, you were either a victor or a victim.

And the actions of these people thoroughly enraged the Emperor. He was beside himself with fury.

"Insolence!"

’My Vassals bow to you, my students flock to you. What is the meaning of this? Does he want to be the Emperor?’

’I’m not dead yet!’

"Guards! Have the Commander of the Imperial Guard see me at once!"

"Yes, Your Great Majesty."

This command thoroughly solidified the rumors that the Emperor was about to march against Henry.