"Does every one of you share this view?" Qi Junmu’s gaze swept across the assembly. When it passed over Shen Nian, he paused for just a breath—but quickly moved on, letting no one notice.
After the Emperor asked this, the court fell utterly silent. Not a single person spoke up for Shen Nian.
A few military officers showed flickers of hesitation on their faces, yet with so much evidence stacking up against Shen Nian, no one dared speak up for him. It was common knowledge that when it came to parsing words and picking apart phrases, they rough-handed military men could never keep up with the civil officials. One ill-chosen word, and even a good case could turn sour.
Qi Junmu looked over the civil and military officials, then turned to Lin Xiao, who had remained silent throughout. "What does the Left Chancellor think?"
Lin Xiao’s mind raced through several possibilities. As the head of all officials, his words naturally carried far more weight than anyone else’s.
Lately, Lin Xiao had felt he could no longer fathom the Emperor’s mind. After a long pause, he said: "Your Majesty, Lord Su and the others have made valid points. This subject believes the North Frontier must be investigated thoroughly. As Marquis Zhenbei holds command there, to avoid any conflict of interest, he must stay out of the investigation into General Chang Sheng's disappearance. Furthermore, if General Chang Sheng left his post without an imperial edict, that amounts to treason. Whatever the reason, once he is found, Your Majesty must punish him severely."
As Lin Xiao’s words fell, the court fell quiet for a moment. Soon, some argued that they should first investigate what exactly happened to Chang Sheng in the North Frontier and how he vanished. Others said they should first look into why Chang Sheng had left the West Frontier in the first place—what had driven him away.
Throughout this, no one suggested that Shen Nian might be innocent.
For once, Qi Junmu showed remarkable patience, letting them squabble back and forth. The sight of ministers bickering with one another bore little resemblance to their usual polished, courtly demeanors—they were more like bickering market women, faces red and voices raised, each dead set on bullying the other into agreeing with them.
The Emperor watched this uproar until they had exhausted themselves, and only then did they suddenly remember the sovereign on the dragon throne. Each turned back to face him, begging his judgment.
The great hall fell silent. Qi Junmu let out a cold laugh, his voice dripping with undisguised mockery and scorn. The civil and military officials immediately regained their usual composure, pretending not to hear the Emperor’s derision, standing in mute silence as they awaited his word.
Qi Junmu drawled lazily: "And what of Marquis Zhenbei? Does he have nothing to say?"
Shen Nian looked straight into the Emperor's eyes for a long moment, then stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this humble subject has been in the palace and knows nothing of what transpired in the North Frontier. On this matter, I have nothing to say—I leave it entirely to Your Majesty’s judgment."
Though these words seemed to offer no defense, they did speak one quiet plea on his own behalf.
He waited for Qi Junmu to speak. The other ministers waited too.
At Shen Nian’s words, Qi Junmu gave a faint smile—no mockery in it. He said: "Everyone here has already pronounced you guilty, and yet you refuse to utter a single word in your own defense."
Those words stirred something in Shen Nian’s heart. He gazed up at the Emperor in a daze, a sliver of hope rising within him.
Perhaps things were not as dire as he had imagined.
Then Qi Junmu’s voice rang out across the hall, steady and decisive: "Since Marquis Zhenbei will not speak for himself, I shall say a few words on his behalf. Chang Sheng’s entry into the North Frontier was done by My decree."
The great hall fell completely silent. Lin Xiao's head snapped up, staring at the Emperor, his face shifting through a storm of emotions—until finally settling into a blank calm.
Censor Shi was the first to recover. "Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?"
"I had intended to rotate the garrisons of the four frontiers. Marquis Zhenbei has spent years in the capital, and Chang Sheng’s credentials are now sufficient—it was fitting for him to take the North Frontier. Prince Rui and the others carried a secret edict into the West Frontier; no one knew of this. Chang Sheng’s appearance in the North Frontier is therefore perfectly reasonable. What I do not understand is why he vanished."
"For such a major matter, why did Your Majesty not issue an open edict?" Censor Shi asked, his expression still grave. "To change a frontier commander in secret—Your Majesty acted alone…"
"When Shen Yi took command of the North Frontier troops back then, it was also Imperial Father who acted alone. Tens of thousands of men placed entirely in Shen Yi’s hands—does Censor Shi believe the late Emperor was wrong?" Qi Junmu replied coolly.
In those days, Shen Yi had been a man who had betrayed Emperor Jing. Yet Emperor Jing, knowing his man well, still entrusted him with the North Frontier—and he held it fast.
With the late Emperor invoked, no one dared argue further.
Censor Shi gave a bitter smile and stood there, dazed.
Qi Junmu dismissed him, then said: "There is certainly something strange about Chang Sheng’s disappearance in the North. I will send someone to investigate thoroughly. As for Marquis Zhenbei, he must indeed recuse himself—but fortunately, he serves in the palace. With me watching over him personally, there should be no trouble. If there is no other business, you may all withdraw from court."
The news had come too suddenly; everyone needed to return, think it over carefully, and weigh their own interests. Hearing the Emperor’s words, they all withdrew.
Lin Xiao did not stay either. The only one who remained was Shen Nian.
The Emperor left the great hall, and Shen Nian followed behind him.
The Emperor took his palanquin back to Quanhua Hall, while Shen Nian walked all the way there on foot.
Once they reached Quanhua Hall, Qi Junmu dismissed the attendants. Then he looked at Shen Nian, who stood with his head bowed low, and said: "What is this about, Marquis Shen? Your face was so grim in court—surely you did not think I would seize this chance to take your military tally and have you killed?"
Shen Nian raised his eyes and looked at the Emperor calmly. "If Your Majesty wants the tally, this humble subject will offer it with both hands. When the matter first erupted so suddenly, yes—that is indeed what I thought. It was a perfect opportunity. By stirring conflict between the North and West Frontiers, Your Majesty could take control of both armies at once—a double gain. Better still, you could use it to strike at me, making an example of one to warn the rest. From that day forward, no one would dare question Your Majesty’s decisions. Would that not have been the best outcome of all?"
His words were reasoned and articulate. Qi Junmu listened with a frown, then walked up to him—half serious, half teasing, with a hint of bewilderment: "Marquis Shen, are you in a bad mood today? You are nothing like your usual self. Your tongue is full of knives—speaking before me with such utter fearlessness, venting your anger right at me?"
Shen Nian felt the Emperor’s presence close by. He raised his head and looked at the man before him, his eyes swirling with a tangle of emotions—grief, sorrow, resentment, and struggle. Qi Junmu was taken aback by that look; first confusion flickered across his face, then he frowned in silence.
Shen Nian lowered his gaze and said softly: "This humble subject takes his leave."
With that, he bowed and turned to go. As he moved away, Qi Junmu said in a low voice: "Shen Nian—stop."
The Emperor stepped forward and seized him. Shen Nian stumbled, nearly falling, and Qi Junmu caught him—pulling him back until he crashed against his chest.
Shen Nian’s body went rigid. He looked up into the Emperor’s eyes—so startled that the shock was plain to see—then slowly dropped his gaze.
He gave a faint, bitter smile, then stepped back two paces, slipping out of the Emperor's embrace. Head bowed, he said: "Your Majesty, this humble subject still has duties to attend to—I shall take my leave now."
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