Current Situation in the Kingdom of Qin
The old minister, facing Emperor Leonard Li's wrath, appeared fearful on the surface, but was actually quite composed. He said, "I am simply stating the facts. The situation in the Kingdom of Qin is truly dire. We can't just force a tax and risk driving the people to rebel, can we?"
As soon as the old minister finished speaking, the other court officials echoed his sentiments, all shaking their heads and declaring that Qin should not be taxed.
The officials' reaction made Leonard Li slam his hand on the table in anger. "Listen to yourselves! Are you ministers of my Kingdom of Jin, or ministers of Qin?"
The officials bowed their heads in fear and replied, "Of course, Your Majesty, we are ministers of the Kingdom of Jin!"
Yet in private, their exchanged glances revealed faces hidden beneath disguise masks.
Leonard Li trembled with anger. Over the years, he had sensed that something was increasingly amiss in the court, yet he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
His only trustworthy confidant, Zachary Heng, had disappeared while on a secret mission to Qin.
Now, seeing all the officials unanimously speaking in favor of Qin, Leonard Li was furious, yet powerless to do anything about it.
As emperor, if your subordinates obey you, you are their master;
But if your subordinates disregard you, then you are nothing but a puppet.
Leonard Li pursed his lips and shook his head. “No, that land was personally chosen by Alexander Hayes and Lily. With their judgment, how could they pick a bad place? Lily is clever beyond compare and a master at business. Now that she’s Queen of Qin, there’s no way she’d let the kingdom stay poor… Something about this doesn’t add up…”
Leonard Li fell into deep thought and confusion, never once suspecting that he’d been living in a grand deception all along.
Chief Eunuch Zhang watched Leonard Li’s silent brooding, then quietly slipped out of the palace doors. Once outside, his stooped back straightened and his aged steps grew light.
Humming a little tune, Chief Eunuch Zhang strolled leisurely through the palace, glancing back at Leonard Li’s chambers. He muttered to himself, “Tsk tsk, you poor boy, you’d never imagine what Qin looks like now! Go on, keep playing the puppet emperor here in Jin’s palace, fooled by everyone around you!”
The entire imperial city of Jin was like a lavish prison, watched from every corner.
Leonard Li threw a fit in court, then returned to his chambers sulking and unhappy.
Over the years, the only person Leonard Li could really talk to was Chief Eunuch Zhang, who had waited on him faithfully.
Chief Eunuch Zhang hurried to serve Leonard Li as soon as he saw him return. "Your Majesty, why such a temper today?" he asked.
Leonard Li rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Tell me, has Qin really been so poor all these years?"
Chief Eunuch Zhang squinted and replied, "Well, I’ve never been to Qin, so I wouldn’t know. But I often hear the ministers say that Qin suffers disaster after disaster, so it must have always been poor. The lands Qin holds are hardly prime territory—barren and wild to begin with. Being poor is only natural."
Leonard Li pursed his lips and shook his head. "No, that land was personally chosen by Alexander Hayes and Lily. With their judgment, how could they pick a bad place? Lily is clever beyond compare and a master at business. Now that she’s Queen of Qin, there’s no way she’d let the kingdom stay poor... Something about this doesn’t add up..."
Leonard Li fell into deep thought and confusion, never once suspecting that he’d been living in a grand deception all along.
Chief Eunuch Zhang watched Leonard Li’s silent brooding, then quietly slipped out of the palace doors. Once outside, his stooped back straightened and his aged steps grew light.
Humming a little tune, Chief Eunuch Zhang strolled leisurely through the palace, glancing back at Leonard Li’s chambers. He muttered to himself, "Tsk tsk, you poor boy, you’d never imagine what Qin looks like now! Go on, keep playing the puppet emperor here in Jin’s palace, fooled by everyone around you!"