The Human Emperor

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Most important to Wang Chong was that he was sure Yao Chong had not requested today’s meeting simply to submit himself. Anyone who underestimated Old Master Yao was certain to pay a bitter price.

“Not bad, not bad! Humble in victory and gracious in defeat! If my Yao Clan had such a descendant, Yao Chong could die without fear rather than dragging out his final breath.”

Yao Chong was filled with emotions by this sight. Seeing Wang Chong frown, Yao Chong said no more and pointed at his side as he sat back down.

“Your Highness, please.”

Wang Chong thought it over, and then raised his robe and seated himself next to Yao Chong.

Old Master Yao was a brilliant schemer, and every expression of emotion or act was a part of his repertoire. But at this moment, Wang Chong had his litany of titles and the Imperial Dragon Bracelet, so he did not fear any tricks from Old Master Yao.

“For what reason has Minister Yao requested Wang Chong’s presence?”

Wang Chong got straight to the point.

“Heheh, the incident in the Eastern Palace, the Sage Emperor’s desire to construct the Peace Pavilion, his absence from court for seven days in a row, his request for the provinces to offer talented women—Your Highness came to Four Quarters Embassy to ask about these things, yes?”

Old Master Yao was not angered by this rudeness and smiled as he spoke.

“Yes!”

Wang Chong did not deny it, as there was no need to.

Old Master Yao smiled. In no rush, he gestured, and a maid came forward and served fragrant tea. He did not mind when he saw that Wang Chong had no intention of touching the tea. Taking up his own cup, he lightly blew on the froth before continuing to speak.

“How much did your grandfather say? Did he tell you, or did he not?”

He placed slight emphasis on his last words, seeming to imply something.

“Why must Minister Yao ask questions for which he already knows the answer?” Wang Chong shot back.

Yao Chong had always been known as a sly fox. He was both intelligent and perceptive.

Wang Chong did not believe that he didn’t know.

If that were really the case, he would not have sent someone to wait by the road for him.

“Heh, if that’s what you’re saying, this old man guessed right. Even when confronted by his own grandson, Wang Bowu still decided to remain silent.”

Yao Chong shook his head and chuckled, apparently unsurprised.

Wang Chong slightly frowned, but he said nothing.

“Minister Yao knows?”

“Heh, only some conjectures.”

Yao Chong smiled, not avoiding the topic.

“Heheh, it’s been a very long time, but I did not expect those matters to resurface. Since Eunuch Gao will not speak and your grandfather also remains silent, I cannot tell you too much. However, unlike the others, I do want to tell you, but I do not know the truth.

“This is because I was not involved in many of those incidents!” Yao Chong said.

Wang Chong’s brow furrowed even more.

Yao Chong had essentially said nothing with these words, but Wang Chong knew that Old Master Yao had not invited him here merely so that he could spout a bunch of mystifying nonsense.

As expected, when Yao Chong saw that Wang Chong was not impatient and did not continue to question him, he subtly nodded.

“However, while I am unable to tell you the truth, I can tell you of clues, of where to look!”

Buzz!

Wang Chong fiercely raised his head in shock.

Just like he had speculated, Old Master Yao knew the truth. Though he had emphasized that he had not been a participant in many of the incidents and did not know much, Wang Chong was confident that he knew all of the truth.

As one of the revered existences of the same era as his grandfather and Eunuch Gao, Old Master Yao was a wily fox from which very little could be hidden.

Wang Chong quickly calmed himself down and sternly said, “On what condition?”

The Yao Clan and Wang Clan were archenemies. Wang Chong dearly wanted to know the answer, but he would never believe that Old Master Yao would offer to answer his questions, had sent someone to wait for him by the road, purely out of the kindness of his heart.

Wang Chong was more than sixty years Old Master Yao’s junior, but he knew that ‘Minister Yao’ had always been one to size up the situation and see what he could make from it. He would never do anything that he did not stand to benefit from.

“Heheh, Your Highness is too serious. This old man would never have any conditions, only a mere request for Your Highness.”

Old Master Yao waved his hand, but despite what he said, his face gradually turned somber. He slowly turned his head to a corner behind him and harshly said, “Little beast, get out here already!”

Wang Chong was flabbergasted, and he unconsciously followed Old Master Yao’s gaze.

The corner of the room remained absolutely silent.

But a moment later, whoosh! A curtain was raised, and an extremely reluctant figure walked out from the back.

“Yao Feng?!”

Wang Chong’s eyes flew open in shock.

He had never imagined that Yao Chong had also invited Yao Feng to this meeting.

He could not forget how, prior to his reincarnation, Yao Feng had colluded with Ma Zhou to frame him, enraging his father, Wang Yan, and making Wang Chong the disgrace of the Wang Clan.

Later on, the war of the southwest, the Battle of Talas, and other major crises had kept Wang Chong so busy that he had little time to worry about some puny Yao Feng. But to his surprise, Yao Chong had brought him here.

Countless thoughts ran through his mind as he stared at the scion of Yao Clan. His face darkened as he suddenly realized what was going on.

“Little beast, His Highness is right here. Use this chance to acknowledge your wrongdoings to His Highness!” Old Master Yao sternly said.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Yao Feng softly whispered, his head bowed. It was clear that he had not been willing to come.

“Impudence! You think you haven’t brought enough trouble to the Yao Clan yet? Or is it that you want our Yao Clan to come to an end at your hands?”

Old Master Yao raised his cane in anger.

Upon seeing Old Master Yao enraged, Yao Feng seemed to realize something, and he instantly shut up, not daring to argue.

“You really thought you could hide what you’ve done from me?! While it’s not too late, hurry and acknowledge your wrongdoing to His Highness!” Old Master Yao furiously said.

If not for the fact that there was only one heir in each generation, he would have taken the cane and given his grandson a savage beating.

“Your, Your Highness.”

After some hesitation, he walked up to Wang Chong. He was older than Wang Chong, and when Wang Chong had appeared at Vast Crane Pavilion with Wang Xiaoyao, he hadn’t even bothered to glance at him.

But the times had changed. Wang Chong now wielded incredible power, and the immense pressure he exuded made Yao Feng uneasy and too afraid to raise his head.

Over the last few years, Yao Feng had actually been working very hard, and he had made his own accomplishments on his career path, but they were a far cry from Wang Chong’s. The majesty and demeanor created through the slaughter of millions was not something that a young scion like Yao Feng could endure.

“Hmph, after saying so much, Minister Yao, it was all for his sake!” Wang Chong coldly said.

He now understood. It was no wonder that the proud Yao Chong who had never bowed his head would sentimentally sigh about losing to Wang Bowu’s grandson. In the end, Old Master Yao was paving the road for his one and only grandson.

“Yao Feng, did you think I’d forgotten what you did? It’s easy to get my forgiveness. Repeat ‘I’m sorry; I was wrong’ three times in front of me and then slap yourself three times!”

Yao Feng’s face alternated between shades of green and white.

“Bastard, what are you just standing there for?! Don’t make me use the clan laws!” Old Master Yao roared.

Yao Feng’s face shifted, and a heroic struggle took place in his mind. Finally…

“I’m sorry! I was wrong!

“I’m sorry! I was wrong!

“I’m sorry! I was wrong!”

Wang Chong had only asked him to repeat it three times, but he did it six, and after each repetition, he gave himself a slap to the face. After six slaps, Yao Feng’s handsome visage had turned swollen and bruised.

But Old Master Yao sighed in relief upon seeing this.

If Wang Chong was angry and willing to punish Yao Feng, it meant that there was still room to maneuver between the two clans. On the other hand, if Wang Chong had agreed but appeared calm, Old Master Yao would have been concerned.

When he looked between the swollen-faced Yao Chong and the nearby handsome, majestic, and mighty overlord that was Wang Chong, Yao Chong felt a clash of emotions in his heart.

He and Wang Bowu had served the same master, and both had been revered Prime Ministers. Strictly speaking, he had reached fame at an earlier age than Wang Bowu and had attained a higher status, but in this battle, he had still lost.

He had not lost to Wang Bowu, but to his grandson.

The generation of Wang Gen and Wang Yan had lacked any standouts. Wang Gen was lacking sharpness, unclear on his judgments despite standing in the court. Wang Yan was too inflexible, his tactics and strategies excessively upright and conservative. In normal circumstances, he would have spent the rest of his life in his post commanding an army.

And in normal circumstances, two Wang brothers could have never hoped to suppress Yao Guangyi. Alas, in the end, the Wang Clan produced Wang Chong!

As he looked at Yao Feng, still trembling from the humiliation he had just endured, Yao Chong sighed.

He was suddenly envious of Wang Bowu.

The Yao Clan had declined!

This was decided from the moment King Qi had been toppled– no! It had already begun at Vast Crane Pavilion. Ever since he had appeared, the Yao Clan was certain to take a mighty plunge, and Yao Feng did not seem to have the abilities to take on the heavy responsibility.

Old, too old.

Yao Chong was overcome with grief and sorrow. He could not last for much longer, so he could only try one last time to improve the Yao Clan’s situation.

No one understood more than him that if the Yao Clan did not make peace with the Wang Clan now, once he was gone, even the survival of the Yao Clan would come into question.