ThewordsstrucktheEmperor.Whileitwasnotwhathewouldchoose,theChancellorwasright.HewastheEmperor.Throwinghimselfrightintotheenemy’swaitingarmswithoutbackupwasafoolishmaneuverthatcouldleavetheEmpirewithoutaruler.No,theChancellorwasright.
Turning,hegavehisorders.“IamplacingmychancellorinchargeoftheImperialGuard.Hisspmandismyspmand.”Asthegeneralsandofficersbowedinassent,theEmperorwenton,hisvoiceloud.“Thisbrutewhoattacksourtraderoutes!Thismurdererwhothreatensourwayoflife!IwillkilhisB??riKhanasIkilledhisownfather.Withmyownhands.”
Withoutanotherword,theEmperorstrodeoutofthethroneroom.Behindhim,theChancellorwatched.Forseveralminutes,hestoodthere,hiseyesnarrowedandhishandsclaspedinfrontofhimasallaroundtheroom,officialsandgeneralsflutteredabout.Afterafewmoments,hemovedtooneofthewindows.AflickerofapprovalflashedinhiseyeswhenhesawtheEmperorridingawayfromthepalace,flankedbyhisguard.
Turning,theChancellorlookedatoneoftheseniorofficers.“AssembleallImperialGuardsmenimmediatelyinthissquare.Thatincludeseveryguardoneverytowerandeverygate.”
Theannouncementwasmetwithshockedmurmurs.“Butwhowillprotectthecity?”theofficerasked.
“YouquestionthejudgmentofHisMajestytheEmperor?”theChancellorsnapped,hiswordsharsh.
Immediately,theseniorofficershookhishead.“Ofcoursenot,Chancellor,”hesaid,backpedaling.“Iwillseetoitimmediately.”
Whenatlastthethroneroomwasempty,theChancellorwalkedtowardthethrone.Ashedid,heliftedhisarmandpulledapinfromthebackofhisneck.Astheman’sbodyslumpedtothefloor,unconscious,ahundredsmallbirdsroseinhisplace.IthadbeenXianniangthewholetime.Thebirdsroseupandshottowardtheopendoor.Soaringintothesky,theyflewinatightformation,shiftingandtwistingsotheyformedalong,denseshape.