Chapter 33: The Uncannily Foresighted "Consort" (Part Three)

At this moment, the gaze of every court official, whether civil or military, was unconsciously drawn to the slender sheet of letter paper in Meng Tian’s hand. All could not help but wonder—had Meng Tian truly colluded with the enemy and betrayed the nation? Such a crime was punishable by death! Yet if that were indeed the case, would Meng Tian himself not be aware of it?

Many began to ponder, and even Qin Suwen, seated on the imperial throne, narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.

“Your Majesty! Look! General Meng has admitted it himself!” Grand Secretary Zhang exclaimed, cupping his hands respectfully toward Qin Suwen. In Zhang’s mind, he had never expected to catch such a big fish. If Meng Tian were to fall, who among the military officials could still contend with him? The position of Prime Minister would surely be his for the taking. To be second only to the emperor, with tens of thousands beneath him—who then would dare show him disrespect? The mere thought caused a triumphant smile to bloom at the corners of his mouth.

Yet upon hearing Grand Secretary Zhang’s words, Meng Tian merely smiled and shook his head. How could he not see through Zhang’s intentions? Zhang had been targeting him for quite some time, but Meng Tian had never taken it to heart. In his view, though Zhang often made trouble for him, he could not deny Zhang’s contributions to Da Qin’s current greatness.

Precisely because of this, Meng Tian had always chosen to yield to Zhang, not wishing his personal feud to plunge Da Qin into crisis. Otherwise, would he not become a criminal for the ages, unworthy to face the late emperor or his fallen brothers beyond the frontier? Even so, Meng Tian’s patience was not limitless. If he lacked temper and blood, how could he ever have intimidated the barbarian tribes beyond the borders?

Meng Tian had long refrained from retaliation, but his forbearance had merely led others to believe he was a soft target, easily manipulated. At this thought, a trace of cold amusement flickered at the corner of his lips.

In Meng Tian’s heart, it mattered little how others slandered him. As long as his conduct was upright, what need had he to fear idle gossip? Yet this did not mean Meng Tian had no boundaries; he would never tolerate being falsely accused of conspiring with the barbarians. His loyalty to Da Qin was unwavering—how could he ever betray his country?

Qin Suwen, too, understood this well. In her eyes, all the officials in court might one day turn their backs on Da Qin, save for two: General Meng Tian, who guarded the frontier, and General Bai Qi, who defended the southern border against the Tushi. These two men would never betray the realm.

“Bring it here. Let me see it for myself!” Qin Suwen’s tone grew heavier. The petty squabbles between Meng Tian and Grand Secretary Zhang she could ignore, but to bring down Meng Tian with fabricated charges—this she would never tolerate.

At that moment, sitting atop the dragon throne, Qin Suwen radiated a fierce and violent aura. Who would have thought such a small figure could contain such ferocity? The officials below suddenly recalled her former prowess on the battlefield—how easily many had forgotten, simply because she was a woman.

Had Fang Xu been present, he, too, might have been stunned. Who would have imagined that the Qin Suwen he so often teased could possess such a tempestuous side? Since ascending the throne, she had learned restraint, but that did not mean she had forgotten her former deeds.

When the guard beside Qin Suwen handed her the letter, a subtle change passed over her expression. The officials below watched her face, their own expressions shifting in response, for none knew what the letter contained. Meng Tian, meanwhile, remained as calm as ever.

Grand Secretary Zhang, for his part, believed Meng Tian was simply putting on a brave front; he refused to believe that the slip of paper contained any genuine strategy for repelling the enemy.

“Your Majesty! Does the letter contain evidence of General Meng’s treason?” Minister Wang could not help but step forward and ask. As Grand Secretary Zhang’s confidant, it was inappropriate for Zhang to speak at this moment; Wang took upon himself the task.

“Silence!” Qin Suwen thundered, striking the table before her. Instantly, the hall fell silent, not a single breath dared. Minister Wang, who had spoken out, began to tremble. He was no fool—now he realized he had been too hasty. Regardless of Meng Tian’s guilt or innocence, it was not his place, as a mere second-rank official, to interrogate. Not only had he offended Meng Tian, a first-rank minister, but he had also overstepped his bounds.

“Your Majesty, please enlighten us!” Grand Secretary Zhang, recognizing Wang’s rashness, also understood that Wang had spoken for his sake. If he did not step forward now, his followers’ hearts would surely grow cold. Thus, he bowed deeply, hands clasped, head lowered.

“Look well! Open your eyes and see! Is this your so-called evidence of treason?” Qin Suwen hurled the letter straight at the bent head of Grand Secretary Zhang. None could say how much force she used, but the blow knocked his ceremonial cap clean off, so that his black-and-white hair fell loose about his shoulders. He looked up in panic and terror at Qin Suwen, for he now realized she was truly enraged.

Though he had relied on his status as a court elder to voice his doubts before, Grand Secretary Zhang now saw he had fallen into Meng Tian’s trap. In a fluster, he dropped to his knees, pressing his hands and forehead to the ground.

“Your Majesty, forgive me! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!” The old man’s trembling voice echoed through the golden hall, betraying his genuine fear—for treason was no trivial accusation.