CHAPTER 407: CHAPTER 407: CIVIL DISORDER IN NANJIANG

The young Emperor rubbed his nose at her words, his gaze subtly flicking to Princess Ata’s recently injured chest.

Princess Ata instantly felt an overwhelming urge to find a hole and crawl into it.

"Princess Ata, you were recently injured and on the brink of death, yet you insisted on seeing Us. For what matter?"

Princess Ata hurriedly rose to her feet, her body trembling precariously. The slightest movement drained all color from her face, leaving it deathly pale.

"Sit, sit and speak!"

The young Emperor quickly waved his hand, gesturing for her not to stand.

Princess Ata complied and sat back down.

"Your Majesty, the incident over a month ago, concerning the theft of the Altar at the border of Nanjiang and Great Han and the attempt to strike at Great Han’s national fortune—it’s all a misunderstanding!"

Princess Ata, dispensing with any preamble, directly tried to shift the blame.

"A misunderstanding? We witnessed this matter with Our own eyes. Do you take Us for a blind man?"

The young Emperor flew into a rage at her words, slamming his palm hard on the imperial desk!

His towering rage was palpable, startling Eunuch Ling, who stood guard outside—too frightened to enter and disturb—making him jolt upright, no longer daring to doze off.

"Your Majesty, please quell your anger!"

Terrified, Princess Ata immediately dropped to her knees, beads of sweat forming densely on her forehead. Traces of blood seeped from the wound on her chest!

The young Emperor sneered, not bidding her to rise, even though he saw Princess Ata’s wretched state and her pain.

"Princess Ata, when two nations discuss peace, terms should be negotiated and a treaty signed. According to protocol, We should not have granted you an audience."

"Were it not for your repeated memorials, submitted time and again despite your grave injuries, insisting on an audience, We would not have allowed you to appear in this Imperial Study!"

The young Emperor gnashed his teeth, his eyes fixed fiercely on Princess Ata, who knelt below, prostrate and trembling.

"Your Majesty! The Nanjiang Royal Court has been plagued by internal strife for many years. My royal father was actually unaware of all the things the Great Wizard has done against Great Han!"

"What? You... say that again?"

The young Emperor was stunned, almost believing his ears had deceived him.

"Your Majesty! Our Nanjiang Royal Court harbors traitors! For years, the Great Wizard has controlled the court, holding my royal father captive. He has colluded with Xiling, Nanyue, and Dongjin, all scheming together for the territories of the Central Plains."

"What did you say?"

The young Emperor’s head was buzzing. Princess Ata’s words sounded like something out of a fantastical tale, yet they also seemed to hold a ring of truth!

"Every word I speak is true! I dare not utter a single falsehood. I have correspondence between Xiling, Nanyue, Dongjin, and the Great Wizard as proof!"

As Ata spoke, she reached up to loosen her sash!

The young Emperor quickly called out to stop her, "Stop! What do you think you are doing? Such disarray in dress is indecorous!"

Princess Ata’s face flushed red at his words. Her body stiffened, and for a moment, she was at a loss, fumbling for words before saying, "Your Majesty, you misunderstand. These letters are far too important. I could only hide them within my innermost garments to bring them into the Great Han Imperial Palace!"

The young Emperor’s mouth twitched. Then, his expression shifted as he asked, "There are people around you, monitoring you?"

Princess Ata nodded and then continued to loosen her garments.

The young Emperor rose immediately and went behind a screen, temporarily averting his gaze.

He made a hand signal in the air, and a dark shadow flickered once before vanishing completely.

"Your Majesty! I am done."

Princess Ata’s voice came from the other side of the screen.

The young Emperor emerged from behind the screen.

Just then, Eunuch Ling’s voice came from outside, reporting, "Your Majesty! Divine Hunter Ji Youzhi requests an audience!"

"Let him enter!"

Before Ji Youzhi, who had just entered, could even offer his salutations, the young Emperor said, "Youzhi, dispense with the formalities. Please, take a seat."

Ji Youzhi sat down, casting a very displeased look at the young Emperor. The man clearly had a temper from being woken up.

He had finally managed to get a little sleep, only to be roused by the men sent by the Emperor. He felt thoroughly wretched and was burning with irritation.

The young Emperor felt rather sheepish looking at him, rubbed his nose, and quickly got to the main point.

"Princess Ata says she is being monitored, that there was a rebellion within the Nanjiang Royal Court, and that this is what caused the misunderstanding with our Great Han. Youzhi, what is your take on this?"

Ji Youzhi sneered upon hearing this.

"How about this: one day, I’ll go and assassinate the King of Nanjiang, then come back and have a fight with you, Your Majesty. If you then announce that this entire affair has nothing to do with our Great Han Imperial Family, do you think Nanjiang would just have to grit its teeth and accept it?"