Arc 1: Kumoshima Hierarchy 6
1124 Words
“Where is Your Highness?” Minister Shun asked their allied doctor who was waiting for him
“Still in his chambers. We are waiting for you.”
“Very well. I hope everyone followed my instructions. I’m afraid if Minister Fujiwara or Minister Taira learned about what happened to the King, everything would fall into chaos.” Minister Shun said calmly.
He worked slowly, planting every ally in every part of the castle, eliminating hurdles one by one, quietly waiting for the prey to make a wrong move. Finally! Finally, I can now harvest every fruition of my plans!
Some lower rank ministers, physicians, attendants and few of his other allies.
No one paid attention to him as they cried over the King’s death.
He glanced at them amused as he walked to the King’s bed.
The King was covered with white blanket. Minister Shun lifted the blanket. The King’s face underneath had a pale face but no obvious signs that he was poisoned. He smiled.
“Where is his highness’ will?”
The ally physician answered, “As the King passed away untimely, there was no royal edict left behind. In this case, the Minister of the Left, who has the highest authority after the King, without an Empress Dowager, to determine the heir to the throne.”
Minister Shun walked to the center of the room, still smiling at everyone present in the room. “As the First Prince Shinzuide and Second Prince Yoshimura were both missing despite the King’s health. Prioritizing the war and self-interest over his Royal Highness, I hereby declare both Princes as traitors, wanted for treason and punishable with death carried out by hanging!”
As he announced his verdict, a chuckle could be heard resonating the whole floor of the palace.
Minister Shun looked around, only to realize that all the people here only had two reactions: one was silence and the other was fear. Blood drained on his face at the sudden realization.
“Minister Shun is indeed smart and direct.”
“Your Highness.”
“Your Highness! Ah~ Forgive us, Your Highness!”
Over half of the group greeted King Hisuide while the rest were already begging for mercy as he entered his chamber along with the Deputy Marshal, Yukiya Miyazuya, the King’s shadow guards and some loyal imperial guards. Only Minister Shun was frozen in place.
However, when he spoke, it was still the calm, benevolent tune he always had. “Impossible. Then, who is this gentleman on the King’s bed?”
As if on cue, the ‘dead king’s’ eyes snapped open and grabbed Minister Shun’s arm.
“You’ve caught me or I’ve caught you?” the ‘dead king’ smiled, “Do you still remember me?”
“So it is ex-General Keichi”
“Sweet. You’re still recognizing me, even calling me by my first name despite all your plot against me.” He pulled the mask off his face.
“ex-General Keichi is the perfect scapegoat, I hope you won’t take it to heart.”
Keichi gritted his teeth but he did not retort. Instead, he knelt and greeted the King.
The King only nodded and turned back to Minister Shun, “Smart, decisive, and ruthless. You did not even spare this child. If it was your people still standing on guard of your house, this poor child would get stained by your people’s filthy hands.
Only then did he realize that the young shadow guard beside the King did have the similar eyes as the messenger earlier.
“Even Your Highness took over the control of my household? What an elaborate plan.”
“Just after you left your home. And of course, I respect the Left Minister so much. How could I play your game half-heartedly?”
“Your Highness is indeed very wise.”
“Not at all. I just copied your plan. I just played my pawns ahead of yours.”
“I see.”
In a moment, Minister Shun threw something on the ceiling. Keichi did not see it right away. Unable to block it while holding the Left Minister. Upon contact, that thing exploded, releasing a mixture of smoke and sleeping poison.
“Cover His Highness’ mouth and nose” Shouted Keichi. He quickly grabbed Shun; however, what he grabbed was a block of wood. “F*ck, illusion. Quick, he won’t be able to run away.”
With the help of the shadow guards, they found him right away. The poison did not have an effect on the group because of Shier’s medicines.
“Minister Shun was running towards the lake.”
Yukiya signalled. Without another word, they jump up to the roof of the King’s palace. At the top, they saw Shun running away. Yukiya took his bow and arrow. WIthout even aiming for long, he released his arrow with paralyzing poison, hitting Shun on the leg. The latter still tried to drag his wounds but Keichi and the other Imperial guard caught up with him.
They rounded up all suspected allies of the Minister of the Left and put them in jail.
What shocking news was that even the First Prince was involved. Evidence that he cooperated in revealing the itinerary of the King and the Second Prince. Including the Minister of the Right, his family and other members of the Taira Clan.
Illegal transactions including smuggling of raw materials, human trafficking, over price tax done by the Land Lords under Akeruwashi Clan, abducting children to do different illicit behavior and last but not the least, treason.
Up to three generations of the family line were punishable by treason. However, the King ordered to put indirect family members to house arrest and the judgement will be put in the hands of the Second Prince once he returns safely from the war. However, if something happened to the Second Prince, not only three generations of the family line of the main culprits would be punished but even people involved in their business would be punished by law depending on the level of involvement, starting a deeper investigation to each of the minor houses of the clan. This is to ensure the safety of the Second Prince.
While the war is still on-going in the borders, reform was made in the upper and lower court of the Kumoshima Kingdom. Aside from that, the King set aside the throne. Once the Second Prince returns, he will be the Crowned Prince of Kumoshima.
In just one night, the officers who reigned under their banners, spreading fear to people causing distrust and unhappiness, were removed completely from the Capital of Kawahara.
However, they did not find Lord Fei in any Akeruwashi household in the Capital.
- Writer
