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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.