The Empror's Trap

Sonya looked at the officials who seemed turned to stone, then asked in an utterly calm voice:

"What? Has everyone lost their tongues?"

"Pay respects to Her Majesty!"

Prompted by her words, everyone present hurriedly performed their ceremonial greetings.

Pluvia's gaze swept over the assembled princes before settling on two girls among them.

Or rather, one woman and one girl.

"Princess Nina, I heard you previously went to Hexi, traveling with your child. How did you find your month of travel?" she asked.

"Thanks to Your Majesty's concern," Princess Nina Camelot replied, "everything was fine."

"Fine, that's good," Pluvia smiled as she sat on her throne. "However, before today, I wasn't aware Princess Nina had such concern for state affairs, coming here immediately after returning. Your diligence in discussing national matters is something everyone present should learn from."

"Your Majesty flatters me," Nina responded respectfully.

"Now then, Having just returned from the Vishi Empire, I hear all of you were discussing important matters. What's this? Have my ministers become so discourteous as to exclude me from state discussions?" she asked jokingly.

"Not at all, how could we forget Your Majesty," Prince Yutu quickly added. "We were merely discussing strategies concerning state affairs. We intended to reach a general consensus among ourselves before presenting our proposals to Your Majesty."

"Having ministers like you truly saves me much trouble. But since I'm here now... shall we discuss it together?"

"Your subjects were just thinking the same."

"I hear it's about establishing a successor, correct?" Pluvia said, putting on an expression as if she'd heard the most ridiculous joke. "I must say, you're all court ministers after all. How could you all become so confused about establishing a successor? I'm neither married nor have any children - what successor is there to establish? Moreover, I'm in excellent health - it's not yet time to establish a successor."

Her explanation was simple and clear. Moreover, Pluvia deliberately acted as if she'd heard a joke, hoping to make light of a serious matter. If they would just let it go now, everything could still be negotiated...

"I disagree, Your Majesty," Yutu suddenly said.

"Oh? Let me hear why."

"Your Majesty, the late Emperor ascended the throne at 21 and already had a son before that, followed by all of us brothers and sisters. Now Your Majesty has taken the throne without any children, not even marriage arrangements. We've heard Your Majesty once narrowly escaped assassination, which forces us to consider succession. We don't wish ill upon Your Majesty, but if something unexpected happened and there's no heir, who would govern? Who would rule?"

Yutu spoke his reasoning self-righteously.

"Hmm, Prince Yutu makes a good point. Do you all agree?" Pluvia didn't contradict him but instead turned to ask the others.

The ministers who had been arguing so fiercely earlier now fell silent. However, there was still one brash enough to speak up.

"Your Majesty, I agree with Prince Yutu. I believe establishing a successor now is the prudent course. With a successor in place, the court officials won't be anxious, and we'll all know where we stand."

General Dueno stepped forward.

"Very well, I'll establish a successor," Pluvia said. "I've already thought about it on my way here. Your points are not without merit, and a successor must be established sooner or later. However, considering I have no children, I've decided that Siguo Camelot from the Royal Ancestral Temple will handle all affairs should the need arise, with the Three Ducal Ministers jointly determining the new ruler."

"How does that sound?" she asked with a light tone that left many ministers feeling cold.

This was terrible! Her Majesty would rather delegate succession to outsiders than personally designate an heir!

This wouldn't do! Without Her Majesty's personal edict establishing a successor, their efforts would be wasted.

And having Siguo as regent was absurd. Who was Siguo? Her Majesty's uncle, the most respected elder of the Camelot family still living. He had followed the late Emperor through thick and thin and had personally guarded the late Emperor's edict, announcing Pluvia's official succession.

If he were regent, who besides the Three Ducal Ministers would have any say in choosing the successor?

"Your Majesty! This is unacceptable! The Three Ducal Ministers are outsiders—outsiders cannot decide the successor!"

Just as Pluvia had expected, the Camelot family ministers protested most vehemently.

You want to pressure me to establish an heir? Fine, I'll listen to you. Establish an heir? I'll do it.

However, since she had no children, she couldn't casually name an heir for the sake of Camelot's future. Instead, she would let a reliable person handle state affairs temporarily, while the Three Dukes would lead the process of jointly selecting a qualified prince.

This plan was quite feasible. Among the Three Dukes, the power core was mainly Kenji and Chancellor Long. You could call Kenji a treacherous official if you wanted, but you couldn't say the same about Chancellor Long and the Imperial Censor. Moreover, the Three Dukes' decision would ultimately need Royal Family Master Siguo's confirmation. Surely no one could claim the Royal Family Master was treacherous too?

This approach would effectively silence them. They wanted an heir established, and while she hadn't directly named one, her solution could work in emergencies.

Faced with Pluvia's proposal, several princes immediately expressed their disapproval.

"What's wrong with this? The Three Dukes are pillars of the court who handle all state affairs. What's inappropriate about this?" Pluvia asked with a serious expression.

"Your Majesty, forgive my directness. Although the Three Dukes are currently..." Prince Nizam wanted to say "all loyal to the empire," but suddenly the image of one of the Three Dukes flashed through his mind. "...all diligent in their duties, they are ultimately outsiders. How could they possibly..."

"Are you suggesting the Three Dukes cannot be trusted?" Pluvia crossed her legs, like someone watching an amusing show.

"That's absolutely not my meaning. I beg Your Majesty's clear judgment. Though the Three Dukes have served the country well, succession issues should ultimately be decided within the royal family," Prince Nizam quickly avoided the topic. "Your Majesty, this concerns the foundation of our nation."

"Why should the royal family make this decision?" Pluvia suddenly asked.

"The throne should be handled by members of the Camelot family. While state affairs involve merit and fault, the royal family must consider kinship and relationships. Therefore, outsiders cannot interfere in this matter."

"The late emperor decreed that I should inherit the throne. Yet I am not his legitimate daughter. According to what you're saying, if the heir should be determined by family relationships, wouldn't my position also be illegitimate?"

"Well... Your Majesty, why do you think there are still so many subjects unwilling to obey you?"

Prince Nizam paused briefly before suddenly blurting out these words.

The moment he said this, many officials present, even Prince Liam, were shocked.

"Nizam Camelot! What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Liam's presence here was no coincidence.