Chapter 8

They continued to clear their throats, aware that, based on the fundamental principles of protocol, they would henceforth have to address the young boy as the emperor. This realisation sent a shiver down their spines. The chancellor was particularly affected, as he had spent years pursuing the seal, step by step, only to have it unexpectedly fall into the hands of a child. He reflected on the years he had spent humbling himself before others, simply because they held a slightly higher position, which had fueled his ardent desire for the seal. Now, he wondered if he would have to humble himself again, this time before a child. The thought was daunting.

The chancellor was unable to devise a strategy to wrest the seal from the young boy, whose understanding and maturity belied his age. His eyes blazed with a fierce determination, and his disdain for the child was palpable. "We will never acknowledge you," he sneered, his tone dripping with derision. He made it clear that his words reflected not only his own sentiments but also those of the other dignitaries, who, like him, had amassed power over the years and were unlikely to surrender it to a mere child.

The little emperor replied with a straight face, "I don't seek your acknowledgment. This is the reality you must accept, and you have no choice but to acknowledge it." The chancellor continued to protest, "If we were to truly acknowledge you as the emperor, how do you plan to handle the affairs of the court? Do you think the matters of the court are trivial?" His scepticism was evident, and his eyes narrowed as he awaited the child's response.

"I may be young and inexperienced, but I will grow with time," the little emperor replied with a smile, addressing the chancellor's concerns. The chancellor grunted and snorted, his disdain evident.

The little emperor asked, his tone firm, "Do you question my right to sit on the throne?" The chancellor refused to reply, his anger and hatred toward the child overwhelming. He couldn't bear to look at the little emperor's face, which was a constant reminder of his failed ambitions, a plague that haunted his soul. He fixed his gaze beyond the throne, the only way to contain his rage.

The little emperor continued to gaze at him, unfazed by the burning anger in the chancellor's eyes or the fearful aura emanating from his body. He knew he had to establish his dominance and pin the chancellor's crimes on him. "Does the chancellor know his crime?" he asked, his voice calm and collected.

The chancellor's gaze snapped back to the little emperor, his face red with rage. "Huh!" he exclaimed, confused. "How far are you from the others?" the little emperor asked calmly, causing the chancellor to look behind him and realise he had previously made an attempt and crossed the boundary to the throne. Sweat traced his forehead, and a hint of fear crept into his eyes as he noticed the other dignitaries staring at him with gratitude that they weren't the ones who had taken such a bold step.

He gulped again, realising he was alone, and turned back to the little emperor with a bold and audacious tone. "What can you do? Don't tell me you intend to punish me." He laughed menacingly and loudly, a stark contrast to his previous demeanour. His disgust towards the little emperor was evident, etched on his face, and his handsome features were now distorted in contempt.

The little emperor pondered, "Hmm... I might do that, but it would bring me no pleasure. Instead, I'll offer you a path to redemption." The chancellor asked reluctantly, knowing that the little emperor's words would not be favourable. "Which is?" he asked, his tone laced with apprehension.

"It's simple," the little emperor replied casually, his smile growing. "You just have to bow and acknowledge my authority and dominance."

The words "Bow! Admit!" resonated loudly in his ears, prompting him to laugh sarcastically, his voice echoing through the hall. He took another step forward, eager to test the little emperor's mettle. As the most powerful dignitary in the Rin empire, he commanded a significant army and was confident in his ability to rebel if necessary. However, he doubted the little emperor had garnered enough support to pose a significant threat.

As he thought this, his confidence surged, and his anger subsided. He felt ashamed of his previous impulsiveness and loss of rationality before a child. His sudden change in demeanour was noticeable to the other dignitaries, who saw the confidence and calmness sweep over him. They assumed he had devised a countermeasure to the situation and perhaps a way to persuade the little emperor to relinquish his claim on the seal.

The dignitaries knew the chancellor's power and ambition, and they knew he was someone that backs down easily. Those who had supported him began to share in his confidence, their gazes rebuking the little emperor as they viewed him as delusional and ignorant of his place in the world.

The little emperor remained unfazed, despite noticing the chancellor's newfound confidence. However, the chancellor's pride and adamant nature wouldn't allow him to back down. He stood tall, his hands folded against his chest, his luxurious garment accentuating his stature. His hair was draped back, with a silver hairpin adorning the top of his head.

"Brat!" he addressed the little emperor, his tone dripping with disdain. "Have you carefully considered your actions? Are you certain you won't relinquish the seal and let the adults handle the matter?" He sneered, "You admitted to stealing the seal from the emperor's robe while he was unconscious, a grave offence. It seems you're the only one aware of the emperor's whereabouts. You must have taken great precautions, perhaps even killed him to prevent him from reclaiming his rightful throne."

The dignitaries erupted in scoffs, filling the hall with their disbelief. The chancellor's words seemed plausible, given the emperor's absence. "This is a Chinese dynasty with a legacy spanning thousands of years," he continued, "and there has been no precedent for a ruler murdering their predecessor to occupy the throne."