Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne Chapter 1089 - 126: Gu of Mind Control (Part 2)

Everyone in the court understood Prince Han's ruthless ways; his declaration of beheading was no mere bluff, but a promise he would fulfill.

Once the court adjourned, countless officials raced back home to probe if any kin had covertly acquired the Divine Pill. Should they have, immediate surrender was demanded.

Word rapidly spread across Swamp Prefecture that the Divine Pill harbored deadly poisons, rendering it a perilous draught unfit for consumption. Swallowing it would drive one to madness.

Zhao Yao even proclaimed a bounty. Reports of anyone trading or buying the Divine Pill at government offices would yield rewards upon confirmation.

The populace, thrilled by this edict, brimmed with zeal to hunt down sellers and users of the Divine Pill.

With vigilant eyes everywhere, peddling the Divine Pill became an impossible feat for Southern Wei folk.

Fearing the Southern Wei might persist in poisoning nations like Annan and Johor with the Divine Pill, Zhao Yao penned grave missives to their rulers. He outlined its dangers, urging strict prohibition. He stressed that Great Zhou had outlawed it, vowing no mercy for those smuggling it there—offenders faced execution without reprieve. In closing, he cautioned them to ponder if the Divine Pill outweighed ties with Great Zhou, lest it sour their bonds.

Following these dispatches, Zhao Yao staged a formidable naval showoff in Swamp Prefecture's seas. This seafaring spectacle awed realms like Annan and Johor, imprinting the peril of provoking young Prince Han or clashing with him, which invited catastrophe.

These nations pledged to deem the Divine Pill contraband too, enforcing crackdowns to safeguard harmony with Great Zhou and Prince Han from its blight.

Deep in the capital, the emperor had gotten Zhao Yao's covert report days prior, discovering the Divine Pill's mind-altering toxins, which enraged him into issuing an instant ban.

Within the Imperial Study, the emperor conferred on this with Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu.

"Your Majesty, we must not allow the Southern Wei people to rampage unchecked any longer." Prime Minister He furrowed his brow, his expression grave, "Their boldness has escalated yearly, and now they brazenly craft mind-controlling elixirs bent on ruining Great Zhou."

"Fortune smiled that Prince Han's keen insight uncovered the Divine Pill's peril swiftly; else, the fallout would defy imagination." Grandmaster Liu despised the Southern Wei utterly, "Your Majesty, tolerance for these Southern Wei folk must end."

"True, their leeway expires now." The emperor had turned a blind eye to Southern Wei schemes for years, not from dread, but due to their hidden backing. "Dealing with them is overdue."

"Without Prince Han's prompt vigilance halting more Divine Pills from flooding the capital, myriad officials might have ingested it, gradually turning into Southern Wei puppets." Prime Minister He reeled at the nightmare of half the court under Southern Wei sway.

"Your Majesty, the Southern Wei's reach has grown alarmingly over time." Grandmaster Liu warned the emperor, "No more oversights."

The emperor declared, "I hold everything firmly in grasp."

Hearing this, Grandmaster Liu openly sneered, "So the Divine Pill crisis fell neatly within Your Majesty's grasp as well."

The emperor's grin stiffened on his features.

Prime Minister He added, "Evidently, the Divine Pill affair evaded Your Majesty's grasp entirely."

"Precisely, Prince Han deserves credit for averting the Divine Pill disaster; absent him, Your Majesty might have partaken too." Grandmaster Liu jabbed keenly, "Your Majesty, if this passes for control in your view, small wonder Southern Wei dared brew mind-bending elixirs."

The emperor narrowed his eyes at Grandmaster Liu and Prime Minister He, united in their mockery.

"Southern Wei's people have managed to brew mind-controlling elixirs; soon they could unleash something far deadlier, threatening Great Zhou's very foundations." Grandmaster Liu sneered, "Will Your Majesty then declare it all part of your scheme, that you intentionally permitted the Southern Wei people to act?"

Sun Kui, standing nearby, caught Grandmaster Liu's bold mockery of the emperor and stole a quick glance. Noticing the emperor's changing expressions, he nearly burst out laughing and hurriedly dropped his gaze, feigning ignorance.

Prime Minister He nodded along: "How could the Southern Wei people's schemes slip past Your Majesty's watchful eyes? It all must fall within Your Majesty's calculations."

Grandmaster Liu pressed on with his taunt, "Your Majesty truly spares no detail."

Stung by the mockery from Grandmaster Liu and Prime Minister He, the emperor felt his authority challenged, "That's enough."

"Your Majesty, I opposed sparing the Southern Wei remnants back then. They needed total extermination to prevent threats to Great Zhou's roots. Events now confirm my view was correct."

Picking up from Grandmaster Liu, Prime Minister He added, "Your Majesty, catching the big fish behind Southern Wei matters, yet I feel Great Zhou comes first."

"For years, Southern Wei agents have wormed into every corner, even distant places like the Western Regions and Annan." Grandmaster Liu grew grave, "Left unchecked, they'll soon spark a full rebellion."

"Lao Liu, do you rate Southern Wei too highly or me too lowly?"

"What of the Divine Pill matter?"

"Even without Zhao Yao's alert, I'd have discovered it within a few days." The emperor spoke not from stubbornness but fact; absent Zhao Yao's detection and report on the Divine Pill, awareness would have come shortly after.

Grandmaster Liu and Prime Minister He appeared utterly skeptical.

"I'll deal with the Southern Wei problem, so rest easy, both of you." The emperor flashed a sly smile, "And don't sell Lao Ba short." Lao Ba serves as his key weapon against the Southern Wei people.