TIAN GUAN CI FU Fan fic stories

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROMOTION

CHAPTER 1

The ministers were being incredibly unreasonable. Xie Lian was furious with how they were all acting, and this was truly going too far! He couldn't understand them at all.

"This is foolish," he said, his gaze moving over each of them, being met with cold indifference. "I will not allow it."

"The decision has already been made, the act carried out," one of them said, calm and collected, as if he was speaking to a child. It made Xie Lian want to stomp his foot in defiance, but that felt as if playing into the ministers' hands, which was the last thing he wanted. He straightened instead, keeping eye contact. The head minister didn't blink. "If the entire government agrees, we can overrule your highness vote."

Xie Lian was aware of this, but to have done so in this way, completely behind his back! "One would think you would have given your emperor the opportunity to present his case, before going behind his back and making decisions without his knowledge."

"Your highness we were unaware this was such an important question for you," another minister chimed in. "After all, the means of the army has rarely been handled in detail by the emperor, even if it falls under the jurisdiction of this government."

"I doubt you were unaware," Xie Lian said, his gaze moving over the twelve sitting there. Some did look surprised, others pleased. Xie Lian clenched his jaw. "Otherwise, why settle it before I arrived?" he asked, his gaze falling on the man who was the head of the government. He was looking back, calm and collected still.

Frustration grew in Xie Lian's chest. Frustrating over feeling made insignificant by his ministers, when it was he who was emperor now. Frustrated over being ridiculed and disrespected. Frustrated over losing the best general they had in their army, just because he did not do as the ministers wanted him too.

Because he was a good man, and not some political pawn. Xie Lian strived to be the same. To not fall into the trap of losing his own values in the search for power.

"We have more pressing matters to discuss," the head of the ministers said, and Xie Lian knew even before the words were uttered what subject the man was referring to. His stomach twisted. "It is more than time for you to choose concubines."

Xie Lian let out a deep sigh, and sat promptly down.

"It is important for building relations with the nobility," one of the other ministers pointed out, an argument Xie Lian had heard many times before.

"The people may also start to wonder why your highness has not chosen a concubine," another pointed out, leaning forward over the table. "It has been a year since your parents passed. Surely it is more than time." He looked sympathetic, as if showing empathy for the loss of Xie Lian's parents so suddenly could persuade him.

"We are in agreement that it would be preferable if your highness did choose someone, or preferably several," the head of the ministers pointed out. Xie Lian was so dreadfully sick of him. The ministry had been chosen by his father, and many of them still held old beliefs which Xie Lian did not subscribe to. Changing them out was a tedious and long process, one which Xie Lian had held off on out of respect for his late father. Perhaps it was time to make changes, if they felt enough time had passed since their last emperor was on the throne.

"You cannot dictate my personal life, it does not fall within the rules of which questions you may overrule me," Xie Lian pointed out. In matters such as the army and the ruling of the country, the ministers could overthrow his ruling by being unanimous. In matters of Xie Lian's personal life and the royal court, they could not.