29: Chapter 29 consists entirely of loyal ministers, with no treacherous ones.

"Since that is the case, my dear minister, you may go. I will send one million men to escort you. To achieve wealth and not return to one's hometown is like wearing fine silk robes and walking in the dark."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Drake knew that these million men were not an escort, but a surveillance force.

He was already on the pirate ship; what else could he do? It was what it was.

...

Early the next morning, Main Body held the first Great Court Assembly since the founding of the nation.

Although most of the participants were just himself, the nation had been founded, after all, and everything had to be put on the right track.

"Submit your reports if you have matters to discuss, otherwise the court is dismissed!" Palace Attendant Cheng Yu shouted.

"This subject has a report!" Former State Church Priest Cassius stepped forward, holding the Cheng Yu version of the "Imperial Truth" in his hands.

Every high-ranking official in the court had a copy of this book; they usually used it as a tablet, and when fighting, it could be used as a brick.

"My dear minister, what matter do you have to instruct me on?" Main Body sat high up, wearing yin-yang Taoist robes and cupping his hands, with a fragrant leaf crown on his head. He looked more like a Taoist priest than an emperor.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, our nation lacks Navigators, Astropaths, and many other specialized talents. Please open an imperial examination to recruit scholars from across the world!"

These words were not actually what Cassius wanted to say; they were content that Cheng Yu had written in the "Imperial Truth," and he was proposing them precisely by gauging the imperial will through this book.

The Emperor was overjoyed and immediately approved it, authorizing Priest Cassius to handle all matters regarding the first imperial examination.

"Your Majesty, I wish to impeach Countess Dukaria for ten counts of illegal high crimes."

Priest Cassius returned to the ranks, and Minister Ivankov stepped forward.

"Oh, what illegal acts has she committed?" Cheng Yu wondered. He had always thought these two had no intersection, but now it seemed there was conflict between them.

Conflict is good; conflict is good!

"The first crime: Countess Dukaria privately set up an altar to worship the Aeldari evil god Cegorach. This violates the mutual aid agreement signed between Your Majesty and the Lord of Pleasure. This is treason!"

"The second crime: Countess Dukaria's household is in disarray; she forced three male concubines to their deaths. Such disregard for human life is sufficient proof of her vicious and sinister heart."

"..."

"The tenth crime: Countess Dukaria embezzled military funds and withheld soldiers' rations. She frequently dispatched attendants to surrounding star systems to purchase rare trinkets and playthings for her. This is a parasite of the state, foolish and greedy!"

"I request that Your Majesty strip her of her title and behead her, hanging her head high above the national gate to warn the corrupt officials of the world!"

Ivankov spoke endlessly and with certainty. Every single thing he mentioned... was basically true. Just kidding; in the entire empire, what was there that Cheng Yu did not know?

"Hmm..." Cheng Yu stood up, and the Palace Attendant Cheng Yu clone immediately supported his arm.

"The Yangtze River is clear, the Yellow River is muddy. They are all loyal ministers; there are no traitors."

"Your Majesty..." Cassius wanted to say more but was silenced by a glare from Palace Attendant Cheng Yu!

Cheng Yu, in his main body, was searching through his shared consciousness. He wanted to check what deep hatred Ivankov and Arya Drukhari had to make him go for the kill like this.

It wasn't that he didn't know Arya Drukhari wasn't a good person, but the court currently had use for her, so he couldn't deal with her just yet.

Last time, he had "earned" so many Planetary Defense Force soldiers, and so many people were still waiting for Arya Drukhari's psychic hypnosis to induce their surrender.

"Draft an imperial decree: Order Countess Dukaria to lead troops to conquer the nearby 'Cheng Tianyi' star system, to atone for her crimes through service and serve as a warning to others. End of decree."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live, long live!"

The courtiers shouted "Long live" three times. This wasn't shouted for Main Body to hear, but for Ivankov. The meaning was:

"Stop talking, stop talking."

Main Body finally found it. Among Arya Drukhari's attendants, a clone had once heard her say:

"I seem to have seen the emblem of Ivankov's broken ship before. I robbed it a few times; it was so poor that even the rats shed tears."

Sure enough, there is no love or hate without a reason in this world!

However... it wouldn't be good to dampen Ivankov's enthusiasm for snitching too much.

"Ahem, let's do this. Minister Ivankov, I order you to accompany the vassal army on the expedition. Talents are scarce right now, so I will trouble you to do more since you are capable. Serve as a supervising officer."

"This subject thanks the Emperor for his grace."

"Are there any other reports?" Palace Attendant Cheng Yu shouted in a pinched voice.

"This subject has a report." Stepping out was the patriarch of the Iron Fist Clan, Iron Fist Cheng Yu, who currently held the position of Minister of Internal Affairs.

"What instruction does my dear minister have for me?" Main Body was currently checking in his shared consciousness to see what new ideas this guy had.

"The nation has just been founded, and all industries are waiting to be developed. This subject knows that Your Majesty is busy with ten thousand matters, working from dawn till dusk, and thus deeply feels your toil. I specially request that Your Majesty issue an imperial decree to select beautiful maidens to enrich the inner palace!"

"You rascal..." Main Body knew what this guy was thinking. He was trapped in the "besieged city" and unwilling to accept it, so he wanted to drag everyone else down with him.

"We shall discuss this matter later. Court dismissed!" Palace Attendant Cheng Yu fended off this topic for the main body.

...

After the court was dismissed, Cheng Yu should have had his morning meal.

But he had no appetite at the moment; his mind kept pondering Iron Fist Cheng Yu's words.

"Women, women... Should I also find myself a woman?"

Thinking this, Cheng Yu's fingers couldn't help but become a bit slippery. Hehe... this matter, if one were to speak of it, was a bit embarrassing.

"Where is the Palace Attendant?"

"This subject is here."

"Create a roster with portraits of all currently unmarried women in the nation. I want to take a look."

"Understood."

Billions of spy clones acted simultaneously, and very quickly, the information was collected and compiled into a roster.

"Damn it, there isn't a single pretty one!" the Emperor said angrily. "With these weird-looking LGBTs, I might as well go to Warp and find a Greater Daemon of Slaanesh to cuddle and sleep with; that would be more comfortable."

The romantic thoughts that had finally arisen were thus extinguished.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. After the victory of this expedition, perhaps there will be better ones," Palace Attendant Cheng Yu hurriedly comforted him.

"Go and bring today's memorials." Main Body lay listlessly on the Throne of Thorns, as if his soul had been sucked away by a Greater Daemon of Slaanesh.

"Understood."

Previously, they had fought a battle with The Great Devourer, and the commotion had been a bit too big. The existence of the Cheng Yu Empire was inevitably noticed by various forces in the surrounding star systems.

The governors of the Corpse Emperor Empire didn't react much; after all, Lord Drake's identification signal had been staying here, so they didn't dare to make any fuss.

Those skin-clad warriors of the Chaos Warband also didn't come to cause trouble for the time being; after all, the Prince of Pleasure had established a foothold here.

But the Orks would not be polite.

Just on the recently conquered "Li Yu Planet," there were incidents every day like Ork Boyz raids, Mekboy explosions, and Gretchin swarming out of the sewers—these kinds of messy things... there were dozens of them every damn day!

Although they couldn't cause much damage, it was like a toad landing on one's foot—it didn't bite, but it was disgusting.