What did the best steward under heavens mean? His orders were second to the emperor in court and he was the supreme commander of the three armies. He was literally beneath the emperor and above the world.
He was the epitome of power, a Prime Minister and Marshal in one, albeit with the emperor standing above him still.
With how the imperial reign was built on this authority alone, it was no different than capitulating the very ground that was holding his throne!
Dugu Zhantian's eyes twitched, looking at the emperor with a dumb look. Zhuge Changfeng was doing the same, albeit with a casual glance.
[The geezer's plan is obvious, he wants to give Zhuo Fan a power even above that of the Four Pillars.]
As a Prime Minister, he had figured out the old schemer on the spot. The emperor wanted to balance the factions. [His reign had been steady all these years because of Dugu Zhantian and me.]
[But won't this trouble addict, who goes on withdrawal if he doesn't cause a mess once every three days, have all this power go to his head and blow everything sky high? Or maybe…]
Zhuge Changfeng squinted, scoffing inside.
[The old coot can't take it anymore. He wants to speed up the chaos by getting the monkey added incentive to do just that, and flip the board while he is at it…]
While Leng Wuchang tensed, his heart was resentful.
He had already guessed what the emperor was up to, but that didn't mean he liked it. He was Regent Estate's steward, the one famed across the whole empire as Unwonted Contriver.
Yet for a neophyte to suddenly call himself best steward under heavens didn't sit quite right with him, to say the least.
Though Zhuo Fan's deceit and shrewdness had him pensive, by right, that title should be his!
Sunk into depression, Leng Wuchang took a deep breath, twice, to regain his cool. He looked at Zhuo Fan with jealousy and greed…
"Present the violet mantle!"
The emperor had spoken. A servant responded on point, presenting a plate with a purple cape and golden thread.
The cape was unraveled, presenting a golden dragon with its four claws in the corners, while also a hint of a possible fifth claw, on a visibly empty pattern.
The imperial family's robe was characterized by dragon claws, it was a symbol of their rank, authority and power.
Four made one a prince, while five lifted him to be the son of heaven, an emperor. This cape was proof that Zhuo Fan was just shy of having the entire empire at his feet.
Such controversy would never have stood. Since it held a strong feeling of outrage and rebellion against the current court.
Yet the emperor himself bestowed Zhuo Fan with this contradiction. It went on to show that along with the best steward under heavens, Zhuo Fan was truly beneath the emperor, in both name and power. Not even the seven houses, princes, or even crown prince could compare.
Crown Prince trembled and finally fell to one knee, "Imperial father, this is most unbecoming. Please reconsider!"
The rest followed his example, shouting in unison, "Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"
"I order you to stand down!" The emperor's piercing cold tone sent shivers down their backs. They could not defy him.
The emperor was the son of heaven, his word was solid gold. No man could sway his mind!
They were all awakened to this simple yet painful truth, knowing any persuasion would fall on deaf ears.
Without further ado, Zhuo Fan was entitled as the First Steward Beneath Heaven. His glorious radiance stabbing the eyes of all below, while also pricking no few hearts with discontent.
Now that Zhuo Fan had both power and right, any defiance would be ill-advised, in a manner of speaking. He could stick the imperial family's army on anyone's ass at the drop of a hat!
Pill King Hall and Merry Woods exchanged a pained glance.
They never gave Zhuo Fan and Luo clan a second thought up till now, yet against fierce adversity they had become a behemoth. If only they'd known, they'd have it snuffed in its cradle.
Regent Estate took this news quite well, too well, in fact. That was because they knew something everyone else didn't, Zhuo Fan's title was totally void of authority…
The emperor didn't stop at Zhuo Fan's cape, showering the other high value members of the Luo clan with a title each, albeit far lesser than the first three. It was all so that the people would recognize who the Luo clan was, to open their beady eyes in the face of greatness and not step on their toes.
Even still, there was one teeny-tiny matter that had everyone's dumbstruck faces on full display; while Pill King Hall and Drifting Flowers Edifices were slack jawed.
Luo clan's second elder, Pill House elder, was Vicious Pill King Yan Song!
Even the emperor was taken aback. Didn't Zhuo Fan waste him? What's he doing as Luo clan's elder?
The emperor gave Zhuo Fan a deep look, "Steward Zhuo, you've fooled the entire world for eight years with your devious schemes. Just how many secrets are you hiding?"
"Ha-ha-ha, please don't kid Your Majesty. With Your Majesty's astute mind, how could I possibly hide anything." Zhuo Fan bowed.
The emperor shook his head.
He wouldn't be the emperor if he believed every outright lie. [This kid's tricks are so twisted even I am getting a headache.]
With inconceivable matters cropping up one after another, fear crept within the emperor's heart. Without even realizing it, this pawn he nurtured for so long had outgrown his control.
[I hope this game will still play out.]
The emperor sighed inwardly…
After four to six hours of dishing awards and titles, the ceremony came to a close. The emperor had the clans leave the Imperial Palace, but not without a bow from them and a deep respect towards the Luo clan.
This new house was budding, yet it was very much capable. It had both experts and alchemists, at the top of their fields.
Even their steward had surpassed the wisest steward of all, Unwonted Contriver, and became known as The Best Steward Beneath Heavens.
A team such as this, excelling in power and management, was bound to hit it big. There were quite a number of clans entertaining the thought of bending a knee for the Luo clan after the ceremony.
That went double after seeing their ranks. Of the Luo clan's elders, Lei Yuntian was the weakest, yet a Grand Elder. Second elder Yan Song was even in front of those Radiant Stage experts. These two were a complete discrepancy for the powerhouses around them.
That line-up was like a flare to the people. This told everyone that the Luo clan was an honorable clan. First come, first served. Then again, one would always pick a true helper in favor of a poser.
This had the clans competing to get into the Luo clan's graces rather than see it played out first. Luo clan had it made, no doubt about it.
Luo clan was also the only one who made such strong elders work.
All made possible by the grace and power of their steward, Zhuo Fan. Was there anyone among the elders who dared show discontent for their positions? To another clan, such a huge discrepancy in power would've ended up in infightings.
Didn't might always make right?
Yet in the Luo clan, that right was worth shit. Any and all that dared preach such an outdated philosophy were served a huge piece of humble pie on a silver platter…
"Zhuo Fan, walk with me!"
Zhuo Fan was leaving with the Luo clan when an aged voice called him. He turned to meet the emperor's steel gaze.
With a deep breath and a nod, as if expecting it, he went with the old man.
The two arrived at a pavilion in the imperial gardens. The emperor took a seat on a stone chair and invited him to do the same, "This is where I and Mr. Sima play chess. Here, we're simple people, without rank. Please, make yourself at home."
With a raised eyebrow, Zhuo Fan plopped his butt on the chair, then took a casual bite out of a fruit he picked from the platter. He really was at home.
The servant at the side almost blew a gasket.
[That was His Majesty's courtesy, not for you to take it literally! Not even Mr. Sima, being friends with His Majesty for ages, would be so crass!]
Not that the emperor cared, smiling as a grandpa did for his dotted grandson.
"Zhuo Fan, I've heard so much about you but this is our first meeting." The emperor smiled.
Zhuo Fan just nodded.
The emperor laughed, "I first heard of you from my third son. He said that Luo clan has a clever steward helping them and that I needn't worry. Thus I supported this new clan. As for your ability, I never gave it a second thought. How strong can a third-rate broken-up clan's clever steward become? I mean, the scope was just so limited, it was impossible for it to grow. Wouldn't you agree?"
The emperor chatted as he looked at Zhuo Fan with a smile.
Zhuo Fan gave a curt nod again.
Sure enough, before meeting face to face, all information was about the clan itself. How one's view changed depended on one's position. Since no clan had ever come out of a border town like Windgaze City, what scope, what ambition could this one have?
Even he would jump to the same conclusion given the chance. He'd have the same disinterest in Luo clan and himself upon hearing of them.
It was this lack of vigilance that made people like him be the ones in control. Or if Hell Valley or any other house focused on his clan, death was certain, unable to grow into what it was today.
There was no one to blame here. Hell Valley was not some fool to let the Luo clan slip through its fingers, it was Zhuo Fan's uncanny mind to come up with some of the most insane and mystifying plans…