After capturing Wei Maozhen, Lin Mo planned to publicly execute her.

As for public opinion, Wei Maozhen's reckless behavior during the Lantern Festival, coupled with Li Hu's testimony, has already turned the tide.

But Sun Mian strongly advised against it.

"The emperor shall not kill the emperor!" This is the most basic ironclad rule for a wise ruler.

Moreover, Lin Mo was not an emperor at all, but merely a prince appointed by Empress Wei Maozhen.

Killing a monarch is an act of insubordination that would be condemned in Great Xia and even across the entire continent.

Therefore, from the moment Lin Mo captured Wei Maozhen, Sun Mian followed Lin Mo around like a fly, buzzing incessantly.

Having exchanged for thirteen "Nightmare Cavalry" and one hundred "Imperial Guards," Lin Mo's corruption value has reached B+, almost reaching A.

Therefore, the murderous intent in his heart grew stronger and stronger.

Many times, he was trying his best to restrain his urge to kill, and that feeling was extremely painful.

Sun Mian kept babbling on and on, and Lin Mo, getting impatient, started arguing with him.

The latter was utterly disheartened and, in a fit of anger, chose to resign and quit, while also hoping that Lin Mo would break off the engagement.

After that, Sun Mian, that fly, got angry and left, but then an even more annoying fly came: Yao Guangxiao.

As soon as the news from the capital reached Xichuan City, the wicked monk rushed over without stopping, faster than an urgent message delivered by courier.

This bald man's eloquence is even more "brutal" than Sun Mian's!

No, let me correct you, Yao Guangxiao wasn't just one fly, he was a swarm of flies!

Buzz buzz buzz buzz!

According to Yao Guangxiao, although Lin Mo has now captured Wei Maozhen and taken control of the capital,

However, Wei Maozhen's faction will not be easily subdued. If Lin Mo kills the Empress, officials in various provinces and regions will surely carve out their own territories, and heroes will rise up everywhere.

At the same time, Yao Guangxiao also mentioned one point: "If there are internal problems, there will be external attacks; if internal problems are not met, external problems will inevitably arise."

If the country is not united, it will be vulnerable to foreign aggression.

To defend against external invasion, internal instability must first be quelled.

The Caliphate, the Abbasid Caliphate, and the Eastern Pangolin are all eyeing the Great Xia with covetous intent, just waiting for chaos to break out.

Yao Guangxiao was not worried that his side's strength was insufficient to unify the Great Xia, but rather worried about foreign invasion.

Even worse, some scoundrels might cede territory to enemy countries to save themselves, or even surrender directly to them. This would be a huge problem to deal with!

Therefore, Yao Guangxiao suggested: either release Wei Maozhen, control him, and support him as a puppet emperor to maintain the existing peace.

Lin Mo's original slogan was "Purge the court of corrupt officials," which was quite fitting.

After that, his followers were dealt with one by one.

Alternatively, they could support a descendant of the Zhao family to become emperor and honor Wei Maozhen as the retired emperor, which would also be a strategy for a puppet emperor.

At the same time, Yao Guangxiao also suggested that Lin Mo marry Zhao Zhilan, the daughter of Wei Maozhen.

Political marriages were quite common in ancient times. She was a legitimate princess of the Great Xia Dynasty, and there were many benefits to marrying her.

In short, Wei Maozhen cannot be killed!

But Lin Mo was not happy about it.

"She, Wei Maozhen, killed my father and brothers!"

"Wei Maozhen and Li Hu have plotted against me time and time again!"

"In order to deal with me, Wei Maozhen did not hesitate to cede territory of the Great Xia!"

"She, Wei Maozhen, massacred many ministers in the imperial court!"

"..."

Such heinous crimes, yet they cannot be executed?

Is there no law left? Is there no justice left?

The system's corruption value affected Lin Mo's mind, which intensified his killing intent.

Even without the system's corruption, Lin Mo hated Wei Maozhen so much that he wished he could tear her to pieces.

After several rounds of "bargaining" with Yao Guangxiao, Lin Mo decided that unless Wei Maozhen was willing to admit all his crimes in front of the people of the capital and all the civil and military officials, he would have to agree to the terms.

Otherwise, kill without mercy!

Lin Mo thought that Wei Maozhen, as the emperor, would never confess his crimes!

Surprisingly, Wei Maozhen agreed!

Seeing Lin Mo's gloomy face, Zhao Zhilan quickly kowtowed, "Your Highness, my mother is willing to confess her crimes, please spare her!"

She kept kowtowing, making a loud thud on the floor.

"Your Highness!" Yao Guangxiao also called out.

"Get up!" Lin Mo finally spoke. "Your Highness, if you do not grant my request, I will remain kneeling!" Zhao Zhilan said.

“As a matter of etiquette, I should be kneeling before you, Your Highness!” Lin Mo said.

“No, my mother has committed a crime, she doesn’t deserve it!” Zhao Zhilan said. “Your Highness promised before that as long as my mother confessed, you would spare her life! A king’s word is his bond!”

Lin Mo frowned upon hearing this. "I am not a king!" he said. "But I promise you I will not kill her!"

In the end, Lin Mo gave in.

"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!" Zhao Zhilan kowtowed again upon hearing this.

Seeing this, Lin Mo quickly stepped forward and helped her up.

"To be honest, I'm very likely to marry you," Lin Mo thought.

Lin Mo had no ulterior motives towards Zhao Zhilan; in fact, he wanted to avoid her.

But he knew there was no way to avoid it!

"Your Highness, if there's nothing else, you may return now!" Lin Mo said.

"This humble woman takes her leave!" Zhao Zhilan immediately bowed and took her leave.

After Zhao Zhilan left, Lin Mo's expression changed. "Demon monk, are you satisfied now?" he said unhappily.

"Haha, Your Highness, you can't say that!" Yao Guangxiao laughed. "Everything I've done is for you!"

“Well said, I believed you then!” Lin Mo said. “Tell me, did you bring her here intentionally?”

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