Chapter 41: Birthday Banquet? No, it's the Pro Max version of the Feast at Hongmen!

Inside and outside the palace, rumors about Emperor Chu Yin's debauchery had reached their peak, with even common children making up rhymes about how the emperor doted on Consort Li. And all of this was exactly what Yun Zhan wanted to see.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the "macho think tank," a massive net targeting the powerful clique led by Prime Minister Li Gang has been quietly woven. Evidence, manpower, timing... everything is ready, except for a grand and absurd enough event to lull all the targets into a false sense of security and bring them together.

"System, it's time to show off your real skills!" Yun Zhan rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming with mischievous intent, like a naughty child about to pull off a prank.

[Host, please control your facial expressions. Your current demeanor is more like a fox who has stolen a chicken than a king.] System Xiaoqi calmly poured cold water on your composure.

"What do you know? This is called strategic arrogance! It's a necessary performance to deceive the enemy!" Yun Zhan cleared his throat, tried to put on a stern face, summoned Eunuch Gao, and issued a shocking decree—he was to hold an extremely grand and luxurious birthday banquet for his most "favored" concubine, Li Muyan! As for the scale, it would be based on the Empress's... no, it would surpass the Empress's!

The imperial decree caused a stir and uproar throughout the court and the country!

To celebrate a male concubine's birthday in such a grand manner? This is utterly disregard for ancestral etiquette! It's an insult to the royal family's dignity!

A decree that further shattered the moral compass of the officials followed. Yun Zhan, through Eunuch Gao, subtly hinted that all his beloved ministers coming to offer birthday greetings should not only prepare rare and precious items that Consort Li would like, but also "cater to my tastes" by presenting handsome, graceful, and talented...beautiful men! For His Majesty to "appreciate" and entertain at the banquet!

Upon hearing this decree, several upright and loyal old ministers trembled with rage, their beards bristling. Disregarding etiquette in the Golden Palace, they pointed at Yun Zhan's nose and angrily cursed, "You tyrant! This is a sign of the country's downfall! We, your subjects, tearfully beg Your Majesty to rescind this decree!"

Yun Zhan picked at his ear, his face showing an expression of "I am a tyrant and I am proud of it." He even deliberately yawned and waved his hand lazily: "If you ministers do not have suitable sons at home, or are unwilling to part with them, then please do not come to join in the fun, lest you spoil the enjoyment of me and Consort Li. My beloved consort and I do not like to enjoy ourselves with rigid people."

On the other hand, the powerful ministers led by Prime Minister Li Gang appeared worried on the surface, but inwardly they were overjoyed, as if they could see a bright future where their wealth and glory would be even more secure and lasting.

"Hahaha! Heaven is on my side! That brat Chu Yin has brought this upon himself! He's destroyed his own defenses!" Li Gang was having a private conversation with his confidants in his mansion, drinking fine wine, his smugness overflowing. "The more absurd he is, the more he alienates himself from the scholars and the people, the safer we are! Go, immediately use all your connections, spare no expense, to find some handsome young men of the highest caliber who know how to serve others. Make sure they win first place at the birthday banquet and please His Majesty!"

He could almost see the "wonderful" scene of this utterly incompetent emperor sinking deeper and deeper into wine and women, handing over the entire empire to him like a piece of fat meat.

"System, look at that old fox Li's face! He's practically drooling! He still thinks he's sitting on a pedestal!" Yun Zhan watched Li Gang's secret conversation with his confidant through the system monitoring (reluctantly spending points), and was so amused that he almost burst out laughing on the dragon throne.

[The main target, Li Gang, has completely fallen into the predetermined psychological trap, and his vigilance has dropped to its lowest level. Host, your acting skills as a tyrant have been honed over several months, especially in the areas of 'lust' and 'absurdity,' reaching a level of perfection that is indistinguishable from reality.] The system unusually used data to "affirm" this.

Yun Zhan: "...Thank you so much! But this compliment sounds so awkward to me!"

With the "strong support" and "encouragement" of Li Gang and others, the preparations for the birthday banquet proceeded "smoothly." The palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the extravagance was even greater than before; even the steps seemed to be paved with gold leaf.

On the day of the birthday banquet, the entire palace seemed to be immersed in a sea of ​​revelry. The sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and delicacies were served in a continuous stream, the air thick with the sweet aroma of wine, meat, and cosmetics. Yun Zhan sat high in the main seat, wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, but deliberately loosening the collar slightly, displaying a dissolute demeanor. Beside him sat Li Muyan, the "birthday star," dressed in exceptionally luxurious attire and exquisitely made up. Below, civil and military officials sat in order, each with their own thoughts and shifty eyes.

The "gifts" brought by Li Gang and his entourage were dazzling and astonishing. Besides boxes of gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, and jade, there were also several handsome young men, each with their own unique charm, meticulously dressed. Some had expressive eyes, some possessed a cool and aloof air, and some even performed on the spot, playing the flute, sword, and calligraphy—it was practically a large-scale male beauty pageant! Yun Zhan's eyes twitched uncontrollably, and he inwardly cursed, "This old fox Li, his business scope is quite broad! He's also a master at pimping!"

"Good! Good! Minister Li is indeed to my liking! He is considerate and thoughtful! He will be richly rewarded!" Yun Zhan looked like he was smitten and overjoyed. He put his arm around Li Muyan's tense shoulders and commented on the "top-notch" handsome men brought by Li Gang. His words were bold and explicit, making him a perfect example of a lustful and foolish emperor.

The banquet atmosphere was deliberately created to be extremely "lively". Yun Zhan accepted all invitations, drinking one cup of imperial wine after another (actually, it was a special "thousand cups without getting drunk" plain water provided by the system, with a bland taste like dishwater), "drinking" with the ministers, and saying all sorts of nonsensical nonsense and "true words".

"My beloved ministers! Today is Consort Li's birthday, a day of universal celebration! Drink to your hearts' content! No one leaves until they're drunk! Whoever collapses first is a dog! Bark like a dog three times! Hahaha!"

"Look! How well she dances! That waist! That figure! Those eyes! So captivating! She's almost as beautiful as Li Meiren!"

"Come, come, Minister Li, Minister Wang, Minister Zhao! I'd like to offer you all a toast! Thank you all for your understanding and for sending me so many 'close confidants'! I am so pleased! So very pleased!"

Seeing the emperor so "open" and "genuine," Li Gang and his men completely let down their guard, drinking heartily, toasting each other, and boasting about how outstanding the handsome men they had presented were. Most of the guards and attendants they brought were also led away by Eunuch Gao's men under the pretext of "Your Majesty's grace, a separate banquet will be held in the side hall" to "enjoy" food and drink elsewhere. In reality, they were secretly separated and controlled, losing their ability to react immediately.

The entire hall was filled with a decadent and debauched clamor, as if it were the last carnival before the end of the world, with everyone immersed in false peace and absurd joy.

[Warning: The blood alcohol concentration of key targets, including Li Gang, Minister Wang, and Imperial Censor Zhao, has far exceeded the safe threshold. Their consciousness is beginning to blur, and their reaction speed has decreased by 73%. Their outer guards and personal attendants have been secretly controlled and isolated by the secret guards arranged by Eunuch Gao.] The system's cold and precise report rang in Yun Zhan's mind.

Yun Zhan's eyes suddenly sharpened, and the hazy and unrestrained expression on his face receded like the tide. Although his cheeks were still flushed from "drinking," his eyes instantly became clear, sharp, and unfathomable, like the ice on a snow mountain that never melts, or like a sharp sword about to be drawn to drink blood!

He raised his hand seemingly unintentionally and tapped the armrest of the dragon throne lightly with his fingertips. His gaze swept over Wang Tiezhu, who was standing at the corner of the hall, seemingly enjoying the song and dance with a simple and honest expression, but in reality, his whole body was tense, like a cheetah ready to pounce at any moment.

Wang Tiezhu nodded almost imperceptibly, his thick fingers quietly clenching into a fist.

Just as Li Gang was embracing a handsome man he had presented to him, laughing and joking in a drunken haze, and dreaming about how to take things further in the future, the decadent and lingering music in the hall suddenly changed! The pitch rose, the rhythm turned into a fierce and powerful one, carrying the murderous aura of clashing swords and galloping horses!

Those "handsome male dancers" who were originally dancing gracefully and with captivating eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp. Their graceful dance came to an abrupt halt, and their movements became as uniform as an army! Cold light flashed from their sleeves, waists, and even hair buns. Daggers, short swords, soft swords... all kinds of weapons were instantly drawn, reflecting a chilling light in the candlelight!

"Assassins! Protect the Emperor!!" one of the officials screamed in terror.

However, action was even faster than that scream!

The heavy curtains surrounding the main hall were suddenly ripped off, revealing rows of guards behind them, armed with powerful bows and crossbows, their eyes cold and sharp! The hall doors slammed shut, and even more guards wielding gleaming swords surged in like a tidal wave, quickly controlling all exits and completely surrounding the banquet hall! The blades were pointed at the officials who had just been drinking merrily!

The hall, which had been filled with clinking glasses and laughter just moments before, fell into a deathly silence! You could hear a pin drop!

The officials, still slightly drunk, were completely stunned by this sudden turn of events. The effects of the alcohol instantly turned into cold sweat that soaked through their clothes! The singers and musicians were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground, trembling with fear.

Li Gang was joking and teasing the handsome man when he felt the person in his arms suddenly stiffen and the atmosphere around him change drastically. He suddenly raised his head, his cloudy and drunken eyes meeting the cold, sharp, and utterly devoid of warmth in the gaze of the young emperor on the dragon throne.

Where was the trace of the previous dazedness, confusion, and anxiety in that gaze? Only a bottomless icy pool remained, along with an all-encompassing calm and a chilling killing intent!

"You... Your Majesty! What... What do you mean by this?!" Li Gang was both shocked and furious. He tried to stand up, but due to the effects of the alcohol and extreme panic, his body swayed uncontrollably and he almost fell. Fortunately, he managed to grab the table for support.

Yun Zhan slowly stood up, his bright yellow dragon robe gleaming in the candlelight. He looked down at the chaotic and pale-faced officials below, especially Li Gang's cronies, whose faces were ashen and as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

"What do you mean?" Yun Zhan's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present, carrying a kind of majesty, oppression, and bone-chilling coldness that they had never felt from this "tyrant." His demeanor and bearing even faintly resembled the strategic planning and decisive ruthlessness of a true ruler like Yan Linye! "Minister Li, my 'hardworking and meritorious' ministers, I have played this role with you for so long, and you have been so invested in it. It is time for the play to end."

His icy gaze swept over the handsome men who had presented him with gifts, now trembling with fear, and the officials who were usually so arrogant but were now shaking like leaves. A cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Forming cliques for personal gain, controlling the government, embezzling the national treasury, framing loyal officials! You treat me like I'm nothing, the law like worn-out shoes, and the people like straw dogs! Do you really think I'm a blind puppet? A fool to be manipulated at will?!"

"You...you...you already..." Li Gang pointed at Yun Zhan, his fingers trembling violently, his chest heaving, so angry he almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Only now did he realize, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him, that he had been completely manipulated by this young emperor from beginning to end! All that talk of being obsessed with men, of being licentious and immoral, of being beyond redemption—it was all a carefully crafted facade to lure them into a trap!

"Chu Yin! You despicable, shameless, and treacherous villain! You framed me! You will die a horrible death!!" Li Gang was furious and lost all reason. He no longer cared about the dignity of a prime minister and jumped up and down, cursing loudly, as if he had gone mad.

"Go ahead and curse, curse all you want." Yun Zhan sneered, his smile chilling and icy, carrying the indifference of someone who controlled life and death. "Anyway, from today onwards, this is all the strength you'll have left."

He didn't glance at the prisoners again, then abruptly waved his hand, his tone cold and resolute, like an emperor issuing his final judgment: "Seize them! Arrest Li Gang and all his cronies, throw them all into the imperial prison! Keep them under strict guard! No one is allowed to visit them without my decree!"

He paused, his gaze like the sharpest icicle, fixed on Li Gang's despairing eyes, and added clearly, word by word: "Remember, keep a close eye on them for me. Before they confess and sign all their crimes of corruption, forming cliques, and harming the country and its people over the years, they cannot be allowed to die easily. I will keep their heads to uphold the law! To serve as a warning to others! To appease the world!"

At this moment, the overwhelming aura and awe-inspiring majesty emanating from Yun Zhan made him appear as a true emperor who held the power of life and death!

"As you command!" The guards pounced forward like wolves and tigers, ruthlessly dragging Li Gang and his cronies away one by one, who were slumped on the ground, crying and begging for mercy, or cursing. Their former glory of wielding power over the court was gone, leaving only desperate wails and curses echoing in the empty hall.

The remaining officials, those not involved or whose crimes were minor, were terrified. They knelt on the cold ground, their foreheads pressed against the earth, trembling like leaves in autumn winds. Cold sweat soaked their heavy robes, and they dared not even breathe. They stole glances at the young emperor on the dragon throne—his face still youthful, even somewhat immature, but his eyes and aura were completely different, as if he had been reborn. Their hearts were filled with boundless fear and unprecedented shock.

This emperor... is completely different from the submissive, puppet-like figure he used to be!

As Yun Zhan watched the chaos in the hall subside and the guards began to clean up the scene methodically, he slowly sat back on the cold dragon throne and let out a long, silent sigh. Only then did he realize that his back was already soaked with cold sweat, and his palms were also covered in slippery sweat from the tension and decisiveness he had just made.

"System, how was it? Wasn't I handsome? Wasn't I domineering? Did I look like a real emperor?" He couldn't help but secretly gloat in his heart, seeking affirmation.

[Host's acting skills exploded, his aura was overwhelming, successfully intimidating the entire audience. The logic was complete, the actions decisive, and the timing precise. Overall rating: A+. Indeed, he possesses the initial potential to become a qualified ruler.] The system gave a rare affirmation, but its characteristic "calmness" quickly returned. [However, host, please note that eliminating powerful ministers is only the first step in a long journey. The subsequent stabilization of the court, the replacement of officials, the restoration of people's livelihoods, and the revitalization of the economy are the greater challenges and tests. Furthermore, the points you have pre-emptively spent and consumed in this operation have accumulated to a debt of…]

Yun Zhan: "...You don't need to add that spoils the mood!"

He rubbed his slightly throbbing temples and looked out of the hall. Dawn was approaching, and a sliver of light struggled to pierce the darkness, illuminating the eaves and brackets. He felt little joy at the success of his scheme; instead, a heavy sense of responsibility and anxiety about the increasingly complex situation ahead replaced his feelings.

Overthrowing Li Gang was merely removing a few of the biggest parasites from this dilapidated giant ship. Next, he would face a vast dynasty beset by internal and external troubles and riddled with problems, countless urgent issues to be resolved, and someone... perhaps utterly disillusioned or driven even more mad by his escape, destined to become his enemy—Yan Linye.

The road ahead remains long and arduous.