As dawn broke, a somber and oppressive atmosphere pervaded the Golden Palace.
Nearly a month has passed since the last morning court session. During this time, His Majesty has been recovering from an assassination attempt, and the balance of power in the entire Liang court has already shifted dramatically without anyone noticing.
The civil and military officials stood on both sides, clearly separated.
The officials, led by the old general Zhou Cheng, all wore solemn expressions, their brows furrowed with deep worry. They were the cornerstone of the empire and Emperor Xiao Che's most loyal supporters. Yet at this moment, they seemed like lone trees struggling to stay afloat in the cold wind, appearing weak and powerless.
Meanwhile, the officials, led by Regent Xiao Yuan, appeared calm and even smug. They chatted in small groups, their eyes occasionally sweeping over the "royalists" opposite them with a hint of contempt and pity.
Regent Xiao Yuan, the emperor's uncle, was dressed in a princely robe and sat calmly in the specially designated seat at the head of all officials. His eyes were half-open, as if he had no interest in anything in the court. His composure and self-assurance almost made people mistake him for the true master of the palace.
Behind the nine-dragon screen in the Golden Hall, Lin Wanwan, dressed in a phoenix robe, sat upright, her slender fingers gently resting on a warm teacup. Through the gaps in the thin gauze, she took in everything inside the hall.
Her heart was not as calm as it appeared.
Today marks Xiao Che's first court appearance since recovering from his injuries. This is both a declaration and a battleground.
"Your Majesty... are you really alright?" Ruolan, standing beside her, asked in a low voice, her voice filled with worry.
Lin Wanwan's fingertips paused slightly before regaining their composure, and she said softly, "Just watch."
She knew better than anyone how Xiao Che would step into the long-awaited Golden Palace today.
Just as the atmosphere inside the hall grew increasingly eerie, a long and shrill announcement came from outside, the sound like a thunderclap, instantly cleaving through all the noise and undercurrents—
"His Majesty has arrived!"
In an instant, the entire Golden Palace fell into a deathly silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
At this moment, all the officials, regardless of their inner thoughts, turned around, bowed, and faced the direction of the palace gate.
Regent Xiao Yuan finally lifted his eyelids completely, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his eyes, but the faint smile on his lips froze slightly.
Amidst the watchful eyes of the crowd, a bright yellow figure appeared at the palace gate.
The sunlight gilded him with a golden edge. He wore an elaborate and solemn nine-dragon court robe and a twelve-tassel crown. Although his face still showed some thinness after recovering from his injuries, he showed no signs of the sickness and decadence that had been rumored.
His steps were steady, each one seemingly treading on the heartbeats of everyone present, firm and powerful. His deep, dark eyes, like a cold pool, swept over the officials below, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, carrying an innate sense of majesty and oppression.
The once sickly emperor who needed a wedding to ward off bad luck, who was always coughing in public and looked like he would collapse at the slightest breeze, has disappeared.
Instead, a young emperor, profound and majestic, emerged!
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The thunderous roar of homage could not conceal the turmoil in the hearts of many officials. They glanced incredulously at the monarch on the dragon throne, the same thought churning in their minds: Is this... is this still the emperor they thought they could easily control?
Behind the screen, Lin Wanwan's lips slowly curved into a proud smile.
This was her true husband, the one and only supreme ruler of the Great Liang Dynasty.
Xiao Che sat down, not in a hurry to speak, but slowly scanned everyone below with his cold eyes. Those officials whose gaze fell upon him all felt a chill and instinctively lowered their heads. Finally, his gaze swept across the face of Regent Xiao Yuan, as indifferently as if he were looking at an ordinary minister.
"All of you, rise."
He spoke calmly, his voice clear and steady, carrying an undeniable authority.
After the officials rose, Xiao Che did not deal with the backlog of government affairs as they expected, but instead directly began the first agenda item of the day—reckoning and rewarding officials!
"During my recovery from the assassination attempt, the court was in turmoil. Fortunately, I had capable ministers who shared the burden of the country and stabilized the situation." His gaze fell on the white-haired old general Zhou Cheng. "Minister Zhou, at the age of seventy, you held the military command and guarded the capital, deterring the villains. Your contributions are invaluable. I am very pleased."
"By imperial decree, Zhou Cheng is hereby granted the title of Duke Protector of the Nation, with a fief of three thousand households, ten thousand taels of gold, and a thousand bolts of brocade!"
General Zhou trembled, and tears welled up in his cloudy old eyes. He stepped forward, quivering, and kowtowed to express his gratitude: "This old minister... thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness!"
This letter was not only an honor, but also the emperor's highest affirmation of his loyalty!
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Che's gaze turned to the commander of the Imperial Guards and several young officials.
"Commander of the Imperial Guards, Zhao Yi, has rendered meritorious service in protecting the Emperor, and his loyalty and bravery are commendable. He is hereby promoted one rank and rewarded!"
"Censor-in-Chief Li Ke risked his life to offer honest advice, thus stabilizing public sentiment. He is hereby rewarded!"
"Zhang Qian, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue,..."
One imperial edict after another was issued by the emperor. Every name read out was that of a loyal minister who, during the darkest period, withstood immense pressure from the regent's faction and remained steadfastly on the emperor's side.
This is no simple matter of rewarding merit; it is clearly a large-scale political statement!
He was telling everyone in the most direct way who his confidants were and who he would rely on!
The officials who received the rewards were all flushed with excitement, their backs ramrod straight, and their eyes gleamed with renewed fervor. Meanwhile, the officials from the Regent's faction looked increasingly grim; they exchanged glances, each seeing astonishment and wariness in the other's eyes.
They miscalculated! This young emperor not only recovered his health, but his political skills also became so sharp and decisive!
After all the rewards had been given, Xiao Che leisurely picked up the tea on the imperial table, gently brushed away the foam, as if he had done something insignificant.
A brief silence fell over the Golden Palace once again, but this time, the atmosphere was completely different. The royalists were in high spirits, while the regent's faction felt unprecedented pressure.
Just then, Han Yu, a censor of the Censorate known for his integrity and uprightness, stepped forward resolutely, holding a jade tablet.
"Your subject has something to report!"
Everyone's hearts were in their throats, knowing that the real confrontation was about to begin.
Xiao Che put down his teacup and said calmly, "Granted."
Imperial Censor Han took a deep breath, and his loud voice resounded throughout the Golden Palace: "Your Majesty! During the assassination attempt on Your Majesty, the nation was in grave danger. Her Majesty the Empress was entrusted with a critical mission. As a woman, she managed to stabilize the inner palace, calm the court, and reassure the people. Her achievements are outstanding and are witnessed by all under Heaven!"
He abruptly changed the subject, his voice rising sharply, filled with an undeniable righteousness: "However, the Phoenix Seal, symbolizing the dignity of the Empress Dowager and her authority over the six palaces, is still 'held' by the Empress Dowager. If the title is not rightful, then the words are not proper! The Empress has rendered great service to the nation and her virtue matches her position. The Phoenix Seal should rightfully belong to the Empress!"
He paused abruptly, then raised his voice in a resounding tone and reported:
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you issue an edict to restore the Phoenix Seal to its rightful place, so as to establish the Empress's authority and bring peace to the hearts of the people!"
These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves!
Everyone was stunned!
No one expected that the royalists' counterattack would be so swift and direct, with the first shot aimed at the core of power in the harem, the Phoenix Jade Seal that the Empress Dowager had controlled for many years!
This is not just about fighting for the Empress's power, but also about openly challenging the Empress Dowager's authority and giving the Regent's faction a good slap in the face!
Behind the screen, Lin Wanwan's heart tightened, and her fingertips unconsciously clenched her sleeves. She knew this was Xiao Che's doing. This battle was unavoidable.
In an instant, everyone's gaze in the hall seemed to focus on Regent Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan slowly raised his eyes, the astonishment on his face vanished, replaced by a deep, cold indifference. He quickly exchanged glances with several trusted ministers beside him, their eyes conveying a wealth of information.
As expected, no sooner had Imperial Censor Han finished speaking than Liu Zan, the Minister of Rites, walked shakily out of the queue. Leaning on a cane, he looked old and frail, but his voice carried an undeniable firmness:
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
He protested vehemently, saying, "Although the Empress has rendered meritorious service to the nation, the ancestral rules cannot be abandoned, and the order of the country cannot be disrupted!"
In the imperial court, war could erupt at any moment!
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