The stench of last night's blood had been washed away by the morning dew. In the dawn light, the gates of Weiyang Palace slowly opened. Now dressed in his imperial robes, with the twelve tassels hanging down and obscuring his calm, unwavering eyes, Liu Bingyi emerged.
From this day forward, there would be no more 'farming imperial grandsons', only the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.
From Xuande Gate to Chengming Hall, there were 999 steps. Huo Guang stood at the top, with a dense mass of officials behind him and faintly visible black-armoured guards.
Liu Bingyi ascended the steps, his system panel flashing wildly with each one.
[System alert: high-intensity hostile field detected.]
Current pressure: 85% (from the combined forces of Huo Guang and his supporters).
[Forced Mission: Turn the Tables!] [Make Huo Guang Bow Without Using Force].
'General, you've gone to so much trouble.' Leaning close to Huo Guang's ear, Liu Bingyi spoke so softly that only the two of them could hear. 'There were indeed quite a few thieves — a full twelve. I've sent them all back to the general's residence. Did you receive them, General?" Huo Guang's pupils contracted sharply and the muscles on his old face twitched involuntarily. He hadn't expected Liu Bingyi to tear away his pretence so bluntly.
'Your Majesty has just ascended the throne. You should be more concerned with the people's livelihoods. As for the 'minor matters' in the palace, leave them to me.' Huo Guang tried to regain control of the conversation, his tone becoming more forceful.
[Ding! Political pressure detected!]
[Trigger Skill: Emperor's Smile – Unpredictable]
Liu Bingyi suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing in the empty hall and startling a flock of birds. He turned around with his arms outstretched and looked down at the civil and military officials below.
'People's livelihood? I understand the people's livelihood best.' Pointing to a trusted member of the Huo family below the steps, he said loudly, 'When I was among the common people, a bowl of tofu pudding cost only five coins. But today, looking at the palace accounts, I see that a bowl of tofu pudding costs five hundred taels of gold. General, tell me: did this extra money go into the pockets of petty officials or into my own?"
A deathly silence fell over the room.
The officials loyal to Huo Guang began to exchange uneasy glances. Liu Bingyi's words were perfectly timed: he wasn't seeking power, but rather settling old scores.
Huo Guang felt an unprecedented pressure. If he didn't suppress Liu Bingyi now, the desire for revenge would quickly sweep through the entire Huo family faction.
'Your Majesty wants to settle scores?' Huo Guang straightened his back, his right hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword at his waist.
"No, I want to give you a reward." Liu Bingyi turned his head abruptly, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's and piercing Huo Guang's heart. 'I want to reward the general with an opportunity to retire and return to his hometown. If the general were to step aside now, fewer lives would be lost in this court."
[Reputation Value: +20,000! (Direct confrontation with a powerful minister; complete victory in terms of aura). The two remained locked in a stalemate on the steps for a full half-minute.
Finally, under the continuous pressure of a 1000% aura, a bead of cold sweat appeared on Huo Guang's forehead. He realised that the young man before him not only possessed the bloodline of Crown Prince Wei, but also an almost demonic imperial aura unlike anything he had ever seen before.
Huo Guang slowly and reluctantly took a small step back.
This step, just ten centimetres, signified a total shift in the centre of power in the Han dynasty.
'This old minister... accepts the decree.'
[Ding]! [Achievement Completed: First Battle Victory]
[Unlock reward: Embroidered Uniform Guard Seed (instantly converts 100 Shadow Dragon Guards into 'Emperor's Personal Guards' with legitimate patrol rights).
'Since the general thinks I understand the people's livelihoods, I will start my investigation with this bowl of tofu pudding, which is worth five hundred gold pieces.'
Liu Bingyi sneered, his right hand flashing. A golden command arrow shot from his palm and embedded itself in the granite floor tiles, sparks flying.
'Where is Lei Zhen?'
'Here he is!'
Already dressed in a crimson, embroidered lion outfit with a long, embroidered sword at his waist, Lei Zhen led a hundred men with a calm and collected demeanour. Like a red hurricane, he cut through the corridors on either side of the battlefield in an instant.
[System Feedback: Troop type successfully promoted: 'Shadow Dragon Guard' evolved into 'Great Han Imperial Guard'. Special Attributes: [Imperial Privilege], [Execute First, Report Later], [Mental Intimidation +50%].
'The Censorate says that my farming in the southern suburbs is a disgrace to the royal family.' Liu Bingyi slowly walked towards the Censor-in-Chief, the leader of the Empress Huo impeachment, his steps light yet heavy as a mountain.
'I could toil in the mud for a year and earn no more than ten copper coins. This Shu brocade official robe that you wear would be enough to buy me a hundred acres of fertile land in the southern suburbs. Tell me, where did this money come from?'
'Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty's wealth has a source..." The Imperial Censor's face turned deathly pale and he looked at Huo Guang instinctively.
Huo Guang's face was ashen. He wanted to defend him, but the overwhelming pressure from Liu Bingyi caused every muscle in his body to tremble uncontrollably.
'Lei Zhen, investigate.' Liu Bingyi uttered two words.
Lei Zhen stepped forward, slapped the Imperial Censor to the ground and searched his robes, finding a gold-edged booklet — one of the 'List of Life and Death' that Huo Chengjun had given to Liu Bingyi the previous night.
'Read it.' With his hands behind his back and his back to the officials, Liu Bingyi stood firm.
Then, Lei Zhen's voice boomed like thunder across the square:
'Censor-in-Chief Zhang Guang has accepted bribes totalling 30,000 taels of silver, embezzled military funds from twelve locations and illegally seized thousands of acres of fertile land. According to the law, his entire clan should be exterminated!'
'Execute!'
Before Liu Bingyi had finished speaking, Lei Zhen had already drawn his longsword. With a flash of cold light, a perfectly round head flew directly to Huo Guang's feet. Blood splattered onto Huo Guang's expensive, cloud-patterned boots.
[Reputation Value: +15,000! (Iron-fisted governance, public support, and official fear advance in tandem.)
[System evaluation: The host has successfully carried out a 'powerful execution' in front of Huo Guang, causing cracks in the foundation of his rule. 'Your Majesty!' Huo Guang finally roared, his voice hoarse, under the pressure: 'How can such childish killings occur in the court?! Did you go through the Grand Marshal's office before you killed Zhang Guang? Did the Three Dukes try you jointly?"
Liu Bingyi slowly turned his head to look at the old man, who was still trying to bind him with 'rules'.
'The general is right; we must follow the rules,' said Liu Bingyi with a slight smile. 'Therefore, today I will not only kill someone, but I will also invite the general to watch a good show.'
He clapped his hands.
In a corner of the square, several black-clothed carriages were slowly pushed out. When the cloth was lifted, piles of gleaming silver and boxes of bloodstained secret letters were revealed.
'These were all seized from Zhang Guang's residence last night,' said Liu Bingyi, pointing to the stolen goods. However, his eyes were fixed on the palace maids behind Huo Guang, who kept their heads bowed.Huo Chengjun raised her head. Although she was still dressed as a palace maid, the madness instilled in her by Liu Bingyi was evident in her eyes. She held out a letter to Huo Guang.
'Father, this is evidence of Zhang Guang's collusion with foreign enemies in an attempt to assassinate you at the coronation ceremony. Your daughter has cleansed your household.'
Huo Guang trembled violently as he looked at his daughter and the blood and silver scattered on the ground. He finally understood: he had never been the main player in this "act".
He had merely been a tool in Liu Bingyi's hands.
"Fine, fine, 'cleaning house'!" Huo Guang laughed angrily. He turned abruptly and cupped his hands towards the majestic Chang Le Palace deep within the inner court. In a voice like shattered ice, he said, "Since Your Majesty insists on using private punishment to disrupt the country, this old minister can only request the late Emperor's edict and ask Empress Dowager Shangguan for her judgment!"
[System alert: interference risk detected from top-tier NPC 'Empress Dowager Shangguan'!]
[Empress Dowager Shangguan: Huo Guang's granddaughter; nominally the mother of the Han dynasty; possessing the legitimate 'right to propose deposition and enthronement'].
Upon hearing this, the officials, who had been intimidated by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, trembled slightly. They knew that if the Empress Dowager were to label Liu Bingyi a 'tyrant', this power struggle would degenerate into an illegitimate usurpation.
Just when Huo Guang thought he had grasped a lifeline, Liu Bingyi's aura suddenly vanished completely.
His once upright and imposing figure now appeared somewhat dejected. He gave a bitter smile and casually tossed the blood-stained dagger to the ground with a sharp clang.
Supported by palace maids, the fifteen-year-old Empress Dowager Shangguan stepped down from the carriage. Seeing the corpses strewn across the ground, she paled and was about to kneel before Huo Guang to plead her case, when Liu Bingyi suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud.
'Empress Dowager! Your grandson is guilty!' He clutched his robes and his eyes were red-rimmed. 'Your grandson wanted to protect this empire for the late Emperor, but everyone in the court is a retainer of the Huo family. They all say that I am just a peasant who only knows how to farm. Today, Zhang Guang attempted to assassinate the Emperor. If it weren't for the Imperial Guards risking their lives to save me, I would already be with the late Emperor.'
[System notification: Empress Dowager Shangguan's favourability increased by 2000 points (due to empathy from peers and fear of 'assassination').] Before Huo Guang could speak, Huo Chengjun, who had been lurking beside the Empress Dowager, suddenly knelt on her other side, weeping even more bitterly than Liu Bingyi.
'Empress Dowager, please be wise! Father has been deceived by villains such as Zhang Guang and dared to criticise His Majesty in the main hall. I heard it clearly last night outside Father's study. Zhang Guang said that after His Majesty's death, he would support a member of the Huo family to ascend the throne. Father is confused!'
This blow completely severed Huo Guang's political escape route.
In the Empress Dowager's eyes, he was no longer the grandfather who protected her; he was now a dangerous and powerful minister who allowed his subordinates to rebel and who threatened her position.
The Empress Dowager, Shangguan, pointed a trembling finger at Huo Guang. After a long pause, she finally uttered a single sentence:
'General, you have disappointed me greatly. If His Majesty says Zhang Guang is a thief, then he is a thief. From this day forward, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will be solely responsible for guarding and supervising the palace. You should go home and recuperate, General.'
[Ding]
[By successfully using the 'Empress Dowager's Game' to exile the powerful minister, you have gained 30,000 reputation points.]
[Unlocked God-level Achievement: 'The Manipulator Behind the Curtain' (you have taken complete control of the Han Dynasty's nominal supreme decision-making power).
The setting sun sank below the horizon.
Liu Bingyi slowly stood up, dusted off his knees and gave Huo Guang, whose face was ashen, a bright smile that sent a chill down his spine.
'General, take care of yourself. I will uphold the Han Dynasty for you.'