"Territories that fail to submit the Bumo Report within one month will be excluded from the distribution scope of the Zhenxing Awakening Potion. I hope all territorial nobles will govern themselves wisely!"

With those words, Empress Alimia rose and left the podium.

The Royal Chief Press Officer, a middle-aged female noble, ascended the platform. "I will be answering the questions that follow," she announced.

A throng of reporters surged forward, firing their questions in a chaotic rush, fearful of being overlooked if they delayed. The press hall instantly devolved into pandemonium.

The Empress did not return to her seat but proceeded directly toward a passage in a corner of the hall, four royal handmaidens escorting her as she departed the press area.

Beyond the passage lay a transverse corridor where the Empress Dowager was already waiting at the turn, with Yang Ying standing beside her.

The Empress approached and performed the customary salute to her mother, the Empress Dowager, and also offered a greeting to Yang Ying.

The Empress Dowager nodded, speaking in a voice that seemed distant. "It has finally begun." Her tone carried a complex mixture of concern, hopeful anticipation, and a trace of relief.

"That was quite a powerful address just now," Yang Ying interjected. "But it sounded more like a declaration of war. It might alienate many nobles, perhaps even turn them directly hostile."

"Is Your Excellency Yang Ying criticizing me?" The Empress fixed her bright gaze upon Yang Ying as she asked.

"Not at all, Your Majesty is the Empress of the Empire. You need not explain your decisions to me," Yang Ying replied, shaking his head.

"Alas, it's fine to explain," the Empress smiled. "To clean up the accumulated ills of ten thousand years in this Empire is no garden party. How can one succeed without administering a strong medicine? Compared to using gentle, negotiating language that might give them false hope or suggest we lack resolve, it is better to strike firmly now, letting them understand the resolute determination and confidence of the Royal House this time."

"Furthermore," the Empress paused, adding, "The widespread disregard the regional nobles hold for the Royal House is an established fact. Even if my methods were gentler, nothing would change for them. Once their core interests are touched, they are bound to rebel, perhaps in the most extreme manner possible. By pressuring them now, at least we can disrupt their preparations and force their explosive reaction sooner, while we are already fully prepared. This will allow us to seize the initiative in the coming unrest."

Yang Ying did not press the discussion further. He walked with the Empress and the Empress Dowager toward the Imperial Palace.

The intense reaction to the Empress's declaration became apparent quickly. The entire Empire was shaken. Many powerful regional nobles jointly sent sharply worded letters of protest to the Capital Star, demanding the Royal House retract those "utterly irrational" words and requiring the Empress to issue a public apology.

They argued that the Empress's statements and policies had deeply wounded the feelings of regional nobles, showed disrespect to the entire aristocratic class, constituted a blatant challenge to the inherent privileges of nobility, and were a reckless act that threatened the very foundation of the Empire.

Faced with this tidal wave of accusation, the Empress showed no inclination to compromise. She repeatedly refuted these claims in public forums, presenting numerous examples to prove that the Empire had truly reached a point where change was imperative. Simultaneously, she elaborated on her vision for the Empire's future.

This included reforming the aristocratic class, redrawing the boundaries of their privileges, and easing the tensions between different social strata.

At this stage, her reasoning was solid. Because once the Empire successfully completed the great undertaking of universal awakening in the near future, many existing regulations meant to coordinate relations between True Humans and Sub-Humans would clearly become obsolete and require rewriting.

This set of regulations represented the core interests of the noble bloc and was the focal point of most conflicts between the Royal House and regional nobles. The Empress skillfully aligned the Royal House's interests with the rising Sub-Human class, thereby securing the support of a large contingent of Sub-Humans.

This was something the aristocratic class could never offer the Sub-Humans, as they could not possibly concede their core interests. If they did concede, it would play directly into the Royal House's hands.

"But why doesn't Sister just distribute the potions immediately, allowing all Sub-Humans in the Empire to awaken, and then use that power to fight the nobles? Wouldn't the Sub-Human faction be much stronger then, making it easier to suppress those wicked nobles?" Baibai voiced her confusion to Yang Ying.

In the past few days, the Empress and the Empress Dowager had been completely consumed by handling external affairs, leaving no time for Baibai. Thus, the little girl had come seeking out Yang Ying and Katerina again.

"It isn't that simple," Katerina said, stroking her hair with a smile. "This is a monumental shift that affects the Empire's future. All factors must be taken into account. Your sister has her own calculations in doing this."

"Let me give you an example," Yang Ying picked up the thread. "Suppose a regional lord received a batch of Awakening Potions. How do you think he would handle their distribution?"

"Wouldn't he just hand them out?" Baibai asked, her eyes wide.

"Certainly not," Yang Ying shook his head. "The Imperial nobles are True Humans, and under the influence of their spiritual power, their intellect is far from weak. They would undoubtedly see the rise of the Sub-Humans as a threat to their territory.

"Therefore, that noble would likely first take one hundred thousand potions and bestow them upon the populace most loyal to him, or use them to buy off and divide those who oppose him. Using this as a foundation, he would gain complete control over the Sub-Humans within his domain.

"Anyone who refuses to obey him would receive no potions—he would let them spoil in the warehouse, or even dump them, rather than give them to those he considers dangerous elements. If this happens, the distribution of the New Awakening Potions will only drive the Sub-Humans deeper into the control of regional nobles, and in turn, cause your sister to lose a crucial opportunity to weaken noble privileges."

"How can he do that!" Baibai exclaimed angrily. "These potions are meant for all Sub-Humans in the Empire, not just that regional noble! What right does he have to distribute them according to his own will? Well... Sister could send people specifically in charge of potion distribution! Keep the regional nobles out of it!"

Baibai, thinking she had devised a brilliant solution, broke into a radiant smile.

"Heh heh," Yang Ying patted her head. "That's far too idealistic. That is the regional noble's territory. You want the Royal House to send people onto his land to restrain him? It would more likely be the other way around. Once the potions enter the noble's territory, they become his dinner. It is too easy for them to manipulate the distribution process. When the core interests of the aristocratic class are at stake, they will resort to any means necessary, however extreme. Do not underestimate the strength they exhibit when driven to desperation."

"Oh," Baibai's spirits immediately sank.

Just then, a figure flashed into the doorway and approached them. Yang Ying knew without looking that it was Lanton; he had detected her contraction of space as she approached.

Lanton's face clearly showed an air of urgency. A flicker of movement in Yang Ying's heart told him that things were indeed developing toward escalation.

After entering, Lanton offered a brief salute to Yang Ying and Katerina. Although the two had long told her she didn't need to do so—to act as they had in the past—in the strictly hierarchical environment of the Imperial Palace, Lanton maintained impeccable decorum, never once being disrespectful.

"Your Highness," Lanton addressed Baibai. "We just received word. Empress Her Majesty has sent me to inform Your Highness, Excellency Yang Ying, and the others. Not long ago, Sandov submitted a motion in the Senate aimed at seizing the Royal House's ownership of the New Awakening Potion factories. Due to several of our allied Senators defecting at the last moment, this motion has passed."

"Furthermore, seventy-six Duke-level regional nobles and one hundred sixty-two Marquis-level regional nobles have just declared a state of emergency. They are gathering their private forces. Intelligence suggests they plan to rendezvous at the Zaska Star Sector. Their objective is unknown, but it is clearly not a benevolent gathering."

"It's finally going to war," Katerina sighed, asking, "What measures have the two Supremes devised?"

Lanton's expression grew severe. "Regarding the Senate, when Empress Her Majesty learned of the Senate's resolution, she immediately issued an order to dissolve the Senate."

Yang Ying nodded. "Sandov's foundation within the Senate was too deep, and the recent actions required by the Royal House clash with the interests of most nobles. It's not surprising the Senate would obstruct us; dissolving it is for the best. However, the Senators are unlikely to agree to the dissolution."

Lanton nodded. "I came immediately after receiving Her Majesty the Empress's command. I do not yet know the Senate's reaction, but it is clear most of those old members will not comply. Regarding this, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager said one thing. Her exact words were: 'This is the critical moment for the Empire to restore its glory of ten thousand years ago; there is no room for them to refuse.'"

"The main fleet of the Imperial Guard has already left port. They have surrounded the Senate building. The Empress Dowager herself is acting as the Divine Core for the Imperial Guard, intending, I presume, to use military force to compel the Senate's dissolution."

As Lanton spoke, the sky began to dim. A massive fleet, numbering one hundred thousand warships, arrayed itself majestically in space, their muzzles pointed downward toward the Senate. Yang Ying could also sense the Empress Dowager's spiritual power spreading out like an overwhelming tide, faintly resonating with the fleet in space. The Empress Dowager's spiritual strength was around 220 million. Amplified by the fleet, it was boosted several hundred times. This level of amplification far surpassed that of the Galan people—truly worthy of the birthplace of Divine Core technology, the True Human Empire!

Yang Ying nodded inwardly. With the power the Empress Dowager now commanded, suppressing the Senate, which lacked a Divine Core legion, should not be a problem.

"Let's go. We should go see as well," Yang Ying said to the others.