Within the opulent confines of the Fenghua Palace in the Imperial Capital, Yin Yu sat expressionless, his gaze fixed upon several memorials spread before him on the low table.

The assembled ministers stood silently along the covered walkway, awaiting his command.

A recent storm had swept through the court, from the highest echelons down to the very base. It had stripped countless officials of their posts, and seven noble houses now teetered on the brink of ruin, forcing the Emperor to rule with extreme caution, every action scrutinized and every decision weighed with trepidation.

Yet, some veteran officials regarded the scene with a flicker of satisfaction. In the current demeanor of Yin Yu, they saw a reflection of Emperor Yuan Chen in his youth—decisive, utterly ruthless, and fiercely sharp.

In just three days, he had purged the court of all insidious elements. The arrogance of the increasingly presumptuous noble clans had been utterly crushed, leaving them too intimidated even to whisper.

After waiting for perhaps half an hour, Yin Yu finally set down the memorials he was reviewing.

“It is my Grand General Who Pacifies the South, the Grand Governor commanding all military affairs across the seven prefectures of Gan Nan and Gan Xi—Minister Shi Qianli—who has submitted a petition claiming advanced age and failing vigor. He requests to resign his post as Governor of the Seven Provinces!”

The assembled ministers below started, exchanging bewildered glances, utterly silent. The Shi family had risen so swiftly over the last six months that they had already acquired the aura of a true power, rivaling that of the Southwestern King.

Was this sudden request for resignation a signal of defeat to the Emperor, a gesture of retreat and deference? Or did it hide some deeper stratagem?

Standing quietly near the imperial dais was Shi Yue, his expression as composed and unmoving as stone.

“Your Majesty! Shi Qianli is in the prime of his life and strength; to claim infirmity is baseless! This is nothing more than a probe of the court’s intent. This man harbors treasonous thoughts; during the recent campaign in Jiangnan, he even dared to issue an edict in your name, mobilizing troops, clearly intending to coerce the Imperial Court. I implore Your Majesty to issue an edict of censure and summon him to the capital to answer for his crimes!”

A figure stepped out from the ranks of the officials. This man seemed certain he had divined the Emperor’s true intentions. His voice was sharp and resolute, imbued with stern righteousness.

“Furthermore, the position of Grand General Who Pacifies the South, holding the military governance over the Seven Provinces, is indeed one of excessive power, tantamount to establishing a separate domain. In this humble servant’s opinion, it would be best abolished.”

Shi Yue raised his eyelids slightly, casting a glance at the speaker. Judging by his official robes, he seemed to be a Censor from the Palace, a lower seventh-rank official. Shi Yue could not recall the name, only that the surname might be Feng.

While the man’s current bearing seemed magnificent and imposing, his eyes frequently darted to a specific person standing nearby.

A mere pawn sent to cross the river?

The sharp glint in Shi Yue’s eyes receded once more. He, too, needed to ascertain Yin Yu’s current stance toward the Shi family.

Though Yin Yu commanded the Twelve Bronze Men, capable of suppressing even peak-level Saints, before he amassed enough Saint-ranked cultivators himself, he was far from invincible.

At the very least, the Shi family, while lacking the power to directly oppose him now, possessed the means to safely withdraw from the Cloud Realm if pressed too hard.

Yin Yu, however, began to laugh, a subtle triumph coloring his expression that others could scarcely detect.

He felt invigorated now, capable of making even the Five Great Clans bow before his throne like terrified lambs awaiting the slaughter. But who among them knew the depths of his humiliation just months prior?

He had been forced to cede authority, granting control of the Seven Provinces to the Shi family. In the court, he had been almost entirely sidelined by a coalition of powerful ministers and established families.

It was only now, upon reading Shi Qianli’s petition to retire, that he felt the bitter bile in his chest finally begin to dissolve.

“The deployment of the Grand General to command the Bai Sheng Pass was my own insistence. He has overseen the seven southwestern provinces for half a year without error. Are you suggesting, Minister Feng, that I should punish a loyal official without cause?”

The chilling tone immediately caused the Feng Censor’s heart to sink.

Yet, Yin Yu’s tone immediately shifted.

“However, our Great Shang pours the taxes of half the nation into this endeavor, commands the resources of seven provinces, and fields an army of ten million soldiers, with ten thousand capable commanders. Yet, after all this expenditure and effort, we can only hold a single location: the Bai Sheng Pass.”

Shi Yue remained expressionless, but he was already beginning to grasp the Emperor’s true design.

Indeed, Yin Yu continued, “I have always recognized Minister Shi’s remarkable talent and relied upon him as my right-hand man. I wonder, Minister Shi, can your father recover the lands of Jiangnan for me within three months?”

The words landed, and the hall fell into a profound silence. All eyes pivoted to Shi Yue.

Shi Yue could only bow respectfully, his voice steady as he replied, “My father has long enjoyed Your Majesty’s benevolence. Should he learn of Your Majesty’s decree, he will undoubtedly exert his utmost effort!”

“Tell him not to be overly anxious; he must plan carefully before acting.”

Yin Yu chuckled, his gaze inscrutable. “I hear that the Dark World Demon Court has dispatched a massive army to attack the Tianfang World under the jurisdiction of Great Qian. This is a rare opportunity; I hope your father does not let it pass. Furthermore, all the military resources he requires, I will fully ensure their procurement here. Whether through additional taxation or conscription, the decisions will rest entirely with your father.”

Instead of relief, Shi Yue’s expression grew heavier. The more flawlessly Yin Yu framed his demands, the less grounds Shi Yue had to refuse.

And if they failed to retake Jiangnan within three months, then issuing a decree to hold them accountable would be entirely justifiable. At that point, Yin Yu would be standing on unimpeachable moral ground; even if the entire Shi family were executed, no one would raise an objection.

A chill crept through Shi Yue’s core. He bowed again deeply. “I will certainly relay this to my father.”

Only then did Yin Yu smile, casually sweeping the memorials aside.

At that moment, another official stepped forward from the ranks—Zuo Xin, the Hanlin Academy Scholar-in-Waiting.

“This servant has a memorial to present!”

Holding the document, a eunuch took it and presented it before Yin Yu.

“Your servant Jin Buhui, currently imprisoned, shows no remorse and speaks recklessly in confinement. He claims Your Majesty is muddle-headed and incapable, unwilling to heed loyal advice. After governing for a hundred years, you have succumbed to arrogance. He asserts that if this continues, the Great Shang will perish within three years—no more. Such words clearly betray deep resentment toward Your Majesty—”

Yin Yu frowned, taking the memorial into his hands. After only a brief glance, his face cycled rapidly through shades of pale and crimson. Every single word was like a glaring brand.

His robes fluttered slightly despite the lack of wind, and veins visibly bulged on his temples.

“If I remain stubbornly set in my ways, neglect governance, and recklessly commit troops, exhausting the national treasury—the Great Shang will indeed fall in three years? How wonderfully bold!”

Instantly, he calmed, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Minister Zuo, this Jin Buhui is your former student. How do you propose he should be punished?”

“Though we were once master and student, that relationship was severed a year ago,” Zuo Xin declared, his expression stern. “Even if we remained teacher and pupil, a disciple who lacks filial piety and fealty to the sovereign must be cast out. I petition that he be subjected to the execution by severing at the waist, to set an example and warn posterity!”

Shi Yue stiffened. Jin Buhui? Execution by severing? How could this be?

He felt the urge to intervene, but the words caught in his throat. The Shi family was fighting for its own survival; what right did he have to intercede for another? If Chong Xuan were here, he would surely offer counsel. But at this moment, who could possibly stop Yin Yu?

“Severing at the waist?”

Yin Yu took several deep breaths, appearing barely able to contain his fury. Finally, he let out a cold snort. “Even the slow slicing of Lingchi or the drawing apart by chariots could scarcely quell my wrath. However, considering this wretch perhaps acted out of a misguided sense of public duty—out of respect for your standing—I shall commute the sentence to simple execution! His head will be displayed upon the palace gates. I truly wish to see if the Great Shang truly collapses in three years as he predicts!”

Shi Yue’s body trembled momentarily before settling back into stillness. The assembled ministers, however, adopted poses of righteous indignation or offered praise, proclaiming the Emperor’s brilliance. Not a single voice voiced opposition. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) No Pop-up Novel Website