Stronger by Killing

Just as a great turmoil erupted in Yunzhou, a major upheaval also took place within the Capital City.

The turmoil following the battle at Qixia Mountain had yet to spread, and under the leadership of the Three Ancestors of the Ji Family and Ji Songlie, the Hu Ben Battalion’s 200,000 troops entered the Capital City to support the king, resulting in a bloody incident within the Imperial City.

The following day, when the courtiers went to attend court,

they were surprised to find that Emperor Ji Yi, who hadn’t appeared at court for days due to severe illness, was once again attending. However, they also noticed that many people who should have been at court were absent, and among them were many prominent officials of the current Court.

On the dragon throne,

Emperor Ji Yi looked extremely pale, distinctly resembling someone who had just recovered from a serious illness. His head of white hair and thin, gaunt face made him utterly different from the wise and mighty figure he once was.

Inside the grand hall, the atmosphere felt very oppressive,

and amidst the courtiers’ confusion, Commander Ji Songlie led troops into the hall, escorting a group of disheveled and bedraggled individuals. These people were precisely the ones who hadn’t attended court today.

The courtiers were shocked to realize that these individuals were mostly from the external relatives, the Lü Family, and the Ji Family within the Royal Family, including a heap of dukes and marquises.

Last night’s palace upheaval was known among the Capital City’s officials, and it had been speculated about, but no one anticipated the extent of the uproar. The Royal Family branch had directly suppressed the Ji Family and external relatives, the Lü Family.

This upheaval was an upheaval for the entire Xia Kingdom.

At this moment, the courtiers harbored various sentiments, including shock, fear, and concern.

Those who could attend court were either major Court officials or Capital Officials, all long involved in the political center of Xia Kingdom, Ta’an City, and thus possessed some understanding of the situation in Xia Kingdom.

The Court of Xia Kingdom comprised mainly of three factions,

one being the Royal Family led by the Emperor, another being the Ji Family, and the third being the external relatives, the Lü Family.

Although the Royal Family is part of the Ji Clan, there are fundamental differences between them, and their stance has always been ambiguous—both intimately close yet mutually resistant. As for the external relatives, the Lü Family, they were even more peculiar, seeming close to both the Royal Family and the Ji Family while also resisting both.

Undeniably, though nominally the masters of the Xia Kingdom, the Royal Family has always been constrained by the Ji Family and the external relatives, the Lü Family. Over the years they have been at times cooperative and at times enraged, but have always exercised restraint with a clear understanding that to maintain the stability of the nation, the three factions must not descend into chaos.

The reason Xia Kingdom carries the Ji surname is because the united strength of the Royal Family, the Ji Family, and the Lü Family surpasses that of all other forces. Indeed, there are numerous factions within Xia Kingdom, including the previously rebellious Dugu Faction and Ling Family, the Confucian Sect led by the Kong Family which controls the noble clans nationwide, the enigmatic Qing Family seldom seen in public, the Buddhist Sect’s two schools which have maintained their supremacy over the past two millennia, and now nearly catching up are the ancient Gu Family, the Jixia Academy, and the currently very prominent Marquis Yun, Gu Zhan, among others.

It can be said that Xia Kingdom is an arena for various factions vying for power; the reason the Ji Clan holds the position of the master of the nation is because the united strength of these three factions is sufficiently formidable.

Yet now,

after a night of political upheaval, the Emperor unexpectedly took down the members of both the Ji Family and the Lü Family, which for many people equated to digging one’s own grave.

Nonetheless, Emperor Ji Yi who sat on the dragon throne wore a placid expression and slightly beckoned to the eunuch beside him.

The eunuch understood and immediately presented a Holy Decree to be read aloud,

upon hearing the decree, the courtiers were all utterly shocked.

According to the decree,

the Ji Family and the Lü Family colluded with Crown Prince Ji Yunyang in a plot to rebel and were suppressed.

Moreover, in the narration within the decree,

two significant events were disclosed,

one being the rebellion of the Crown Prince, with Empress Lü Wantang also involved, leading the Emperor to announce her deposition,

and the second being that the one who suppressed this turmoil was Marquis Yun, Gu Zhan. The Emperor even went further to proclaim Gu Zhan as King with the title Celestial Martial, granting Yunzhou as his fiefdom!

The first event was within the courtiers’ expectations; whether or not the Empress truly participated, her involvement was assumed due to the Crown Prince’s rebellion. Even if she wasn’t involved, the rebellion implicates her, and even the Empress Dowager might not remain unscathed since they are both of the Lü Family. Now, with the Lü Family’s collapse, both must inevitably fall too; however, the Empress Dowager, being nominally the Emperor’s mother—even if not biologically—holds a title that prevents her from being openly punished.

But the second event left the courtiers for a moment unable to accept it,

even if Gu Zhan was credited with resolving the chaos, he shouldn’t be crowned king. Since the founding of Xia Kingdom, there has been no precedent for granting kingship to those bearing a different surname, let alone granting an entire Yunzhou as a fiefdom, essentially allowing Gu Zhan to establish an independent kingdom, and with the title Celestial Martial, openly acknowledging his equal status with the Emperor.

Yet,

at this point within the grand hall, Hu Ben Battalion soldiers were glaring with hostility, Ji Songlie brought weapons into the hall, and the Emperor expressed no intention to consult anyone. The courtiers couldn’t ascertain the current situation and thus no one dared to step forth in opposition.

Thus, the court assembly concluded in an eerie silence between the ruler and his ministers.

Once court adjourned, the courtiers quickly departed to investigate last night’s events.

Meanwhile, Emperor Ji Yi, accompanied by Ji Songlie, proceeded to the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty," Ji Songlie bowed and said, "Lü Wantang has been sent to the Cold Palace, as for the Empress Dowager, she has been imprisoned."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!