With steady steps, Ye Chen walked out of the imperial mausoleum, a ruthless glint flickering in his eyes.
At tomorrow's morning court, he would see exactly how many officials were still loyal to him—and how many were eager to rush toward their own deaths.
"Prepare the carriage! We are returning to the palace!" Zhao Zhong shouted, his sharp voice echoing across the silent grounds as he hurried after the emperor.
Under the protection of the Jinyiwei, Ye Chen quickly departed.
The imperial mausoleum was, in essence, nothing more than a vast cemetery. Now that it was littered with blood and the crushed corpses of assassins, it was hardly a place he wished to remain.
Leaving several dozen Jinyiwei behind to clean up the gruesome aftermath, Shen Qinglong personally led the main escort, clearing the path for the emperor. As for Dugu Qiubai, he had already disappeared into the shadows, becoming an unseen guardian.
Everyone understood that the palace had become a dragon's den and a tiger's lair.
They had to ensure the emperor's safety at all costs.
With the Jinyiwei silently sweeping away any potential obstacles, Ye Chen returned to the palace without alarming anyone.
Once inside the palace walls, he quietly activated his Qi-Gazing Art.
Immediately, he saw three enormous veins of draconic qi weaving through the sky like vast mountain ranges. They pulsed with majestic energy, and within them he could faintly sense the devotion of countless common people.
This was the dynastic fate of the Xuan Tian Dynasty—the manifestation of its draconic qi.
As long as the hearts of the people remained with the dynasty, their collective will would gather into this powerful force of destiny, protecting both the imperial family and the ruler.
This power could even assist the emperor's cultivation.
If one mastered the Dao of dynastic fate, it was even possible to borrow this immense power to confront mighty enemies.
But now…
The draconic qi of Xuan Tian was slowly bleeding away.
As the rightful emperor, Ye Chen should have commanded all of it.
Yet he controlled only half.
The only reason he still possessed that much was because of his royal bloodline, which remained the focal point of the people's loyalty.
The largest remaining portion of draconic qi was flowing toward the Sky-Supervising Pavilion.
Another dozen streams were being siphoned away toward locations outside the palace.
Ye Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
He knew exactly where that power was going.
A quarter of it was being devoured by his 'dear uncle', who used the Sky-Supervising Pavilion to control the imperial court and challenge his authority.
The remaining quarter was being drained by the various vassal lords who were seizing up the dynasty's territories for themselves.
If this continued, the Xuan Tian Dynasty would soon belong to someone else.
The collapse of dynastic fate meant more than just the fall of a nation.
As the Son of Heaven, Ye Chen himself would suffer the backlash of the crumbling draconic qi. When that moment came, he would die a violent and miserable death.
"Hmph… just as I thought," Ye Chen sneered.
"These parasites are either seizing control of the court or tear my empire apart, draining its destiny right beneath my feet."
The imperial court was now almost entirely under the control of his uncle—Prince Ye Gucheng.
With the Sky-Supervising Pavilion as his instrument, Ye Gucheng wielded overwhelming authority.
While the previous emperor still lived, he had restrained himself.
But now that his brother was gone, he had cast aside all pretense and turned the entire court into his personal echo chamber.
The Xuan Tian Dynasty had become a laughingstock.
There was only one way to resolve this.
Eliminate Ye Gucheng.
And destroy every other enemy standing in his path.
"Ye Gucheng… my dear uncle," Ye Chen murmured softly, his face expressionless as cold fury burned in his eyes.
"It's time we settled our accounts."
The hatred between them was already beyond reconciliation.
The assassination attempt at the mausoleum was proof enough that his uncle was desperate to eliminate him.
Even worse, Ye Gucheng had imprisoned Ye Chen's own mother, holding the Empress Dowager hostage like a blade pressed against his throat.
"Those two crimes alone…"
"...are enough for you to be executed by a thousand cuts."
As Ye Chen walked deeper into the palace, he knew he was stepping directly into a storm of intrigue and bloodshed.
"In the time he has controlled the Sky-Supervising Pavilion," Ye Chen mused coldly, glancing in its direction, "Ye Gucheng has recruited countless experts."
"If I cannot control it…"
"Then it has no reason to exist."
"As for the court officials…"
A cold smile appeared on his lips.
"It's time to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys."
"I'll see which one is foolish enough to offer me his neck."
With the former emperor dead, Ye Gucheng had finally revealed his true ambitions.
He was no longer content with merely supervising the empire.
He wanted the throne.
Most of the court had already chosen to bend the knee.
Since those spineless sycophants had chosen betrayal, they might as well wash their necks and wait for his blade.
Of course, Ye Chen did not intend to kill them all.
The empire still needed officials to function. He had no interest in ruling an empty court.
"Let's go," Ye Chen said calmly.
"Back to the bedchamber."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Zhong hurried after him, his heart pounding.
He knew that when the sun rose tomorrow, a terrifying storm would erupt in the imperial court.
Yet for the first time in a long while, he felt complete confidence in his emperor.
Back in his chambers, Ye Chen changed into a fresh set of dragon robes.
He then walked into the imperial garden and quietly gazed up at the intertwining streams of draconic qi flowing across the sky.
Dugu Qiubai and Shen Qinglong stood respectfully behind him.
"Shen Qinglong," Ye Chen said calmly.
"Have your arrangements at the Sky-Supervising Pavilion been made?"
"If my mother suffers even the slightest harm…"
"I will hold you personally responsible."
He could not allow Ye Gucheng to retain any leverage over him.
That was the only reason his uncle had dared to force him to issue an abdication decree.
The Empress Dowager had become a weapon aimed directly at him.
Before making his move, Ye Chen had to remove that threat.
Though Ye Chen showed no outward display of power, the invisible pressure of his imperial aura caused Shen Qinglong's body to tremble.
Even the air seemed to grow colder.
"Your Majesty."
Shen Qinglong immediately knelt.
"All arrangements have been made."
"If the Empress Dowager suffers the slightest harm…"
"This subordinate will present Your Majesty with his head."
Before returning to the palace, he had already dispatched his forces.
Some Jinyiwei were hidden within the palace.
Others had already begun moving toward the Sky-Supervising Pavilion to rescue the Empress Dowager.
"Good."
"Do not disappoint me."
"You may rise."
Ye Chen nodded slightly.
He had no need to threaten them.
Their loyalty was absolute.
At that moment, the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds.
Golden light spilled across the heavens, illuminating the glazed tiles of the imperial palace.
They shimmered with a faint golden brilliance.
"The light of hope…"
"Scattering the darkness before the dawn."
Ye Chen gazed quietly at the rising sun.
A sharp, killing intent flickered in his calm eyes as a terrifying murderous aura slowly rose from his body.
"With the Son of Heaven's Sword…"
"I will bury this darkness."
"And welcome the dawn of a new era."