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A smile briefly flashed across Gu Changsheng’s face before he quickly restrained it. He was familiar with the plot. Gaining plot points wasn’t that difficult.

“Ministers, are there any important matters left to discuss?”

With a stern expression, Gu Changsheng swept his gaze over the entire court and spoke coldly. He knew the Empress Dowager had yet to reveal her final move, but he also held cards capable of turning the tide.

“Your Majesty, this old minister has something to report!”

From the ranks of civil and military officials, an old man in official attire with a frail body stepped forward, slightly bowing toward Gu Changsheng, who was seated on the dragon throne, and spoke loudly.

Hearing this, Gu Changsheng’s eyes flickered as he scrutinized the elderly man.

[Name: Xue Wuyan]. [Position: Left Prime Minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty]. [Cultivation: Peak of Great Expert Realm]. [Loyalty: 60].

This old man’s identity was far from simple; he was Xue Wuyan, the Left Prime Minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty, with unfathomable cultivation at the peak of the Great Power Realm.

In the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, such a figure was regarded as a giant. The Emperor held supreme authority, followed by the Left and Right Prime Ministers, who assisted in handling state affairs and governing the land.

The Empress Dowager’s influence was largely due to the support of the Right Prime Minister. As for the Left Prime Minister, he had always remained neutral, rarely intervening in court factional disputes.

Considering this, Gu Changsheng began to formulate a plan to win the Left Prime Minister over and use him against the Empress Dowager.

“What is it that you wish to report, Left Prime Minister?”

Gu Changsheng asked, his face expressionless, as he lightly tapped the arm of the dragon throne.

“Your Majesty, since the passing of the late Emperor, chaos has erupted within the empire, with rogue cultivators causing trouble and demons running rampant. The common people are suffering immensely, and countless lives are being lost.”

“I implore Your Majesty to send strong warriors to suppress the unrest; otherwise, the loss of public trust could lead to disastrous consequences.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng’s expression turned grim, his face darkening.

In this fantasy world, cultivators were lofty beings who treated ordinary people like ants and were difficult to restrain.

Even during the reign of the late Emperor, Gu Qiangu, rogue cultivators would often stir up trouble within the empire. Let alone now, with the world believing the late Emperor had passed away and no longer held sway over them.

Gu Changsheng knew that these rogue cultivators were merely pawns, manipulated by someone behind the scenes—none other than the Empress Dowager. Her true identity was the Demon Queen of the Demon Sect, and most of the rogue cultivators causing trouble were from her sect.

Her goal was to create chaos in the Great Zhou, giving other forces the opportunity to take advantage, ultimately intending to topple the dynasty.

“Left Prime Minister, you are worrying too much.”

“What kind of storm can a mere cultivator cause in chaos? Why does the court need to make a big fuss and send strong men to suppress it?”

The Minister of Revenue, Li Yang, stepped forward with a sneer on his face, glancing at the Empress Dowager, who nodded slightly in return.

Li Yang sighed with relief. Offending the Left Prime Minister wasn’t something he’d dare to do without the Empress Dowager’s signal.

As Li Yang openly rebuked the Left Prime Minister, the court understood: his actions reflected the Empress Dowager’s will. The tension between her and the Left Prime Minister was clear, but none of the other ministers dared to get involved.

The Empress Dowager then spoke coldly, her face devoid of emotion: “I believe the Minister of Revenue is correct. Rogue cultivators are not a significant threat and will quiet down in time. There’s no need for the court to make such a fuss or send warriors to suppress them.”

“If any ministers disagree, feel free to speak up.”

At this point, the entire court understood the Empress Dowager’s mesKing. One by one, they voiced their agreement:

“Her Majesty is right.”

“Rogue cultivators are a minor issue, not worthy of concern.”

“…”

Seeing this, Gu Changsheng’s eyes turned cold. He knew the Empress Dowager would oppose him, given that the unrest was linked to her Demon Sect. She didn’t want the dynasty sending warriors to interfere and ruin her plans.

The Demon Sect was a powerful force with deep roots and a blood feud against the Great Zhou Dynasty.

However, lacking a saint-level protector, they didn’t dare openly challenge the dynasty. So, the Demon Queen had infiltrated the court, climbing to the position of Empress Dowager and controlling the empire from behind the scenes.

While Gu Changsheng was tempted to expose her true identity to the court, he knew that without sufficient evidence, no one would believe him. Doing so prematurely would only provoke her wrath and likely endanger his own life.

For now, he decided to bide his time until he could decisively eliminate her.

“Rogue cultivators are causing chaos, demons run rampant, and countless lives are lost. The people of the Great Zhou are suffering terribly. To think this is considered a trivial matter by the court.” Gu Changsheng said with icy indifference, his gaze sweeping over the ministers.

“Do you all remember the once-prosperous Yu Dynasty?”

“Back then, a demon empress and corrupt ministers plagued the court, while rogue cultivators and demons ravaged the land. In just a few hundred years, the mighty dynasty crumbled into nothingness.”

“Today, the Great Zhou faces a disturbingly similar situation.”

Gu Changsheng’s words sent a chill through the court, and the ministers paled with fear. They understood his veiled accusations: the corrupt ministers referred to them, while the demon empress was an unmistakable reference to the Empress Dowager.

All eyes nervously flickered toward her.

The Empress Dowager’s face twisted with fury, her cold gaze sweeping the court. Every minister caught in her gaze trembled in fear.

“Your Majesty is overstating the matter. The fall of the Yu Dynasty was due to the death of its saints. The Great Zhou still has a saint, and the court ministers are loyal and hardworking. Even with the unrest, no significant harm can be done to the dynasty,” Li Yang interjected with a sneer.

“Silence!” Gu Changsheng thundered, slamming his hand on the dragon throne. An unprecedented, overwhelming imperial aura flooded the hall.

“As a minister, you are supposed to ease my burdens, not add to them. Do you understand your crime?”

The hall fell into a suffocating silence, the oppressive atmosphere unbearable. The ministers sweated nervously, overwhelmed by the emperor’s newfound authority.

Li Yang, trembling and drenched in cold sweat, lowered his head, too frightened to meet Gu Changsheng’s gaze.

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager, infuriated by Li Yang’s cowardice, cursed him silently.

Ignoring the pathetic sight before him, Gu Changsheng stood tall and declared, “I hereby establish the Great Zhou Royal Shadow Guards. They will oversee the land with imperial authority, empowered to act without prior approval, eliminating all traitors and corrupt officials.”

“Rogue cultivators, demons—kill!”

“Traitors, corrupt ministers—kill!”

“…”