This Damn Sword Is Really Useless!

Two days later, Taihe Hall.

Inside the hall, incense smoke curled up from the censer, filling the air with a delicate fragrance. The surrounding walls were adorned with magnificent silks and precious paintings and calligraphy, showcasing the nobility and luxury of the royal family.

Civil and military officials, dressed in solemn court attire, were arranged neatly according to their rank. They wore black gauze caps, brocade robes embroidered with exquisite patterns, jade belts at their waists, and held ivory tablets, their expressions grave and expectant.

On this crucial day, a tense and solemn atmosphere permeated the palace and its surroundings.

With the resounding chime of a bell, the adoption ceremony officially began. Chu Lu, clad in a dragon robe, walked in and took his seat on the throne.

The Minister of Rites held a golden adoption decree and began to read: "By the grace of heaven, we, the Emperor, decree..."

After the reading, the Empress entered, leading a cold-faced female monastic.

Originally, there was supposed to be a ritual of lighting candles and offering sacrifices to heaven, earth, and the ancestors, but the Empress was impatient, so many of the ceremonial steps were simplified.

The Empress presented an adoption document to Chu Lu.

"Stamp your handprint, Your Majesty," the Empress said with an extremely mocking smile. "After you stamp your handprint, have her kowtow to you a few times. From now on, you will have a daughter."

Chu Lu looked at the adoption document. Its content was nothing more than that Xu Liniang could not have children, and for the peace of Dayan, a child was to be adopted from the clan. Although not biologically hers, she would enjoy all rights.

He then looked at the officials below.

Perhaps sensing that Chu Lu could no longer turn the tables, they no longer cared about etiquette. They all looked up at Chu Lu, their eyes filled with undisguised mockery, ridicule, and urgency.

"Hurry up and stamp it, Your Majesty, what are you dawdling for?" the Empress said.

So Chu Lu looked at the Empress again. She had a similar expression, a mix of the arrogance of a victor and a hint of impatience.

He then looked at the adopted daughter, who was obediently lowering her head, appearing very pure and innocent.

"Stop looking around, Your Majesty. You're not still hoping someone will save you, are you?" the Empress said in a low voice. "Give up that idea and stamp it obediently! Cooperate, and I might spare your life."

Chu Lu withdrew his gaze and took the adoption document.

"That's right," the Empress said. "Stamp your handprint."

And at this moment, under the watchful eyes of the Empress, the adopted daughter, and the civil and military officials, Chu Lu looked at the adoption document, smiled slightly, and with a forceful movement of his hands.

Riiip.

He tore the adoption document in half!

The sound echoed in the silent palace.

The Empress's eyes widened abruptly, and the adopted daughter subconsciously raised her head.

The civil and military officials were all stunned.

"What are you doing?" the next moment, the Empress's sharp voice rang out. She pointed at Chu Lu and said, "Xu Liniang, what are you doing?!"

Chu Lu stood up from the throne, his expressionless face stating, "The matter of adoption is hereby nullified. The Empress conspired to frame the Imperial Consort, poisoned me, and seized control of the court. Her crime is punishable by death. Today, I shall act on behalf of heaven and execute this treacherous Empress!"

The civil and military officials were in an uproar. No one expected Chu Lu to turn on them at this moment.

The Empress let out a cold laugh, furious. "Ha! You're not pretending anymore, are you? I knew you wouldn't give up so easily!"

She took two steps back, drew the Imperial Sword, and said, "Fortunately, I brought the sword with me."

"Xu Liniang!" the Empress called her by name. "Do you see? This is the Imperial Sword bestowed by the late Emperor. It strikes down the unworthy ruler and the treacherous official. Why aren't you kneeling before me?!"

Chu Lu looked at her stance and burst into laughter, walking directly towards her.

The Empress's heart skipped a beat, intimidated by Chu Lu's demeanor. She shouted angrily, "Stop! I had many reservations and didn't act before, but this time it's different!"

"Oh? Then go ahead and attack," Chu Lu said.

"I'll really cut you!" the Empress roared.

The officials and the adopted daughter watched the scene nervously.

That was the Imperial Sword!

Chu Lu couldn't possibly not be afraid!

However, to their surprise, Chu Lu showed no sign of backing down. He even roared, "Go ahead and cut!"

"Aaaahhhhhh!" the Empress screamed and swung the sword down.

Everyone was startled and widened their eyes.

What happened next stunned them all.

Chu Lu extended his hands and, with a move of Empty Hand Catches White Blade, caught the Imperial Sword. Then, with a twist and a pull of his hands, he snatched the sword away.

With a fierce grip from Chu Lu's eagle-like hands, several crisp snaps were heard. The Imperial Sword was actually snapped in half.

Seeing this, the Empress's legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground. She pointed a trembling right finger at Chu Lu and stammered, "Th-that's the Imperial Sword bestowed by the late Emperor! You actually... you actually... Aren't you afraid the late Emperor will die with his eyes open?!"

"There's something I've wanted to complain about for a long time," Chu Lu shouted, as if venting. "The late Emperor was my mother! If my mother saw you using her sword to try and kill her daughter, then she would die with her eyes open! How dare you use her name to threaten meeeeeee?!"

"Huh?" The Empress froze, her face a picture of utter confusion, like a failing student facing advanced calculus.

But then she reacted and said, "Enough! Don't think you've won just because you don't have the Imperial Sword! I am going through with this adoption ceremony today. I have the civil and military officials, I have the adopted..."

Pfft.

The cold, aloof female nun's eyes widened as she clutched her neck, then fell to the ground, dead.

The Empress stared at the scene, frozen in terror, forgetting the words she had intended to say.

"I understand what you mean," Chu Lu said slowly. "You have the support of civil and military officials, and a suitable candidate to raise the heir, so you think you've already won, right? But it's fine, I've already thought of a countermeasure."

He turned to the officials in front of him and said, "Why not just kill them all?"

The faces of the civil and military officials turned pale.

"Heh, heh, heh ha ha ha!" The Empress stared at the corpse of the cold, aloof female nun, her expression initially blank, then gradually breaking into wild laughter.

"Crazy! Crazy! I think you're crazy!" the Empress shouted. "You, all alone, can kill all of us? What a dream! Imperial Guards! Where are the Imperial Guards! Come here quickly!"

A sound of neat footsteps suddenly rang out, and a stream of black figures surged in from outside the palace. They were a group of fully armed soldiers.

"See!" The Empress stood up, her face contorted with rage from losing her new favorite. "The Imperial Guards are in my hands! Who can you kill with just a sword? You're nothing but a clown!"

At this moment, the Imperial Guards had split into two groups. One group blocked the exits, while the other group moved through the civil and military officials to stand before the two of them.

"Watch this!" The Empress gave a smug smile, then yelled at the soldiers, "My army, heed my command! The Emperor has fallen into hysteria and has gone completely mad. You need not show any restraint. For me, chop her... into... pieces!"

She gritted her teeth on the last four words.

The general leading the troops approached Chu Lu, then suddenly knelt on one knee.

The Empress was stunned, then shouted angrily, "Why are you kneeling to her! Kill her quickly!"

The general remained unresponsive, merely removing his helmet.

Su Muyun said in a deep voice, "This subordinate has fulfilled His Majesty's trust. The Imperial Guards are now in His Majesty's grasp!"