Capital City Craftsmen

Before dawn broke, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was already ablaze with lights.

"Bastards!"

With an angry roar, the white jade paperweight on the imperial desk was swept to the floor and smashed to pieces.

Emperor Xiao Qixuan gazed down at them, his voice as cold as ice. "You're telling me that the heartland of My dragon vein has actually become a place where wandering sorcerers come and go as they please?!"

Vice Minister of Rites Pei Zongti, Prince Shunyang, the Court of the Imperial Clan's Director, and Great General Jiao Wanbao of the Golden Guard...

All three were powerful figures in the capital, yet at this moment, they did not dare even breathe loudly.

The Court of the Imperial Clan's Director, Prince Shunyang, was even more aggrieved inside.

On the way there, he had still been wondering about the incident at the "Nine Gates Yin Ruins." Outsiders knew nothing about it, and those sent to deal with it had kept their mouths tightly shut. The only flaw was that the Golden Guard had failed to catch anyone and had merely found a courtyard burned to the ground.

The whole matter could easily have been brushed aside. Why had His Majesty learned of it even earlier than he had?

Only after hearing that Prince Pingyang and Prince Lucuan had been stripped of their positions did he finally understand the reason.

Emperor Xiao Qixuan was taking this opportunity to make his move.

The Court of the Imperial Clan oversaw all matters concerning the imperial family. Though it did not participate in court politics, its words still carried considerable weight.

The Emperor's recent reduction of the vassal princes had left many people dissatisfied.

Before the New Year, when the Emperor had fainted while handling state affairs, they had seized the opportunity to