Lavish rewards!

After a brief hesitation, the northern aristocratic clans also spoke up.

"Your Majesty, please confer the rank of One-Character Marquis upon Governor Li to honor his achievements."

The emperor looked down at the dense mass of people bowing below the dais.

His gaze turned somewhat cold.

This entire hall of beasts in court robes is filled with traitorous subjects.

He let out a long breath and said evenly, "I grant your petition. But which character should be used for his marquisate?"

Everyone began to ponder.

Before long, an official stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Governor Li governs Yang Province, which lies within the territory of the ancient Wu Kingdom. Why not make him the Marquis of Wu?"

"The Marquis of Wu?"

At those words, everyone froze.

Then they all immediately distanced themselves from the speaker.

At some point, the emperor had risen from the Dragon Throne. His smile never reached his eyes. "The Marquis of Wu?"

Sensing the strange atmosphere, the official broke into a cold sweat.

"Y-Your Majesty..."

"Heh."

The emperor sneered.

Then he walked to the side, seized the golden gourd mace from a Golden Gourd Warrior stationed beside the hall, and approached the official with an utterly indifferent expression.

"Y-Your Majesty, spare me!"

The emperor swung the golden gourd mace. A dull thud rang out.

The next instant, the official's skull burst like a watermelon, spraying red and white everywhere.

After striking the crown of the man's head with the golden gourd mace and bludgeoning him to death, the emperor finished.

He casually tossed the mace onto the floor, then walked back toward the Dragon Throne with a calm gaze.

Everyone looked at the corpse lying in its pool of blood and shook their heads.

This fool, newly transferred to the capital from a provincial