Those four words fell.
Everyone stared fixedly at the emperor.
They did not even blink.
"Let me ask you all something."
"How many years has Great Zhou stood?"
The hall fell silent for several breaths.
Wen Zhong answered, "More than six thousand four hundred years."
"Correct."
The emperor nodded.
"More than six thousand four hundred years."
"Through these six thousand four hundred years."
"What do you think has kept my Jiang Clan firmly seated on this throne?"
The entire hall was silent as the grave.
That question was not easy to answer.
In the end, Prime Minister Wen spoke.
"Your Majesty, the Progenitor Emperor struggled to found the realm, and every late emperor since faced hardships preserving it."
"The ministers at court have given their all, and countless soldiers of Great Zhou have fought to the death on the borders."
"Only through harmony between sovereign and subjects has the dynasty endured to this day."
The emperor listened.
He gave Wen Zhong a long, searching look.
"That tongue of yours is as deft as ever, Prime Minister Wen."
Wen Zhong's expression did not change. He merely replied calmly.
"Your praise leaves this old minister humbled."
"Wrong. Your answer was wrong. Everything you just said was bullshit!"
Everyone's lips twitched at once.
Why was the emperor acting like a rabid dog today?
Had Li Xinge driven him mad with anger?
The emperor's gaze sharpened.
His entire presence grew fiercer still.
"My Jiang Clan has endured to this day not because of that bullshit Prime Minister Wen spouted, but because of..."
The emperor enunciated each word.
"Absolute strength!"
The emperor bent at the waist.
The instant he bowed.
The air throughout the Tai Chi Hall froze.
The wisps of blue smoke rising from the incense burner stood perfectly still.
Crack.
The space within