Xuan Niao Guard

Mo Yunxuan glanced to either side, the corner of his mouth curling into an amused smile.

"I'm afraid that won't win over the people~"

The ministers, who had been silent and keeping their heads down, suddenly grew agitated.

Those who commanded troops themselves or had family members leading armies were especially quick to step forward and remonstrate:

"Your Majesty, the Wei State Duke Mansion has always been loyal. Since taking command of the Imperial City Imperial Guard, they have never made a single mistake. Seizing their military power like this will surely chill the hearts of the generals throughout the realm!"

"Your Majesty, the Left Wei Guard has been commanded by successive generations of the Wei State Duke since the Restoration. It has long been established practice. Any rash change could bring great turmoil!"

Some grew so agitated that they shouted outright:

"Your Majesty, Marquis Anle has recklessly meddled in military affairs and spread alarming rumors to confuse the people. He may be plotting treason and should be executed!"

"I second the motion!"

Jun Tianxiao looked at the vehement ministers in alarm and couldn't help taking two steps back. He hadn't expected to lose his footing and fall to the ground.

He had never imagined that one ill-chosen remark could make every official unite against him.

Watching the tumultuous Imperial Court, Ji Ruxue felt conflicted. For once, a fleeting bewilderment showed in her eyes.

This was her court!

Every one of them had their own selfish motives!

For the sake of their own interests,

they didn't care in the least about the fate of the Great Gan Dynasty!

They didn't even have her, their emperor, in their eyes!

For a moment, Ji Ruxue's gaze darkened, and a thought suddenly surfaced in her mind:

How wonderful it would be if I could kill them all!

Even Ji Ruxue was startled by her own thought. How could she think something like that?

She silently reminded herself that they were the pillars of the Imperial Court. Without them, the Great Gan Dynasty would be hard to keep standing.

Yet as she watched the officials argue until their faces flushed red, each fighting for their own interests and those of their Noble Families,

she couldn't understand why!

These officials were always willing to forsake the dynasty's interests for the tiniest personal gain!

If the dynasty grew stronger, wouldn't they be able to reap even greater rewards?

So why was every one of them so short-sighted?

Looking at their faces now, it was as if all her efforts since ascending the throne had gone up in smoke.

A shadow of dejection settled over Ji Ruxue's heart.

Just then, Mo Yunxuan, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, stepped forward again and called out to the officials:

"Everyone! Please, hear me out!"

The officials had said most of what they wanted to say. Seeing that the man whose military power was being demanded had something to say,

they quieted down of their own accord. They wanted to see what Mo Yunxuan would say.

Once everyone had fallen silent, Mo Yunxuan bowed to Ji Ruxue and spoke in an even tone:

"Your Majesty, when I spoke just now, I had no intention of trying to pressure you."

"According to the Wei State Duke Mansion's ancestral precepts, if Your Majesty requires it, the other three guards may be taken as well. This humble minister will have no complaints."

"I only wished to remind Your Majesty that the Wei State Duke Mansion has invested a great deal of resources in the Left Wei Guard. I hope Your Majesty will provide some compensation."

Mo Yunxuan's words were like a shaft of light piercing Ji Ruxue's heart, driving away the darkness and letting her glimpse a ray of hope.

Ji Ruxue felt a little moved. She hadn't expected the one to come to her rescue in the end would be the very Wei State Duke whose military power she was trying to seize.

As expected! The Wei State Duke Mansion's loyalty was as clear as heaven and earth!

Even though the current Duke of Wei hadn't received detailed instruction from the previous Duke,

his loyalty to Great Gan hadn't dimmed in the slightest!

She really...

Having learned from her earlier mistake, Ji Ruxue didn't give Jun Tianxiao another chance to speak. She immediately announced:

"Since that's the case, Zhao Yun will take command of the Left Wei Guard. I will arrange for someone to compensate the Wei State Duke Mansion for the resources it has invested."

After receiving her promise, Mo Yunxuan nodded, returned to the ranks, and said no more.

He didn't care who commanded the Left Wei Guard. Once his Elite Vanguard was ready, they would all die anyway!

The officials were fairly satisfied with the arrangement. Though the Wei State Duke had ultimately lost his military power, his investment would be compensated.

If anything similar happened in the future, they could use the Wei State Duke's case as a precedent to protect their own interests.

But Ji Ruxue wasn't finished.

"Additionally, the Xuan Niao Guard will make room for one thousand householders, and the Wei State Duke may select elite soldiers to join them."

That startled everyone. Since Ji Ruxue had ascended the throne, she had established the Xuan Niao Guard as her own organization.

The Xuan Niao Guard was like a grim reaper in the dark. No one knew how many there were or what their backgrounds were,

only that Ji Ruxue had personally trained them, that her personal maid, Commander Hong Yu, led them, and that they answered directly to Ji Ruxue.

At first, their main duties had been delivering Ji Ruxue's imperial decrees and keeping watch over the officials. Only occasionally did they take on the task of capturing fugitives.

But as time passed, the Xuan Niao Guard members, all prodigies to begin with, grew stronger and stronger.

Almost none of them were below the Nascent Soul Realm, and quite a few had reached the Spirit Transformation Realm, matching the level of many Noble Family ancestors.

The Xuan Niao Guard's strength naturally made Ji Ruxue bolder in her actions, to the point of becoming somewhat uninhibited.

In recent years, this had made the Xuan Niao Guard seem to act first and report later, as if they had the emperor's express authorization.

Now, Ji Ruxue had voluntarily opened a gap in an organization that was nearly impossible to infiltrate.

How could the ministers not be astonished?

Jun Tianxiao, standing to one side, stared wide-eyed, clearly unable to accept this outcome.

"Your Majesty! Could this—"

Ji Ruxue clearly had no intention of letting him continue. She declared firmly, "This matter is settled. There is no need for further discussion!"

She also shot a warning glance at Jun Tianxiao, who had still wanted to speak.

The glare sent a chill down Jun Tianxiao's back. He promptly shut his mouth, not daring to say another word, and could only console himself in silence.

At least it's not so bad. I got the position of commander of the Left Wei Guard. Everything else is trivial.

Just as Ji Ruxue thought the court session was finally about to end, Censor-in-Chief Li Xian stepped forward and said solemnly:

"Your Majesty, this subject has a request."

Ji Ruxue looked at him and instantly remembered the absurd incident at Anle Marquis Manor yesterday.

She shot Jun Tianxiao a hard glare before turning to Li Xian and asking, though she already knew the answer, "What is it, Beloved Minister Li?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Xian's solemn expression suddenly turned sorrowful, and his words took on a hint of a sob.

"Your Majesty, yesterday my daughter went to Anle Marquis Manor to privately discuss ending her engagement with Marquis Anle."

"But Marquis Anle not only shouted and drew everyone's attention, he also claimed my daughter wanted to end the engagement because she was greedy for wealth and looked down on his Anle Marquis Manor."

"He even portrayed my daughter as a shameless wretch who coveted the gifts and betrothal presents from his Anle Marquis Manor."

"He went further, slandering her as a woman who consorted with other men and was faithless, ruining her reputation."

Ji Ruxue rubbed her temples. Before, she would have cleared Li Qinghan's name,

then punished Jun Tianxiao with a token reprimand and let the matter pass without much fuss.

But now, as she looked at the troublemaker below, wearing an unconcerned expression and showing no sign that he realized he'd done anything wrong,

she truly had no desire to clean up after him at all. But then she remembered that Zhao Yun, his subordinate, was still needed to take over the Left Wei Guard.

What a mess!

Ji Ruxue sighed inwardly and said listlessly:

"Jun has indeed gone too far in this matter. Beloved Minister Li, what do you request?"