Intertwined

Court was dismissed.

After something like this had happened, there was naturally no way to continue discussing ordinary state affairs. As for the equal tax law, once the censor who had invoked ancestral precedent died, the court temporarily had no more voices opposing it.

Blood splattering the Golden Throne Hall was not unprecedented, but in the past, those had all been unsolved headless cases where the culprit could not be found. A murder as undisguised as Xu Yuan's today was the first in decades.

Such violence was the lowest sort of tactic, yet also the most efficient—best suited for when the Emperor was away. Moreover, the Imperial Faction's higher-ups could see that Xu Yuan's purpose in killing was not murder itself, but making his stance clear.

Even if they could argue him into speechlessness, Xu Changtian would still forcefully announce this equal tax law to the realm today.

With words no longer working, the only way to stop them would be to subdue Xu Changtian through force. But the commander of the Imperial Guard had just tried that path and failed. There was no meaning in continuing to obstruct them like this; they could only wait for the Emperor's return before making further plans. Besides, everyone needed time to adjust to what had happened today and find a path for themselves through the chaotic future.

The dismissal of court was rather disorderly. Xu Yuan simply sat down upon the golden steps, silently watching the chaotic hall below.

Court officials did not necessarily mean important ministers, much less profound cultivators. The Golden Throne Hall was only so large; the shockwaves from Xu Yuan and Wang Shili's clash had directly injured many people. Some had even been covered with white cloths.

After waiting roughly the time it took to burn an incense