Only a small number of people recognized the changes in the Imperial Palace, understood what exactly had happened—or why it had happened.
Some had not realized it at all, such as the Third Prince and Fourth Prince.
Xu Taiyou himself was not an exceptionally capable or ambitious man. At most, he could be said to have achieved a certain amount.
Moreover, no one had expected the emperor, who should have had several years left to live, to die so suddenly.
As a result, they did not even have a chance to resist before they were seized in their respective princely estates.
Xu Tianran acted with extreme decisiveness as well. After capturing them, he left no survivors.
Whether it was the consorts, wives, concubines, or maternal clans of the two princes, nearly all of them were executed once their identities were confirmed.
Only the two princes themselves were brought back.
As for the youngest prince, he had not originally been in his estate. Yet after repeated searches, he too was found at one of his residences outside the city.
This so-called ascension to the throne, this so-called protection, was in fact a purge—swift and ruthless.
Xu Tianran had methods. Whether in controlling others or in politics, he was a formidable figure.
It was only because his physical condition was poor and both his legs were crippled that he had neglected many matters during this period.
As the operation neared completion, with people either seized or arrested, the entire Imperial City began to be taken over.
By this stage, even if others still harbored different thoughts and wanted to get involved, it was already difficult.
At this moment, within the Imperial City, Li Qingming stood there silently. Behind him were the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy instructors who had helped him