Radiant Sun Empire, Imperial Palace, Palace of Heart Cultivation.
The entire grand and solemn palace fell into deathly silence in an instant. Only the swaying candlelight cast the tall yet tense figure of the emperor sharply onto the cold white jade floor.
Xu Qingxuan wore a black robe embroidered with dark golden dragon patterns, his ink-black hair neatly bound beneath a jade crown. His face, usually gentle and composed yet naturally carrying imperial majesty, was now twisted with a livid, ferocious expression.
He stood stiffly before the rosewood imperial desk, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. The cracking of his bones echoed clearly through the silent hall.
Fourteen years.
A full fourteen years as emperor.
Since ascending the throne, he had worked tirelessly, rising early and sleeping late, never daring to slack off in the slightest.
Yet in the end, a single sentence had forced him to hand over the throne he had occupied for fourteen years!
Why?!
The thought was like a raging wildfire, madly scorching his insides. The unwillingness and resentment he had suppressed for so long finally shattered every shackle of restraint.
"I, Xu Qingxuan, have reigned for fourteen years. What wrong have I done?!"
A low, hoarse roar suddenly rang through the hall, carrying boundless grievance and fury. It made the candles flicker violently and the glass lamps tremble faintly.
Xu Qingxuan's eyes were bloodshot, veins visible within them as he stared fixedly at the mountain of memorials piled atop the desk.
He strode forward step by step and abruptly swept out his hand!
Crash—!
The vermilion-marked memorials, gilded scrolls, and imperial brushes and inkstones were all swept to the ground, scattering in every direction. Papers drifted across the hall, the shafts of precious purple-hare imperial brushes snapped, and fine dragon-saliva