The Ninefold Palace.
The resplendent Golden Throne Hall.
Emperor Jingde sat high upon the Imperial Throne, speaking with confident ease. He unilaterally announced Qin Zhong's appointment as Commanding Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and publicly abolished the Court Deliberation system.
The emperor alone held supreme power, yet he still had to consult the Grand Secretariat and the Nine Ministers on affairs of state. Such a covert weakening of imperial power had to be stamped out!
A Censor boldly stepped forward and declared with absolute conviction:
"Your Majesty, this is a benighted policy! It violates the Ancestral Precepts and destroys the foundations of the Central Court!"
His crown sitting straight upon his head, Emperor Jingde replied without a change of expression:
"Did these so-called Court Deliberations, which gather the ministers to make decisions, ever root out a treacherous villain like Jia Huan, who brought ruin to the nation and misery to its people? It was only through my wisdom, martial prowess, and decisive action that this villain was eliminated!"
Every minister fell silent. Some dared not refute him; others could find no argument to offer.
The threat beneath His Majesty's words was plain.
If Quan Bing and Nangong Ping'an existed in the History Books, then Jia Huan was a bloody example laid right before their eyes.
Even someone as domineering and powerful as him had been easily crushed by imperial power. Who would dare defy the emperor's will from now on?!
Seeing the hall fall utterly silent, Emperor Jingde felt refreshed and invigorated, a faint smile touching his lips.
"Your Majesty, the heavy snow has returned," an attending Censor in the hall respectfully reported.
Emperor Jingde slapped the table and rose, laughing heartily:
"An auspicious omen! With the villain eliminated, Heaven has bestowed its blessing. All the people shall sing