The first ray of morning sunlight spilled into the great hall.
Dawn had barely broken.
The ministers of the Star Luo Empire had already arrived at the Imperial Palace one after another, ready for the morning court session.
Birds chirped as they landed on the eaves along the palace corridors, breathing a little life into the silent, empty palace.
Yet the mood among the ministers was heavy.
These men normally wielded immense power, but now they all wore furrowed brows and kept their heads lowered in silence.
Not long ago, Border Commander Dai Hao had rebelled, and White Tiger Province had changed hands overnight. Other factions had swarmed in like jackals and wolves, cutting off their retreat. Even the two forces of the Hand of National Protection that had been about to lead troops on a punitive expedition had been forced to lay down their arms for the moment and turn back.
Inside the great hall.
Xu Jiawei sat upon his throne, his expression betraying neither joy nor anger.
Yet the ministers were all uneasy. Only yesterday, several of their colleagues had been thrown into prison for various reasons, which said plenty about His Majesty's mood...
I can't bring those secluded clans to heel, but you think I can't handle you?
He had not erupted in anger, but that was far more frightening than if he had.
"Your Majesty, an urgent battle report from the front!"
Just as the eunuch was about to announce the start of court.
An urgent voice rang out from outside the hall.
The voice arrived before its owner.
As the ministers and Xu Jiawei, seated in the highest place, turned their attention toward it, a flash of horror crossed all their eyes.
A figure streaked into the hall like a rainbow and dropped to his