On his very first day at court, the Sun Moon New Emperor had dealt with two senior princes with thunderous decisiveness, asserting his authority over everyone at the morning court.
According to the ancestral rules of the Royal Family, its members could not be charged lightly. But this time, even Kong Deming tacitly accepted the outcome, so the other royal members naturally dared not argue their case.
Having successfully killed the chickens to frighten the monkeys, he pushed through the establishment of the Cabinet before anyone could react, brooking no objections. Jing Hongchen, Hall Master of Illustrious Virtue Hall, was provisionally appointed Grand Secretary, while the remaining members awaited selection.
Once the officials recovered their wits, they submitted memorial after memorial at the next day's morning court, imploring the new emperor to think twice and rescind his decree lest he shake the foundations of the nation.
Huo Yuhao coldly rejected every last one.
The ministers' objections came in an endless stream, while the Senior Soul Engineers watched and waited, feeling that matters were not so simple.
Sure enough, a few days later, everyone froze when the first list of Cabinet members was released.
To their astonishment, the vast majority came from Illustrious Virtue Hall or had old ties with Jing Hongchen. Only a handful were important ministers inclined toward neutrality.
This was by no means a good thing.
At another morning court, Huo Yuhao sat on the Dragon Throne and said gravely, "Those with matters to report may speak."
Outwardly, he sat upright on the Dragon Throne at the front of the hall, wearing a purple-gold crown and Sun Moon dragon robes. His magnificent attire symbolized the supreme authority of the Sun Moon Empire as he received the homage of its ministers.
Beneath his Simulation, however, he wore a simple