The ministers press for abdication, Xue Ye flies into a rage, and the Heaven Dou Palace Coup begins!

Heaven Dou City.

On the streets, everything seemed normal, but at some point, the common people had gathered together, discussing something in hushed voices.

"Have you heard? The treasury is empty, and His Majesty still wants to raise taxes!"

"Raise taxes? We can barely get by as it is, and he wants to raise taxes?"

"Exactly! I heard His Majesty provoked a powerful enemy and caused the empire devastating losses, yet he still wants to squeeze us common folk dry!"

"We can't live like this anymore!"

With deliberate instigators fanning the flames, the discussions grew increasingly heated.

A procession of commoners set out from the south of the city, holding banners and chanting loud, unified slogans as they surged toward the Imperial Palace.

"We beg Your Majesty to give us a way to survive!"

"Purge the emperor's side! Remove the treacherous ministers!"

"Make the foolish emperor abdicate!"

The procession kept swelling, with more people joining along the way.

Some were commoners who had truly been incited, while others were people Qian Renxue had planted.

Before long,

thousands upon thousands of people had gathered in the square before the Imperial Palace.

The imperial guards held their spears but did not dare act rashly.

The law could not punish the masses!

Besides, there were simply too many of them, and not all of them were ordinary commoners.

The Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

In the court hall, Xue Ye sat upright on his dragon throne, his expression dark.

Dozens of ministers stood below him.

"Your Majesty."

An elderly minister stepped forward first and knelt. "This old minister has a matter to report."

Xue Ye glanced at him.

"Speak."

"The empire has suffered repeated upheavals, the treasury is empty, and public resentment is boiling over. This old minister begs Your Majesty to put