On the reviewing platform, the night wind whipped fiercely, making the bright yellow dragon robe on Chen Ye's body billow and snap.
He gave no long speech, nor did he offer any stirring words of wisdom.
There were no fools these days. To think a few empty words could trick people into risking their lives for him was nothing but a fool's dream.
Rather than paint a cake to satisfy hunger, it was better to offer something real.
"Attendants, bring out wine, meat, and money!"
Soon, barrel after barrel of fragrant fine wine and basin after basin of copper coins worth ten or a hundred coins apiece were brought out and distributed according to rank.
As much wine and meat as they could eat, as much money as they needed-that was Chen Ye's attitude.
The Imperial Guard soldiers, whose eyes had held traces of conflict and uncertainty, now ate until their mouths were greasy, with their freshly issued rewards tucked into their pockets. The way they looked at the figure on the high platform subtly changed.
Perhaps this emperor was indeed absurd and muddleheaded, but there was nothing to fault in the way he treated his own people.
That was enough.
This was precisely the effect Chen Ye wanted.
The first step was to make them feel that he was a decent emperor.
Beside him, Tong Lei stole a glance at the emperor before him, both shocked and puzzled. He felt that His Majesty's figure seemed especially unfathomable tonight.
Meanwhile, news that the emperor had reviewed the Imperial Guard late at night and lavishly rewarded the soldiers quickly spread through the upper ranks of Great Zhao.
The Cui residence.
"What is he trying to do? What on earth is he trying to do!?" Wang Yuanzhi's usual composure was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a trace of panic he could not conceal.
"First he claimed to be ill and refused to see us, then he secretly ordered Xuanjizi away, and now he's actually gone to review the Imperial Guard! Brother Cui, this is more than unusual. He's making a show of force against us!"
Cui Lang's expression was equally grim. He too wondered what Yang Zhao was trying to do.
"Brother Wang, please calm yourself. Even if Yang Zhao wants to devote himself to governing and restore order to the court, he no longer has the chance. After all, things have fallen apart this badly. I don't believe he has any miraculous way to turn the tide."
"But... what if he does?" Wang Yuanzhi understood the reasoning behind Cui Lang's words, but he was still deeply worried.
"What if..." A fierce glint flashed through Cui Lang's eyes. "If there really is a 'what if,' then he can't blame us for showing no mercy."
Late at night, the Hall of Mental Cultivation was pleasantly warm, with wisps of incense curling through the air.
Chen Ye had taken off his dragon robe and wore only a set of bright yellow everyday clothes. He reclined on a soft couch with his eyes closed, resting.
A chief eunuch with white hair and a white beard entered silently with quick, short steps. In his hands was an ebony tray bearing dozens of green-headed ivory selection plaques, neatly arranged.
"Your Majesty, it is late. Would you like to turn over a plaque?" The chief eunuch's voice was high and thin, and his face was covered in a fawning smile.
Chen Ye slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the plaques, then waved a hand.
"No need. I am somewhat tired today."
The chief eunuch froze.
Tired?
This was not His Majesty's style. In the past, what night had he not spent in revelry?
The chief eunuch raised his head instinctively, only to meet Chen Ye's gaze.
What a pair of eyes they were!
No longer clouded and crazed as they had been in the past, they were as deep and dark as an ancient well, watching him with a scrutinizing gaze.
The chief eunuch shuddered all over in fright and hurriedly lowered his head, not daring even to breathe too loudly.
"Yes, this servant takes his leave!"
He dared not say another word. Bowing hastily, he withdrew from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Only when he stepped outside and the night wind blew against him did the chief eunuch realize with a start that his back was soaked in cold sweat.
He realized that His Majesty truly had changed. He was no longer the irritable, crazed ruler who put on a fierce front but was weak inside. Instead, he was like a ferocious beast lurking in the darkness, ready to choose someone to devour at any moment, sending chills down his spine.
A short while later, the chief eunuch met Grand Minister Wang Yuanzhi, who had come in person, in a secluded corner.
Wang Yuanzhi slipped a hefty gold ingot into his sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Well?"
The chief eunuch wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and lowered his voice as he recounted what had just happened.
By the time he finished, Wang Yuanzhi's face was so dark it could have dripped water.
He had realized how serious the situation was.
An emperor who indulged in wine and women was not frightening, nor was one who sought immortality and the Dao. What was frightening was an emperor who had suddenly cast off worldly desires and begun setting military affairs in order!
This was no longer a matter of slipping out of their control. It was a sign that he was going to turn and bite them!
He could no longer remain calm. He immediately turned and hurried to the Cui residence that very night.
"We can't wait any longer. We have to act at once, or a long night will bring many dreams!"
While events took a treacherous turn on one side, Chen Ye had quietly left the Hall of Mental Cultivation on the other.
He changed into the dark purple eunuch's robes and resumed the appearance of that sinister-faced old eunuch, fearsome to behold. He then made his way through the maze of palace lanes deep within the imperial city, finally arriving outside the cold palace where the thousand young women were held.
"Old Ancestor!"
The eunuch on guard went weak at the knees as soon as he saw him and scrambled over on hands and feet to pay his respects.
Chen Ye gave a cold snort through his nose by way of reply.
"Have the people inside been behaving themselves?"
"In answer to Old Ancestor, they have, every one of them!" the eunuch replied, nodding and bowing. "Especially since the day before yesterday, when His Majesty issued an edict ordering us to treat them well. We servants haven't dared neglect them in the slightest. We've been serving them fine wine and dishes at every meal!"
"Mm." Chen Ye nodded indifferently. "Well done. We're all His Majesty's dogs, so naturally we must carry out his edicts properly."
"Old Ancestor is right!"
After dismissing the eunuch, Chen Ye stepped inside.
An oppressive atmosphere hit him in the face.
Hundreds of young women in the bloom of youth huddled like a flock of frightened lambs in the corners of the cold palace hall. When they saw Chen Ye's deathly pale, sinister face, they were instantly filled with overwhelming terror, every one of them trembling like a leaf.
Chen Ye's gaze swept over their faces and finally settled on one of them.
She was a fair-skinned young woman with a stubborn look in her eyes: Wu Xiaorui, Little Bell of the Cai Character Gate.
At the sight of her, Chen Ye could not help nodding inwardly.
Thank goodness, she's all right.
He said nothing more about it, however, and merely turned to instruct the eunuchs in charge of guarding them.
"Watch them carefully. His Majesty values every one of these people. They are not to lack for food, clothing, or anything else they need. If I find out any of you dare neglect them, you'd better watch your skin!"
"Yes, yes! Rest assured, Old Ancestor, we servants understand!" The eunuch guards hastened to agree.
Chen Ye said no more. With a sweep of his sleeve, he turned and left, his figure soon vanishing into the depths of the night.
Only when that suffocating, chilly presence had completely receded did the young women in the cold palace seem to come back to life. Their tense bodies went limp, and many began sobbing softly again. An atmosphere of despair hung over everyone like a dark cloud.
Only Wu Xiaorui and several other girls from the Cai Character Gate retained some measure of composure. After all, they had roamed the jianghu, and their temperaments were far tougher than those of ordinary young ladies raised in seclusion.