"You!"
Cao Ying gritted her teeth, feeling as though Lü Fengxian's kick was carrying a mountain. If he truly landed it, her twelfth-realm sword cultivator cultivation would be finished. In fact, it would be so. Most twelfth-realm sword cultivators, unless they were extraordinary like Su Qingjiu, Xu Zhi, or Tang Guangjun, couldn't contend with a Rebirth realm martial artist.
The Rebirth realm was the pinnacle of martial artists in the human world.
Once one entered the Rebirth realm, they could contend with thirteenth-realm sword cultivators. As for twelfth-realm sword cultivators... they were generally beneath notice, unless they were of the caliber of Su Qingjiu, Xu Zhi, or Tang Guangjun.
However, the upper limit for martial artists was also low. The endpoint was a peak thirteenth-realm martial artist. Even then, they could only stand their ground against fourteenth-realm spirit cultivators. But above the fourteenth realm, there was still the legendary fifteenth realm.
Who was Cao Ying? The Pavilion Master of the Imperial Guard, known for her ruthlessness. How could she endure such humiliation?
The next moment, Cao Ying raised her sword and thrust it towards Lü Fengxian's throat.
"Seeking death?"
Lü Fengxian raised an eyebrow slightly. A trace of fist intent coiled around his fingers, and with his index and middle fingers, he clamped onto Cao Ying's sword. No matter how she channeled her sword intent, she couldn't break free from his grip.
Under Lü Fengxian's immense strength as a Rebirth realm martial artist, the sword tip gradually bent. The blade hummed, and it looked as if an immortal sword was about to be snapped by this Rebirth realm martial artist. If this immortal sword were to break, the next to be broken would be Cao Ying's long and fair neck.
"Enough!"
Zhao Qiyang stood up, angered, "Lord Lü, what do you take this court for? A battlefield for you to kill people? And the one before you is Pavilion Master Cao of the Imperial Guard!"
"Oh?"
Lü Fengxian smiled faintly, waved his hand lightly, and with a "clang," snatched the sword from Cao Ying's hand. The immortal sword transformed into a streak of rainbow light and pierced the main beam of the Taiqian Hall, its sword cry echoing incessantly.
"Does Prince Jinan also know this is the imperial court?"
Lü Fengxian's gaze was sharp. "What is the meaning of your two subordinates drawing their swords at Commander Chen Xi and Commander Lin Ruo? Chen Xi and Lin Ruo are both first-rank generals. What are Cao Ying and Huang Qingning, at what rank, to be considered as anything significant?"
Zhao Qiyang frowned. "Chen Xi and Lin Ruo were audacious and drew their swords at civil and military officials. What does that make this?"
"Is that so?"
Lü Fengxian placed his hands behind his back. Threads of transcendent fist intent surged from him, and the aura of the Rebirth realm enveloped the hall, making it difficult for many to breathe.
He walked directly in front of Chen Xi and Lin Ruo. "The two Commanders have their backs to His Majesty, clearly protecting him. And what about you? You pointed your swords at the two Commanders. Do you know that behind them is the Emperor of our Great Shang Dynasty?"
Lü Fengxian frowned. "Since when did the Emperor of our Great Shang Dynasty not keep his word?"
Today, Lü Fengxian had made up his mind. If necessary, he would purge the court.
"Commander Lü."
Zhao Shutong smiled gently. "His Majesty's words naturally hold true."
She looked at Zhao Jingheng on the golden stairs. "Your Majesty, I ask how you intend to deal with Grand Minister Wen Hao, who feared the enemy in battle?"
"..."
Zhao Jingheng frowned. "Summon someone! Draft an edict!"
Immediately, a Hanlin scholar picked up a brush, dipped it in golden ink, and said, "Your subject is here!"
"Grand Minister Wen Hao, for his fear of battle and hesitation, has squandered a divinely granted opportunity, resulting in heavy casualties for our dynasty's soldiers outside Yumenguan. I have decided that from this day forward, the position of Grand Minister shall be abolished. Within the country, the highest military position will be Grand Marshal. In consideration of Wen Hao's past contributions to the state, he is hereby appointed as a nominal first-rank General who Guards the Nation. Effective immediately, he is to surrender his tiger tally and will lead troops only in times of war."
"Yes!"
The Hanlin scholar's brush danced like a dragon, and in a blink of an eye, an imperial edict was written. After being sealed with the imperial jade seal, the decree was read aloud to the court.
...
"Your Majesty!"
Lin Yan became somewhat flustered. Once Wen Hao lost his military authority, the Lin family of Jizhou and the Zhang family of Furong Prefecture would likely lose their influence gradually. After all, this military authority was accumulated by the aristocratic families like Lin Yan and Zhang Yu'an bit by bit to help Wen Hao. Now, with Zhao Jingheng's decree, the greatest losses would be to the Lin and Zhang families.
"Is there a problem, Duke Juyang?"
Zhao Jingheng, with the three great Commanders below the golden stairs, had gained confidence. He frowned and said, "A true man keeps his word. As the Son of Heaven, do you, Duke Juyang, wish for me to retract my recently issued imperial decree? Do you wish for me to be a ruler who changes his orders daily?"
"Your subject..."
Lin Yan gritted his teeth. At this moment, this old minister found himself at a loss for a solution.
Zhao Qiyang frowned, remaining silent. Anyone who stepped forward now would court disaster. The situation had changed.
"Jingheng."
Empress Dowager He said gently, "For such a significant matter, shouldn't you discuss it with your Imperial Uncle again?"
"Mother."
Zhao Jingheng stood up and bowed deeply to Empress Dowager He beside him. Without raising his head, he said faintly, "Is the Emperor of this Great Shang Dynasty myself, Zhao Jingheng, or Imperial Uncle Zhao Qiyang?"
"You..."
Empress Dowager He gritted her teeth.
"Mother."
Zhao Jingheng raised his head, his expression incredibly calm. "Mother just told your son that we should follow the precedents left by Father Emperor. In that case... Father Emperor established a rule that the inner court shall not interfere with state affairs. Zhao Jingheng naturally knows that Mother is doing this for his own good, but please, Mother, also follow the precedent and return..."
"Jingheng! Wait!"
Zhao Shutong suddenly shouted, interrupting Zhao Jingheng. She slowly shook her head and said, "Mother is indeed doing this for your own good. Therefore, let today's matter end here. Apart from Wen Hao, no one else will be held accountable."
"Sister..."
Zhao Jingheng gritted his teeth. This was such a golden opportunity! With Lü Fengxian, Chen Xi, and Lin Ruo present, he could consolidate royal power in one go.
"Be good."
Zhao Shutong said in her heart, "Listen to me, and you won't be wrong."
"Yes."
Zhao Jingheng nodded, then turned and bowed again to Empress Dowager He. "Mother, it was your son's imprudence just now."
Empress Dowager He was still recovering from the shock and merely nodded. At that moment, she had almost lost the scepter that controlled the imperial power.
Zhao Shutong's eyebrows were tightly furrowed. This eldest princess was the most calculating. She could understand Zhao Jingheng's youthful impatience; he was too eager to reclaim his rightful power. But... was it useful to order Empress Dowager He to return the scepter now?
At most, it would gain a temporary advantage in court. However, the governance of Shuzhou remained in the hands of the He and Li families. As long as the He family held command of two hundred thousand elite soldiers, Empress Dowager He could not be touched. This matter could only be planned for the long term, gradually stripping away power; haste was not an option.
...
"Your Majesty."
Wen Hao knelt before the golden stairs and took out three tiger tallies from his embrace, placing them one by one onto a tray held by an attendant. The moment he surrendered his military authority, Wen Hao seemed to age considerably. He murmured, "Your Majesty, it is your subject's incompetence..."
"General Wen."
Zhao Jingheng's voice softened considerably. "There is no need to blame yourself too much. The generals of our Great Shang should learn from shame and strive for strength. You are still a nominal first-rank General who Guards the Nation, and you will have opportunities to prove yourself on the battlefield in the future. Do not worry."
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty!"
Wen Hao bowed again in gratitude. After he stood up, he shifted his position back two places in the formation at court. After all, he was no longer a nominal first-rank official and was no longer qualified to stand alongside Zhao Shutong, Chen Xi, Lin Ruo, Lü Fengxian, and the others.
"Summon someone."
Zhao Jingheng lightly flicked his sleeve. "The military authority of Jizhou will temporarily be held by Princess Zhao Shutong. The military authority of Huangzhou will temporarily be held by Commander Chen Xi. The military authority of Yuzhou will temporarily be held by Commander Lin Ruo."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The attendants redistributed the tiger tallies one by one.
Zhao Jingheng said, "Draft an edict to reassign the military authority of the three prefectures. The three of you may take the tiger tallies and my imperial edict to take command of the troops after the court session."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Zhao Shutong's lips curved into a faint smile. Some said Zhao Jingheng was immature; indeed, he was impatient. But as the Human Emperor, he possessed strategy. He first divided the military authority of Jizhou, Yuzhou, and Huangzhou, leaving the military authority of Furong Prefecture to Lin Yan's faction, giving them some hope in order to proceed gradually.
After the court session, some rejoiced, and some despaired.
Zhao Qiyang's brows were tightly furrowed. Originally, the Imperial Guards, patrol legions, and so on in Baidi City, the capital, were all under the command of Grand Minister Wen Hao. But now, this military authority had fallen into Zhao Shutong's hands. Coupled with the fifty thousand White Deer Cavalry under Zhao Shutong's command, she had become the true master of Jizhou.
Even if the generals and strategists Zhao Qiyang had planted in the army tried to obstruct the outcome, they could not change it. After all, Zhao Shutong's methods had already been witnessed. With her blend of persuasion and coercion, the military authority of Jizhou would inevitably fall into her hands sooner or later. It was only a matter of time.
Old Master Lin Yan frowned, leaning on his cane, he walked down the steps. He looked at Lin Ruo, who was discussing matters with Chen Xi not far away, and asked, "Are you coming home for dinner?"
"No."
Lin Ruo replied without hesitation.
Chen Xi smiled slightly.
"What are you smiling at?" Lin Ruo asked.
Chen Xi said, "I think it would be better for you to go home for a meal. After all, rigidity breaks easily."
"..."
Lin Ruo frowned, naturally understanding Chen Xi's meaning. The situation in court had changed. Zhao Qiyang and Lin Yan's influence would be gradually diminished. If Lin Ruo could go home for a meal now and persuade his grandfather to change his mind, then when Lin Yan stood with Zhao Shutong, the situation in court would naturally become clearer.
"Forget it."
Lin Ruo said with a hint of dejection, "What's good for lunch?"
Lin Yan almost cursed. "The chefs from Yunzhou, Shuzhou, and Huangzhou are all here. Can't you order whatever you want when you get home?"
...
Evening, the sun began to set.
Wen Hao finally finished the handover of affairs between his position as Grand Minister and General who Guards the Nation at the Ministry of War. He appeared utterly exhausted. The position of General who Guards the Nation was, in essence, a nominal post without military power.
In Baidi City, apart from his own nearly thousand personal guards, Wen Hao could not command anyone else with his General who Guards the Nation insignia.
To wield real power, he would have to wait for wartime and receive an imperial decree to lead an expedition.
He looked weary.
As he entered his residence, his expression was one of profound fatigue. However, as he looked up, he discovered an uninvited guest. A person was sitting on the roof.
It was a woman of peerless beauty, clad in a red skirt and white top, with a long sword radiating a deadly aura resting across her jade-like legs. She looked down at Wen Hao from afar, her beautiful eyes filled with disgust.