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Chapter 314: 42 Empress in Crisis, Shenluo Shall Fall (Thanks to the generous donation from Cleaning Monk from Blast Sky Gang!)

In the spacious imperial square, statues of auspicious beasts stood tall, with upright Imperial Guards lining both sides of the imperial path, giving the entire avenue an aura of solemnity and majesty.

In the center of the square, a grand and spectacular palace towered. The palace roof, made of glazed tiles, shimmered with dazzling light under the sunshine, creating a picturesque scene with the flying-eaves stone railings—exuding an air of ancient grace and elegance.

At the palace gate, a pair of lifelike stone lions harmoniously echoed the elaborate doorway. Above the door hung two jade carved dragons, coiling in an intertwined posture around either side of the folding door.

Inside the main hall, all the civil and martial ministers still held their breath, daring not to be negligent.

It should be known that the Xia had not held a morning meeting in a long while.

This was the first morning meeting held by the Imperial Court in over a year.

Just over a year ago, the Xia’s Empress temporarily called a halt to the morning meetings.

The reason was that they were deemed too cumbersome, causing trouble not only to herself but also to the ministers.

According to protocol, the morning meetings were scheduled at the fifth hour, which is about five o’clock.

The Emperor was better off, living in the palace and could afford to be late, but it wasn’t the same for the ministers. They had to wake up early every day and wait in the palace before dawn.

Unlike Emperor Wen of Taizong’s workaholic habits, this newly enthroned Empress simply stopped going.

New rules were established.

Any major issues within the court would be first handled by the Cabinet, filtered, and then submitted to the Emperor for approval on the Dragon Chair.

This way, the Emperor didn’t have to attend to every matter personally, saving her from overexertion, and the ministers didn’t have to wake up early—it was a win-win situation.

Since the morning meeting was practically a meeting, and there wasn’t much news every day, many issues were trivial matters.

Oftentimes, morning meetings seemed like an assembly hosted for loneliness.

Surprisingly, this way of doing things by the Empress had won the tacit agreement of many ministers, who had happily slept lazily for a year.

However, gradually, they began to notice something was amiss.

Unnecessary meetings could be skipped, but that didn’t mean all meetings should be canceled.

The absence of meetings for as long as a year and a half made many ministers worried again.

They were afraid that the Empress would end up like several confused monarchs at the end of the Yan.

In their reign, they didn’t hold court for forty or fifty years, their shadows were scarce, left many ministers to die, and left a pile of vacancies in the court, all deserted.

Fortunately, after several days, Her Majesty finally resumed the morning meetings.

After a long period of separation, they finally saw Her Majesty’s appearance.

In the center of the hall, on a grand and noble Dragon Chair, sat a graceful woman dressed in a bright red robe. She was still quite young, but her phoenix eyes were brilliant, and her beautiful eyes were full of wisdom and ambition.

Only her youthful face had matured quite a bit, and compared to before, her gaze was more subdued, her demeanor steady, and her aura more grand.

This triggered a silent sigh among the ministers below.

Her Majesty has grown up.

“I heard that you ministers have been arguing about the issue of attacking the Yan, haven’t you?”

Yu Qinghan’s slightly sharp gaze swept over the ministers below, her voice cold and authoritative.

A minister, dressed in peacock crimson robe, stepped forward and reported: “At present, the former prime minister of the Yan, Song Heqing, has passed away. This is a great opportunity for us.”

“Indeed, a divide has occurred between the Shenluo Empire and the Yan, and their relationship is strained. As far as I know, the Shenluo Empire might send troops to the Yan.” Promptly, another martial minister embroidered with a military pattern of tigers and leopards echoed.

“The old Yan party’s traitorous heart is not dead and must be eradicated soon.”

At these words, Yu Qinghan seemed to be lost in thought, thinking back to a conversation with her husband.

Time is the best antidote, and the Central Plains cannot be reduced to ashes.

Yu Qinghan’s eyes regained focus, and she asked, “What are your plans to deal with the Northern Wolf in the Ten States of the North?”

“Your Majesty, to remove external threats, we must first settle internal ones.”

“The Yan has occupied the Huainan Three-Town State, all of which are states rich in taxes and a strategic location. If we do not take it back, where will we get the silver for a war against the Northern Wolf?”

The minister in the peacock crimson robe advised.

“Moreover, the Xia has established good relations with many sects in the Northern State. Right now, there is no need to worry about an invasion by the Northern Wolf Empire. As long as they dare to, we will certainly not show any mercy.”

“How did this happen? How come I didn’t know about it?”

Yu Qinghan narrowed her eyes, sensing something amiss.

Event though cultivators descending the mountains into the mortal world had become common, but…

The minister sweated on his forehead and hastily answered,” It happened a month ago. The Changning King represented the court in reaching an agreement with several sects saying they could take action when necessary. The old minister thought Her Majesty knew.”

“The Changning King…”

Yu Qinghan furrowed her brows.

What mischief has this uncle of hers been up to?

Acting on his own without her agreement?

As the Changning King was named, many young ministers below started making eye signals.

But they were all stopped by the elderly ministers, who warned them with their eyes.

However, one young official who couldn’t hold back any longer stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I wish to impeach the Changning King. He has committed serious crimes such as improper conduct, annexation of fiefs, and nurturing private armies.”

Hearing this, Yu Qinghan’s expression changed abruptly, and she said coldly:

“Where did you get this from?!”

Almost all the ministers could sense the rage in her words.

“The Guangling Mansion beyond Changning County has become the private land of the Changning King! Not just that, many Imperial Guards in the palace have been mobilized, being replaced by the Changning King’s private soldiers!”

“Shi Yue, stop exaggerating the facts!”

An old minister stepped forward and explained to Yu Qinghan, “The rewarded fief was established when Your Majesty ascended the throne, as a reward to the Changning King. And the Changning King has not exceeded the one-mansion establishment, he only barely reached the state development.”