The emperor's private chamber was thick with incense and anger.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN90LBz1YII
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo9p1yiaHL
Emperor Hongxi paced back and forth, his silk robes trailing behind him like a storm cloud. General Li Wei stood at attention near the door. Sorcerer Tao Zhongwen sat cross‑legged on a cushion, watching the emperor with patient eyes.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wNEhbTp5V
"They spoke to me like I was a child," the emperor hissed. "My own uncle. My own court. They shouted at me. In front of everyone."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3wPQoZdkJ
General Li nodded. "They overstepped, Your Majesty."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaF7NtL86Vd
Overstepped?" The emperor stopped pacing. His voice rose to a shriek. "They said the people hate me! They said every noble has their own army! They said—"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCKU42add2
He grabbed a spear from the hands of a palace guard. The guard stumbled back. The concubines shrieked and scrambled out of the room, silk robes trailing behind them.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJdqFyM3vj
The emperor pointed the spear at General Li. "You. You were there. You saw them humiliate me."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7S6v8rZ9W
General Li did not flinch. "I saw them speak unwisely."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbicVyNLhMm
"Unwisely?" The emperor jabbed the spear forward. The general sidestepped. "They threatened to burn my throne! And you call that unwise?"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAWdjXYS3V
"Your Majesty, your anger is justified—"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn86lnkqJhq
"Justified?" The emperor laughed – a wild, cracking sound. "I am the Son of Heaven. A god walking among men. I do not need justification. I need obedience."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBxhCiAO8v
He spun and hurled the spear across the room. It embedded itself in a wooden pillar, quivering. The guard who lost it did not dare retrieve it.
Tao Zhongwen finally spoke. "Killing them would start a rebellion before sunset."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dEyh26gTx
Emperor Hongxi breathed heavily, then turned to Tao Zhongwen.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDkzAw3z8q
"You. You want me to spare them. You said killing them would start a rebellion."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFnXopPvJI
Tao remained seated. "I said it would be unwise, Your Majesty."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibiukwBpT5
"Unwise." The emperor walked to a nearby table where a loaded musket rested. He picked it up, checked the powder, and aimed it at Tao's chest. "Unwise is a weak word. Use a stronger one."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0Biavby2b
Tao did not move. "Stupid. It would be stupid."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTHL9Gx8AM
The emperor's finger tightened on the trigger. The concubines, peeking from behind a screen, gasped.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ037dH3JV4g
"Stupid," the emperor repeated. "You call my ideas stupid?"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6SBpIijOe
Tao bowed his head. "Your Majesty, I call killing them stupid. Your ideas are never stupid. But killing the nobles would burn the empire to ash. And you would sit on a throne of rubble. Is that what you want?"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnXi1Sw96L
The emperor's hand trembled. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPQHOQ0HWd
"Bad," he said. "You said killing them was bad."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVmKub9Nxx
"Bad is a terrible word to describe anything that comes from your mouth, Your Majesty," Tao said smoothly. "Your will is divine. But even the gods sometimes hold their thunder. They strike only when the target is worthy."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoQ7h8nzbe
The emperor lowered the musket slightly. "Go on."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiUxmGrzcD
"The generals in that room command half your troops. The nobles control the rest. The people already whisper against you. If you spill noble blood, you will have no one left to rule."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoT0Opmlra
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8FDuClkhn
The emperor slammed his fist on the table. "So I do nothing? I let them humiliate me?"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPjBqbEOrW
"I did not say nothing." Tao rose and walked to the window. The moon hung low over the Forbidden City. "I said kill them quietly. No blood. No bodies. Just… absence."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNlX4QgbHW
General Li stepped forward. "Explain."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzua8pbddG
Tao turned. "Arrest them tonight. Every noble who spoke against you. Every general who crossed his arms. Every judge who looked away. Take them from their homes. Strip their titles. Seize their lands. Then install loyalists in their place – men and women who will nod when you speak and thank you for the privilege."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4AemwbCgN
The emperor's anger flickered into curiosity. "And the court session tomorrow?"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5bmmKgB2i
"There is no court tomorrow," Tao said. "You dissolved it this evening. You announce that the previous ministers were removed for corruption and incompetence. Their replacements have been chosen by your wisdom. Anyone who questions this is free to join them in exile."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJc1U09jvU
"Exile, not death?"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FjboTCuvo
"Exile is death enough," Tao said. "A man without title, without land, without power – he is a ghost. Let them wander the countryside. Let others see what happens to those who defy the throne. Fear spreads faster than grief."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGItIZTMIH
The emperor rubbed his chin. "And my uncle?"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO8bgkmdoT
"Your uncle will be the first to go. He is too proud, too respected. Send him to the northern mountains. Let him freeze in a hut. The others will understand the message."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5Ys5Da1mn
The emperor was silent for a long moment. Then he smiled – a thin, cold expression.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaub7DmwI0m
"You are clever, sorcerer. But why should I explain myself to peasants? I am a god walking among men. I do not need to justify my actions."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyscoCpIEVz
Tao bowed his head. "You are correct, Your Majesty. You owe no explanation. But the peasants are like oxen. They pull the plow better when they believe the field is theirs. Let them think you cleansed the court of corruption. Let them think you are their protector. They will love you for it – and love is stronger than fear."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGRNHy8vTM
The emperor sat down. He picked up a jade seal – the same seal his grandfather had used.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6gVF36rHW
"No killing," he said quietly. "You are certain?"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34kFxuZoLV
"No killing," Tao confirmed. "Arrests. Stripping of titles. Replacement with loyalists. That is all. The empire will barely notice the change. By the time anyone realizes what happened, the new court will have already sworn loyalty to you."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgDmOzlkCb
General Li nodded. "I can have soldiers at every noble's home within the hour."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz5OQ6HDGS
"Do it," the emperor said. "But quietly. No screams. No blood in the streets. I want them here before dawn."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatahcV1dLp
"As you command," the general said, and left.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSYDcOkXxc
Tao lingered at the window. "Your Majesty, one more thing."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFSpjz9tnR
"What?"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhBSHsEh0g
"When the people ask where the old court went, you tell them: 'They were corrupted. They plotted against the throne. I showed mercy by letting them live.' Say it with sorrow. Say it as a father who disciplines a wayward son. They will believe you."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7WW7J0dit
The emperor leaned back. "And if they don't?"
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmN27vR6xS
Tao smiled. "Then we arrest them too. Quietly."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NhFGR53r4
The emperor chuckled. "Go. Make the arrangements."
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nC37g3P6n
Tao bowed and slipped out.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvmiCab5Zy
The emperor sat alone in the candlelight. He picked up a cup of wine and raised it to no one.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYoOaO6LkV
"To quiet invasions," he whispered, and drank.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKCVK1NrWA
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJgB6KmcUe
and then Add to home screen.