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Gu Rong's arrival in the Star Luo Empire came with another mission—to withdraw the commercial operations of the upper three sects from the empire.
Previously, the upper three sects had suppressed the Tang Sect to such an extent. Now that the Tang Sect was in power, it was inevitable that they would retaliate against the businesses of the upper three sects.
Seizing the commercial market within the Star Luo Empire was merely a preemptive move to secure their share of the market. With that goal already achieved, there was no need for them to stubbornly fight the Tang Sect to the bitter end.
By withdrawing now, even if the Tang Sect wanted to cause trouble for them later, it would be like punching cotton—ineffective.
After hearing Gu Rong's words, Dai Weisi's mind was thrown into chaos, and he stood frozen in place.
Relatively calm, Zhu Zhuyun whispered into his ear, "Weisi, since the Sky Sword Sect supports us, why don't we temporarily retreat to the Sky Sword Sect to lay low?"
"The Tang Sect has always been at odds with the upper three sects. For the sake of profit, the upper three sects will surely help us eliminate Dai Mubai and his group, and support you in ascending to the throne."
…
In the imperial palace, the head of the Zhu family, Zhu Huizu, rushed over.
Zhu Huizu had originally planned to help Dai Weisi ascend the throne, but plans couldn't keep up with changes.
After the palace coup began, not even a fly could escape from the palace grounds.
To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, he didn't dare force his way into the palace.
But by the time the palace restrictions were lifted, the coup had already ended, and Dai Weisi had suffered a complete defeat.
At this point, Dai Tianfeng summoning him to the palace spoke volumes about the situation.
For the future of the Zhu family, he had to find a way to marry a Zhu woman to Dai Mubai to secure the position of empress!
The Zhu family was the largest noble family in the Star Luo Empire after the royal family and also served as the empire's chief minister.
With the Zhu family's acknowledgment, Dai Mubai's ascension to the throne would face no further obstacles.
Simultaneously, to stabilize the Zhu family, Dai Mubai readily agreed to accept a woman sent by the Zhu family.
As long as she was beautiful, Dai Mubai wouldn't refuse.
For the Tang Sect, an emperor of the Star Luo Empire who only knew how to indulge in pleasure was the ideal ruler.
Moreover, lust was Dai Mubai's nature, so both parties quickly reached an agreement—a win-win situation.
After Dai Tianfeng finished giving instructions, it was already late at night.
Although the ministers had some reservations, in the face of overwhelming circumstances, they had no choice but to acknowledge Dai Mubai as the legitimate heir.
Early the next morning, Dai Mubai and the Tang Sect announced to the public that Dai Tianfeng had passed away peacefully in his sleep.
The funeral arrangements for the late emperor and the coronation ceremony for the new emperor were promptly scheduled.
Everything that the ministers had prepared for Dai Weisi now became Dai Mubai's stepping stone.
…
During this time, news of Dai Weisi's rescue reached the ears of the Tang Sect members.
For Tang San, Dai Tianfeng publicly accusing Dai Weisi of treason had already completely eliminated Dai Weisi's chances of inheriting the throne. Even if he escaped, he wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble.
Seven days later, the late emperor's funeral concluded, and under the escort of the ministers, Dai Mubai ascended the throne, symbolizing imperial authority.
To quickly consolidate power and prevent Dai Weisi from secretly causing trouble, the coronation ceremony was kept simple and expedited.
As the newly crowned emperor, Dai Mubai was required to attend the first court session.
Officials from various departments reported their work to Dai Mubai, with the most critical report coming from the Ministry of Revenue, which oversaw the empire's finances.
Upon hearing that the national treasury was well-stocked, Dai Mubai couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
However, he wasn't capable of handling state affairs.
Tang Xiao, Tang San, and Yu Xiaogang, who had contributed significantly to Dai Mubai's rise, were all appointed to positions within the court.
The officials' questions were relayed to Dai Mubai through Tang Xiao's telepathic communication, providing solutions.
After the officials finished their reports, the next order of business was the distribution of rewards.
Since Dai Mubai was essentially a powerless emperor, the decisions regarding rewards were entirely in the hands of Tang San and the others.
First and foremost, the position of Imperial Preceptor was bestowed upon Yu Xiaogang.
This decision immediately sparked dissatisfaction among the court officials.
Yu Xiaogang was merely a Great Soul Master and had thoroughly tarnished his reputation during the academic exchange conference hosted by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
A person lacking both strength and a respectable reputation holding the position of Imperial Preceptor would surely make the empire a laughingstock across the continent.
Dai Mubai sneered, expressing his discontent. "You shortsighted fools, how can you understand the wisdom of Master Yu!"
Yu Xiaogang stood tall with a smile, turning to address the ministers. "His Majesty flatters me—I am but a humble scholar. Since His Majesty has entrusted me with this important task, I shall do my utmost to serve the empire faithfully."
"If any of you ministers are dissatisfied, feel free to challenge me to an academic debate. Let's settle this with merit."
The position of Imperial Preceptor could be second only to the emperor and above all others, and nominally, it was also the emperor's teacher.
If the emperor wanted to issue policies, he would often consult with the Imperial Preceptor, who would refine the details.
Those who held the position of Imperial Preceptor were invariably respected figures within the court, such as Duke Xi Lu.
At the very least, they were individuals who had made outstanding contributions to the empire.
The court officials were somewhat aware of Yu Xiaogang's background. If the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family still existed and Yu Xiaogang, the son of Yu Yuanzhen, was being courted, the opposition in the court wouldn't have been so strong.
But now, Yu Xiaogang was no different from a beggar on the street. Could someone like him really become the Imperial Preceptor?
As for Yu Xiaogang's proposed challenge, it was nothing more than a farce!
Every word and action in the court was tied to the livelihood of millions of commoners—what could a mere challenge prove?
As Yu Xiaogang's disciple, Tang San naturally stood up for him. "The common people often say, 'Rotten wood holds office in the halls, and beasts feed on salaries in the imperial court!'"
"Ministers, instead of reflecting on your actions and ensuring the people live good lives, you squabble among yourselves. What kind of conduct is this?"
"My teacher's abilities have already been recognized by His Majesty—why shouldn't he hold the position of Imperial Preceptor?"
"Everyone here serves His Majesty and the empire. Shouldn't we focus on relieving His Majesty's burdens and striving for the welfare of the people?"
Tang San's words undoubtedly placed him on the moral high ground.
Many officials in the court had been supporters of Dai Weisi. Although Dai Mubai hadn't taken action against them yet, that didn't mean they wouldn't face repercussions in the future.
If they stood up now, they might rally widespread support, but if someone stabbed them in the back, they would be doomed forever.
No one in the court was foolish.
Tang San's words made it clear that they should focus on cleaning up their own acts before thinking about anything else.
For a moment, the arguments in the court subsided, and the officials retreated to their positions, no longer speaking.
Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, his head held high, clearly satisfied with the outcome.
A faint smile appeared on Dai Mubai's lips as he proceeded to announce the rewards for Tang San and Tang Xiao.
The two were appointed as Left and Right Grand Generals, outranking all the princes and answering only to Dai Mubai.
Both Tang San and Tang Xiao were Title Douluos, so no one opposed their appointments as generals.
Even if someone wanted to object, they would have to carefully consider whether they themselves would face consequences.
After the court session ended, Dai Mubai ordered the memorials to be sent to the study while he himself headed straight to the harem to frolic with the women sent by the Zhu family.
In the study, Tang San, Tang Xiao, and Yu Xiaogang were busy handling state affairs on behalf of Dai Mubai.
Letting Dai Mubai serve as a figurehead was a decision they had agreed upon long ago.
The Star Luo Empire was a crucial force in their revenge against the Spirit Hall and would also serve as the future base for the Tang Sect and the Hao Tian Sect. If Dai Mubai didn't handle affairs, and they didn't step in, the entire empire would stagnate.
If the empire fell apart, how could they possibly seek revenge against the Spirit Hall in the future?
Furthermore, the Star Luo Empire would become their second home. Wasn't it only natural to manage their own house well?
With the coronation ceremony successfully completed and imperial authority firmly in their grasp, Tang San and the others now had more time and energy to focus on other matters.
Yu Xiaogang set down the memorials and hurriedly asked, "Xiao San, Tian Heng just visited the Heavenly Prison and found no trace of Tianxin. Didn't you say Tianxin was captured by Huyan Zhen and the others? Where is he now?"
How could Tang San know?
Huyan Zhen and Tuoba Xi's actions during the coup proved they were supporters of Dai Weisi.
Logically, after capturing Yu Tianxin, they should have handed him over to Dai Weisi. The safest prison in the empire was undoubtedly the reinforced Heavenly Prison under Dai Weisi's control.
If Yu Tianxin wasn't in the Heavenly Prison, where had he been taken?
After the coup ended, the Elephant Armor Sect and the Holy Dragon Sect had relocated all their disciples to the Tian Dou Empire.
The Star Luo royal family didn't yet have the authority to enforce laws across borders, so they couldn't extract information from Huyan Zhen or Tuoba Xi.
Another key witness, Dai Weisi, had already been rescued.
Bone Douluo's methods were extremely covert, and the testimony of the White Tiger Camp soldiers wasn't enough to deduce his identity.
For a moment, Tang San couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
After some deep thought, he recalled something. "According to the palace records, it seems Dai Weisi mobilized the White Tiger Camp that day. Teacher, I'll send someone to the White Tiger Camp immediately to inquire—perhaps someone knows where Tianxin is."
With the palace stabilized, the reconstruction of the Tang Sect also needed to be put on the agenda.
Tang Xiao informed Tang San and the others of what Huyan Zhen and Tuoba Xi had said during the coup.
He angrily declared, "It must be because of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and Ning Tianchen that the Hao Tian Sect suffered unjustly!"
"Xiao San, we must know who our enemies are. Thousands of lives from the Hao Tian Sect cannot die in vain—we must seek revenge!"
Between Tang San and Ning Tianchen, it was a matter of life and death.
Since the upper three sects were allied with Ning Tianchen, they had no reason to exist anymore.
However, their immediate priority was the Spirit Hall. The upper three sects still wielded significant influence, and to some extent, they still needed their assistance!
During their conversation, the palace steward responsible for logistics approached the study with quick steps.
"Imperial Preceptor, Grand Generals, is His Majesty not here?"
The steward's expression was tense—he feared saying the wrong thing before understanding the new master's temperament, which could cost him his current position.
Yu Xiaogang coldly snorted, "His Majesty is occupied with important matters. Speak to me, and I will relay your message to His Majesty later."
The steward dared not defy him and hastily explained the issue of palace expenditures.
Dai Tianfeng had his own private treasury, and only he knew its location. Dai Weisi had managed to uncover the location of the treasury through indirect inquiries.
But Dai Mubai and the Tang Sect didn't know about it.
Before his "death," Tang San had been solely focused on securing Dai Mubai's position and had overlooked the whereabouts of the inner treasury.
The palace still had some leftover funds, but after hosting two major events consecutively, they were now struggling financially.
"Just ask the Ministry of Revenue for funds—why come to His Majesty?" Yu Xiaogang frowned and coldly snorted.
Tang San was also unaware of the financial flow within the palace and agreed with Yu Xiaogang's reasoning.
Tang Xiao, however, didn't approve of Yu Xiaogang's suggestion and privately communicated his thoughts to the two through telepathy. "Public is public, private is private—don't misuse the empire's finances!"
Yu Xiaogang paid no heed to this.
The entire empire belonged to Dai Mubai and the Tang Sect—who would dare stop them from using the Ministry of Revenue's funds?
The steward felt deeply troubled and knelt down with a thud. "Imperial Preceptor, please don't! The Ministry of Revenue's funds are the foundation of the empire—they cannot be tampered with lightly."
Anyone who dared to misuse the Ministry of Revenue's funds would face impeachment immediately. If investigated, the steward would lose more than just his head.
Tang Xiao waved his hand and decided to send the steward away for now.
"Master, don't blur the lines between public and private matters. The future of the Star Luo Empire is ours, and we must govern it well."
Having gained an official position, Yu Xiaogang spoke with confidence. "Since the empire belongs to us, why can't we take money from the Ministry of Revenue?"
Tang San furrowed his brows.
For a long time, he hadn't heard of the Star Luo Palace being short on funds. The only possibility was that most of the wealth had been funneled into Dai Tianfeng's private treasury.
Dai Tianfeng had already been buried in the imperial mausoleum—it wasn't as if they could expect a dead man to tell them the location of the inner treasury.
For a moment, the three of them were deeply troubled by the financial issue.
They couldn't let the palace fall into disrepair right after Dai Mubai's ascension. If word got out, the empire's prestige would suffer greatly, and who would heed their call in the future?
Tang Xiao suddenly thought of a good idea. "Xiao San, don't forget about the Dragon Halberd Sect."
"Now that we've succeeded, pardoning Zhang Erhe and the others in the Dragon Halberd Sect can be done with a single edict."
"If that's the case, why can't we collect some profits from them?"
A few days earlier, the Dragon Halberd Sect had sent congratulatory letters, but they had no intention of relocating their sect to the Star Luo Empire, so Tang San hadn't paid much attention to them.
However, the amount of money they could extract from the Dragon Halberd Sect was very limited and insufficient to sustain the palace's expenses long-term.
Selling official titles was something only empires on the verge of collapse would do. Now that the Star Luo Empire was thriving, Tang San and the others, no matter how short on funds, wouldn't start this precedent easily.
Yu Xiaogang sneered and said, "Isn't there a ready-made solution? Back then, the upper three sects cornered the Tang Sect in the commercial field. Now that the roles are reversed, it's time to make them cough up their money."
"Xiao San, I'll draft an edict immediately to confiscate the properties of the upper three sects within the empire."
"No," Tang San quickly intervened.
He had long harbored resentment toward the upper three sects, but seeking revenge against the Spirit Hall in the future would require contact with them—it wasn't time to break ties yet.
Tang Xiao came up with a compromise. "Here's what we'll do: we'll impose additional taxes on the businesses of the upper three sects, forcing them to raise their product prices. This portion of the tax revenue will be managed by a dedicated team, and the funds will go directly into the imperial coffers."
While the plan was being implemented, devastating news arrived from the White Tiger Camp.
When the White Tiger Camp had accompanied Dai Weisi, Yu Tianxin had already sustained severe injuries.
The soldiers hadn't heard Dai Weisi's orders—they only saw Dai Weisi kick Yu Tianxin to death and chop his body into pieces to feed the wild dogs.
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