Huo Guang was taken aback by the sight of an 'old sword' in the court and felt a tightness in his chest. Initially, he thought it was just Liu Bingyi throwing a tantrum, but he hadn't expected it to be merely the calm before the storm. The moment Liu Bingyi stepped out of the palace, the dormant system in his mind suddenly erupted in a blinding, dark golden light.
[Ding! The host has ascended the throne, but the 'mindset' has not yet fully taken control of the empire. System-mandated task [True Dragon Ceremony] triggered. Task requirements: During the upcoming formal coronation ceremony, the host must discard the 'puppet' label and announce to the world: This Han dynasty belongs to the Liu family, not the Huo family.
Failure penalty: The host will be completely reduced to a puppet of the Huo family and the system will be removed.
Task reward: [Imperial Majesty: Aura Enhanced by 1000%] (Once activated, anyone within a hundred paces who harbours disloyalty towards the host will be terrified and beg for mercy.)
Liu Bingyi paused slightly, the hint of nonchalance in his eyes instantly replaced by a profound, timeless darkness. 'Has it finally arrived?' Autumn of the first year of Yuanping, Weiyang Palace.
The enthronement ceremony officially began. To emphasise his status as the 'regent minister', Huo Guang deliberately changed the ceremony, which was originally presided over by the Ministry of Rites, so that he could personally help Liu Bingyi ascend the Altar of Heaven. He wanted the whole world to see that this young emperor could not even walk steadily without his support.
'Your Majesty, this robe is heavy, and the road is slippery.' Huo Guang stood beside Liu Bingyi, his large hand tightly gripping his arm. Seemingly he was supporting him, but it was actually a form of restraint. 'Follow my rhythm; don't lose your composure.'
Liu Bingyi lowered his head slightly, his eyes hidden behind the twelve-tasselled crown. His voice was devoid of emotion. 'Thank you for the reminder, General.' When he reached the top of the Altar of Heaven and faced the vast expanse of clouds over the Han Dynasty, the system notification sounded precisely on time.
'[Ding! Host has stepped onto the core position of the Altar of Heaven.] [Mandatory Mission Completed! Reward: [Imperial Majesty (1000% Mode) – Load Now!]
At that moment, the officials who had been whispering, and even secretly mocking, this 'farming imperial grandson', suddenly felt an overwhelming, terrifying pressure as if the sky were falling.
Huo Guang's hand, which had been gripping Liu Bingyi's arm, loosened involuntarily as if burned by red-hot iron clamps. He was horrified to find that Liu Bingyi's spine was as straight as a giant sword piercing the heavens. The domineering and sacred aura emanating from his very bones filled Huo Guang, the powerful general, with such fear that he wanted to kneel.
Liu Bingyi slowly turned around and looked down at Chang'an City. He didn't speak, but his amplified aura plunged the entire Weiyang Palace into absolute silence. The wind seemed to stop and the clouds seemed to freeze as his gaze swept over the kneeling Huo family confidants in the front row. Those men felt as if they were being watched by a giant beast from the abyss and instantly broke out in a cold sweat, their official robes becoming instantly soaked. Some even collapsed to the ground, unable to withstand the mental pressure. [System Feedback: Huo Guang's psychological defences have cracked (current assessment: extreme shock and self-doubt).
[Reputation Value: +50,000! (Total Intimidation Value Reached Max)]
'General,' said Liu Bingyi softly, his voice low but resounding like thunder under the weight of his authority. He turned to Huo Guang, his eyes now devoid of the cowardice and unease that had previously characterised them. Instead, they displayed a detached indifference as he surveyed the chess pieces. 'I walked this path to the throne steadily. And I will guide the Han Dynasty steadily from now on.'
Huo Guang stood frozen as he watched Liu Bingyi walk alone towards the centre of the altar, a symbol of supreme power. He knew that, from that moment on, the 'peasant' he could manipulate at will was dead.
In his place stood the most terrifying hunter in the four hundred years of the Han dynasty's history.
Huo Guang's hands trembled as he tried to grab Liu Bingyi's sleeve once more in an attempt to salvage his pride. However, he found it difficult even to raise his arm under the overwhelming pressure.
'General, am I... handsome?' Liu Bingyi tilted his head slightly. The mocking red light in his eyes was not merely an aura, but the manifestation of the [System Reward: True Dragon Law].
[Ding! Hostile units detected within range: 482.]
'Imperial pressure automatically locked; knee-softening effect applied to all!' 'Thump!' The first Huo family confidant succumbed to the psychological pressure and knelt. The Imperial Guards, eunuchs and even the proud nobles below the altar all bent over involuntarily like harvested wheat.
On the viewing platform, Huo Chengjun gripped the railing tightly as he watched the man shrouded in divine light atop the Temple of Heaven. Her belief that 'he's just a cunning little man' completely crumbled.
Although this was an extremely high honour, Liu Bingyi's next words were like a sharp knife, piercing the heart of the Huo family: 'However, to prevent the Grand General from overworking, I have decided to set up the Grand Council. The salt and iron of the Han Dynasty..." 'Border defence and taxation are both under the control of the Grand Council and are directly subordinate to me.'
[System Command: Activate the 'Bloodless Victory' Plan]
Mission objective: under the guise of honour, strip Huo Guang of his power.
[Imposing Intimidation: 1000% aura locks onto Huo Guang, rendering him unable to refute in front of the officials.
Huo Guang opened his mouth. He wanted to refute this, to point out that it violated ancestral rules and that military and political power should be decided by the Grand Marshal's office.
But under Liu Bingyi's intense gaze, he felt as if a giant hand was gripping his throat. Every word of opposition swirled on his tongue, but fear prevented him from speaking. Seeing the Grand General's apparent acquiescence, the officials kowtowed and shouted, 'Your Majesty is wise! The Grand General is righteous!'
[Reputation Value: +20,000! Successfully stripped Huo Guang of his core power in full view of everyone!
After the grand ceremony, Liu Bingyi slowly descended the steps of the Temple of Heaven. As he passed Huo Guang, he paused deliberately, his imposing aura dissipating to be replaced by a chilling, serpentine whisper that terrified Huo Guang even more.
'General, you'd better hold onto this honour of "not having to bow upon entering the court", for standing too high can lead to a fatal fall.'
With that, Liu Bingyi waved his sleeves and, surrounded by countless shadow dragon guards disguised as imperial guards, strode confidently towards the unfathomable depths of the Weiyang Palace.
Behind him, Huo Guang finally collapsed, swaying as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Chapter Twenty-Three, Part 3: Bloodstained Warmth and the 'Exchange' with Power
The last rays of the setting sun had not yet faded from the stone steps of the altar when deep within the Weiyang Palace, the world changed. News of Huo Guang vomiting blood and fainting had swept through Chang'an like a cold wind. Meanwhile, Liu Bingyi, the instigator, sat in a side hall of the Jiaofang Palace, holding a bowl of steaming tofu pudding.
'Bingyi, is the ceremony over?' Xu Pingjun, still unaccustomed to the elaborate court attire, appeared somewhat reserved. She was unaware of the thrilling contest that had just taken place on the altar outside. All she could see was her husband, wearing a black and gold dragon robe and looking weary.
Liu Bingyi took the spoon and inhaled the fragrant aroma deeply. The lively atmosphere of Shangguanli instantly dispelled the suffocating pressure emanating from him. 'It's over. From today onwards, no one can call you a peasant girl anymore, and no one can interfere with our marriage.' He gently took Xu Pingjun's hand, his voice as soft as a farmer returning from the fields.
[God-level command: initiate 'Operation Tooth Extraction']
Mission requirements: Eliminate all non-royal armed forces within Chang'an City that could threaten the palace's safety before dawn. Status enhancement: All Shadow Dragon Guards gain +50% stealth and +30% critical hit rate.
'Tell Lei Zhen there must be no survivors. Place the heads in the grain carts originally destined for the Huo residence and deliver them as a 'congratulatory gift' to the General's Mansion tomorrow morning." Just then, a slight commotion arose outside the hall.
Huo Chengjun, who should have returned to the Huo residence, was now dressed as a palace maid and kneeling outside the side hall. The arrogance that had characterised her eyes as a young lady had been replaced by an almost obsessive fanaticism. 'Chengjun, why don't you leave?' Liu Bingyi asked coldly through the screen.
'Wherever His Majesty is, Chengjun will be there.' Huo Chengjun's forehead touched the ground, her voice trembling yet firm. 'Father has gone mad. He wants the Black Armour Guards to surround Weiyang Palace. Chengjun knows the location of all the secret passages and the names of every general he has contacted tonight.'
[System notification: Due to the host's excessive display of imperial power, top-tier pawn Huo Chengjun has undergone 'personality restructuring'.' [Top Secret Intelligence Received: The hidden version of the 'Chang'an City Defence Deployment Map' is in Huo Guang's hands. Liu Bingyi stepped out from behind the screen and looked down at Huo Chengjun kneeling at his feet. A cruel yet playful smile crept across his face as he reached out and hooked her chin with his foot.
'Since you want to be a blade, then you must shed blood. Go and take my Shadow Dragon Guards to dismantle your father's secret private army camp. If you succeed, you will become my 'Imperial Concubine'; if you fail, you will die in the ruins of the Huo family.'
Without hesitation, Huo Chengjun caught the token that Liu Bingyi tossed to her. She stood up and disappeared into the darkness. The dagger that Liu Bingyi had given her gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
[Ding! Perfect Settlement.]
'Because the host successfully sowed discord among the core families of his opponents on the first night of his ascension to the throne, he gained 8,000 reputation points.' [Point.]
Unlocked the divine title 'Dark Night Judge', which provides double the stealth effect during covert operations at night. Late at night, sporadic screams echoed through Chang'an, quickly drowned out by the gongs of the city watchmen.
Liu Bingyi returned to his palace. On the priceless dragon bed, he held Xu Pingjun in his arms and listened to the occasional sound of blades piercing flesh outside the window. He closed his eyes and revealed the most peaceful smile he had shown since taking control of Chang'an.
'Pingjun, sleep. When you wake up tomorrow, the sky over Chang'an will be completely clear.'