Chapter 215 The End of the Old Era

Chapter 215 The End of the Old Era

The east is turning white.

The first rays of dawn pierced the gloom that had shrouded the imperial city all night, illuminating the wide white marble square in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The air was still filled with a strong, rusty smell, a mixture of quicklime and water.

That was the stench of blood that could never be washed away.

Overnight, the Empress Dowager's faction, which had once held power and was arrogant, along with those opportunists who tried to cause trouble at the banquet, were uprooted and even their roots were chopped up.

The imperial court of the Great Sheng Dynasty was half empty.

The remaining half consisted either of the purists who were usually ostracized, or the neutral faction who had long since pledged allegiance to Pei Yunjing.

At this moment, they knelt on both sides of the main hall. Although their faces were pale and their legs were trembling, deep in their eyes was a sense of relief at surviving a disaster, as well as awe and expectation for the future.

That was an expectation of a new order.

The abscess has been squeezed out, and the rotten flesh has been removed.

The old era has come to a complete end with the massacre of people last night.

In the very center of the main hall.

All eyes, whether intentionally or unintentionally, were drawn to the high platform.

There stands the dragon throne, a symbol of supreme power.

It still shines with golden light, majestic and sacred.

However, the handrail on that side was cut off by Pei Yunjing's sword, leaving a corner missing. It looked somewhat broken, yet it exuded a poignant beauty after being conquered.

The dragon throne is suspended in mid-air.

Pei Yunjing stood beside the dragon throne, his hands behind his back, his bright red festive court robes standing out dazzlingly in the morning light.

After a night of slaughter and cleansing, he showed no signs of fatigue; instead, he exuded an imperial aura that made people afraid to look him in the eye.

He was looking at the chair.

The assembled officials below held their breath, their hearts pounding in their throats.

They are waiting.

Waiting for that moment that everyone has been waiting for.

They waited for the regent to turn around, sit in that position, and then accept their three kneelings and nine kowtows, thus changing the dynasty and ascending the throne as emperor.

This is the natural course of events, and the only possible outcome.

"Da, da."

The silence was broken by light footsteps.

Tangli walked out from the side hall.

She had just returned from the Cold Palace. Although she didn't kill anyone, directing hundreds of rats to "set up an array" was still a physically demanding task.

She yawned slightly, her eyes showing dark circles from staying up all night, and walked straight to Pei Yunjing's side.

"Is it all done?"

Pei Yunjing withdrew his gaze from the dragon throne and turned to look at her, his originally cold and hard features softening instantly.

"Um."

Tang Li nodded and rubbed her sore neck:

"That old hag will probably never dare to close her eyes and sleep again. It's worse than killing her."

"well done."

Pei Yunjing reached out and straightened her slightly crooked golden phoenix hairpin, his movements as natural as if he were in his own bedroom, rather than in the Golden Palace, which had just experienced a coup.

The assembled officials below stared wide-eyed.

Shouldn't we be talking about the coronation ceremony at this time? Why are we chatting about everyday things?

"Your Highness..."

Finally, a highly respected and respected senior official could no longer contain himself. He tremblingly crawled half a step on his knees, raised his court tablet high, and spoke in a loud and excited voice:

"Now that the treacherous officials have been eliminated, the world is bright and clear! A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day! The late emperor... the late emperor (referring to the deposed emperor) was immoral and no longer fit to shoulder the great responsibility. We implore Your Highness... we implore Your Highness to obey the will of Heaven and ascend the throne..."

"Please, Your Highness, ascend the throne!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

With someone taking the lead, the remaining officials seemed to have found their leader and prostrated themselves on the ground, shouting in unison.

The sound was deafening, echoing throughout the main hall.

Amidst the thunderous cheers and applause, Pei Yunjing frowned slightly.

He turned around and looked once more at the dragon throne with a missing corner. He reached out and gently stroked the cold, golden armrest with his fingertips.

Everyone held their breath, thinking he was about to sit down.

"Too hard."

Pei Yunjing withdrew his hand and commented with disdain:

"It's not as comfortable as that tiger-skin chair."

The ministers: "...?"

Pei Yunjing did not sit down; he felt it was a waste of time not to even glance at him.

He turned his back to the dragon throne that countless people dreamed of, for which blood had flowed like rivers, and then reached out his hand to Tang Li.

"They're gone."

His voice was languid, carrying a sense of utter boredom that came with the outcome already decided:

"I'm tired after a long night, and I'm sleepy."

"Go home and sleep."

Tang Li looked at his outstretched hand, then at the empty dragon throne, and instantly understood his meaning.

She smiled gently and placed her hand in his palm:

"Okay, let's go home. I want to eat wontons."

"Let the cook do it."

Pei Yunjing led her down the imperial steps amidst the astonished, shocked, and completely bewildered gazes of the court officials.

He walked past the kneeling ministers, through the magnificent golden cage, and toward the palace gates.

The sunlight cast long shadows on the two figures as they walked away.

Until their figures disappeared at the palace gate, until the two vermilion doors creaked shut again.

The kneeling ministers finally came to their senses, looking at each other blankly.

"They...they're leaving already?"

"Your Highness... Your Highness isn't seated?"

"Then...then who will sit on this throne?"

The dragon throne still stands alone on the high platform, its missing armrest gleaming eerily in the sunlight.