We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 609: Court Session!

"Have you heard? Something enormous has happened at court!"

"Enormous? What kind of enormous?"

"Yan Shan'ao! I heard our Chancellor, Yan Shan'ao, is dead!"

"Dead? How did he die?"

"I heard that last night, Yan Shan'ao went to the palace for a banquet, and His Majesty killed him!"

"No way! Isn't Yan Shan'ao a Dragon Gate realm cultivator? I heard he even kept several Golden Core realm elders as retainers. And he just died, like that?"

"Who knows."

Within the teahouse, patrons sipped their tea and nibbled on pastries, discussing the enormous events of the previous night.

At the same time, similar conversations were taking place in every corner of the Great Zhou capital.

They even felt that the women posturing coquettishly beside them were interfering with their own storytelling and the great majority of people clapped their hands in delight at Yan Shan'ao's death, praising it without exception.

After all, in all these years, Yan Shan'ao had done precious few decent things! The common people bore him nothing but deep resentment!

But because Yan Shan'ao held such overwhelming power, and was, moreover, a Dragon Gate realm cultivator, the great majority dared not voice their anger openly.

Now that Yan Shan'ao was dead, that alone was cause enough to drink several rounds in celebration!

As for what came next, well.

Though the current emperor might not necessarily prove a wise and enlightened ruler, regardless, he surely could not be worse than Yan Shan'ao!

Regardless of everything else, Great Zhou remained, after all, the realm of the Xiao imperial house and that His Majesty had managed to kill Yan Shan'ao was proof enough that he possessed careful, calculating judgment, undoubtedly a clever man.

And so, for the Zhou Kingdom, no small number of people found a flicker of hope stirring in their hearts.

And so a day passed.

On the morning of the third day after Yan Shan'ao's death, the morning court session was held as usual.

Every official at court now regarded this particular session with the utmost seriousness!

Because this was the very first morning court session since His Majesty had begun cultivating the Dao and moreover, the very first morning court session since Yan Shan'ao's death!

Earlier than usual, the court officials had already gathered within the main hall, waiting for His Majesty.

Some officials held their heads high, appearing quite self-satisfied, unable to suppress the smiles tugging at the corners of their mouths.

Some officials remained silent, only lowering their heads, their thoughts weighing heavily on them.

Still others sought out their close friends for conversation, exchanging information with one another, trying to gauge His Majesty's own thinking.

"His Majesty arrives!"

Just as everyone stood there, each harboring their own private thoughts.

Wei Xun's shrill voice rang throughout the entire hall.

Everyone's hearts immediately tensed, and they hurried to take their proper positions.

Once everyone had settled into place, they could not help but feel a certain sense of disorientation because His Majesty had arrested no small number of officials, the hall now appeared considerably more sparse than before.

They found themselves somewhat unaccustomed to this.

"Your subjects welcome His Majesty! Long live His Majesty, long live, long live!"

The assembled officials called out in unison and amid their cries, Xiao Mo, clad in his dragon robe, slowly emerged.

Xiao Mo walked to the throne, standing atop the raised dais, sweeping his gaze over the officials below, raising a hand, “Rise, my loyal subjects."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The officials straightened, their eyes turning toward the emperor upon the dais, their expressions carrying no small measure of astonishment.

They were not entirely certain whether it was simply because they had not seen His Majesty in two years but His Majesty seemed to carry himself now with far greater majesty than before, every movement radiating the bearing of a truly sagely ruler.

Some even felt, inexplicably, that merely looking upon His Majesty stirred within them a wish to serve him with everything they had, to swear absolute loyalty unto death.

"The bearing of a sagely sovereign!"

These very words rose in everyone's mind at once.

"I imagine all of you, my loyal subjects, have already heard of what happened recently."

Xiao Mo spoke slowly, his voice carrying an unspoken authority.

"Some time ago, while cultivating the Dao, I found myself with certain doubts, and since Chancellor Yan was a great cultivator of the Dragon Gate realm, I arranged a banquet to invite him, hoping he might resolve my uncertainties."

"Yet I never expected that Yan Shan'ao would seize the opportunity to harbor treasonous intentions against me!"

"I had always treated the Chancellor generously, honoring him as a foster father. That he would harbor such treachery fills me with deep sorrow! Fortunately, Heaven protected our Great Zhou, and in the end, Yan Shan'ao was slain by my own hand, and every remaining member of his faction has now been seized and imprisoned."

"As for all of you gathered here today, though you bear no connection to Yan Shan'ao or his remaining faction, I still hope that each of you will take Yan Shan'ao as a warning, devoting yourselves wholeheartedly to the people, and maintaining strict integrity! Man acts, but Heaven watches. Never harbor any false hope of escaping notice."

"Do all of you understand what I mean by this?"

The moment Xiao Mo's words fell, everyone hurried to bow, calling out in unison, “Your Majesty's words strike deep, awakening us to reflection. Your subjects understand!"

At the same time, no small number of them felt a wave of relief wash over them.

Since His Majesty had spoken so plainly, it meant that everyone who needed to be arrested had already been arrested, and by rights, their own turn should not come.

Of course, they also understood that this was His Majesty's one and only chance he was offering them.

Judging by who His Majesty had chosen to arrest, they understood that His Majesty possessed no small understanding of court affairs, certainly not acting blindly.

After all, even some deeply hidden members of the Yan faction had been rooted out by His Majesty.

The only reason His Majesty had spared them was that their own involvement had been comparatively minor but should they dare to offend again in the future, their fate would likely prove no better than Yan Shan'ao's.

"Good, that all of you understand." Xiao Mo turned his gaze. "Where is Minister of Justice Cui Zhengyuan?"

Cui Zhengyuan stepped forward from the ranks, bowing respectfully, “This subject is here."

The other officials looked at Cui Zhengyuan, their expressions somewhat complicated.

This Cui Zhengyuan had, until recently, been merely a sixth-rank official within the Ministry of Rites but this man had harbored deep hatred for Yan Shan'ao, remaining loyal to the Great Zhou imperial house, and now that His Majesty held power, overnight, a single decree had elevated him to the second-rank position of Minister of Justice! And it seemed likely he would only rise further in favor from here!

"Those members of the Yan faction have already been seized and imprisoned. I command you to interrogate them thoroughly, uncovering every crime they have committed, to give the common people a proper accounting!" Xiao Mo said.

"This subject accepts the command!" Cui Zhengyuan's voice rang out like a bell. "I shall not fail the trust Your Majesty has placed in me!"

"With so many officials imprisoned, no small number of positions now stand vacant. This is a critical time for finding capable men. In the days to come, all of you may recommend worthy candidates, and I will give serious consideration to every recommendation." Xiao Mo looked at the assembled officials. "Is there any other matter to discuss, my loyal subjects?"

The moment Xiao Mo's words fell, silence settled over the entire court.

"Since none of you have further matters, this session is concluded."

Xiao Mo rose to his feet.

Wei Xun again raised his shrill voice, calling out, “Court is dismissed!"

The assembled officials bowed once more, “Your subjects bid His Majesty farewell!"

At the same time, before a small courtyard in the western part of the Great Zhou capital.

A palace maid knocked upon the courtyard gate.

"Coming."

A woman's gentle voice came from within the courtyard.

Wangxin opened the courtyard gate, and found several palace maids standing before her.