22: Chapter 22 A List of Crimes

Inside the Imperial Study, candlelight flickered.

The young Emperor Li Zhan's boot soles tapped out an anxious rhythm against the floor tiles.

His fists were clenched white.

The scene from outside Zhaoyang Hall earlier that day replayed in his mind over and over.

That golden finger descending from the sky.

It had crushed Elder Ziyang.

He was shrouded in immense fear.

But that power belonged to his Old Ancestor!

His clenched fists trembled with irrepressible excitement.

"What should I do?"

"What do I do?"

Li Zhan's voice was hoarse.

Wei Yong.

This name was squeezed out from between his teeth.

That powerful minister who treated him like a mere Puppet in the imperial court.

Wei Yong might have been scared out of his wits, but his cronies remained, a vast web spread across the court and the country.

Once Wei Yong regained his composure, that web would strangle him to death.

Cold sweat broke out on Li Zhan's back.

Just then.

"Your Majesty."

From outside the door came the voice of his trusted eunuch, Xiao Dezi.

"What is it? Didn't I say I am not to see anyone!"

Li Zhan roared irritably.

"Your Majesty, it is from Zhaoyang Hall. Someone has been sent to deliver a reward from the Retired Emperor."

Xiao Dezi's voice trembled.

Li Zhan froze completely.

He forgot to even put on his shoes, rushing over barefoot and yanking the palace door open.

Xiao Dezi held a sandalwood box in both hands, kneeling respectfully outside the door.

"What did the Retired Emperor bestow?"

Li Zhan's voice was out of tune.

"Replying to Your Majesty, the eunuch who delivered it said that the Retired Emperor saw you toiling over state affairs and that your Dragon body was unwell."

"He specially bestowed a 'Strong Tendon and Bone-Strengthening Pill' for you to properly nourish your body."

Li Zhan took the wooden box and opened it.

A Medicinal Pill the size of a dragon's eye lay in the box.

It was entirely crimson.

A wave of warm Qi and medicinal fragrance rushed towards his face.

Li Zhan only sniffed it once, and he felt the pent-up frustration in his chest dissipate significantly.

This was no mere bone-strengthening pill; this was a Divine Pill.

"The Old Ancestor is watching over me."

Li Zhan held the wooden box, his eyes heating up.

He felt an unprecedented sense of peace.

He did not hesitate any longer, picked up the Divine Pill, and swallowed it in one gulp.

Boom!

The Divine Pill melted the moment it entered his mouth.

A surge of heat instantly rushed through his entire body.

"Ngh..."

Li Zhan let out a muffled groan; his body felt like a piece of red-hot iron.

The Impurities within his body seemed to be scorched by a raging fire.

They turned into foul-smelling black smoke and were expelled from every pore on his body.

An incense stick's time later.

The heat subsided, merging into every inch of his flesh and blood.

Li Zhan leaned against the doorframe, exhausted.

He looked down.

The surface of his dragon robe was already covered in a layer of greasy, foul-smelling black grime.

He did not care.

His body had undergone a earth-shattering transformation.

The feelings of weakness, exhaustion, and dizziness were all gone.

In their place was unprecedented strength.

His five senses became sharp.

His eyes were clear.

Every breath was filled with vitality.

"Power..."

Li Zhan raised his hands and squeezed them tightly.

His knuckles cracked.

He walked quickly to the bronze mirror in the hall.

The person in the mirror was him.

Yet, it was no longer him.

His previously frail back was now straight as an arrow.

His formerly pale face had distinct contours, and his skin radiated a healthy glow.

Especially his eyes.

There was no longer any evasion or cowardice.

His gaze had become firm and sharp.

He possessed a natural dignity that commanded awe without anger.

"My Dragon prestige!"

Li Zhan puffed out his chest in front of the mirror.

An imperial majesty emanated from him.

This Aura was still very immature, yet incredibly pure.

The strength of his body had made his spirit stronger as well.

"Wei Yong..."

Li Zhan recited this name, his eyes filled only with Killing Intent.

With the Old Ancestor backing him, what was a mere powerful minister?

However.

How should he make a move?

Wei Yong's cronies were spread across the court; touching one would alert them all.

Without a foolproof plan, acting rashly would likely incite a military mutiny.

His hardened heart wavered slightly.

That night, Li Zhan reviewed memorials until late and fell asleep on the dragon bed.

In his dream, he arrived at a magnificent, resplendent palace.

It was surrounded by Immortal Qi.

A golden figure whose face could not be seen sat above the Nine Heavens.

A pair of eyes watched him coldly.

"Unworthy descendant Li Zhan pays respects to the Old Ancestor!"

Li Zhan immediately prostrated himself.

"Hmph, I thought the Bloodline of my Great Xia imperial family had already been severed."

The golden shadow let out a cold snort, his voice resonant and majestic.

"It is this descendant's incompetence that has disappointed the Old Ancestor."

Li Zhan kowtowed in terror.

"Useless!"

The golden shadow reprimanded.

"As the Son of Heaven, wielding a Divine Artifact, yet you are toyed with by a mere subject."

"You have lost all face for my Li family!"

"Today, I bestow upon you a Divine Pill to help you restore your Dragon prestige."

"And I further bestow upon you a scroll of the Slayer's Record!"

As the words fell, a golden light flashed.

A yellow silk scroll appeared before Li Zhan.

"The people on this record are all parasites of the state."

"Within three days, I want you to purge everyone on this list."

"Not one is to be left behind."

"Do you dare?"

Li Zhan trembled all over.

He felt hot blood surging.

He raised his head and roared hoarsely: "This descendant dares!"

"Very good."

The golden shadow nodded in satisfaction, his figure slowly dissipating.

...

"Hah!"

Li Zhan sat up abruptly from the dragon bed, covered in cold sweat.

He gasped for air.

The scenes from the dream were incredibly real.

Was that a dream?

In a daze, he caught a glimpse of the bedside.

A yellow silk scroll was emitting a faint golden light in the morning glow.

Li Zhan's breathing stopped.

He reached out with trembling hands, picked up the scroll, and unfurled it.

On the silk, names were written in cinnabar.

"Vice Minister of Revenue, Wu Qian. Charges: Embezzled three million taels of disaster relief funds, causing starvation across the three prefectures of Hexi..."

"Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, Zhao Sihai. Charges: Accepted massive bribes, privately mobilized troops, secretly plotting rebellion..."

"Prince Anle, Li Cheng. Charges: Formed cliques for personal gain, betrayed imperial secrets, defiled the inner palace..."

At the very top were two blood-red characters: Wei Yong!

This list included almost all the core members of Wei Yong's faction.

The listed evidence was extremely secretive, item by item; some matters, even Wei Yong himself had almost forgotten.

The last shred of doubt in Li Zhan's heart vanished.

This was not a dream.

This was the butcher's knife personally handed to him by the Old Ancestor.

Holding this "Slayer's Record," his heart surged with excitement.

He looked at himself in the mirror.

A cold sneer appeared on that young yet dignified face.

"Wei Yong, and you other parasites."

"Your good days are over!"

He strode out of the sleeping quarters and roared at the sky.

"Someone, come here!"

Xiao Dezi scrambled over, tumbling and crawling.

"Yo, Your Majesty?"

"Convey my imperial decree!"

Li Zhan's voice was icy.

"Summon Commander of the Imperial Guard Chen Qingzhi to enter the palace and see me immediately!"

"Furthermore, order the nine gates of the capital to be locked down."

"No one is to be absent from this morning's court session."

"Those who disobey shall be executed!"

...

That day.

Golden Throne Hall.

Before dawn, the civil and military officials had all arrived.

Everyone whispered to each other.

The atmosphere today was not right.

Wei Yong stood at the head of the officials, eyes closed, his expression normal.

He felt that no matter how strong the Retired Emperor was, it was impossible for him to fall out with himself over a useless emperor.

After all, he had operated for many years; if this web were broken, the entire Great Xia would suffer severe damage.

"His Majesty arrives!"

The eunuch's announcement rang out.

Wei Yong opened his eyes.

He saw Li Zhan wearing a black dragon robe, holding a yellow silk scroll, walking out from the rear hall.

Wei Yong felt a shiver in his heart.

It was not just him.

All the officials in the hall sensed the Emperor's change.

That upright posture.

That sharp gaze.

That undisguised Killing Intent.

How could this still be that Puppet emperor?

This was clearly a ferocious tiger ready to devour someone.

Li Zhan did not waste words.

He walked up to the dragon throne and sat down.

His gaze was icy as it swept across the officials.

The hall was silent as the grave.

In the silence, Li Zhan unfurled the yellow silk in his hand.

He said nothing.

He only stared downwards with those eyes filled with Killing Intent.

He stared at those familiar yet strange faces.

The atmosphere in the court was exceptionally heavy.