DONG DONG -

    The morning bell echoed throughout the imperial city. The officials outside the imperial gates hurried through the white stone avenue to the Dàotai Hall as soon as they heard the sound.

    As soon as they entered the Dao-tai Hall, the officials chatted and argued in a whisper; it had been only a few days since the last early meeting, and the Ta Long dynasty had a tradition of holding a hundred-day meeting every three hundred years. There were very few exceptions.

    But today, just a few days after the hundred-day session, there was another early morning assembly, and everyone suspected that something significant must have happened in the empire.

    At the entrance of the hall, an elderly man in a red robe walked in slowly from outside. His noble status made all the officials silent and respectful, bowing silently to show their respect.

    The head of the cabinet, who is first among all officials, stammered and blushed, giving up his seat and standing beside Miaoteinan with reverence.

    The cabinet serves as the advisor to the emperor. During the reign of the female emperor, its power was immense. Now, with the absence of the female emperor, it is acting as a proxy for imperial authority. As long as Longling does not interfere, they are in effect like a second emperor in name only.

    Sun Qing, the head of the cabinet, holds the position of the most senior member and commands respect from everyone below him. With power that is second to none, he has reached the pinnacle of power in the empire.

    But deep down, he knows better than anyone else that he owes his position to the master beside him.

    The female emperor is in seclusion, and Longling holds power, but Longling's trusted confidant is the Grand Master Miao Tiansnan. With a single word, he can decide someone's promotion or demotion, and with a single glance, he can determine someone's life or death.

    Years ago, Sun Qing was just a small official in the Hanlin Academy, but with a single word from Miao Tiansnan, he was able to sail smoothly and successfully rise to the position of the head of the cabinet.

    If we talk about his patron, the Grand Master is his patron. If we talk about his mentor, the Grand Master is his mentor, his ally. Since he can be promoted to the position of cabinet head by the Grand Master, he may also be fallen by him.

    The higher one stands, the more one fears falling. Sun Qing fully understands the importance of being aligned with the right person. Though he is the head of the cabinet, in the presence of this Grand Master, he always behaves with humility as a student, showing no disrespect at all.

    A well-trained dog will be kept for a long time, while those who are not obedient will long since have been cooked for dog meat hotpot.

    "Grand Master, is there something important to announce today?"

    Sun Qing bowed his body, asking humbly.

    Sun Qing is just a dog under the Grand Master, who knows that this morning's assembly was proposed by the Grand Master, but he does not know what will happen during this meeting.

    The Grand Master Miao Tiansnan had his hands tucked into his sleeves and his back turned, with a hint of cold smirk on his face, "Oh? Do you want to know what's going on before deciding what to do?"

    "Dare not."

    Sun Qing replied humbly, "As an assistant to the cabinet and a disciple of the Grand Master, I fully support whatever the Grand Master says without reservation."

    Miao Tiansnan nodded with satisfaction, then did not say another word.

    The bustling discussions inside the Taiji Hall resumed, but then, Longling, dressed in a golden Chinese dragon robe, slowly walked out from the side door of the hall and took a seat on the specially made long chair. The eunuch behind him flicked his whip, and the sound echoed throughout the hall as all officials fell silent.

    "Today, I summon all officials to discuss important matters."

    Longling sat firmly in the golden long chair, facing the crowd, his voice resounding in the hall, "The emperor has been in seclusion for many years due to a severe illness. He intended to achieve nothing until he achieved everything. However, after years of seclusion, there has been no improvement at all, and his health is deteriorating day by day. It is feared that he may not have much longer to live..."

    A loud cheer.

    As soon as this was said, the hall erupted in chaos, with the officials discussing in a commotion. The news that the female emperor's life is in danger is indeed a significant announcement.

    The royal bloodline has gradually declined since the Rebellion of the Three Kings three hundred years ago. To this day, no one knows the whereabouts of the descendants of the Prince-sons.

    As for the Long Feiwu line, which was already sparse in numbers, there is only her left in this generation. The current emperor is fond of practicing cultivation, and the harem is empty. There are no heirs yet. If she were to pass away, the royal family would be without a successor.

    All officials turned their gaze towards Long Ling on the golden chair. After the female emperor sealed herself, the actual power of the empire was in his hands. At this moment, if he wanted to take over, the officials would indeed have no way to stop him.

    However, in the next moment, Long Ling seemed to have seen through the thoughts of the crowd. He raised his voice and said, "In the emperor's final moments, he hopes that someone can take over her position. However, I am not part of the royal bloodline, and I'm afraid that I am powerless to do so. Fortunately, several years ago, I finally found the royal bloodline that had been lost in the world."

    As his words fell, a figure clad in a golden dragon robe named Long Hua walked slowly towards the throne on the dais from the side door of the hall, exuding an air of determination to ascend the throne today.

    "This son is named Long Hua, whose royal bloodline was lost in the world. After my certification and the emperor's verification, it has been confirmed that he is indeed a member of the royal family. With the emperor's order, he will ascend to the position of emperor for nine-five..."

    "I object."

    At this moment, an elderly man in a scarlet robe stepped forward from the ranks of civil officials, his old eyes fiercely glaring at Long Ling on the dais.

    "Saying that this son is a member of the royal family, and therefore he is, is it not enough to trust the words of one man? Long Ling, you have held power for too long. You have promoted Miao Tiansnan to lead our government, causing chaos and turmoil. I have tolerated all of these things, but now you want to change the government by replacing it with another? Do you think we are idiots?"

    Another middle-aged man in a scarlet robe walked out among the officials.

    "Long Ling, you have hidden the truth for too long. Now you want to change the dynasty? You say the emperor's life is short, but since you claim to have the emperor's order, where is the emperor now? If he does not appear, we will never allow you to speak nonsense here."

    "That's right. If we don't get an explanation today, we cannot let you act in such a manner."

    ……

    Several people, one after another, stepped out from the ranks of civil officials, confronting Long Ling on the dais with an air of stern questioning.

    Miao Tiansnan, clad in a bright red long robe and the first among the officials, gave a slight glance at the few who suddenly stood up to oppose him, without any emotional fluctuation, as if he had already guessed what would happen.

    Sun Qing, the head of the cabinet, broke into a cold sweat at the back. He could guess that this sudden early morning assembly was to make a major decision by Miao Tiansnan. However, he never expected that it would be to usurp power and change dynasties. As the head of the cabinet, he should have stood up to protest with the officials at this moment. But when his gaze fell on them, he was startled by a stare from Miao Tiansnan that made him shudder and remain frozen in place without moving.

    Long Ling sat firmly on the golden chair, lightly raising his eyes, and with a calm demeanor, sweeping his gaze over the officials who suddenly rose to counter his words. His old right hand raised slightly and lightly waved, causing the bright hall to suddenly dim a few shades.

    The guards outside the hall closed the main entrance at this moment. The armed soldiers rushed in and stood in a row at the entrance, preventing anyone from leaving. Meanwhile, a group of disciples dressed in red robes poured into the hall from the side door and surrounded the officials.

    A young man in black brocade stepped out of the side door of the hall and approached Long Ling's side, proudly facing the crowd, "With the new emperor ascending to the throne, who supports it, and who opposes it?"