Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

This music is not unfamiliar to the citizens of Bianliang.

It’s the ”Danmu Yue Music” played only for the new Emperor’s ascension. The last time they heard it was when Zhao Ji ascended the throne.

Such elegant music cannot be used arbitrarily; it carries the weight of a crime as severe as rebellion and the extermination of nine clans.

The people of Bianliang knew that last night’s coup had brought them a new Emperor.

They cautiously opened a small gap in their doors, observing the situation outside through the crevice.

They saw the Imperial Guards cleaning the streets, buckets of water washing away the bloodstains on the streets, with a strong smell of blood lingering in the air.

However, this major event of a new Emperor doesn’t much affect the common people, as they only hope the new Emperor will be kinder to them and reduce some taxes.

After all, during Zhao Ji’s reign, the people didn’t have much fondness for him and would sometimes curse him in private.

Because the taxes were especially heavy, and they collected for the next few years in advance.

To build the Genyue, many officials were sent out to extort from the populace.

To open the canal, hundreds of thousands of laborers were conscripted, with countless casualties over the years.

So many lost their fathers and husbands, resulting in broken families.

While the benefits of the canal may last for generations, of what use is it to them in their lifetime?

They only wish to live their peaceful lives quietly.

Even the civil service exam, which Zhao Ji prided himself on opening, brought no benefits to the people.

Because the exam did not allow candidates to submit applications autonomously but required recommendations from officials of Fifth Grade or above, essentially unchanged from before.

So, to them, only an Emperor who is good to them is a good Emperor.

Taihe Palace.

As the music played, Xiao Yunqi, clad in battle armor, led his group forward.

With the new Emperor’s ascension, aside from Xiao Yunqi and his generals, the leaders of the Imperial Guard who surrendered during the resistance also came to the hall, hoping to share in the spoils, not seeking advancement but merely to retain their current positions.

However, this coup, aside from killing the top ”traitors” Cai Si and Gao Qiu, also led Xiao Yunqi to handle a large number of officials, thus the Taihe Palace seemed somewhat sparse, almost entirely composed of Xiao Yunqi’s faction and some neutral ministers.

And not a single minister from the loyalist faction was present.

Chen Mo, accompanied by Gao Zheng, Xu Dabao, and others, also entered the hall.

With so many vacant official positions, Chen Mo naturally had to bring his subordinates to meet the new Emperor and fill those vacancies.

But everyone knew one thing: this new Emperor was merely a puppet supported by Xiao Yunqi; the one truly holding regency power was still Xiao Yunqi.

However, Zhao Chong hadn’t realized this yet. In his view, Xiao Yunqi was his grandfather, Xiao Yunxi his biological mother, was Xiao Yunqi’s daughter, and thus trustworthy, and he believed he would eventually gain power.

So he sat on the Dragon Throne, wearing an ill-fitting Dragon Robe, yet remained very excited.

The sovereign of the nine-five, holding the fate of the world.

Looking at Zhao Chong above, Xiao Yunqi was also very excited, not feeling the slightest weariness after a night of fierce battle, instead feeling extremely invigorated.

He bowed to Zhao Chong, and the generals behind quickly followed suit; an uneven chorus reverberated: ”Long live the Emperor, long live, long live forever!”

”Arise, arise, my dear ministers, please stand up,” Zhao Chong waved his hand, almost standing up.

After the customary formalities were completed, Xiao Yunqi began to purge dissenters.

Those who were close to Cai Si and Gao Qiu, with intimate connections, were either executed or exiled; the lighter punished were demoted to the bottom.

And Zhao Chong entirely acceded to Xiao Yunqi.

After the purge, he proceeded to reward his supporters.

First was Hu Sheng, appointed as Prime Minister.

Then Shi Si was directly promoted to the Commander of the Personal Guard Department.

Chen Mo, who merited by defending the South Gate and supporting the new Emperor’s entrance, was promoted from a Military Commander to Deputy Commander of the Infantry Division.

The Commander of the Infantry Division was Xiao Teng.

Quan Qiyang was appointed as the Director of the Imperial City Department.

The previous Director was demoted to Deputy.

Because the Imperial City Department only turned after the Inner City was breached.

As for the leaders below the Personal Guard Department, all were dismissed by Xiao Yunqi and replaced with his men.

The same applied to the Cavalry Department.

Moreover, the Ministers of the Six Ministries were also appointed from Xiao Yunqi’s confidants.

Once he had rewarded his subordinates, it was time for Xiao Yunqi himself.

He certainly would not nominate himself.

Shi Si took a step forward, cupped his hands, and respectfully said: ”To petition Your Majesty, the Grand Commandant eradicated treacherous rivals, cleansed the Emperor’s side, toiled greatly; I believe the Grand Commandant should be elevated to a princely rank, granted the Nine Bestowments, and allowed to enter the palace with sword and shoes…”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire court was shocked.

Such treatment, even a Prince would not receive.

If Zhao Chong agreed, then Xiao Yunqi’s power would become the most powerful of any minister in the history of the Canglan Continent.

Chen Mo opened his mouth, for a princely rank, the Nine Bestowments, to enter court with sword and shoes; this was the classic profile of a usurper.

With Shi Si’s opening, Xiao Teng, Hu Sheng, and others, followed by Chen Mo, all felt it was justifiable.

And Xiao Yunqi suddenly sprang to his feet, shouting: ”Impossible, impossible, you wish to place this old man in what position...?”

If Xiao Yunqi were to act, he would undoubtedly be of Oscar-winning caliber.

At this moment, Zhao Chong also realized something was amiss, and the Dragon Throne seemed prickly beneath him.

Could he truly sit securely as Emperor?

And Xiao Yunqi declined.

Shi Si and others requested again.

After three requests and refusals, Xiao Yunqi fell silent.

Shi Si loudly asked: ”What does Your Majesty think?”

Zhao Chong, his lips trembling slightly, hastily replied: ”Approved, conferred the title of Lord of Anyang to the Grand Commandant, granted the Nine Bestowments, and permitted to enter court with a sword…”

”Thank You, Your Majesty,” Xiao Yunqi quickly stepped forward to bow.

Zhao Chong waved his hand: ”Lord of Anyang, please, no need for formality, be seated.”

”Thank You, Your Majesty,” Xiao Yunqi thanked again.

Afterwards, it was Zhao Chong’s turn.

Crown Prince Consort Xiao Mu was conferred as Empress.

Indeed, Xiao Mu was the legitimate daughter of the Xiao Family, though not from Xiao Yunqi’s line, but also had to call Zhao Chong cousin.

His mother, Xiao Yunxi, was honored as the Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace.

Hu Noble Consort was honored as the Empress Dowager of the Western Palace.

...

The court session lasted for more than an hour before it concluded.

But the ministers couldn’t afford to be idle.

Although the Emperor had changed, it didn’t mean stability had been achieved.

There were internal rebellions, and external threats.

Moreover, a proclamation of ascension needed to be issued to calm the realm.

Discussing the new era name, etc.

In short, after the new Emperor’s ascension, there were too many affairs to handle.

...

Imperial Prison.

This was not an ordinary jail.

The Imperial Prison only held cases where officials of the level of the Nine Ministers or Governors, high-ranking officials of two thousand stone, had committed crimes and required an Emperor’s edict to be detained, governed directly by the Emperor.

Since it was a prison for senior officials, it differed from other cells that were foul-smelling and perpetually dark, and instead was quite elegantly and immaculately arranged.