The handsome head flew past Emperor Yong’an’s face as hot blood from the severed neck sprayed across his entire body.

His nostrils filled with the thick stench of blood, his clothes soaked as if drenched in a bloody rain. The young man before him looked both familiar and strange, the long blade in his hand gleaming with cold light.

“You—” Emperor Yong’an opened his mouth, but it felt as though something was lodged in his chest cavity, choking him instantly and preventing him from breathing. His vision went black and he collapsed.

“Your Majesty!” Zhou Shan’s face turned ashen with shock as he caught Emperor Yong’an, crying out desperately, “Protect His Majesty! Quickly, protect His Majesty!”

The Jinlin Guards and Golden Crow Guards on both sides surged forward, their vigilant gazes fixed on Wei Han.

The civil and military officials were scared witless, each one standing dumbfounded like wooden chickens.

Wei Han gripped his blade and took a step forward.

Blood dripped from the blade’s tip. Though only scattered droplets, they caused all the guards to instinctively retreat in unison.

To execute the National Preceptor with a single blade stroke before the Emperor and the entire court—this impact was tremendous for everyone, even capable of shattering many people’s mental fortitude.

That was the National Preceptor, an immortal being who could summon wind and rain and determine life and death, someone who could even sit in the Emperor’s presence.

Prince Kaiyang had cut down an immortal with one blade stroke?

The pressure such a Wei Han brought upon the crowd was beyond imagination.

“The wicked Daoist has been eliminated. Why is Eunuch Zhou still shouting about protecting His Majesty? Shouldn’t he be calling for the Imperial Physicians instead?” Wei Han spoke calmly, wiping the blade tip with a snow-white handkerchief as he spoke.

Zhou Shan’s lips trembled continuously. Under great terror, he forced himself to shout: “Summon the Imperial Physicians!”

Soon a group of Imperial Physicians came running with their medicine boxes and carried away the still-unconscious Emperor Yong’an.

Only the staring civil and military officials remained before the palace gates.

Grand Secretary Tao Shuo mustered his courage and stepped forward, saying sternly: “How could Your Highness carry a blade before the Emperor and alarm His Majesty!”

Wei Han lifted his eyelids slightly, looking ahead.

The officials couldn’t help but turn their heads to look, but didn’t know what he was looking at.

Meeting countless puzzled and vigilant gazes, Wei Han said calmly: “Minister Yang may have forgotten—this is outside the palace. I didn’t expect my Imperial Brother to be here with all of you to greet me, so I didn’t have time to remove my sword.”

Tao Shuo faltered, wanting to rebuke him for sophistry, but didn’t dare actually curse aloud. However, with the National Preceptor now dead and the Emperor unconscious, as the head of all officials, it would be too shameful if he didn’t dare make a sound.

“Why did Your Highness raise your blade against the National Preceptor the moment you arrived?”

Wei Han frowned slightly: “Wasn’t it to eliminate the treacherous officials close to the throne?”

Tao Shuo couldn’t help but retort: “That’s just a pretext used by those rebellious traitors!”

Wei Han raised his eyebrows, his tone even more detached: “If that’s the case, then with the National Preceptor dead, those rebellious traitors no longer have a justified reason to rebel. What exactly is Minister Yang angry about?”

Tao Shuo was stunned.

Hmm, Prince Kaiyang’s words seemed to make sense.

The chaos in the capital caused by the Jinlin Guards’ indiscriminate killing of young women was inextricably linked to the National Preceptor, yet the Emperor would only listen to the National Preceptor. Now with the National Preceptor dead, those regional princes no longer had the banner of eliminating treacherous officials, and the Emperor would no longer be influenced by the National Preceptor—truly killing two birds with one stone.

Thinking this way, Tao Shuo suddenly wasn’t angry anymore.

Wait, the Emperor was still unconscious!

Tao Shuo’s expression grew serious: “Even so, Your Highness’s actions were still reckless. His Majesty—”

Wei Han calmly interrupted him: “Minister Yang, if I have done something improper, it should be my Imperial Brother who reprimands me. Don’t you agree?”

Before Tao Shuo could find words to refute, Wei Han continued: “If Minister Yang is worried that the National Preceptor’s death will cause unrest, there’s no need. Tens of thousands of Zhaoyang Army troops are currently encamped outside the city and can completely stabilize any situation.”

At these words, all the officials felt their hearts turn cold in unison.

What did Prince Kaiyang mean by this?

Tens of thousands of Zhaoyang Army troops—just thinking about this number, the civil and military officials lost all their anger, left only with trembling hearts and livers.

Never mind tens of thousands of troops—in the current situation of robbing Peter to pay Paul, even a few thousand Zhaoyang Army soldiers could flatten the capital.

Tao Shuo wanted to say more, but Minister Zhao standing behind him quietly tugged at his sleeve.

The old minister shook his head imperceptibly.

This Tao Shuo—why provoke Prince Kaiyang when he commanded tens of thousands of troops? Wasn’t it just killing a National Preceptor? Let him kill!

Though Minister Zhao didn’t speak, Tao Shuo understood his old friend’s meaning from that single tug and immediately swallowed the words he had prepared to say.

Though Old Zhao had no great abilities, no one could match his skill at avoiding trouble.

“Right now, the most important thing is my Imperial Brother’s safety. Minister Yang, wouldn’t you agree?” Wei Han asked calmly.

Tao Shuo had no choice but to nod: “Your Highness speaks correctly.”

“Then I shall wait for news together with the various ministers inside the palace.”

Tao Shuo’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the long blade in Wei Han’s hand.

The blade was sharp, its tip carrying a heavy color that made one’s scalp tingle.

“Your Highness, weapons may not be carried into the palace,” Tao Shuo reminded him reluctantly.

Wei Han raised his hand and the long blade flew out, embedding itself firmly before a Jinlin Guard.

The Jinlin Guard was so frightened his face turned pale and he hastily retreated.

Wei Han looked at him and said calmly: “Keep this blade safe for me. I’ll retrieve it when I leave the palace.”

“Yes!” The Jinlin Guard blurted out his response, only then realizing something was amiss.

Prince Kaiyang wasn’t his superior—why had he responded so quickly?

Thinking this, he looked again at the silver-armored youth, only to see that person had already entered the palace gates following several important ministers.

Several Jinlin Guards immediately gathered around, examining Wei Han’s blade with curiosity and fear.

“This blade must be very sharp, right?”

“Definitely. Look at the blade’s color—it’s all been stained by blood…”

Seeing someone boldly reach out to touch it, the Jinlin Guard protected the blade and warned: “Don’t touch it carelessly. This is Prince Kaiyang’s blade.”

In that instant, he felt an inexplicable surge of pride.

At this time, Wei Han had entered the hall with Minister Zhao and the others, waiting for news of Emperor Yong’an.

After what seemed like an eternity, Zhou Shan walked over with a grave expression, scanning everyone before his gaze settled on Wei Han’s face.

“How is His Majesty?” Tao Shuo asked impatiently.

Zhou Shan hesitated.

The others grew anxious too: “Why won’t Eunuch Zhou speak? How exactly is His Majesty?”

At this moment, everyone felt somewhat chilled: Could His Majesty actually—if so, the world would become even more chaotic!

Thinking this, several people couldn’t help but look at Wei Han.

Wei Han’s expression remained calm, his patience sufficient as he waited for Zhou Shan’s answer.

Zhou Shan was utterly loyal to Emperor Yong’an. Seeing him so calm, he felt both hatred and rage, yet circumstances forced him to endure it.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Shan said softly: “His Majesty has awakened.”

The ministers were just beginning to show expressions of relief when they heard Zhou Shan’s tone shift: “However, the Imperial Physicians say His Majesty currently needs quiet rest. Ministers, please return home for now.”

Quiet rest?

The crowd exchanged glances.

If that was the case, then did His Majesty actually have a problem or not?

Pondering this, the group prepared to withdraw.

Zhou Shan was the person the Emperor trusted most, the true power holder of the Twenty-Four Yamen. Even the Seal-Holding Eunuch Qi Yan had to avoid his sharp edge. If they insisted on seeing the Emperor at this moment, it would be unfortunate if Zhou Shan spoke a few idle words about them before the Emperor.

Wei Han, however, stood unmoved: “May I see my Imperial Brother?”