Tonight, the sky is heavy with dark clouds, casting an all-encompassing dimness that even the moon and stars are nowhere to be seen.
Despite looming signs of a downpour, the rain held back.
Even the usually bustling and vibrant Imperial City was now deathly quiet. Homes were sealed tight, silent, and few silhouettes were to be seen along the long streets.
The only signs of life were the divine warrior army, the Forbidden Army, and the garrison forces patrolling the streets.
It had been ten days since Chu Yuan began his thorough investigation.
For those ten days, whisperings of dread had spread throughout all quarters. Those without any links to Dawu were fine, but those who conspired with Dawu were trembling in terror, fearing that the investigation would implicate them.
Chu Yuan's iron-fisted rule, icy as the winter snow and blazing as the blazing sun, gave them no chance to breathe. He seemed determined to uncover the corrosive elements harboring connections to Dawu against the Imperial Dynasty.
The Ministry of Works was chillingly silent.
But within a secret underground chamber of the ministry, the room was brightly lit, currently occupied by about a dozen people who astonishingly all possessed Divine Abilities. Their countenances were particularly solemn.
"What's the situation, gentleman?" someone asked.
"The Prime Minister and the General have abandoned us. They're ready to sacrifice the pawns to save themselves."
Liu Yong shook his head: "I went to see the Prime Minister, but I couldn't even get to meet him. I was sent away by a mere servant."
"I couldn't see the General either."
Another man, appearing in his forties or fifties was sitting next to Liu Yong, with a cold, austere demeanor.
His rank was extraordinarily high, with Divine Abilities at the ninth level, equaling the head of the Imperial Guards in strength.
He was the Minister of War, Pang Yuan!
"They've burned our bridge and left us to fend for ourselves!"
Someone, unable to hold back his resentment, spat:"We, the six ministries, have provided them with countless benefits over the years. And yet the moment we're in trouble, they abandon us, distancing themselves from us as if we're plague-infested. I want to expose them too!"
Liu Yong scoffed cynically: "What evidence do you have? Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun are cunning as foxes and never leave any traces in their dealings. Your groundless accusations will be useless. Even if the Emperor believes you, would he act? Both of them possess Divine Abilities at the tenth level, unlike us, the forsaken ones."
"Are we really just going to become castaways, then?"
One man asked angrily, a grotesque expression twisting his face, before bellowing, "Liu Yong, it was your good-for-nothing progeny who dragged us into this mess. If I see that little beast, I'll skin him alive!"
"Little beast?" Liu Yong raged, "Then what am I? Sun Cheng, watch your words!"
"Did I say something wrong?"
Claimed the man named Sun Cheng: "If not for him, would we be in this situation? Hahaha, Liu Yong, you still have the nerve to berate me, just ask around, so many want to tear that little wretch to pieces!"
"You're looking for death!" Liu Yong was about to strike.
"Enough! Even before the Emperor makes his move, we're already creating chaos amongst ourselves."
With his strong rank, Pang Yuan quelled the room, "Our top priority is to concoct a plan, not to create discord."
So what can we do?" Sun Cheng sneered mockingly: "Even the Prime Minister and General aren't sparing us a glance. Are we to go confess our sins to the Emperor and get locked up in the prison? Then wait for our assets to be seized and our heads chopped off."
"Confessing our sins is a no-go!"
Liu Yong declared: "The investigation will sooner or later find its way to us. When that happens, we will all be in dire straits. Pang Yuan, you aren't clean either. Not long after the Late Emperor passed away, people from Dawu started approaching you!"
When the late Emperor had passed away, the 300,000 strong divine warrior's army died mysteriously, plunging the realm into chaos. Four nations plotted a takeover of Dawu.
To collapse Dawu from within and without, the Four Nations deployed numerous men, promising various benefits, enticing many to secretly pledge their allegiance to them. After all, without the Late Emperor, the young Emperor at that time seemed helpless to turn things around.
And in reality, they did succeed.
The previous Chu Yuan was defeated and humiliated, committing suicide in the Imperial City three years later.
Regrettably, they met Chu Yuan this time, who had not only returned from another world but also possessed an external divine system.
Pang Yuan admitted fearlessly: "Dawu offered me a treasure that promised a breakthrough to the tenth level of the Divine Realm. As someone who has been stuck at this level for long, with an additional offer of being conferred as a king and receiving five provinces of Dawu, it was an offer I couldn't refuse. In Dawu, I could only be a Minister of War, but once Dawu collapsed, I would be a King."
A servant will always be a servant, but a king is different. He would be a country within a country, writing his own laws.
What tempted Pang Yuan most was the opportunity to break through to the tenth level of the Divine Realm.
Having established Dawu for hundreds of years with profound foundations, there had been no powerful beings within that could contend with the Late Emperor.
"The tenth level of the Divine Realm, and conferred as a prince!" Liu Yong's eyes twinkled: "I never imagined Dawu to present you with such a substantial reward. It seems my portion was much smaller."
"That's because you lack my strength and qualifications." Pang Yuan stated bluntly.
"You!" Liu Yong barked: "It seems that now we're left with only one path, rebellion, leave the Imperial City, or we will be trapped here to death!"
"This is what he forced us into!"
"Since he's merciless, let him not blame us for our ruthlessness!"
"Leaving the Imperial City might not be so straightforward."
The speaker was a military officer, the Capital Commandant of the Forbidden Army: "The Emperor has anticipated this, fearing that we might become cornered dogs. Hence, he transferred numerous forces from the eight regiments of the Forbidden Army to block off the Imperial City. Even though we are in the Divine Realm, escaping wouldn't be easy and would inevitably alert the Forbidden Army."
A middle-aged man said, "Tomorrow, the Emperor will leave the Royal Palace to pay his respects to the Late Emperor at the Imperial Mausoleum. It has already been half a year since the Late Emperor's passing."
"Will Marquess Zhongyong attend?" Pang Yuan asked.
"No, Marquess Zhongyong isn't even in the Imperial City." The man said. He was from the rites supervision, and after a moment of thought, he added, "Three days ago, Marquess Zhongyong left for Yan state. The Chief of Yan state wanted to raise a rebellion because he heard he was under investigation. Marquess Zhongyong went there to suppress it."
"Good!" Liu Yong laughed heartily: "Yan State is far and isolated. Although Lu Qianfu was at the ninth level of the Divine Realm, this round trip would at least take half a month."
"It seems we only have one course of action now."
Pang Yuan's eyes flashed with a spectacular light, projecting an imposing aura: "Tomorrow, when the Emperor leaves the Imperial City for the Imperial Mausoleum, he must pass through the eastern city. Chief Liu, didn't you secretly prepare some divine cannons? Take advantage of that moment to shell the Emperor's dragon processional vehicle.
At that time, I will directly attack him, create chaos, and once the Forbidden Army gathers, we strike our way out of the Imperial City. In this fight, we don't seek to kill the Emperor but to create chaos!"
"Alright, let's proceed as you stated. We'll shell the dragon processional vehicle."
As someone of a Chief of Staff status, Liu Yong was, of course, a resolute person. He coldly said: "He probably won't expect us to be bold enough for this. Once we're out, Dawu will indeed plunge into chaos. His prestige will be lost, and it would be the day of Dawu's downfall."
"Chu Yuan, it's either you or me who will die!"