You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

As dawn broke, the soft light filtered through the carved window frames, casting hazy dappled patterns of light into the warm chamber.

Lu Zuo opened his eyes. Beside him was Wen Qingqing, who was still fast asleep, her hair disheveled, like a begonia in spring slumber.

Last night was enchanting, with warmth and softness. The original owner of this body seemed to retain lingering memories and instincts, but his own consciousness was like an ice lake, clear and calm.

Just as he was about to get up, two lines of light blue writing silently appeared in the corner of his vision:

[Behavior: Excessive indulgence; Reward: Constitution +10.]

[Notification: World rules analysis complete. The host may now normally cultivate previously learned techniques and skills in this world.]

Lu Zuo paused almost imperceptibly.

The cultivation technique has been unlocked!

This means that the many martial arts, body-refining techniques, and even some rudimentary qi-refining methods that he collected and even personally refined as an emperor in the previous two worlds have finally found a use!

In a world where individual force can determine power and even life and death, this is undoubtedly a timely help.

Does becoming a tyrannical ruler make you stronger?

A sense of absurdity flashed through Lu Zuo's mind, but it was quickly replaced by reason.

Regardless of the system's reward mechanism, it undoubtedly provided him with excellent cover and a direction for development.

Indulging in wine and women, neglecting state affairs—this was precisely the image of the "original owner," and exactly what those two powerful ministers wanted to see. He could have easily gone with the flow and secretly amassed power.

According to the tyrannical ruler's plan, one should avoid attending these morning court sessions if possible.

But Lu Zuo changed his mind and decided to go anyway.

He needed to see Prime Minister Liu and Marshal Yuwen in person, to experience firsthand the unpredictable power struggles in the court, and to assess the strength and bottom line of both sides.

This is more intuitive than any intelligence.

Gently removing Wen Qingqing's arm from his body, Lu Zuo stood up and summoned a palace maid to help him change.

Wen Qingqing woke up groggily and pouted as she tried to get up to serve him, but Lu Zuo reassured her by telling her to "sleep a little longer."

He changed into his heavy and magnificent imperial robes and looked at himself in the bronze mirror.

The person in the mirror still looked young, even more energetic from last night's "reward," but the long-standing timidity and weariness between his brows hadn't completely faded. Very well, this was exactly the disguise he needed.

……

The Great Hao Imperial City, Taiji Hall.

The sky was not yet fully light, but the palace was already brightly lit.

A massive golden pillar with coiled dragons supports the high and wide dome, while the golden dragon throne, symbolizing imperial power, sits high above, looking down below.

However, today, beneath the dragon throne, to the left and right of the steps, are two equally large chairs, gilded and inlaid with jewels, and covered with brocade.

The civil officials on the left and the military officials on the right were already seated.

On the left, a man in his fifties, with a fair complexion and a slight beard, sat upright in a purple crane-patterned court robe.

His face was thin and his eyes were calm, even somewhat scholarly. But beneath that calmness lay the deep composure and composure of someone who had long held a high position.

It was none other than the current Prime Minister, Liu Daoling. On the small table beside him sat a cup of steaming tea, his posture relaxed, as if this were not the Taiji Hall where the court held its meetings, but his own study.

On the right-hand chair sat a burly man with a thick beard, dressed in a black duke's uniform embroidered with tiger patterns, exuding a menacing aura despite not wearing armor.

He was about the same age as Liu Daoling, but he was tall and strong, with a dark complexion and a pair of tiger-like eyes that shone brightly when they opened and closed, exuding a self-assured and domineering aura.

Even when seated, he resembled a lion in a slumber; he was none other than Yuwen Qing, the Grand Marshal who commanded all the armies under heaven.

There was no tea in front of him, only an empty cup. His fingers unconsciously tapped the hard rosewood armrest, producing a dull "tap-tap" sound, revealing his inner impatience.

The civil and military officials stood on both sides, all with their hands at their sides, not daring to utter a sound.

Many people's eyes involuntarily glanced at the empty dragon throne, then quickly looked away, while most of their gazes fell on Liu and Yuwen, their expressions complex.

"His Majesty has arrived!" The eunuch's sharp announcement broke the silence.

Surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids, Lu Zuo slowly walked out from the side hall, stepped onto the steps, and sat on the cold and aloof dragon throne.

He could feel the two gazes below following him.

Liu Daoling gave a slight, calm nod as a greeting; Yuwen Qing merely raised his eyelids and gave a barely audible "hmm" through his nose as a farewell.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" The other officials knelt down and shouted obsequiously.

"All of you, rise." Lu Zuo raised his hand, his voice not loud, carrying a hint of deliberately feigned hoarseness and fatigue.

At the start of the court assembly, as was customary, each department reported on matters. These were nothing more than reports of droughts and floods, areas in need of relief, and areas with tax shortfalls.

Liu Daoling occasionally interjected, saying little, but his words were often incisive and set the tone, which all officials respected.

Yuwen Qing usually kept his eyes closed to rest, only opening them when it came to border troops' provisions, weapons, or border monsters. He would then make his demands concisely and in an unquestionable tone, and Liu Daoling would usually grant them, at least on the surface.

However, the peace in the court was broken when the topic turned to the increasingly rampant large-scale demonic disturbances in recent days.

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister,"

The Minister of War stepped forward, his face filled with worry: "An urgent report has come from Youzhou: the Yin veins of Beiman Mountain have erupted, and a hundred-year-old Corpse King is suspected to have taken shape, gathering a large number of zombie souls. It has already broken through three counties."

"The Jingmotai branch, which was guarding the city, suffered heavy losses. Urgent requests for assistance have been sent to the capital and the northern frontier camp. And also to Longxi, the Black Wind Ridge demon cave..."

"Hmph!" Yuwen Qing snorted coldly, interrupting the Minister of War, his voice booming, "The demons are powerful because the Demon Suppression Division and the Demon-Pacifying Platform are incompetent!"

"A waste of money and resources, supporting a bunch of good-for-nothings!"

"In my opinion, we should expand the elite border troops, draw upon the fierce soldiers from various garrisons, and form more 'Demon-Slaying Battalions,' equipping them with powerful bows and crossbows, and magic-expelling arrows. With a large army, we can sweep across the battlefield. What are corpse kings and demon kings? They are nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs before the battlefield!"

"Your Majesty, please issue a decree allowing me to recruit another 100,000 new soldiers, specifically to exterminate demons!"

As soon as he finished speaking, many in the ranks of military officers chimed in agreement: "The commander-in-chief is absolutely right!"

"Those guys from the Demon Suppression Division are good at catching little devils, but when it comes to dealing with powerful demons, we'll have to rely on our soldiers!"

"Exactly, they get so many resources every year, what do they do with them?"

Among the civil officials, Liu Daoling remained calm, gently blew on the floating tea leaves in his teacup, and said indifferently, "Grand Marshal, please calm down."

"The Demon Suppression Division and the Demon Suppression Platform have been established for many years. Although there are some oversights, they are not entirely without merit."

"Demons are treacherous and cannot be defeated by mere brute force; they require specific techniques to subdue them."

"Although the soldiers in the army are brave, rashly engaging in battle may result in excessive casualties."

"In my opinion, the most urgent task is to strengthen the Demon Suppression Division and the Demon Suppression Platform."

"Your Majesty, this old minister has discussed with several heads of aristocratic families and elders of sects that some of the best soldiers in the army can be transferred to the Demon Suppression Division."

"At the same time, we will open up part of the secret armory and select good young men from the common people with potential to train and enrich the Demon-Suppressing Platform."

"Only in this way can we prescribe the right medicine for the illness."

Lu Zuo sat high on the dragon throne, observing coldly from the sidelines.

Yuwen Qing wanted to expand the army, but what he really wanted was real military power, money and supplies, and to infiltrate the army's influence into the demon-suppressing affairs, further squeezing the space for civil officials and those "special institutions".

Liu Daoling, on the other hand, countered by emphasizing that professional matters should be handled by professionals, and that the leadership and elite forces in the extermination of demons should be firmly in the hands of the "Demon Suppression Division" and the "Demon Suppression Platform".

These two organizations are clearly the key teams he has built up over many years to control "extraordinary martial arts," and they must have included many martial arts families and sects who obey him or cooperate with him.

The so-called selection of skilled personnel from the military is nothing more than a mix of incompetent soldiers and undermining existing ones.

The officials under both sides immediately started arguing.

Civil officials criticized military generals for being reckless and wasting national funds; military generals mocked civil officials for being pedantic and raising a tiger that would eventually cause trouble.

The Taiji Hall instantly became like a bustling marketplace, filled with noise and chaos.

"Enough!" Lu Zuo slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, his face showing annoyance and exhaustion. "What kind of decorum is this, with all this noise and commotion in the court!"

The hall quieted down a bit, and everyone looked at the emperor.

Lu Zuo rubbed his temples, seemingly annoyed, and his gaze shifted between Liu Daoling and Yuwen Qing.

Ultimately, seemingly out of helplessness, or perhaps out of habit, he sided with Liu Daoling, who appeared more "reasonable" and "mild," and said, "The affairs of demons are mysterious and unpredictable."

"The Prime Minister is a wise and experienced strategist, and what he said... is not without reason."

"The Demon Suppression Division and the Demon-Pacifying Platform certainly need strengthening. Let's proceed with the drafting of regulations as soon as possible, as suggested by the Prime Minister. As for the recruitment of soldiers..."

He glanced at Yuwen Qing, whose face had suddenly darkened, and added:

"Border defenses must not be relaxed. The Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue should do their best to procure the necessary provisions, supplies, and weapons, so as not to cause any shortages that would prevent the soldiers from fighting to the death."

This seems to be taking care of both sides, but in reality, the focus is clearly biased towards Liu Daoling.

Supporting the strengthening of the Demon Suppression Bureau is tantamount to supporting Liu Daoling's violent machine.

"His Majesty!"

Yuwen Qing abruptly stood up from his seat, his burly body exuding a menacing aura. His eyes widened as he glared at Lu Zuo, his voice reverberating through the hall's beams.

"What do you mean by this?"

"Do you think the lives of my border soldiers are less valuable than those charlatans who play tricks?"

"If we allow demons to grow stronger, how many soldiers' lives will be needed to pay for it in the future?"

"I absolutely disagree with this proposal!"

With a furious shout, the dozens of golden-armored guards on duty outside the hall seemed to receive some kind of signal. They all stepped forward with a clang, their halberds striking the ground with a neat and heavy thud. A chilling aura immediately filled the hall!

These guards were clearly mostly from Yuwen Qing's faction, or at least obeyed his orders at this moment. This was an undisguised demonstration of force!

The officials were terrified, and many civil officials were so frightened that their legs went weak.

Lu Zuo, sitting on the dragon throne, also turned pale and leaned back slightly, feigning fear.

However, faced with Yuwen Qing's rage and the intimidation of the guards, Liu Daoling, standing beside the imperial steps, didn't even lift an eyelid.

He continued to sip his tea slowly and deliberately, as if the tense atmosphere before him had nothing to do with him. Only after finishing the last drop of tea did he gently put down the teacup, making a crisp "ding".

Then, he slightly turned his head, his gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping towards the huge, black screen behind the dragon throne, painted with the vast landscape of China.

Almost at the same time that his gaze fell upon it—

"Whoosh!"

A dozen or so dark figures, like ghosts, appeared out of nowhere from behind the screen, beside the pillars, and even from the shadows of the dome!

They were all dressed in tight-fitting black night clothes, their faces covered with black cloths, revealing only pairs of cold, ruthless eyes like those of hawks.

Standing silently in the shadows behind and to either side of the dragon throne, like a statue blending into the darkness.

But the cold, sharp, and seemingly blood-stained aura emanating from each of them instantly diluted and even overwhelmed the murderous atmosphere brought by the guards outside the palace!

The appearance of these men in black was so strange and sudden that even Yuwen Qing's pupils shrank.

He stared intently at the men in black, then suddenly looked at Liu Daoling, who remained seated calmly, his expression turning extremely ugly.

He knew, of course, that Liu Daoling secretly controlled some power, but he never expected that the other party would dare to and be able to secretly ambush so many people near the emperor and openly display them in the Taiji Hall!

"How can the hall be filled with the noise of war? What is the punishment for disturbing the imperial procession?"

Liu Daoling finally spoke, his voice still calm, yet carrying an undeniable chill: "Marshal Yuwen, have your men withdraw."

Yuwen Qing's chest heaved violently, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and veins throbbed on his forehead.

He glared at Liu Daoling, then gave the men in black a fierce look, before finally glancing at the emperor on the dragon throne, who seemed to be "frightened," and letting out a heavy snort.

"Put away your weapons and retreat outside the hall!" he finally shouted in a deep voice towards the outside of the hall, his voice filled with resentment and violence.

"Clang!" The golden-armored guards sheathed their halberds and retreated. The dull footsteps faded into the distance, and the oppressive killing intent lessened slightly.

Liu Daoling then slowly rose, bowed slightly to Lu Zuo on the dragon throne, and said in a calm tone, "Your Majesty has been frightened."

"This old minister has failed in his duty to manage his subordinates, and has disturbed the court assembly. Please forgive him, Your Majesty."

"Regarding the matter of demons, since His Majesty has already made a decision, then proceed according to His Majesty's decree. Court is adjourned."

After saying that, he didn't look at Yuwen Qing again, but gave a barely perceptible nod to the dozen or so men in black.

The men in black, just as they had arrived, silently disappeared back into the shadows, vanishing as if they had never been there.

Yuwen Qing flicked his sleeves, snorted coldly, and strode away first, his back view filled with anger.

The morning assembly thus ended in an extremely oppressive and eerie atmosphere.

The officials felt as if they had been granted a pardon, yet were still shaken, and quickly withdrew from the Taiji Hall with their heads down.

Lu Zuo sat alone on the high dragon throne, looking at the hall that had suddenly become empty. Sunlight slanted in from the hall door, illuminating the dancing dust.

The fear and exhaustion on his face slowly faded, replaced by a deep sense of amusement and coldness.

Liu Daoling... Yuwen Qing...

One was as sinister as an abyss, concealing his sharpness in his sleeves; the other was as fierce as fire, wielding immense power over the court.

The court of the Great Hao Dynasty is indeed interesting.

And I...

He gently stroked the cold armrest of the dragon throne, and said, "For now, I'll just be a puppet that you've all terrified."

However, when this puppet will become the one pulling the strings... is probably beyond your control.

He slowly rose and walked down the steps.

It's time to go back and indulge in sensual pleasures, and incidentally, "cultivate properly." This body is too weak.