A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

"Prime Minister."

Immediately, someone rushed in and was shocked to see Zhai Hong covered in blood.

"Second Young Master, what's going on?"

Zhai Zhi couldn't stop crying, his voice choked with sobs, "It was Xia Feng. He actually broke free of the ropes in secret and killed my father when he got close to him."

"Then he committed suicide."

"What?!"

Everyone was shocked that Zhai Hong, a powerful figure who had held sway over the court for decades, had died so hastily in prison.

How is this possible?!

"Second Young Master, what should we do now?"

Now that the young emperor is dead, most of those remaining in the capital are people under Chancellor Zhai Hong.

Now that Zhai Hong is dead, the army is leaderless, and the threat to the Tang Dynasty is imminent, causing utter chaos in morale.

"With his father dead, Zhai Zhi was in a state of utter confusion and had no idea what to do."

"Let's discuss this with the ministers at tomorrow's morning court session."

Zhai Zhi cried as he carried Zhai Hong's body on his back and slowly walked towards the Prime Minister's residence.

"Second Young Master, it's best to keep the Prime Minister's death a secret if possible."

"It is not advisable for chaos to break out in the capital now."

When Zhai Hong was alive, Lan Qing, a trusted strategist, said this.

"Mr. Lan, now that my father is dead, am I not even allowed to fulfill my filial duties as his son?"

"Am I to leave my father's soul trapped in this dark, damp cell?"

"Sir, you have received great kindness from my father, why are you now subjecting my father to such mistreatment?"

"Chaos? Could the capital city get any more chaotic?"

Zhai Zhi kept walking and spoke sharply, leaving the quick-witted Lan Qing speechless for a moment.

He couldn't very well prevent Zhai Zhi from fulfilling his filial duties; if he continued, he would become a shameless ungrateful wretch who repaid kindness with enmity.

However, the prison is not close to the Prime Minister's residence. If the Second Young Master continues on this path, the news of the Prime Minister's assassination attempt will spread throughout the capital before he even returns to the residence.

People on the streets of the capital saw someone carrying a corpse, followed by a group of high-ranking officials and nobles who looked to be of high status, and they couldn't help but point and whisper.

Zhai Hongquan held immense power for decades, and his and Zhai Zhi's faces were known to everyone in the capital. Passersby quickly recognized their identities.

Prime Minister Zhai Hong is dead?!

A massive earthquake struck the capital; not long after the emperor's death, the prime minister also died.

The smart ones would quickly buy some food, lock the doors, and stay inside until things settle down before venturing out.

Those who aren't so bright, upon seeing someone doing this and being reminded, will realize what's happening and quickly hide back home.

Upon receiving the news, the nobles and aristocratic families in the capital kept visiting each other. With the emperor and Zhai Hong dead, the entire orthodox power of the court was completely wiped out.

Without Zhai Hong's support and the power of the imperial court, the capital would never have been able to be defended.

It's simply a matter of whether it's conquered by the Tang Dynasty or by Xia Jie.

Emotionally, they are more inclined towards Xia Jie. Even if Xia Jie wins them over, they will still be a noble family of the Great Xia Dynasty, and Xia Jie will inherit the throne of the Great Xia Dynasty.

However, if they were conquered by the Tang Dynasty, they would become remnants of the old regime. Relying on their influence, they could still hold some power within the Tang Dynasty, but certainly not to the extent they have now.

At this sensitive time, countless eyes were also watching a residence in the capital. If the people in the residence made any move, they would follow without hesitation.

Because the owner of this house is surnamed Wei.

Unfortunately, the gates of the mansion remained closed until the grand court assembly began the following morning.

All those qualified to attend court were dressed in their finest attire and proceeded to the palace that symbolized the supreme power of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Even those suffering from serious illnesses would use ginseng to sustain their lives and attend the conference.

Because today's grand assembly may very well determine the rise and fall, and even the survival of their family.

There are never any trivial matters involving dynastic changes.

When everyone had arrived, Zhai Zhi waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards immediately sealed off the palace.

The ministers were not surprised; it was quite normal to send troops to seal off the palace at such a sensitive time.

What surprised them so much that their eyes almost popped out was yet to come.

"Welcome, Your Majesty!"

Zhai Zhi was the first to kneel down, and following his lead, several other court officials also knelt down.

When the courtiers began to doubt their own eyes, he put on a look as if he had seen a ghost.

Because a dead man walked out from behind the palace, climbed the steps one by one, and sat on the supreme throne.

It was the young emperor who had died in front of all the ministers!

Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

Countless ministers were filled with bewilderment, exchanging bewildered glances, not daring to utter a sound.

The situation in the court today is too strange. No one dares to speak casually, for fear that if they say the wrong thing, their entire family will be wiped out.

"You all fail to bow; do you perhaps doubt my identity?"

The young emperor sat upright on the high dragon throne, exuding an air of majesty despite his young age.

The ministers looked at each other, but after glancing at Zhai Zhi at the front, they all knelt down.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!"

The young emperor Xia Fan nodded in satisfaction, then said, "My beloved ministers, rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The officials slowly rose, looking at the young emperor Xia Fan and Zhai Zhi with puzzled expressions.

What on earth is going on? Could it be a puppet that Zhai Zhi found? But it didn't feel like that just now.

That means the young emperor wasn't dead; he had only faked his death. But what about Zhai Zhi? The Zhai family and the young emperor are mortal enemies.

"The traitor Zhai Hong deceived the emperor and disrupted the court. His crimes are heinous and he should be executed along with his entire family, and subjected to slow slicing to uphold the law."

"However, considering that Minister Zhai is loyal to the country, has made great contributions to the nation, helped me return to court, and is extremely loyal, I am unwilling to execute his entire family. Therefore, I will show leniency and spare Minister Zhai's lineage from death."

The young emperor said with satisfaction that this was the first time he had spoken out in court after being emperor for so many years.

Moreover, the first trial was of the prime minister who had always been weighing on him.

How can one word describe how awesome it was?

"Your subject Zhai Zhi thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness. On behalf of my deceased father, I thank Your Majesty for your leniency."

Zhai Zhi slowly stepped out from the crowd and respectfully bowed to the young emperor.

The courtiers stared wide-eyed at Zhai Zhi. What was going on? What had happened? Were they still asleep? Otherwise, how could such an outrageous thing have happened?

"Second Young Master, do you know what you're saying?"

Lan Qing asked, her voice filled with dissatisfaction.

Zhai Zhi ignored him and stood aside with his hands at his sides.

"Lan Qing, a henchman of a traitor, drag him away and exterminate his entire clan."

The young emperor's eyes turned cold. As expected, he was an ignorant and hopeless person. Although he had talent, he could not be used by him and could only be eliminated.

Two imperial guards walked in and dragged Lan Qing away.

Lan Qing frantically cursed Zhai Zhi, laughing and crying at the same time.

"Prime Minister, wait for me!"

The sound didn't stop until the person was pulled out of the main hall.

The young emperor frowned; the sound had disappeared a little too soon.

Never mind, it's not a big deal. It must have been the guards who gagged him.

The young emperor then pointed out Zhai Hong's loyalists and ordered them to be dragged away and executed one by one.