If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

Zhao Yu waved his hand, signaling the officials to step down.

"Court adjourned!"

As Wei An's shrill voice rang out, the court assembly came to a hasty end.

Before long, only Zhao Yu and Wei An remained in the vast Golden Palace.

"Prepare the carriage for the Tranquil Heart Palace," Zhao Yu ordered calmly.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

……

Jingxin Hall.

As soon as Zhao Yu sat down, he said to Wei An beside him, "Go and summon Qiu Ping, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to see me."

"This servant obeys the decree." Wei An responded and withdrew.

Before long, Qiu Ping, dressed in a flying fish robe and with an embroidered spring knife at his waist, strode in.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!" Qiu Ping knelt on one knee.

"Get up." Zhao Yu raised his hand and went straight to the point: "I'm giving you a task."

"I order you to immediately arrange for the Embroidered Uniform Guard to contact Gan Qing."

"Tell him that he must find a way to get Xiaoyue Jinshang to spread the news that the Wolf Kingdom is using the people of my Great Liang as human shields."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Qiu Ping replied in a deep voice.

"Step down." Zhao Yu waved his hand.

"Your subject takes his leave."

Qiu Ping's figure quickly disappeared outside the hall.

Zhao Yu leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

The strategy of forming alliances and counter-alliances has been laid out; the next step is to confirm its success.

I'll wait until midnight tonight and then use the Heavenly Mirror to check the situation.

If Xiaoyue Jinshang did not comply, then he would have no choice but to resort to his backup plan.

Send the Imperial Guards out of the city through the south gate, make a large detour, and deliver the message.

However, if he does this, he will need to find a way to delay the Wolf Kingdom's offensive.

Just as Zhao Yu was pondering, Wei An walked in from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent word that she requests your presence at Cining Palace."

Empress Dowager?

Zhao Yu frowned slightly, instinctively wanting to refuse.

But on second thought, perhaps I should go.

"Understood." Zhao Yu nodded.

"This servant will go and prepare immediately." Wei An bowed and withdrew.

Zhao Yu stood up and walked towards the door, pondering as he went.

Based on the timeline, the Prince of Zhennan should have received the message to come to the aid of the emperor.

Perhaps he's already on his way with a large army right now.

The Prince of Zhennan is a powerful expert at the Celestial Realm!

Although there is only a half-step difference between a half-step Celestial and a Celestial Realm, according to the records in the library, a Celestial Realm can kill a half-step Celestial Realm as easily as crushing a chick.

If that emperor uncle discovers I'm an imposter...

Zhao Yu's eyes instantly turned cold.

It seems we must prepare a backup plan and get ready as soon as possible!

He snapped out of his reverie and called out in a deep voice towards the outside of the hall:

"Prepare the carriage for Cining Palace!"

……

Inside the banquet hall of Cining Palace.

At this moment, the place is no longer the quiet place it once was; instead, it has become extremely noisy.

"Auntie! You really have to have a good talk with Zhao Yu! He's completely lost his mind!"

"Exactly! Sacrificing a mere Wang Zhang would solve all the problems, but he insists on playing the good guy! Isn't he just pushing us all into a fire pit?"

"Now that he's emperor, he's got too big for his britches! Does he even care about us, his relatives? He's repeatedly put our Qian family in danger; he's utterly ungrateful!"

"That's right! When he arrives, we must make him realize who his true support is! He must understand the proper etiquette and hierarchy!"

A group of wealthy young men from the Qian family, dressed in fine clothes, stood on either side of the stage, their faces flushed and their mouths full of accusations.

On the main seat, the Empress Dowager leaned on her dragon-headed cane, her face full of worry.

Her gaze swept over the noisy descendants, then she glanced at Qian Miao in the corner, who was engrossed in drinking and remained silent, and sighed helplessly.

Just then, a report came from outside the hall.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

The noisy banquet hall fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes turned to the entrance.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhao Yu, dressed in a dragon robe, strode in expressionlessly.

As soon as he entered, he saw arrogant young men standing on both sides of the door. Without a doubt, these were all descendants of the Qian family.

Zhao Yu's gaze swept over Qian Miaohou, who was drinking in the corner, and paused for a moment.

It seems that his failure to respond last time had indeed dealt a significant blow to Qianmiao.

However, I didn't come here today to reminisce with Qian Miao.

Zhao Yu shifted his gaze to the Empress Dowager in the main seat.

He walked to the center of the hall, about to speak, when a flippant voice rang out.

"Hey cousin, can't you even show your aunt a proper greeting?"

Zhao Yu glanced at the man and immediately recognized him as Qian Qiang, courtesy name Xingye, one of the most favored members of the Qian family according to the information provided by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

But he didn't say anything, instead bowing slightly to the Empress Dowager.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"My son, please rise quickly, there's no need for such formalities," the Empress Dowager said hastily, forcing a smile on her face.

Seeing Zhao Yu obediently bow, the Qian family members around him immediately revealed smug expressions and began to whisper and mock him.

"Hmph, what's so great about being the emperor? In front of your aunt, you still have to be obedient."

"That's right, he's still our aunt's son after all."

Zhao Yu then slowly straightened up and turned to look at everyone.

When the crowd saw the protagonist's gaze, they not only didn't stop mocking him, but some even stuck their necks out and said, "What are you looking at! We didn't say anything wrong."

Zhao Yu's lips curled up as he said, "Are you saying I'm not wrong? I don't know, but..."

The smile on Zhao Yu's face vanished, replaced by murderous intent.

"You all fail to pay your respects to the emperor; are you plotting a rebellion?!"

This loud shout was like a thunderclap, startling everyone who heard it.

The person who had spoken first, emboldened, retorted, "Auntie already said we're all family, no need for formalities!"

"Heh..." Zhao Yu let out a cold laugh, "If you don't want to perform the ceremony, that's fine too."

Upon hearing this, the man assumed that Zhao Yu had yielded to the Empress Dowager's words, and a smug smile immediately appeared on his face.

"That's right, why don't you just listen to your aunt? Why do you have to say this unnecessary thing?"

The Qian family scions around them exchanged knowing smiles, their expressions growing increasingly arrogant.

In that instant, Zhao Yu moved!

His internal energy surged, and his cultivation as a half-step grandmaster erupted without reservation!

His figure moved like lightning, instantly appearing in front of the smug young man from the Qian family!

To the man's horror, Zhao Yu's iron fist, swift as lightning, slammed heavily into his throat!

"Snap!"

A crisp cracking sound rang out!

The man's neck snapped at an eerie angle, and he collapsed limply to the ground, his head drooping limply, coughing up blood and foam. His body twitched twice before he lost all life.

Zhao Yu withdrew his fist, staring expressionlessly at the corpse on the ground, his voice icy and chilling.

"If you don't bow, then you can bow in your next life."

Dead!

The entire hall fell into a deathly silence in an instant!

Everyone was stunned by the bloody scene!

thump!

Upon seeing this scene, the Empress Dowager was so frightened that she fell to the ground, her face turning deathly pale.

"Murder...murder..."

"How...how dare he! How dare he kill someone in the Cining Palace!"

The crowd murmured among themselves, their eyes filled with fear as they looked at Zhao Yu.

Just then, a sudden sound broke the silence.

"Good! Well done!"

In the corner, Qian Miao suddenly stood up, his drunken face full of glee!

He carried the wine jug and staggered to Zhao Yu, then knelt down with a thud, raising the jug high with both hands, and stammered, "Good...good wine! Your Majesty, please!"

Zhao Yu simply ignored him, his cold gaze sweeping once more over the trembling Qian family members.

"You don't want to perform the proper etiquette either?"

The words had barely left his lips when they seemed to be a signal.

Pfft!

Pfft!

Pfft!

The Qian family members knelt down one after another, like dumplings being dropped into a pot, burying their heads deep in the ground.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects! Long live Your Majesty!"

The sound of bowing echoed throughout the entire hall.

"Hehe..." Zhao Yu chuckled softly and said calmly, "That's more like it. What kind of decorum is this, blurring the lines between ruler and subject?"

Upon hearing this, a member of the Qian family thought the ceremony was over and nervously tried to raise his head.

Zhao Yu's gaze locked onto him instantly, his voice icy.

"Did I say you should rise?"

The man froze, terrified out of his wits, and immediately buried his head heavily in the ground, daring not to make the slightest move.

Only now did these people finally understand Zhao Yu's plan!

He wanted them to maintain this kowtow posture, which was exclusive to servants!

A feeling mixed with fear and humiliation spread through their hearts.

Zhao Yu looked at the kneeling crowd, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Didn't you want to discuss etiquette and hierarchy with me?"

"Then today, I will teach you a proper lesson about etiquette and hierarchy!"

Below the throne, the Empress Dowager slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the powerful, ruthless, and decisive "son" below the stage, her eyes filled with unfamiliarity.