The Empress remarried, and I retaliated by wiping out the court.

If we say that Ye Wudao, who was forced to abdicate by Xiao Linyuan, had already prepared some political tactics, if it weren't for Yuan Tingfang and Changsun Yuanpei's intervention, Ye Wudao would probably have already stepped down and Xiao Linyuan would have successfully staged a coup.

But now, Ye Wudao stands on the throne, his political skills are extremely shrewd, he knows when to advance and retreat, he is calculating at every turn, and he is a step ahead... Even when facing Xiao Linyuan and Li Juzheng joining forces, he is not inferior.

At present, although Xiao Linyuan has successfully recommended Duan Pengju to take charge of the Imperial Guards in the capital, it is too early for the latter to say that he has "mastered" the Imperial Guards, which have been infiltrated by Ye Wudao in every way.

This made Xiao Linyuan realize that the current emperor had learned to conceal his strength and was not easily swayed by emotions, but every step he took was meticulously planned and calculated.

This gave Xiao Linyuan a strong idea:

"If this child isn't killed, he'll cause endless trouble!"

Both sides achieved some victories during this morning court session.

Ye Wudao successfully seized the position of Minister of Rites and even placed 25 people under his control in the court. From now on, the court will no longer be dominated by Li and Xiao. Finally, Ye Wudao has a place in the court!

"Since there is nothing else, let's adjourn the court."

All the officials and civil and military officials were solemn, and everyone realized one thing—their emperor was no longer the same as before!

We have soldiers when we need soldiers, and we have power when we need power.

Following Li and Xiao, a third force has emerged in the court!

Previously, if the nine powerful ministers controlled the Great Yan, then Ye Wudao was the tenth force!

But Ye Wudao did not achieve a complete victory.

After all, if the Imperial Guards were assigned to Duan Pengju, there was no guarantee that the other party wouldn't use these soldiers as cannon fodder, or promote his own people, causing the Imperial Guards to slip out of his control again.

"If only the border kings were all our own people..."

Stepping out of the Golden Palace, Ye Wudao gazed at the sky, deeply feeling that the road to power was long and arduous.

Even if he were to remove all the officials from the Great Yan court, it would be a drop in the ocean.

The various prefectures and regions under the imperial court, while nominally still belonging to the Great Yan, were in reality under the control of the various vassal kings. They were no longer required to pay taxes to the imperial court and, apart from nominally belonging to the Great Yan, were in fact already states within a state.

"My dear father, you've left me with a complete mess!"

Ye Wudao stopped and called out.

"Cao Ji!"

"Your servant is here," Cao Ji said, bowing.

"Send my most elite imperial guards. The day Duan Pengju arrives in Henan will be the day he dies!"

Ye Wudao outwardly agreed to Xiao Linyuan's request, but he would never allow an outsider to control his army.

Moreover, once Duan Pengju returns victorious from suppressing the rebellion, it will not only greatly boost the prestige of Xiao Linyuan's faction, but also put Ye Wudao in a difficult position!

Duan Pengju must die!

Cao Ji was greatly alarmed: "Your Majesty, this..."

"I don't want to say it a second time!"

Cao Ji said with a bitter face, "Your Majesty, it's not that this old servant is unwilling, but to take the general's head in the army, only a Grandmaster can do it! Killing Vice Minister Duan is not impossible, but it requires this old servant's action. However, if this old servant leaves, Your Majesty will be left without..."

Ye Wudao narrowed his eyes.

Cao Ji's words made sense. With no Grandmasters appearing now, Grandmasters are already the strongest fighting force.

There are countless people who want him dead now, and I'm afraid that no sooner had Cao Ji left than assassins came knocking on his door.

We must send another grandmaster to take action!

But Xie Bingyu has already left, so who can he send?

Ye Wudao's expression turned cold: "To the Imperial Prison!"

…………

Imperial prison, water dungeon.

The air was filled with the stench of blood and dampness.

In the center of the cell, a figure was suspended in mid-air, his limbs pierced by nine steel chains.

The water was above his knees, and there was hardly a patch of intact skin on his body.

Sensing someone's arrival, Xie Wuming slowly opened his eyes.

"Ha, who do we have here? It turns out to be the most incompetent emperor in the history of our Great Yan!"

Ye Wudao suddenly laughed.

"It seems the torture hasn't been enough."

Xie Wuming sneered, "Go ahead and continue if you dare! If I beg for mercy even once, I'm a dog!"

Ye Wudao nodded slightly.

"Very good, I admire people with backbone like you!"

He turned to Cao Ji and said, "Bring me mulberry paper!"

Cao Ji handed over the paper and said slowly, "Your Majesty, we have tried everything this past month, but Xie Wuming has not softened his stance at all, not even uttering a single word of begging for mercy."

He knew in his heart that His Majesty wanted to recruit Xie Wuming, a master expert, to serve him.

But... is that even possible?

Grandmasters have their own pride; how could they be so easily subdued?

Xie Wuming looked at Ye Wudao with a mocking smile.

"You're planning to kill me with just a piece of paper? How utterly ridiculous!"

Ye Wudao smiled faintly.

"Listen carefully, this thing is called 'sticking up an official title'."

Ye Wudao gently placed the thin mulberry paper into the water and let it soak through.

Then, he slowly picked it up; the paper had absorbed water and become soft and heavy.

Xie Wuming sneered, "Playing tricks? I'd like to see what a piece of paper can do to me!"

Ye Wudao gently placed the soaked mulberry paper on Xie Wuming's face.

The smile on Xie Wuming's face remained the moment the paper was pasted on.

Available in the next second.

His pupils suddenly contracted!

The soaked paper was stuck tightly to his mouth and nose, and with each breath, the paper would adhere tightly to his face!

The air... is getting less and less!

He instinctively opened his mouth to inhale.

But all that could be inhaled was the smell of cold, damp paper pulp.

My nasal passages were completely blocked, and my chest began to heave violently, yet I could still manage to inhale a tiny bit of air.

It's this tiny bit that makes you neither die nor live well!

Ye Wudao chuckled lightly, "Don't rush, this is only the first one!"

Xie Wuming tried desperately to shake off the paper from his face, but his limbs were firmly locked by nine chains, and he could do nothing but struggle violently.

Ye Wudao reached out and covered it with a second sheet of paper, a third sheet, a fourth sheet...

Until the tenth mulberry bark paper.

Xie Wuming's body trembled violently, his legs kicked wildly, and he struggled desperately like a fish out of water, with low and suppressed sobs coming from his throat.

"Waaah..."

"Waaah..."

His eyes were bloodshot, and the veins on his forehead were bulging.

Ye Wudao's voice rang out like a demon's: "Come on, come on, after you finish this one, there's another one..."

"Waaaaah..."

Xie Wuming struggled more and more violently, and the chains rattled loudly as they were pulled.

His chest felt like it was going to explode, his vision began to go black, and he had a constant ringing in his ears.

At this moment, Xie Wuming finally broke down!

He shook his head frantically, kicked his legs wildly, and kept whimpering.

He nodded frantically, begging Ye Wudao for mercy repeatedly!

But Ye Wudao just silently added more paper, and then more paper...

Just as Xie Wuming was about to suffocate, Ye Wudao suddenly tore the paper off!

"Ho! Ho! Ho!"

Xie Wuming suddenly opened his mouth wide and frantically and greedily inhaled the air.

Tears, snot, and sweat mingled together, and his previous unruly demeanor was completely gone.

His gaze toward Ye Wudao was filled with utter fear!

He never wanted to experience that feeling of being worse than dead again!

Just when he thought he was saved, Ye Wudao's terrifying voice rang out again:

"continue!"