With a single word, the hall fell silent in shock.

Ever since Wen Yuesheng took charge of the Guard Army, her actions had been unpredictable.

She was notorious for her heavy-handedness, showing no mercy to corrupt officials and soldiers under her command. Her swift executions had earned her a reputation for ruthlessness.

But today, she followed protocol, surprising everyone in the court.

Even Marquis Wu’an, who had prepared for every possibility, was caught off guard, his face visibly changing.

Turning to Wen Yuesheng, his eyes were full of astonishment.

When he regained his composure, his anger erupted: “Princess, is the execution of Lord Zhongqin not enough for you? Must you now turn your blade on others?”

“The three Guard Armies have over ten thousand soldiers. Do you intend to kill them all for your satisfaction?”

Those who had planned to join him in petitioning the emperor also felt uneasy.

One of them quickly stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, Princess Sining is ruthless. She has slaughtered nearly ten commanders and now accuses court officials without a shred of evidence. Her actions are outrageous!”

“Even if these commanders were at fault, killing so indiscriminately has made everyone in court live in fear. If this continues, will the affairs of the court not end up entirely under her control?”

Marquis Wu’an regained his composure and added in a loud voice:
“I entered the army as a young man and have devoted my life to military service, never once relaxing in my duties.”

“While Lord Zhongqin’s actions were indeed a failure of my oversight, I cannot accept the accusation that I colluded with him.”

“I implore Your Majesty to see the truth clearly!”

As soon as he finished, several officials stepped forward, saying:
“Marquis Wu’an joined the army in his youth and has served diligently for decades, earning great merit. To erase all his contributions over a single lapse in judgment is unjust!”

“Princess Sining’s actions prove what we’ve been saying: she is extreme and merciless. Even the slightest mistake becomes a death sentence under her rule! The court is not her private domain. If she continues like this, many officials will fall to her sword!”

These words gained support, with many agreeing that Wen Yuesheng was too ruthless and unfit to wield great power.

“That’s right. While not all officials are as meritorious as Marquis Wu’an, they have worked diligently in their roles. Her intolerance leads to pointless slaughter. Who here can claim to be entirely without fault?”

But unexpectedly, Lü Gelao, who usually stayed neutral, suddenly spoke up:
“Faults?”

“In your eyes, is murder, abuse of soldiers, and embezzlement of military funds merely minor mistakes?”

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

The officials never anticipated Lü Gelao would speak up, and even the scholar Wang Jin stepped forward:
“Minor mistakes may involve slight administrative errors. But Lord Zhongqin’s actions—defying the emperor, the law, and military discipline—are far from ordinary.”

“Can such heinous crimes be equated with common errors?”

Their calm yet incisive words made it clear: conflating Wen Yuesheng’s actions with arbitrary killings was an attempt to rally opposition to her leadership.

But this was precisely what Lü Gelao and others could not tolerate.

Marquis Wu’an’s expression darkened.

After a moment of silence, he said, “Lord Zhongqin’s actions were indeed deserving of death. But with the military exercises approaching and the Zhou army amassing 500,000 troops at the border, is the Princess punishing wrongdoers or seeking power?”

He looked toward the emperor:
“Your Majesty, I am old and no longer as capable as I once was. If the Princess desires power, I am willing to relinquish my authority. I only ask that she spares further bloodshed.”

The hall fell silent again.

A general beside Lord Zhongyong sneered, “That old fox is cunning.”

“He makes it seem as though everything the Princess has done is to force him to retire. Utterly ridiculous.”

Lord Zhongyong, though also a general, had little interaction with Marquis Wu’an. It was well-known among military circles that Wu’an’s subordinates were corrupt, but his seniority and past merits made him untouchable.

Marquis Wu’an’s maneuver of retreating to advance instantly roused his faction.

One by one, they stepped forward, exclaiming:
“Your Majesty, this cannot be allowed!”

“Marquis Wu’an’s contributions are the reason for the Guard Army’s current state. Stripping him of all authority is unjust!”

“The Princess acts recklessly, seizing power through vile means. If she takes control of Marquis Wu’an’s forces, it will demoralize the troops!”

“Such ambition makes her unworthy of respect in the military. We urge Your Majesty to reconsider!”

Some even declared their resignation in solidarity with Wu’an:
“We will stand with Marquis Wu’an and resign together unless Your Majesty intervenes.”

Their intent was clear—to force Wen Yuesheng to back down.

Yet Wen Yuesheng, standing calmly amidst the commotion, showed no emotion. Her face remained indifferent.

When the officials finished speaking, declaring their loyalty to Wu’an, she finally spoke, her tone deliberate:
“From your words, one might assume that during the martial contests with Zhou generals, it was all of you who emerged victorious.”

The hall fell deathly quiet.

Everyone assumed Wen Yuesheng was unfamiliar with court politics, that her aloof nature rendered her unwilling to argue.

But they never expected that when she chose to speak, her words would strike decisively.

Lifting her gaze, Wen Yuesheng looked directly at Marquis Wu’an:
“Marquis Wu’an, for all your merits, you have fostered corruption within the Guard Army, nurturing commanders who are nothing but vile and incompetent.”

“Meanwhile, you self-righteous officials, who speak of honor and virtue, couldn’t even defeat Zhou’s weakest generals in combat.”

Her blunt words shocked everyone.

The officials were speechless, unable to refute her.

Why?

Because the only victory during the contests with Zhou generals came from Zhang Yulin, a subordinate of Wen Yuesheng.

Because Wen Yuesheng herself had proven her martial prowess, and her North City Garrison had risen from the weakest to the best under her leadership in just weeks.

How could they argue against her?

“Your Majesty,” Wen Yuesheng said coldly, “I agree with the officials: anyone unfit for their role, whether an official or a commander, must go.”

“The army does not lack capable leaders. Those who exploit their positions, who are corrupt and incompetent, must not only step down but also face execution.”

When Marquis Wu’an attempted to speak, she silenced him sharply:
“What? Do you want evidence?”

“Would you like to see the records of your embezzlement, the testimonies of the subordinates you coerced, or the witnesses ready to expose you?”

She gestured, and soldiers brought forth meticulously prepared evidence: account books, confiscated treasures, and witnesses from Marquis Wu’an’s household.

Among the evidence was a set of golden armor—a symbol of Wu’an’s treasonous ambitions.

The armor of the Great Hui dynasty always had its regulations. It was clearly stipulated which generals could wear what and what was prohibited.

This set of armor, after the Loyal Earl had used it during his later years, was granted to him as a reward.

The Loyal Earl hid it in his family’s secret chamber, guarded by dedicated personnel.

However, the origins of this armor, who gifted it, and who crafted it, were all traceable.

This was a suit of armor made entirely of pure gold, inlaid with various gemstones. Its opulence exceeded most people’s imagination.

More importantly, the very existence of this armor was a violation of propriety.

For many years, only members of the royal family were allowed to wear golden armor.

But the Marquis of Wu’an—was he royalty?

The emperor sitting at the top of the hall instantly turned cold, his expression like frost.

The truth was, the emperor had long understood what kind of person the Marquis of Wu’an was.

But among the military generals of Great Hui, capable people were too few.

If the Marquis of Wu’an were to die, there would be very few who could replace him.

Yet the emperor hadn’t expected that his leniency would embolden him even more.

“Your Majesty,” Wen YueSheng turned her head to look at the emperor seated in the hall. “As they say, if you arrest them all at once, it will inevitably cause chaos within the army and shake their morale.”

“So, my suggestion is…” Wen Yue-Sheng said expressionlessly, “Kill them one by one.”

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

The generals, who were already trembling with fear because Wen YueSheng held concrete evidence against them, heard her first sentence and thought they might still have a chance to survive.

After all, executing so many generals at once would be a great loss to the army.

But little did they know that her next words would dash all their hopes.

“You…” The Marquis of Wu’an pointed at Wen YueSheng, barely able to utter a word.

He wanted to say that no one could be so ruthless and thorough, eliminating every last possibility for survival.

But under Wen YueSheng’s cold gaze, he couldn’t even form a single syllable.

Even as a man who had served in the military for years, his legs trembled beneath his official robes.

Kill them one by one?

Did she really think they were pigs?

However, the Marquis of Wu’an and his group, holding enormous military power, had long overestimated their own importance.

Wen Yuesheng had already purged the officers of the Imperial Guard.

Most of those still loyal to him were either part of his inner circle or fellow accomplices from the same interest group.

Their influence hadn’t yet spread throughout the court.

The Imperial Guard was only one part of the Forbidden Army and not the emperor’s most crucial personal force.

And in this capital, the Marquis of Wu’an was far from the only person of use.

With figures like the Grand General of the Nation and the Loyal and Brave Marquis still present, the overall situation wouldn’t descend into chaos.

As for the Marquis of Wu’an, once he lost his power, he would have nothing left.

He thought his tactical retreat was clever, but Wen YueSheng had been waiting for him to expose his entire faction so that she could eliminate them one by one.

They were not irreplaceable, unlike others such as Zhang Yulin.

More importantly…

Wen YueSheng’s gaze swept across the generals beside the Marquis of Wu’an and landed on the Imperial Guards standing outside in their armor.

In a cold voice, she declared, “Every vacated position can be competed for in the upcoming tri-military drills. The best performers shall take the top spots.”

Silence.

For a moment, though far away, many in the hall could hear the excited breathing of the soldiers.

Compared to them, the Marquis of Wu’an felt suffocated.

For years, he had used his position to act with impunity, looking down on the soldiers as mere pawns. Yet now, their roles had reversed.

He was the prey, and they were the blades hanging over his head.

Wen YueSheng made it clear: anyone who surpassed him in skill and strategy would signify his death.

Kill them one by one, forcing them to watch as their status, power, and possessions were taken away before facing their end.

“Every useless person who dies makes way for someone capable,” Duke of Zhongyong exclaimed after realizing the significance of her plan.

He raised his voice passionately, “Excellent! This strategy is brilliant!”

Behind him, Wu Yong’s face lit up with excitement.

He could already envision the downfall of the Marquis of Wu’an. Once news of Wen YueSheng’s declaration spread, they would face relentless challenges.

Their lives would become the stepping stones for others’ rise.

And the malice they had inflicted upon others would return tenfold, a hundredfold, even a thousandfold.

Death awaited them—but it would be worse than slow execution.

Because they would watch as their fellow accomplices fell, one by one.

The most terrifying part was that the emperor, after hearing Wen YueSheng’s proposal, simply said, “Approved.”

The hall was in shock.

The Marquis of Wu’an panicked and shouted, “Your Majesty! I am innocent! Everything was done by the Loyal Earl behind my back—it has nothing to do with me!”

“Your Majesty, spare me!” The soldiers around him knelt, kowtowing in desperate pleas for mercy.

They couldn’t comprehend how the situation had turned so dire so quickly.

“Innocent?” The emperor glared coldly at the Marquis of Wu’an. “That armor bears the East Pearl I bestowed upon you years ago.”

“Zhang Cheng, do you truly think I’ve grown too old to act?”

Hearing this, the Marquis of Wu’an collapsed to his knees.

He had long known that such armor was forbidden—an act of overstepping his bounds.

But years of holding power had made him arrogant, ignoring prohibitions just because he could.

Though he had no treasonous intent, his greed had led him to claim things he should not have touched.

Ironically, years ago, he had given the armor to the Loyal Earl, believing it would be destroyed.

Now, that very armor was the undeniable proof of his corruption and the final nail in his coffin.

As he stared at the golden armor, his vision blurred. Blood spewed from his mouth as he collapsed.

In the chaos that followed, madness overtook him.

Grasping a hidden dagger, he lunged at Wen Yue-Sheng.

But as the blade neared her neck, she calmly grasped his wrist, redirected the blade, and drove it through his throat.

The hall fell silent.

The Marquis of Wu’an collapsed, and Wen Yue-Sheng stood coldly, unperturbed, amid the carnage.

In that moment, everyone realized that the seemingly delicate Princess Si-Ning was far from weak. She had killed with precision and without hesitation.

Her act, swift and merciless, left the hall in awe and terror.