The Beautiful CEO's Dragon Blood Bodyguard-Chapter 2017 - 2016: Emperor Mandate

In the bell tower of Central City, the Bronze Bell tolled in the middle of the night, echoing throughout the entire city.

The morning bell and evening drum, ringing the bell at night, only for urgent military matters.

Once the bell starts ringing, all civil and military officials must await orders outside the Heaven-Piercing Palatial Hall.

In Central City, a group of civil and military officials tidied their outfits and emerged from their residences, engaging in various discussions outside the hall.

Someone asked, "What’s happening? Why is everyone being called out in the middle of the night?"

Someone whispered, "I heard the Seventh Princess has returned and is angry that we didn’t fight back!"

"What’s the use of her getting angry? This Heaven-Piercing Palace still listens to what the Crown Prince says, even if the Eighth Prince is no more."

Someone muttered softly.

Someone murmured, "You shouldn’t say that. I heard that the Protector of the Nation Great General supports the Seventh Princess, and the hundred thousand Ma Army also acts as her right arm. Before the Emperor disappeared, it seemed he arranged all of this. Now, the military power of our Central City is entirely under the control of the Seventh Princess!"

"What, what, letting a woman be in charge, hasn’t the world turned upside down?"

An old man angrily shook his head.

"A hen announcing the dawn, won’t this become a laughingstock for everyone?"

An old man, face flushed, said, "Whoever supports her being in charge, I’ll be the first to oppose it."

Other officials nodded in agreement; they were all entangled with the Nine Clans’ interests, naturally hoping the interests’ spokesperson would take charge.

After the gates of the Heaven-Piercing Palace opened, the civil and military officials entered according to their ranks, finally standing still in the court hall.

The Heaven-Piercing Palatial Hall is the main hall of the Heaven-Piercing Palace, standing a hundred meters tall, majestically supported by eight Coiling Dragon Stone Pillars.

The floor of the grand hall was paved with a single slab of white jade, with the Golden Dragon Throne towering above.

Everything was decorated in splendor, showcasing the Royal Family’s majesty.

The Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince, and several other princes were already waiting in the hall.

Prime Minister Yao Chong and Great General Li Daoxun, along with other key figures, had arrived here early.

After a while, a warrior shouted from outside the hall, "The Seventh Princess has arrived!"

In the court, a person clad in a Purple-Gold Battle Robe, armor underneath, entered with sword in hand and stood before the Dragon Throne in the grand hall.

She surveyed the assembly, coldly addressing the civil and military officials, "While warriors on the frontlines fight the Demon Soldiers with blood and sweat, it seems you all have been sleeping soundly at home!"

Everyone in the hall blushed.

An old man stepped forward and said, "In response to the Seventh Princess, we too have just returned home. Previously, when the Demon Army was pressing the borders, we were also here strategizing."

Someone else echoed, "Exactly, Elder Zhang is absolutely right. With Demon Soldiers like wildfire, how could we sleep peacefully?"

"Indeed, we have been exhausting our efforts here, planning against the Demon Race, except we cannot personally be on the front lines."

"The Princess misunderstands us; we receive the Emperor’s favors, how can we not share his burdens?"

"..."

After the Seventh Princess listened to them speak one by one, she coldly responded, "Is that so? Your strategy is to avoid battle? To make allies grieve and enemies rejoice, to prevent heroic defenders against the Demon Race from entering the city?"

"This, this..."

The officials in the hall were rendered speechless, casting glances at Prime Minister Yao Chong.

Yao Chong stepped forward, bowing to the Seventh Princess, "Her Royal Highness The Princess, I understand your feelings. But the nation has its laws, the family has its rules. This is a place to discuss state affairs, and no one except the Emperor and his appointed proxy ruler may interfere in court politics. May I ask, Your Highness, do you have the Emperor’s order?"

The elder spoke solemnly and addressed the critical point.

The court was not child’s play; everything followed rules and procedures.

You must follow the rules even if you’re justified, or else anyone could issue commands here, and the Celestial Realms City would be in chaos.

The Crown Prince frowned and asked the Seventh Princess, "Sister, did Father give you any decree?"

The Fourth Prince sneered, "Father has been in seclusion for so long, how could he have given her any decree?"

After the Eighth Prince’s death, the Fourth Prince had become a popular candidate for the Emperor’s throne.

Originally disheartened, he was now courted by the Nine Clans’ power, elevating his status in court.

Prime Minister Yao Chong pressured further, "Princess, if you do not have an Emperor’s decree, it is best to dismiss the court session quickly, lest the Empress Dowager blames you, punishing you for abusing power and disrupting court affairs."

The Seventh Princess, flushed, reprimanded, "Stop trying to intimidate me with the Empress Dowager! You all know what you’ve been doing these days. Facing the Demon Race, retreating at every step, not daring to resist them, allowing a horde of Demon marauders to ravage my Immortal King Star, harming countless people. With such cowardice, do you deserve to discuss state affairs in this Heaven-Piercing Palatial Hall? Do you deserve to accuse me of abusing power? Who is truly abusing power here?"

The people in the hall bowed their heads after her scolding, only Prime Minister Yao Chong remained composed, saying to the Seventh Princess, "The military affairs are significant, not for a female to criticize. Your Royal Highness, if you remain stubborn, I will have to summon the Empress Dowager."

"You..."

The Seventh Princess felt stifled and had nothing to say under the elder’s pressure.

Li Daoxun wanted to help her, but the Prime Minister had the reason at this point, he didn’t know where to start.

Just as the Seventh Princess’s fury had nowhere to go.

Someone lightly declared from outside the hall, "Who said the Seventh Princess didn’t have the Emperor’s mandate?"

A person holding an Imperial Decree stepped out, and the passing officials made way, staring wide-eyed in disbelief.

"Long Fei?"

"How dare he come here?"

"Is that an Imperial Decree in his hand?"

"What is going on here?"

"..."

The ministers murmured, while the Fourth Prince dramatically drew his Longsword, shouting at Long Fei, "Rebel and traitor, who killed my eighth brother, dare you come to this court, do you think the Heaven-Piercing Palace is unguarded?"

Long Fei smirked, "Fourth Prince, hold your peace, listen to the Emperor’s decree first!"

He lifted his hand, and the Imperial Decree unfurled.

A spiritual light flew from it, landing on the high Dragon Throne.

The Emperor’s Dharma Laksana appeared on the Dragon Throne, instantly exuding a daunting presence, its pressure felt throughout the court. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

All civil and military officials, including the Prime Minister, reluctantly clasped their fists and paid their respects, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The Emperor’s Dharma Laksana slightly nodded, raised his hand toward the officials, "Rise, dear ministers, and listen to the mandate. Since the unification of Celestial Realms City by my Heaven-Piercing Palace, our influence spans the entire Immortal King Star, and we must do everything for the safety of the Immortal King Star. Recently, my time has come, and I have departed without saying goodbye, I ask all dear ministers for understanding. The nation cannot be without a ruler for a day; after my departure, the throne cannot remain vacant. Thus, Seventh Princess Zhang Ziling shall assume it. Seeing this mandate is as seeing me, no one shall harbor grievances or refuse to carry out my decree. I hereby appoint Long Fei as Protector of the Nation Great General to assist the Seventh Princess in overseeing state affairs. I trust all dear ministers to diligently assist, to resist the Demon Race together and restore peace to the Immortal King Star."

After the mandate was announced, the light of the Dharma Laksana flashed and returned to the Imperial Decree in Long Fei’s hand.

The ministers were stunned, unable to react for quite a while.

Li Daoxun, brows tightly furrowed, was the first to kneel and greet the Seventh Princess, "This humble general pays respect to the Emperor!"

In the court, his loyal generals, along with the generals of the Ma Army, followed suit in kneeling, "This humble general greets the Emperor!"

The voices echoed through the court, causing the officials, big and small, to tremble and hastily kneel, fearing to leave a poor impression in the presence of the now-trusted Emperor.