Chapter 454: Chapter 276: Expedition Against the Golden Crow: Chief Minister Chen Ke Solemnly Obeys the Holy Edict and Wishes the Holy Emperor a Triumphant Return

Lu Mingyuan’s expression stiffened, and his brow furrowed.

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll destroy the Divine Soul in this body of yours, making it so you can never return to the Holy Netherworld?"

Witch Palace Language’s smile widened, her vermilion lips curling. "Threatening me? Do you really have a way?"

"If you really had a way, would you still be here asking my opinion?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You want to know the purpose and origin of the Turtle Shell, but why should I tell you?"

"If you release me, I’ll tell you."

Lu Mingyuan snorted coldly. "Don’t even think about it."

Witch Palace Language smiled faintly again. "Then we have nothing more to talk about."

"You don’t know what’s good for you. I’ll just figure it out myself, then."

Seeing how tightly she guarded the information, Lu Mingyuan lost the will to ask any further.

He had long suspected Witch Palace Language wouldn’t tell him, but he couldn’t help but come and give it a try.

He didn’t expect to get such a cold shoulder.

Watching Lu Mingyuan’s departing figure,

Witch Palace Language’s eyes lowered, a faint glimmer within them.

A red glow appeared in her palm, revealing lines of crimson text.

...

「Holy Bright Palace.」

The officials stood in rows on either side, the entire hall silent and solemn.

Clad in a Dragon Robe, Lu Mingyuan sat upon the Dragon Throne at the highest point of the grand hall. His expression was indifferent, yet he radiated an imposing aura without being angry.

It was as if this position was naturally his from birth.

Perhaps a hundred years from now, people would also call him Emperor Longyuan.

"Currently, the Golden Crow are invading Great Yan’s borders."

"My beloved ministers, what do you think we should do?"

Lu Mingyuan’s gaze swept across the faces of the assembled ministers as he posed the question.

’When I used to stand below, I always wondered why Imperial Father constantly looked left and right.’

’Now I understand.’

’It’s a display of confidence and dominance.’

’The best way to intimidate the ministers.’

As the ministers were still pondering his question,

the Champion Marquis stepped forward, his Armor gleaming, and cupped his hands. In a deep voice, he said,

"Reporting to the Holy Emperor, those who invade the lands of Great Yan must be eliminated, no matter how far they are."

"This humble general believes we should send our troops to attack them!"

"Good!"

Lu Mingyuan exclaimed in approval.

’The Champion Marquis truly is my father-in-law. It’s like he can read my mind; we’ve arrived at the same conclusion.’

’I was just wondering how to bring up the option of dispatching troops.’

’My father-in-law is practically my mouthpiece!’

"What do the rest of you think?"

But for the sake of harmony in the Imperial Court, Lu Mingyuan had to ask.

"This humble minister finds the Champion Marquis’s words reasonable. A weak nation has no voice, while a strong nation strikes fear in all directions. This is the Holy Emperor’s first war since ascending the throne; we cannot be lenient."

The Minister of Personnel, Su Youhuai, stepped forward in support.

"I second the motion. Lord Su is correct."

The Advisory Platform Chief Official, Shen Yuanxi, stepped forward in support.

"I second the motion."

Clad in a crimson robe, Chen Ke also stepped slightly forward to agree, offering his support.

"I feel the same."

Wang He’fu stepped forward in support.

In an instant, four Cabinet Ministers, who also served as department Ministers, had agreed with the Champion Marquis’s proposal. This was equivalent to more than half of the Imperial Court’s most powerful figures having already chosen a side.

This left the other ministers dumbfounded.

Many of them shook their heads in secret.

’The current Holy Emperor’s control over the Imperial Court has reached such a degree. It seems our opinions are no longer important.’

’This is all just a formality.’

More and more ministers stepped forward to agree.

"I feel the same."

...

Lu Mingyuan was very satisfied to see the war plan approved so easily.

He looked toward the Minister of Revenue, his gaze sharp as he asked,

"May I ask Lord Li, is the National Treasury Silver of Great Yan sufficient?"

A slightly portly minister stepped forward.

"Reporting to the Holy Emperor, it is sufficient."

Lu Mingyuan’s gaze shifted.

"Are the grain and fodder supplies throughout Great Yan plentiful?"

"Sufficient!"

The Minister of Revenue projected his voice from his Dantian.

Finally, Lu Mingyuan looked at the Champion Marquis. "Huo Qing, is the morale of the Great Yan Soldiers high enough?"

"Sufficient!!"

The Champion Marquis shouted, his voice brimming with power.

"Good!"

"Good!"

"Good!"

Lu Mingyuan spat out the word "Good!" three times in a row.

"In that case, We have decided. We will personally go to Jiayu Pass and strike down the traitors."

Hearing this news, the entire court was shocked.

"Your Majesty, you absolutely must not..."

"We implore Your Majesty to retract the order!"

"Your Majesty, have you not heard of what happened a hundred years ago...?"

In an instant, the air was filled with voices of dissuasion.

Lu Mingyuan immediately barked, "What are you panicking for?!"

A wave of Martial Dao pressure swept through the Imperial Court, and the officials all fell silent.

Lu Mingyuan’s eyes were so sharp they almost seemed to reflect light as he spoke, word by word,

"If the bandits can go, then so can We!"

"Since the Golden Crow New King dares, why would We not dare?"

Feeling Lu Mingyuan’s powerful aura, the ministers immediately stopped talking.

Lu Mingyuan nodded to himself and announced the next piece of news. "During the period of Our absence, Chen Ke will serve as the Chief Minister of the Cabinet and act as regent of Great Yan."

At these words, the court officials all looked at each other in dismay.

They never expected a Lower-class Youth who had only been in office for a few years to be appointed to the position of Chief Minister.

The result was quite surprising.

However, this paled in comparison to the previous announcement, so it wasn’t entirely unacceptable.

Chen Ke’s eyes were clear. He cupped his hands with an air that was neither humble nor arrogant. "Chief Minister Chen Ke humbly accepts the imperial decree. Furthermore, may the Holy Emperor return victorious from his expedition and utterly defeat the Six Kingdoms!"

"We humbly accept the imperial decree! May the Holy Emperor return victorious and utterly defeat the Six Kingdoms!"

"We humbly accept the imperial decree! May the Holy Emperor return victorious and utterly defeat the Six Kingdoms!"

The other ministers followed suit, echoing the sentiment.

...