A crow flew high and fast in the morning sky, skimming over the magnificent palace—its wings spread wide, black feathers drifting down from its dense plumage. It flew for a while, finally landing on an open window of a pavilion.

  Looking out the window, one could see a man in an apricot-yellow robe sitting in a bedroom, pouring tea into a cup. He was tall and imposing, with a slight beard on his chin. His face bore both the majesty of nobility and the ravages of war; faint scars were visible on his cheeks!

  This person was none other than Yong Baihua, the Crown Prince of the Yong dynasty—the eldest son of the late Emperor Yong Baike and the elder brother of Emperor Yong Baizheng..!

  Seeing the mysterious crow perched outside the window, he immediately ordered his servants to leave. As Yong Baihua sipped his tea, he asked, "What brings you here?”

  Just then, the atmosphere in the room grew cold and tense…

  The crow spoke to Yong Baihua in a distorted male voice, "You know my presence here must be important. This morning, news came from the court that your brother has appointed Fan Shao as chancellor."

  Yong Baihua put down his teacup, a cold smile playing on his lips. “Oh? What a bold and foolish move,” he said. “What trick is that little kid playing this time?” He chuckled softly and continued drinking his tea. “I think he’s desperate, which is why he’s decided to use that mediocre talent as a pawn!”

  The crow folded its wings and said after a moment, "That Director Fan is actually not much of a threat. He can't do anything big... However, we can't let our guard down. Yong Baizheng's appointment this time may have other motives."

  As it spoke, the crow turned to the pond in front of the pavilion and looked up at the sky. "Now, various factions may be vying for his position, especially the forces of that old Kun Changsheng. As for the Yin-Yang Sect and the Nine Virtues Sect, they've always been rather passive in these matters. Whether they become enemies with Fan Shao depends on his attitude. We must observe the situation and act when the opportunity arises."

  The crown prince smiled sinisterly, swirling the cup in his hand. "Alright, alright! No need to lecture that much, I know what I'm doing."

  "Hmph, just checking." With that, the crow flew out of the open window, soaring into the sky at high speed.

  ***

  The time had come; it was time for Fan Shao to officially assume the position of Grand Chancellor…

  The clumsy Liu Bao was about to enter the emperor’s residence to follow Fan Shao when he was stopped by the guards, who glared at him fiercely!

  "What? I came with Chancellor Fan!" Liu Bao retorted. Already inside the residential grounds, Fan Shao turned around and saw the guards blocking Liu Bao's path with spears!

  "His Majesty has decreed that no one except Chancellor Fan and Central Secretariat Director Luo Chen is allowed to enter the imperial residence!” the guards roared firmly, pointing the spears at Liu Bao who immediately took a few steps back!

  Fan Shao nodded, reassuring Liu Bao, and said, "Director Liu, thank you for escorting me. I'm fine. You should go and attend to your official business."

  "Ah…okay, okay..." Liu Bao stammered, reluctantly turning to leave, glancing back every now and then to confirm that Fan Shao was safe.

  Fan Shao turned and walked towards the steps of the emperor's residence, his heart filled with unease... What he was about to do would completely change his life—a bureau chief promoted to chancellor! This would undoubtedly make him a sitting duck for those old monsters in the palace… like a sparrow forced into a dragon's nest!

  Fan Shao sighed deeply. He tried his best to remain calm and confident, so as not to disappoint the emperor's expectations. He walked slowly to the pavilion, and the door was immediately opened by the palace maids who were waiting there.

  Inside the pavilion is a long corridor with exquisitely carved vermilion beams on both sides, and at the end of the corridor is a sliding door leading to the inner palace. Morning light streamed through the pavilion's paper windows, illuminating the wooden floor. Fan Shao approached the sliding door, where two eunuchs were waiting. He bowed and said, "Chancellor Fan Shao has arrived, Your Majesty."

  "Please come in!" a man called out; it was the emperor's voice.

  After the emperor responded, the eunuchs immediately opened the sliding door, and two familiar figures came into view—Emperor Yong Baizheng, dressed in a yellow imperial robe, sat upright in a large chair; while Luo Chen, the director of the Central Secretariat, stood beside the emperor, holding more than one scroll of scriptures in his hands!

  To Fan Shao's right, he immediately saw a row of attendants, each holding a neatly folded purple robe, a gold belt, and an official seal placed on a pillow!

  After Fan Shao arrived, the sliding door behind him immediately closed. Fan Shao knelt before the emperor and said, "This servant, Fan Shao, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

  "Chancellor Fan, rise. You have fulfilled your duties admirably. Now, let the inauguration ceremony begin," the emperor said firmly. "Director Luo, read the imperial edict!"

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  Luo Chen nodded and stepped forward. As if in the main hall, Luo Chen opened the edict—this time with even greater conviction—and read aloud: "The Emperor decrees! Director Fan Shao has been diligent and dutiful, upholding justice for the people and remaining loyal to the imperial throne. By the mandate of Heaven, His Majesty hereby appoints him as Grand Chancellor of the Great Yong Dynasty and promotes him to the Rank One, Upper class! Let this decree be enacted!"

  According to etiquette, Fan Shao knelt and bowed to the emperor three times until the emperor commanded him to rise. He then stood up, clasped his hands together, and said loudly, "This lowly servant is unworthy of such favor but dare not disobey Your Majesty's command. I, Fan Shao, will obey Heaven's will and be loyal to the country and the throne!"

  "Present the official seal!" the emperor commanded, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

  The attendant, holding the official seal on the pillow, immediately stepped forward and presented it to Fan Shao. Fan Shao accepted the official seal with both hands and bowed again to express his gratitude, which symbolized that he was officially appointed. Then, the official seal was returned to the attendant, and the ceremony moved to the next stage:

  "Present the official robes and hat!" the emperor ordered again!

  The attendants carried the long robe and official hat toward Fan Shao. The purple silk robe and the winged official hat symbolized his status as a first-rank official of the highest order!

  Fan Shao stood up, and the attendants draped the purple robe over him and neatly replaced his hat with a new one. Fan Shao accepted the official seal, donned official robes, and officially became the chancellor of the Yong dynasty!

  Finally, at the crucial moment, Fan Shao bowed to the emperor one last time, acknowledging both the emperor's grace and the cosmic legitimacy of his new official position... He made his final vow: "I, Fan Shao, will dedicate myself to the continuation of the nation, serve Your Majesty with the utmost sincerity, and uphold justice in Great Yong!"

  "Serve with utmost devotion, and the dynasty will be at peace!" The emperor's words echoed within the inner hall. The attendants bowed in unison, and Luo Chen and Fan Shao also bent down and clasped their hands.

  However, amidst this solemn and dignified ceremony, the emperor suddenly issued a firm order: "The inauguration ceremony has ended. All attendants, withdraw from the hall!"

  "Yes, Your Majesty," the attendants replied in unison, nodding and immediately lining up to leave the hall.

  However, as they left the hall together, everyone exchanged intense glances and signals... something seemed off between them. It was as if they hadn't expected to be ordered to leave!

  All the attendants immediately left the hall, and the sliding door closed with a soft thud. Only Emperor Yong Baizheng, Chancellor Fan Shao, and Central Secretariat Director Luo Chen remained in the inner palace hall now, a tense atmosphere beginning to fill the room!

  Fan Shao, now the highest-ranking official of the Yong Dynasty, stood before the Emperor. Luo Chen was still holding many scrolls in his hands. At the same time, the emperor sighed, remaining seated on his large chair, seemingly preparing to speak…

  “As I said before in the throne room, I will give instructions during the inauguration ceremony. Now, let us begin,” the emperor said firmly. Fan Shao nodded and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

  Meanwhile, in front of the main hall…

  It turned out that the attendants had been waiting in front of the main hall, carefully listening to the conversation inside! They listened intently to everything happening inside the hall, their expressions tense... exchanging subtle signals to ensure they could eavesdrop undetected.

  Even the pair of doorstep maids were closely listening to what was happening inside the palace hall! It seemed they were all sect agents…

  The emperor seemed to understand this perfectly. He gestured to Luo Chen, who nodded in agreement and then opened a brightly colored scroll. The contents of the scroll were clearly displayed to Fan Shao: "Pretend. There are spies present."

  Fan Shao glanced back and immediately grasped the situation. He nodded quietly in reply.

  "The first instruction concerns information needed for your official duties. Currently, besides sect infiltration, our nation faces even greater problems! The north is ravaged by famine, and both the east and west are plagued by neighboring countries. The sect wars in the western deserts have also disrupted the lives of mortals, forcing them to flee their homes and cities! You must instruct the relevant departments to resolve these issues. All the information you need is in this scroll!" The emperor said firmly, gesturing for Luo Chen to hand Fan Shao another scroll. Fan Shao takes the scroll and begins to open it…

  Fan Shao's gaze swept over the contents of the scroll, and his face changed drastically... turning deathly pale! The contents of the scroll were completely different from what the emperor had said; it was actually intelligence about the various factions within the palace!

  This scroll revealed countless names and identities… Many of them were officials Fan Shao knew, from the highest-ranking officials in purple robes to mid-level clerks, even including palace attendants and eunuchs… almost every name turns out to be spies for various sects!

  Without doubt, some of these names belong to old monsters that are feared within the imperial court…

  “Director Liu, I’m glad your name wasn’t on this scroll.” Fan Shao pondered. Luckily for him, the name Liu Bao didn’t appear on the scroll!

  Fan Shao closed the scroll, clasped his hands together, and bowed to the emperor: "I will do my utmost!"

  Luo Chen opened another scroll, which read: "Come daily at the appointed time to await further instructions."

  After Luo Chen clearly showed the scroll to Fan Shao, the emperor raised his voice slightly and obviously said, "Very good, you may leave!"

  Fan Shao bowed again, his hands still clasped while still taking a few steps back, and left the room. Upon hearing Fan Shao's footsteps, the attendants outside quickly nodded in acknowledgement, and some even made hand gestures.

  When Fan Shao appeared, the attendants were already in position, bowing to greet him, and lined up on both sides of the sliding door as if nothing had happened!

  However, now that Fan Shao has read the detailed list bestowed by the emperor, he is fully aware of everything around him and is extremely vigilant... Today, his only thought is to survive.

  Inside the main hall, the emperor nodded to Luo Chen, who immediately gestured to someone behind him…

  It turned out that a fully armed assassin dressed in black had been hiding behind the room all along!

  After Luo Chen signaled to the assassin, the assassin immediately clasped his hands together and silently ran out the back door like a swift cloud…

  At the same time, the attendants outside the room nodded to each other and quickly and silently dispersed.

  Something seemed to be about to happen!