Eastern Depot and Western Guards Command the Realm

The smell of blood inside the Ganquan Palace grew increasingly heavy. Although Fulin's corpse had already been dragged away, the glaring pool of dark red on the floor tiles still stimulated everyone's nerves.

The remaining twenty or so seal-holding eunuchs were now utterly in despair. They knew clearly that today, the Emperor didn't just want their money, he wanted their lives; and not just their lives, he intended to completely overturn the entire Inner Court and replace them with his own people.

Wang Hao's gaze fell upon Jixiang, the former Director of the Eastern Depot.

Jixiang was an old eunuch nearing sixty years of age, with a pale, beardless face and deep wrinkles crowding the corners of his eyes. Under Wang Hao's Emperor's Qi Observation Technique, his loyalty had reached a solid 85, but the yellow qi representing wealth was equally astonishing, indicating an embezzled amount of a full 1.8 million taels of silver.

Before Wang Hao could speak, Jixiang suddenly kowtowed heavily on his own, producing a muffled thud. When he raised his head, his forehead was a bloody mess.

"Your Majesty!" Jixiang's voice was sorrowful yet resolute. "This old servant is guilty! Having managed the Eastern Depot for many years, this old servant failed to clear the universe for Your Majesty. Instead, I embezzled what was entrusted to me, taking 1.8 million taels of silver and hiding five large chests of precious calligraphy and paintings in the suburbs of the capital. This old servant knows his sins are grave and cannot be excused even by ten thousand deaths. This old servant begs Your Majesty to grant a quick death. All that dirty silver has been cataloged and is hidden in a secret compartment beneath this old servant's bed!"

Jixiang was a smart man. He had seen with his own eyes the tragic state of Wang An being lit as a sky lantern, and the fate of Fulin being killed with a single palm strike. He knew that taking the initiative to confess and hand over everything was the only way to keep his corpse intact, and perhaps even save the lives of his adopted sons and grandsons outside.

Wang Hao gave him a deep look. Although this old eunuch was greedy, he at least understood the situation, and that loyalty of 85 could not be faked. He was greedy for money, but he had never thought of betraying the royal family.

"Jixiang, you managed the Eastern Depot. You should have been My eyes and ears, yet you became blind and deaf." Wang Hao sighed, his tone revealing a trace of complex majesty. "Seeing as you confessed on your own accord and never colluded with foreign enemies, I will grant you some dignity. I spare you from the death penalty. You are stripped of all duties, your property is confiscated, and you are to immediately head to the late Emperor's mausoleum to keep Liu Xi company and spend the rest of your days there."

Jixiang trembled all over, as if a burden of a thousand catties had been lifted from him. Weeping bitterly with his face on the ground, he cried, "This old servant... thanks Your Majesty for this great grace! Long live the Emperor, long live, long, long live!" His loyalty rose to 95, which amazed Wang Hao. He would still need to use these highly loyal eunuchs eventually; sending them to the imperial mausoleum to temper their characters first was a good idea.

This single instance of not killing was like a ray of dawn in the darkness, giving another eunuch nearby the courage to speak up.

Li Kang, the seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Horses, a burly man who had protected the late Emperor's safety in his youth, also suddenly crawled forward on his knees. In Wang Hao's vision, the loyalty floating above his head was shockingly high at 96.

"Your Majesty! This old servant was also greedy! This old servant embezzled 1.3 million taels to purchase fine steeds from the Western Regions and top-quality weapons. Although the original intention was to arm the Imperial Guards of the Directorate of Imperial Horses, embezzling public funds is a capital offense! This old servant's account book is right here in my sleeve. I beg Your Majesty to confiscate it. This old servant is also willing to go to the imperial mausoleum to guard the late Emperor's spirit!" Li Kang roared loudly, his tone carrying a soldier's straightforwardness and remorse.

Wang Hao looked at Li Kang, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. Embezzling money to buy equipment was still corruption, but its nature was much better than those who lined their own pockets and lived a life of debauchery. Moreover, a loyalty of 96 was simply a rare treasure in this currently rotten court.

"Granted. Hand over the dirty silver and the account book, and go to the imperial mausoleum." Wang Hao nodded.

Having successively spared three loyal but greedy individuals who voluntarily surrendered, the atmosphere in the great hall seemed to ease slightly. But just as the rest of the eunuchs harboring ulterior motives, colluding with foreign ministers, or even raising evil spirits were preparing to follow suit and part with their wealth to avoid disaster, Wang Hao's face instantly turned as cold as frost.

"I only give chances to those who are loyal. As for the rest of you..."

Wang Hao suddenly slammed his hand on the dragon throne and stood up abruptly. His finger swept across the remaining dozen or so eunuchs like a sword, his voice as cold and ruthless as the judgment pen of Yama, the King of Hell: "You beasts who colluded with courtiers, sold Great Zhou's intelligence to barbarians, and even used human blood to raise evil spirits in the palace, did you really think you could buy your lives with a bit of silver?!"

"Pei Jingzhe! Wei Zhongxian!"

"This subject (old servant) is here!" A martial artist and a eunuch responded in unison, their killing intent soaring to the heavens.

"According to the names on the register, anyone disloyal to the royal family, colluding with foreign enemies, or raising evil entities, need not be interrogated. Drag them all out of the Meridian Gate and execute them by death by a thousand cuts! Exterminate their entire nine familial clans! Confiscate all their properties!"

"Understood!"

Accompanied by desperate screams, curses, and pleas for mercy, the fierce and ruthless Brocade Guards and Eastern Depot agents rushed into the main hall, dragging out those dozen or so seal-holding eunuchs who usually threw their weight around like dead dogs.

Outside the Ganquan Palace, screams rose and fell continuously. Blood flowed slowly down the white jade steps, as if a storm of blood and gore had rained down.

Half an hour later, only Wang Hao's confidants and the newly promoted loyal eunuchs remained in the great hall. The air was filled with a thick smell of blood, but Wang Hao felt that the air here was fresher than ever before.

Severe illnesses require strong medicine; chaotic times require harsh laws!

Wang Hao sat back down on the dragon throne. Looking at his own core team below, his eyes flickered with the light of grand ambitions and great strategies. The old rotten flesh had already been carved out; now, it was time to reshape the skeleton of the Inner Court.

"Cao Zhengchun!" Wang Hao shouted in a deep voice.

A middle-aged eunuch with a stern face, built as robustly as a bear, stepped forward in response: "This old servant is here."

"Li Kang has gone to the imperial mausoleum, and the Directorate of Imperial Horses cannot be without a leader for a single day. I command you to take over as the seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Imperial Horses, concurrently serving as the brush-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and your official rank is promoted to the secondary second grade! From this moment on, the fifty thousand Imperial Forest Guards responsible for guarding the inner courtyards of the imperial palace are completely under your control! If even the slightest mishap occurs, I will hold you solely responsible!"

A fanatical gleam burst from Cao Zhengchun's eyes as he kowtowed heavily: "This old servant receives the decree! With this old servant here, not even a fly will be able to fly into the imperial palace!"

"Yu Huatian!"

A young eunuch with a handsome, bewitching face and eyes as sharp as blades stepped forward elegantly: "This slave is here."

"Although the Eastern Depot has sharp blades, it inevitably has areas it cannot cover. I want you to raise an even faster blade within the Inner Court and the martial arts world! Starting today, the Western Depot is established! You will serve as the Director of the Western Depot, concurrently holding the post of brush-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and your official rank is promoted to the secondary second grade! Your task is to keep a deadly watch on those prominent noble families and martial arts sects for Me!"

A wickedly charming sneer curled at the corner of Yu Huatian's mouth as he bowed slightly: "This slave obeys the decree. Once the Western Depot draws its blade, it will surely make all the traitorous rebels in this world tremble in fear at the mere mention of its name!"

"Cao Shaoqin!"

The last eunuch, tall and with a face as cold and stern as iron, stepped forward, his entire body exuding the chilling aura of an armored warhorse on the battlefield: "This old servant is here!"

"The Purified Army within the palace is also a force that cannot be ignored. I command you to take over as the seal-holding eunuch of the Purified Army, concurrently serving as the brush-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and your official rank is promoted to the secondary second grade! The thirty thousand soldiers of the Purified Army in the palace are all handed over to you for reorganization. I want you to train them into an armed force that is capable and daring in battle!"

"This old servant will definitely not fail the mission!" Cao Shaoqin kowtowed heavily.

With this, the restructuring of power within the Inner Court was thoroughly completed.

Sun Li took overall command of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Wei Zhongxian took charge of the Eastern Depot, managing intelligence and supervising the officials and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Yu Huatian commanded the Western Depot, tasked with intimidating the martial arts sects of the Jianghu and the aristocratic families. Cao Zhengchun held command over fifty thousand Royal Guards to protect the Imperial City. Cao Shaoqin led thirty thousand Eunuch Army troops to garrison the Inner Palace. Hai Dafu assumed control over the financial authority of the Inner Treasury, while newly promoted, fiercely loyal eunuchs were appointed as the various major Seal-holding Eunuchs. Coupled with the external forces led by the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Pei Jingzhe, Wang Hao had finally gained absolute control over the Imperial Palace!

Looking at this pack of vicious hounds that possessed absolute loyalty to him, the corners of Wang Hao's mouth finally curled into a truly delighted and uninhibited smile.