Chapter 674: Beheading
The silence in the court is not that there is nothing to say.
... but was waiting for Li Chen to speak.
In silence, it brews and gathers strength for the larger conflicts to come.
This conflict was both expected and surprising.
It came too quickly and suddenly.
To be frank, some things went beyond Li Chen's expectations.
He knew Zhao Xuanji would definitely take some measures, especially when he chose to intercept the letter Yelü Guzan sent to the Liao Kingdom. Li Chen knew then that the old man was truly in a hurry.

All this time, the unspoken understanding Li Chen had with Zhao Xuanji had made him somewhat underestimate Zhao Xuanji's abilities.

Now, this blow knocked Li Chen right out of his stupor.
If one were to rely on the identity of a time traveler and the memories of several thousand years of historical civilization, thinking they could do whatever they pleased, Zhao Xuanji, such an old fox, would devour them until there was nothing left.
People who can step by step reach the core of power during the feudal era are indeed not simple.
When officials throng the palace, it's a matter so serious that even the emperor has to yield.
This indicates that the conflict between the subjects and the emperor had reached a point where it was inevitable.
Throughout history, besides those few ruthless emperors, which emperor would not bow their head in the face of such a situation?
Supreme power resides in the emperor, but even imperial authority is not always invincible.
There are powerful individuals who prevail in politics, but this is built upon absolute control over power and personnel.
Li Chen apparently hasn't reached that point, so he will face the situation of being besieged by officials.
And now, it is Zhao Xuanji using his decade-plus of experience cultivating connections in the imperial court to undermine Li Chen's power base as the regent prince.
Looking at Zhao Xuanji, Li Chen said faintly, "Elder Zhao, are you asking this palace to yield?"

Zhao Xuanji calmly replied, “Your Highness, to know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue.”
"Haha."
Li Chen laughed loudly and said, "Good, good. Knowing one's mistake and correcting it is commendable, as is great kindness."
After the laughter subsided, Li Chen's tone suddenly became severe and icy. He bellowed, "Come here!"
Outside the Taihe Hall, Imperial Guards poured in.
They were the only ones in the entire palace allowed to carry weapons. Anyone else, including Su Zhen Ting, who dared to bring a weapon into the palace without the emperor's special permission, would be guilty of treason.
These Imperial Guards entered the Taihe Hall and immediately dispersed to surround the entire area. They stood at the outermost perimeter, their hands resting on weapons at their waists, their eyes cold and sharp.
This scene left many officials feeling a chill.
Talk is talk, and fighting is fighting, but once blood is shed, today we'll be written in the history books.
Although it sounds pretty badass, nobody wants to be the background character who gets victimized in history books.
To slaughter all the officials on top of the Taihe Palace, this has never happened in history, not even the most foolish tyrant would do such a thing.
But the prince, standing on the dragon throne at this moment, has always been a maverick. No one knows if he has the guts to do such a thing.
Zhao Xuanji stood motionless.
He even looked forward to Li Chen ordering the massacre of the officials present.
This is how the whole nation rises up against us! It's right before our eyes!
Those princes would absolutely not miss such a God-given opportunity.
In the silent Tahe Hall, only the heavy breathing of the officials could be heard.
Li Chen walked down from the imperial platform, step by step, his footsteps seeming to fall on people's hearts.
He came to Zhao Xuanji's presence and stood.
Glaring at Zhao Xuanji, Li Chen said word by word: "Drag Shangguan Zhao out and behead him."

(Editor in charge：)