The Imperial Palace of the Tolling Lands

In the heart of the Imperial Palace of the Tolling Lands in the Imperial Meeting Hall. One only needed to look to see that something was incredibly wrong. A strange, intense oppressive aura of foreboding gripped the atmosphere in the Meeting Hall. The meeting hall was full to capacity. Even Elders who had long gone into retirement and no longer participated in the daily state of affairs of the country had crawled out of their homes to present themselves at court on this day.

The sight outside of the Meeting Hall earlier in the afternoon gave pause to many. Over hundreds of officials, both friends and enemies. Rivals and allies huddled in big groups sharing the latest news and gossip of the current events.

Many were in the dark and tried their best to get any news about the recent events. The Emperor had put a gag order on the very few generals and commanders who were in the know and had participated in eliminating the traitors during the Melded Ore Blood Storm.

Every one of the generals and commanders who had participated saw the rage of the Emperor. Not one of them were willing to risk their neck. So all of them kept their mouth shut. Even the wicked General Lu who loved to gossip at home. They all pretending not to know anything.

In the opinion of the officials and Ministers of the Imperial court. One of the worse and most dangerous things was not knowing what was going on. How could you keep your head if you were unable to avoid the schemes of the court? How could you avoid or prevent a scheme that you know nothing of?

With the massive purge that just occurred. All feuds, disagreements, dislikes, and discordances were set aside. The officials huddle together in big circles outside of the Imperial Meeting Hall, trying to squeeze information out of each other regarding the Melded Ore Blood Storm.

Sadly not many knew much, and those who knew pretended that they didn't. That left all of the officials unsettled. Most of these officials survived much in the Imperial courts of the Tolling Lands. They all were aware that the purge was not the ending of things. After a massive storm, things did not go back to normal until after the final clean up.

The second hot topic was the news of the arrest of Elder Chen and the battle that took place at Elder Chen's son's manor that morning before dawn. Many huddled around the Officials, Nobles, and Ministers that lived on the west side of the city. Many of those Officials, Nobles, and Ministers were able to climb up on their roofs and bear witness to the fierce battle. Those who weren't able to climb their roofs had servants or family members climb up on their roofs and give a minute account of the fierce battle that had taken place.

When news that Minster Lan, who was the Minster of Personal, was also arrested made the rounds, some of the officials began to mildly panic. What reason was Elder Chen and Minister Lan were arrested? Not only was Elder Chen and his whole family arrested, his manor was even razed to the ground! Were they also traitors? What was going on? Elder Chen's violation of the Emperor's five hundred house guards decree was not known until after an attempt to arrest him was made. So for what reason was he arrested and his home razed to the ground?

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Something was very wrong! Who didn't know that the retired Elder Chen was once the Prime Minister of the Tolling Lands? Who didn't know of the subtle, quiet power of Elder Chen who looked harmless but in fact, was an insidious wolf in sheep clothing? The only reason the Chen family survived the long vicious, violent feud with the Han Family was due to the deep schemes of the harmless-looking Elder Chen.

So for what reason was he dragged to the Imperial prisons along with the Minister of the Personal? Many of the experienced officials who survived many storms in the Imperial courts could sense that this was the beginning of another blood storm brewing. Many of the officials who had close relationships with the Chen family and the Lan family began to pray to their ancestors and every deity they could think of for protection. No one wanted to be implicated or dragged into whatever mess Elder Chen and Minister Lan brewed up.

After the Ministers and Officials finished gossiping about Minister Lan and Elder Chen's arrest. Gradually they began to make their way into the Imperial Meeting Hall in groups to await the arrival of the emperor. However, as they waited. The one person, no official of the Tolling Lands, wanted to see in the Imperial court arrived. It was Elder Wang. It could be counted on one hand the many times the Elder had attended court in the past thirty-three years since his abdication. However, every time the Elder attended a court session, a purge was sure to follow.

The atmosphere in the Meeting Hall completely change with the arrival of the Elder. Before Elder Wang arrived, there was an air of mild panic, apprehension, expectation, and suspense in the atmosphere. While the official quietly talked amongst themselves as they waited for the Emperor to arrive.

However, after the arrival of the Elder, that mild panic exploded into deep alarm and fear. The apprehension turned in to a deep stifling foreboding. The expectation turned into a threatening sense of peril, and the suspense turned into an almost overwhelming need to escape to extricate themselves from the incoming danger.

Hundreds of officials stood waiting for the Emperor in the meeting hall. However, not a sound could be heard. Many of the officials that didn't need to be in court today cursed themselves for sticking their neck out.

A pin drop could be heard in the smothering heart attacking inducing silence. Many of the officials broke out in a cold sweat as they tried their best to control their emotions and not let fear govern their minds.

When Elder Wang had entered the Imperial Meeting Hall. He immediately went to his seat. On the Emperor's command, a special smaller version of a throne was prepared for Elder Wang. The smaller throne was placed in front of the Emperor's throne. However, it was placed below the first raised platform onto the second raised platform and slightly to the side. Elder Wang took his seat, and he also waited for the rival of the emperor. Elder Wang's face was emotionlessly blank.

Shortly after the arrival of Elder Wang, a high pitch melodic voice of a eunuch rang throughout the Meeting Hall, heralding the arrival of the Emperor. Elder Wang respectfully rose from his seat. He, along with everyone, bow deeply greeting the Emperor as the Emperor entered the Imperial Meeting Hall. "May the Emperor live ten thousand years!"