Taiji Hall.

In front of the square.

The civil and military officials were divided into left and right, the atmosphere solemn.

Even though the unexpected arrival of Jiang Ning and Su Qingying drew a few extra glances from the officials, they quickly retracted their gaze without approaching to greet.

Everyone could feel that something significant was bound to happen during this assembly.

Because since the succession of the Changning Emperor, there had never been such a moment of diligence, summoning the officials for an assembly at this hour.

Moreover, these days, rumors filled the Royal Capital, and anyone could sense the undercurrents beneath the surface calm.

At this moment, Jiang Ning was positioned dozens of places behind in the ranks of the military officials.

In front of him were all first-grade officials in the court or the princes of Great Xia.

The total number easily exceeded the count of both hands.

Among the civil officials, Su Qingying stood elegantly at the forefront of the ranks, unmoved by external matters.

Time passed, and the vast Taiji Hall square remained silent.

At 3 a.m.

Bang——

The heavy palace gates shook and slowly opened.

As the palace gates opened, a light shone through the crack, revealing a glimpse of a brilliantly illuminated scene.

The next moment.

Two Golden Armor Guards stood tall, one on each side, pushing the palace gates open with force.

Rumble——

With the sound of the gates opening, the splendid Taiji Hall was slowly revealed in front of the civil and military officials under the illumination of the lights.

Through the gates, Jiang Ning saw the Changning Emperor sitting on the Dragon Throne.

He saw Ji Mingyue accompanying the Changning Emperor.

He saw a middle-aged man, about forty years old, eight feet tall with a square face, standing before the Changning Emperor.

He wore a purple-gold dragon robe, accentuating his tall and upright figure.

"It’s the Side-by-Side King!!"

"It’s Ji Xuan!!"

"He’s actually out of seclusion!!"

"He’s here at today’s assembly too!"

"..."

Among the civil and military officials, there was a faint stir of unrest.

As the officials gazed at him, Ji Xuan, standing on the nine steps of the high platform in Taiji Hall, appeared calm, his gaze sweeping over the officials outside the hall with no ripple of emotion.

Jiang Ning, being among them, also felt that deep and powerful gaze sweep over.

However, the gaze did not linger on him for a second, only briefly pausing as it passed over Su Qingying.

"Please, officials, enter the hall!" A stern voice came from within the hall as the gates of Taiji Hall fully opened.

That voice belonged to the Changning Emperor.

The tone was steady and calm, and from the voice, there was no hint that the Changning Emperor was gravely ill, with the Curse Killing Skill deeply infiltrating his marrow bones and Divine Soul.

"Please, civil and military officials, enter the hall!!" Accompanying the words of the Changning Emperor, a loud voice echoed within the hall.

It was the unified loud cry of dozens of inner palace guards.

The sound was resounding, instantly echoing throughout the Taiji Hall square.

As the voice fell, the officials divided into six rows and began to move.

At the forefront of the civil officials were Su Qingying and Prime Minister Li.

At the forefront of the military officials were General Shen Xiao, Beicang King, and Divine Might King.

As the ranks moved, Jiang Ning also stepped forward, his gaze passing over the heads of those in front, locking eyes with Ji Mingyue and then sweeping past the Changning Emperor.

At this moment, the Changning Emperor’s face was deathly pale, lacking the red hue of Qi-Blood, yet he appeared much better than when seen earlier in the morning.

At least outwardly, the Changning Emperor only seemed mildly unwell, not as if he was gravely ill as in the morning.

Then, his gaze fell on the Side-by-Side King, Ji Xuan.

But Ji Xuan seemed indifferent to his gaze, offering no response.

At this moment.

Standing on the high platform, Ji Xuan watched the civil and military officials step over the threshold of Taiji Hall one by one.

His gaze sharp, locking onto Beicang King.

He knew that his emergence from seclusion this time was due to Beicang King’s sudden arrival at the Royal Capital from the north.

And according to Beicang King’s remarks, his coming to the Royal Capital was done in consultation with Prince Zhenbei.

The security of the northern gate lay in the hands of Beicang King and Prince Zhenbei.

Over the years, with these two topmost sealed kings, who had long entered the ranks of the strongest, stationed in the north, there had been disturbances but never major chaos.

It could be said that with these two topmost sealed kings, the north remained stable.

These two were the North’s anchors of stability for Great Xia.

However, once these two encountered problems, the northern two states of Great Xia would inevitably fall into chaos.

He also understood that his nephew, the Changning Emperor, urgently summoned him out of seclusion due to Beicang King’s immense influence.

But looking at Beicang King at this moment, he also felt a headache.

Not to mention that Beicang King had not yet shown any disloyalty.

Even if he did, it would be difficult to handle.

Beicang King was a martial arts powerhouse who had been formidable in the north for years, having entered the Unity Realm many years ago.

Looking across the world, he was a third-tier powerhouse.

The first tier was that Martial Saint who had suppressed the world for over eight hundred years, bringing more than eight hundred years of peace, undisputedly the foremost in martial arts. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The second tier comprised the Qingxu Temple Master, the abbot of Vajra Temple, and Yellow Heaven Taoist, among others of that ilk.

The third tier consisted of those like Beicang King. They had earned the title of powerhouse years ago, possessing deep reserves.

In the present age, only the figures in this tier caught his eye.

Below the third tier, none could attract his attention.

They were considered insignificant existences.

A moment later.

The officials, both civil and military, stepped over the threshold together, entering Taiji Hall.

Subsequently, the officials stood solemnly in their respective positions.

"Greetings to the Holy Emperor!" Prime Minister Li, at the forefront of the civil officials, cupped his hands and bowed slightly toward the Changning Emperor seated on the Dragon Throne atop the Nine-layered Platform.