A cold, majestic voice echoed through the great hall, causing the expressions of the officials present to falter.
Those with quick reactions immediately knelt, their faces filled with emotion, and shouted, "Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
Those who were slower to react heard this and also came to their senses. Their bodies jolted, realizing that Her Majesty the Empress had emerged from her seclusion. They quickly knelt to welcome their Empress.
Hao Jiao, standing beside the dragon throne, was momentarily stunned. His expression shifted slightly, but he eventually descended from the hall and returned to his position, kneeling on one knee to welcome the Empress.
"Your humble subjects congratulate Your Majesty on emerging from seclusion. Long live His Majesty, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!" the civil and military officials shouted in unison.
As their voices faded, a graceful figure suddenly appeared in the center of the hall, exuding an air of supreme authority that surveyed everyone.
The Great Jin Empress had long since replaced the robes that were destroyed by the heavenly tribulation during her tribulation. She was now wearing a crimson and gold dragon robe, embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon, exuding immense power.
Seeing their Empress appear, the crowd became even more excited.
Bai Yue's gaze fixed on Hao Jiao, and she asked in a cold tone, "General Hao, was it you who ordered the Great Jin army to raid the Great Gan border last night?"
Her tone was a stern interrogation, which caused Hao Jiao to be slightly taken aback.
He sensed that His Majesty was very angry, seemingly furious at his unilateral decision?
Hao Jiao braced himself and replied, "Yes, it was this subordinate who gave the order. Last night, the celestial phenomena changed, presenting the best opportunity to attack Great Gan. Therefore, this subordinate mobilized the army and launched a fierce offensive against Great Gan. Although it was a crushing defeat, it was not without gain. Now, a breach has been opened in the north of Great Gan, and all that remains is for our Great Jin soldiers to march in and capture the Great Gan imperial capital!"
He explained the advantages to the Great Jin Empress, believing that she would not blame him after hearing it.
After all, Her Majesty usually paid little attention to state affairs. Even if Great Jin were on the verge of collapse, she would likely only care about her own cultivation.
This was also the reason why Hao Jiao dared to act independently. Of course, he harbored even greater ambitions: to conquer Her Majesty and become her man.
Every time he thought of Her Majesty's graceful figure and peerless beauty, his heart burned with fervent longing. He had long planned to begin his pursuit of Her Majesty after avenging Great Gan and overthrowing them, striving to become her man.
He was confident that with his own advantages, he was the only one in this Great Wilderness who could be worthy of Her Majesty.
"Nonsense!" Bai Yue rebuked angrily, her eyes fixed on Hao Jiao, burning with a fierce fire.
It was this scoundrel who had acted without authorization, attacking the Great Gan border, which had led Xu Mo to venture deep into Great Jin territory alone.
It had also indirectly led to her tribulation being discovered, her supreme Dao foundation being intercepted, her path to sainthood being incomplete, and her Dao path being damaged.
How could she, who was devoted to cultivation, not be enraged?
With a wave of her hand, Bai Yue sent a beam of white light directly at Hao Jiao's chest. Hao Jiao was immediately sent flying backward, crashing against the hall wall and sliding down, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood.
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent. Everyone was utterly shocked!
Her Majesty, who had always been so 'zen,' was actually enraged today! And she had even taken action against Hao Jiao in front of all the court officials!?
It must be known that Hao Jiao's position in Great Jin was second only to the Emperor. At times, when the Emperor was in seclusion, Hao Jiao was the foremost figure!
Had His Majesty tolerated Hao Jiao no longer and decided to settle accounts with him?
Instantly, the officials who belonged to Hao Jiao's faction felt a sense of unease, fearing that they would be caught in the crossfire and also face retribution.
As for them uniting to force the Empress's hand? Or even to support Hao Jiao's ascension to the throne? Such thoughts were beyond their wildest imaginations.
This was not some mortal dynasty, but a cultivation dynasty!
Even if Hao Jiao controlled everything in the court and had united all the officials, with just one word from the Emperor, Hao Jiao would still lose everything.
In a cultivation dynasty, strength was everything. And the one who sat on the throne of supreme authority was undoubtedly the most powerful in the dynasty.
Hao Jiao had only recently broken through to the Divine Rope realm in the past few years, while the Great Jin Empress had already been in the Divine Rope realm decades ago. Now, she was already in the Heaven-Treading realm or above. One person could settle accounts with everyone present!
Hao Jiao struggled to get up from the ground, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood, his face contorted in pain. He had not expected His Majesty to be so enraged as to attack him, and with such force.
His cultivation of the Divine Rope realm was unable to offer even the slightest resistance, which filled him with fear.
"Your Majesty, why is this?" Hao Jiao looked at Bai Yue, his eyes filled with confusion and a hint of resentment.
He had put in great effort and made significant contributions to Bai Yue's ascension to the throne. Yet now, she had publicly attacked him in front of so many people, giving him no face at all and causing him to lose all dignity.
He couldn't understand. Although last night's strategy had failed somewhat, it wasn't entirely without gain. Great Gan's gateway was wide open, and if they attacked now, they were guaranteed to tear off a piece of Great Gan, and perhaps even capture the Great Gan Emperor, annexing Great Gan in one fell swoop!
With such news, which was not bad, and even had some positive aspects, why did His Majesty attack him after hearing it?
Bai Yue's expression was icy. She did not answer Hao Jiao. Was she supposed to reveal that Xu Mo had robbed her during her tribulation?
"There is no 'why.' Your order was a grave mistake. The Great Gan Emperor will not let you off." Bai Yue said.
"The Great Gan Emperor? What use is it if he doesn't let me off? I am within Great Jin's borders. Could he possibly come to Great Jin to capture me?" Hao Jiao's tone was somewhat dismissive.
The Great Jin imperial capital had a grand formation, and Her Majesty the Empress was here. Would the Great Gan Emperor dare to come alone? Although the current Empress seemed somewhat unusual, having just attacked him, Hao Jiao believed it was merely because His Majesty had failed her seclusion and was in a bad mood.
If the Great Gan Emperor dared to enter Great Jin's territory, it would be an insult to His Majesty, and His Majesty would surely act!
Hearing this, Bai Yue frowned slightly. Why had she never noticed Hao Jiao being so arrogant and presumptuous before? He didn't even put the Great Gan Emperor in his eyes?
Did he think that by spouting such nonsense here, the Great Gan Emperor would not hear it?
At this moment, a voice sounded faintly, "Within Great Jin's borders? From this day forward, there will be no more Great Jin!"