Raging Madness

Liang Wei's self-imposed seclusion had thrown the palace into a state of uproar. Speculation and resentment grew among the ministers, heighten by whispers of his deteriorating mental state. Empress Xia seized the opportunity, fanning the flames of discontent and ensuring their hatred towards Liang Wei burned with intensity.

Finally emerging from his chamber, Liang Wei headed to the imperial hall, where the ministers had congregated. Their faces contorted with anger and frustration as they bickered between themselves about the power and responsibility they had to shoulder during Liang Wei's absence.

As Liang Wei entered the hall, the ministers' gazes turned towards him, but there was no relief or hope in their eyes. Instead, they regarded him with open hostility, their resentment palpable in the charged atmosphere.

He stood before them, his countenance cold and distant, his heart guarded against their threats. The room fell into an uneasy silence, tension thick in the air.

"Emperor Liang Wei," one minister spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "We were left to shoulder the burdens of the empire while you hid away in seclusion, abandoning your responsibilities without notice."

The accusation reverberated through the hall, finding echoes in the hearts of the other ministers. They had borne the weight of power, grappling with the empire's challenges, while Liang Wei had retreated into his world, indifferent to their struggles.

"Your actions have sown chaos and discord. The empire suffered while you indulged in your madness. How can we trust a leader who abandons his duties so callously?" Another minister stepped forward, his voice filled with bitterness.

The room erupted with murmurs of agreement, each minister expressing their grievances and frustrations. Liang Wei's absence fuelled their animosity, giving rise to a raging madness within the imperial hall.

Just as the tension reached its peak, Chen Rong, one of the three most rotten ministers known for his cunning and deceit, stepped forward. His face twisted with a wicked smile, his eyes glinting with malice.

"And what do we have here?" Chen Rong sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "The prodigal emperor finally emerges from his hiding. Tell me, Emperor Liang Wei, how does it feel to abandon your duties and leave the empire in shambles?"

Liang Wei's eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger crossing his face, but he remained silent, refusing to dignify Chen Rong's provocation with a response.

Chen Rong's words seemed to embolden Liu Yang, the second most rotten minister, who stood beside him. He stepped forward, his voice laced with disdain.

"Indeed, Emperor Liang Wei," Liu Yang sneered, his voice filled with mockery. "You claim to be the ruler of this empire, yet you cower in seclusion, leaving us to face the consequences of your incompetence."

The ministers behind Chen Rong and Liu Yang nodded in agreement, their expressions twisted with resentment and animosity.

"I dare say, Emperor Liang Wei, you are not fit to be emperor. Your weakness has brought nothing but suffering to the empire. Step down and let someone capable take the reins," unfazed, Chen Rong took a step closer to Liang Wei, his face inches away, challenging him with his audacity.

Liang Wei's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white with anger, but he remained composed, his gaze fixed upon Chen Rong's sneering face.

"Your words carry no weight," Liang Wei finally spoke, his voice calm but filled with determination. "The true colours of the rotten ministers shall be revealed, and their treachery shall be met with justice."

Liang Wei's eyes gleamed with an unsettling mix of anger and resolve as Chen Rong dared to question his plan for revealing the true nature of the rotten ministers. Without uttering a word, he watched as Chen Rong turned his back on him, smirking with an air of superiority.

In that fleeting moment, as Chen Rong stood defenceless and unaware, Liang Wei's hand swiftly moved to his side. In one fluid motion, he drew a concealed sword from under his imperial clothing and swung it with expert precision.

[Slit]

A gasp rippled through the imperial hall, cutting short the bickering and accusations. Time seemed to freeze as Chen Rong's head, separated from his body, tumbled to the ground, his sneering expression forever frozen in disbelief.

The hall erupted into chaos, ministers recoiling in shock and horror. Liu Yang, standing beside Chen Rong, stumbled back, his face drained of colour, unable to comprehend the sudden brutality that had unfolded before him.

Liang Wei, his gaze fixed on the lifeless body of Chen Rong, spoke with an icy calmness that sent shivers through the remaining ministers.

"Betrayal deserves no mercy," he declared, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. "The rotten ministers shall meet their fate for their treachery."

The room trembled with a mixture of fear and anticipation as the remaining ministers grappled with the reality of Liang Wei's actions. The once-hostile atmosphere had shifted, replaced by an unsettling realization that they stood in the presence of a ruler driven to the edge of madness.

Liu Yang, recovering from his initial shock, saw an opportunity to escape the wrath of Liang Wei. He turned, his eyes darting toward the nearest exit, his heart pounding with fear. But before he could take a single step, Liang Wei's instincts kicked in.

In a display of astounding agility and speed, Liang Wei seized one of the spears used to decorate the imperial hall. With a swift and forceful throw, he hurled it towards Liu Yang's retreating figure. The spear sliced through the air, finding its mark with deadly accuracy.

[Pierce]

Yet again, time seemed to slow as the spear impaled Liu Yang's chest, pinning him to the spot. A gurgled gasp escaped his lips as his life force drained away, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. He crumpled to the ground, joining Chen Rong in the realm of the deceased.

The remaining ministers stared in horror at the lifeless body of Liu Yang, their thoughts swirling in a chaotic mix of fear and desperation. The reality of their predicament began to sink in as they witnessed the unforgiving consequences of their alliance with Empress Xia.

Liang Wei stood tall, his chest heaving with a mixture of rage and vindication. The room was silent, the air heavy with the weight of the fallen. His voice, laced with chilling determination, cut through the suffocating atmosphere.

"The time for games is over. I will expose your true nature, one by one, until the palace is cleansed of its corruption."

The remaining ministers exchanged uneasy glances, their previous hostility replaced by a desperate need to distance themselves from the wrath of the enraged emperor. They had aligned themselves with Empress Xia, revelling in the false power she promised, but now they faced the consequences of their choices.

Liang Wei took a step forward, his sword still stained with the blood of Chen Rong. The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the soft sound of his footsteps. Each minister felt the weight of his gaze, relentless scrutiny that stripped away their illusions of safety and impunity.

"The rotten ministers shall be exposed, and their punishment shall be swift and just," Liang Wei declared, his voice resonating with authority. "No longer shall this empire suffer under the grip of deceit and treachery."

With those words, Liang Wei began his ruthless campaign to unearth the truth and purge the palace of its festering corruption. The halls of power quaked with anticipation.

Liang Wei's piercing gaze swept across the room, searching for the next target of his righteous fury. His eyes settled on Zheng Kai, the third minister who had aligned himself with the rotten duo of Chen Rong and Liu Yang. Zheng Kai's face turned pale, his body trembling with fear as he realized the imminent danger that awaited him.

Liang Wei approached Zheng Kai with calculated steps, his sword still dripping with the blood of his fallen adversaries. The air grew heavy with tension as the emperor's presence loomed over Zheng Kai, who fell to his knees, desperately begging for forgiveness.

"Your Majesty, please have mercy!" Zheng Kai pleaded, his voice trembling with fear. "I was led astray by their influence. I regret my actions deeply and am willing to confess everything."

Liang Wei regarded Zheng Kai with a mixture of contempt and curiosity. His eyes bore into Zheng Kai's soul, searching for any trace of sincerity amidst the deceit that had plagued his reign.

"Confess, then," Liang Wei commanded, his voice laced with a cold, unwavering determination. "Tell me the truth of your misdeeds and where you have hidden the evidence."

With a trembling voice, Zheng Kai revealed the extent of their corruption, detailing their secret meetings, the bribes they had accepted, and the clandestine schemes that had eroded the empire's foundations. He disclosed the location of hidden documents and incriminating evidence, each word carrying the weight of his betrayal.

However, Liang Wei's face remained impassive, his eyes fixed upon Zheng Kai with an intensity that sent shivers down the minister's spine. He could sense the emperor's dissatisfaction, the thirst for a more profound confession.

"Tell me, Zheng Kai," Liang Wei spoke, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "How else did you carry out their orders?"

Confusion clouded Zheng Kai's face for a moment, unsure of the emperor's intent. But then realization dawned upon him, and his eyes widened with a mix of fear and desperation.

"With my mouth, Your Majesty," Zheng Kai stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I spoke their commands, relaying their orders to others."

Liang Wei's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening with anger and disappointment. In one swift motion, he raised his sword and brought it down upon Zheng Kai's face. The sharp blade sliced through flesh and muscle, leaving behind a trail of crimson as it tore through Zheng Kai's cheek.

[Slash]

A gut-wrenching scream of agony pierced the air as Zheng Kai collapsed to the ground, clutching his mutilated face in his hands. Blood oozed between his fingers, staining the once-pure ground beneath him.

The remaining ministers watched in horror, their minds reeling from the brutal display of justice unfolding before them. The message was clear—loyalty and obedience were paramount, and the price for betrayal was severe.

Liang Wei stood over Zheng Kai's writhing form, his face etched with a mix of vindication and sorrow. He had hoped for redemption, for a sliver of humanity within Zheng Kai, but it had been in vain.

"The rotten ministers shall fall, one by one," Liang Wei declared, his voice echoing through the halls of power. "Let this be a warning to those who have allowed corruption to fester within the empire's heart."

The remaining ministers, their faces pale and stricken with fear, could only bow their heads in submission, knowing that their fate now rested in the hands of an emperor driven by an unwavering sense of justice. The empire trembled on the precipice of change, and the true reckoning had only just begun.