Chapter 116: The Burning of the Old Guard

The capital was quiet that evening, a subtle calm before the storm. Ling Xiao stood alone on the balcony of the Imperial Palace, his eyes scanning the sprawling city below. The streets, lined with lanterns, seemed almost peaceful—deceptively so. He knew better than to be lulled by appearances. Beneath the surface, the Empire was roiling, and he could feel the shifting currents of power and rebellion that would eventually come crashing against him. 

It had been days since General Li's forces had been scattered, but Ling Xiao understood that victory over one enemy meant nothing if the others were allowed to grow stronger. The nobles—those who still clung to their influence in the capital—were next. They would not go down without a fight, and they would not simply accept a shift in power. Their loyalty was to tradition, to the old ways of the Empire, and they would do anything to preserve their status. But to Ling Xiao, they were nothing more than relics of a dying age.

**"Master Ling,"** Li Mei's voice broke the silence, soft but steady, as she stepped out from behind him. She had grown accustomed to walking in his shadow, a constant presence at his side, her role in his empire cemented. There was something about her, though, something that made Ling Xiao keep his distance, not in mistrust but in a calculated decision. He had no room for weakness, not in himself nor in those who stood by him.

**"The Council of Nobles is preparing to convene,"** she said, her tone clipped, the words sharp with purpose. **"They know that the Li family has fallen. Now they'll turn their eyes on you. You've eliminated one rival, but they will come for you next. The old guard will never accept you as Emperor."**

Ling Xiao nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving the horizon. **"Let them come. We will burn the old guard to the ground, one piece at a time."**

**"You're not planning to—"** Li Mei began, her voice trailing off, her eyes narrowing in concern.

**"No,"** Ling Xiao interrupted her, his voice low and unwavering. **"I don't plan to destroy them all at once. That would be too obvious. I will make them feel every piece of their empire slipping from their hands, until they realize that they are powerless."**

The first of the old noble houses to fall was the House of Zhao. Though the Zhao family had lost most of its power after the fall of their patriarch, many of its branches still held sway in the capital and beyond. They were still dangerous—arrogant and willing to do whatever it took to regain their former influence. Ling Xiao knew that their desperation would be their downfall.

The Zhao family had always been influential in the military and the court, with several high-ranking generals and advisors still loyal to their bloodline. Their influence was waning, but their pride was immense. And when a proud house becomes desperate, it often makes reckless decisions.

Ling Xiao's spies had uncovered a plot—a gathering of key Zhao loyalists planning an assassination attempt on him, orchestrated by the remnants of the family. They intended to use a mixture of bribes and force to turn the remaining military generals to their side, staging a coup that would strike at the heart of the Empire. 

Ling Xiao had no intention of letting this plot unfold.

That night, as the Zhao family gathered in their ancestral hall, a force of elite assassins, carefully chosen from among his most loyal followers, struck. They infiltrated the hall silently, killing every single loyalist—silent as shadows—leaving behind not a trace of evidence except for the unmistakable calling card left on the floor: a single red rose.

By dawn, the word had spread. The once-feared Zhao family, still grasping at the last threads of their influence, had been wiped out in one fell swoop. Their estates were seized, their wealth absorbed into Ling Xiao's treasury. And their name was erased from the Empire's history.

The news of the Zhao family's destruction rippled through the noble houses like wildfire. It wasn't just a blow to their pride—it was a warning. The old guard, long accustomed to wielding their power with impunity, realized that the balance had shifted irrevocably. Ling Xiao was not a ruler who would be content with merely sitting upon a throne. He was methodical, ruthless, and ambitious, and he would not hesitate to destroy anyone who stood in his way.

The lords of the other houses, fearing for their own futures, convened in secret. They were no fools. They knew that Ling Xiao was now in complete control of the capital. However, they believed that their collective influence could still pose a challenge. Together, they might be able to drive him out, or at the very least, contain his power before it spread too far.

**"We must act quickly,"** Lord Han, the head of one of the oldest noble families, said, his voice trembling with unease. **"Ling Xiao is no longer just a shadow—he is the Emperor. And he will not stop until he has destroyed all of us."**

**"We cannot let him get away with this,"** Lady Wu, a brilliant strategist and the head of another powerful house, added, her voice cold and calculating. **"If we band together, we still have enough influence within the military and the court to undermine his reign."**

**"But we must be careful,"** Lord Fang, an older and more cautious noble, warned. **"Ling Xiao is not like the others. He's a serpent hiding beneath the grass. He will strike before we even realize we've been targeted."**

The conversation went on long into the night, with each noble family weighing the risks. But what they failed to understand was that their very indecision, their fractured alliances, played directly into Ling Xiao's hands. He knew they would move in the shadows, plotting and scheming. But Ling Xiao had already set his plan into motion. He had anticipated their every move.

Two weeks later, on the night of the annual banquet to celebrate the Empire's founding, Ling Xiao made his next move.

The banquet was an event where all the powerful families and influential figures gathered to show their loyalty to the throne. It was an event of great spectacle, and every noble house sent their most important representatives, flaunting their wealth and influence.

Ling Xiao knew this would be the perfect opportunity to strike at the heart of the nobility. As the evening wore on, and the lords and ladies gathered in the grand hall, exchanging pleasantries and drinking wine, Ling Xiao made his entrance. He was flanked by Li Mei and a handful of his most trusted advisors. He exuded confidence, a predator who knew he was in control.

As the Emperor was brought forward, he barely acknowledged the presence of Ling Xiao, now the true power behind the throne. The nobles, recognizing the shift in the air, began to grow tense. They had already heard rumors that Ling Xiao had decisively crushed the Zhao family, and now it was clear that no one was safe.

Ling Xiao approached the center of the room. **"Lords and ladies of the Empire,"** he called out, his voice carrying through the grand hall. **"Tonight, I come not as a ruler, but as a bringer of change. The old ways are over. The Empire will be ruled by those who understand that power must be earned, not inherited."**

He paused, letting his words sink in. **"And if any of you think that your old allegiances will protect you, think again. The old guard is dead. I am the future of this Empire."**

Before any of the nobles could respond, the doors slammed open. A dozen of Ling Xiao's elite soldiers entered, dragging several prominent lords and ladies from the shadows—traitors who had secretly conspired to undermine him. They had tried to assassinate him, to plot in the darkness, but now they were exposed. Their lives were forfeit.

The room fell silent as the nobles realized what had just transpired. The fear was palpable. Ling Xiao's gaze swept across the room, locking eyes with the remaining lords, and with that single gesture, he sent a message that could not be ignored.

"Let this be a warning to you all," he said coldly. "The Empire is mine. If you dare to challenge me, you will share their fate."

End of Chapter 116

In Chapter 116, Ling Xiao's consolidation of power continues as he eliminates the Zhao family, marking his first major victory over the old guard. His elite assassins carry out a swift and silent operation that leaves the Zhao family in ruins, sending a clear message to the remaining noble houses: defy him, and they will suffer the same fate. As the nobles secretly plot against him, Ling Xiao bides his time, preparing for a decisive strike. At the grand banquet held in celebration of the Empire's founding, Ling Xiao reveals his power and exposes the traitors within the nobility, publicly executing them in front of all the other lords and ladies. He sends a powerful warning to the rest of the Empire: The old ways are over, and he is the future.

If you'd like more chapters, I can continue to build the story step by step, expanding on Ling Xiao's journey, his growing power, and the world he seeks to reshape.