Capital City, Imperial Palace.
The Imperial Palace grew more desolate by the day. First, the ministers resigned. Now, even the palace maids and eunuchs were sneaking away.
These people were well-informed and felt the atmosphere in the palace more keenly than anyone. They didn't want to die, much less be buried with the Emperor, so they did everything they could to escape.
Li Chengyuan sat alone in the Imperial Study.
"I am the chosen of Heaven."
"Kill, kill, kill!"
It was as if two voices were arguing in his mind, and he was beginning to lose track of who he was.
"Silence!"
Li Chengyuan suddenly gripped a seal on his desk, and only then did the voices in his head cease.
His right hand slowly loosened. The seal had left eight large words imprinted on the desktop: "By Heaven's Mandate, I shall live and reign forever."
Indeed, this seal was the legendary Heirloom Seal of the Realm.
