Chapter 194: The Price of Power
Lin Yuer stands in the grand hall, the silence oppressive as she watches Minister Hao being escorted out of the palace. His eyes are downcast, his once-proud posture now bent with shame. Despite his betrayal, Lin Yuer feels no satisfaction in his downfall. Every person she has trusted, every advisor who has failed her, only serves to reinforce the weight of the crown on her head.
"Your Majesty," Jiang Feng steps forward, his voice steady, though there is a hint of concern in his eyes. "The people are beginning to murmur again. The removal of Minister Hao, though necessary, may cause unrest."
"I am aware," Lin Yuer replies, her voice hard. "But the safety of the empire comes first. The longer we allow traitors to live within our walls, the more likely we are to lose everything."
She pauses, her gaze flicking to the palace's high windows, where the moonlight is just beginning to filter through. "Power is not a gift; it is a burden. And this empire will not survive if I hesitate."