Seven days later, the palace restrictions were lifted, and even the morning court resumed in an orderly fashion.
However, the vast Yuanheng Hall remained sparsely populated. Li Wei, having previously wielded the Imperial Sword to oust a group of officials, had left them all under investigation by the Court of Judicial Review. Furthermore, since the death of General Qian Yong, the Capital Garrison had fallen into total chaos. Whether it was the noble clans within the court or various external relatives of the imperial family, all had their eyes fixed on the Capital Garrison like wolves eyeing a piece of prime meat, desperate to seize control of it.
Half of the court officials failed to attend the morning session on time, most of them claiming illness due to the resignation of Prime Minister Zhang Juyang. Though Zhang Juyang was now living a life of leisure in retirement, his influence remained formidable; nearly half the court officials were his favored protégés, all from prominent and powerful families in the Capital City.
Chapter 40