A dozen or so ministers trembled as they stared at Ye Feng. They lacked the ability to deal with him; their only intention was to leave a good impression on the Spirit Emperor.
"King Chu, please do not blame us. We receive the Emperor's sustenance, and we ought to share his worries!" a minister stammered.
Lu Zhi glanced back. As if finding their backbone, the minister hurriedly knelt down. "Your Majesty, King Chu has gone too far. Since ancient times, has there ever been a subject who questioned the ruler like this?"
"According to reason, his noble title should be stripped, and Ye Feng should lose his head!" the minister gritted his teeth, as if Ye Feng had dug up his ancestral grave.
The Spirit Emperor nodded heavily. Just as he was about to praise the minister, he turned and saw Ye Feng staring at him coldly. He hastily changed his tune, "What King Chu meant was?"
"This matter is the Emperor's duty. How would I dare to overstep my bounds? His Majesty can deal with it as he sees fit."
Ye Feng stood tall on the Golden Hall, indifferent to the impeachment.
"Good, does any other minister have a memorial to present!" the Spirit Emperor asked enthusiastically. He didn't know why Ye Feng wasn't furious on the spot. This was an opportunity; if he could draw more people to his side, he might be able to bring Ye Feng down!
"I humbly report to Your Majesty, this minister has something to say..."
"Your Majesty!"
Seeing the ministers scrambling, Ye Feng sighed softly. All his previous actions had been in vain. These people were truly ungrateful wretches. However, there were always exceptions. The patriarch of a powerful family stood silently above.
Frankly speaking, they also needed an opportunity, an opportunity for Ye Feng to prove himself. Otherwise, if Ye Feng were given power but couldn't hold it, their influential families would become a laughingstock for the world.
"Esteemed ministers, do not forget King Chu's merits," Lu Zhi shook his head and gently reminded them. "Who was it that sent you to Liangzhou in the first place? Do not be ungrateful."
"Duke Lu, what you said is incorrect. In the face of national righteousness, all personal grievances should be set aside. Otherwise, how can we live up to Your Majesty's trust!" a minister clenched his fist and said righteously.
"I recall you are the Chief Physician, aren't you!" Ye Feng narrowed his eyes and asked. "Truly remarkable skill."
"King Chu need not be sarcastic. Today, even if I die here, I will bring a clear and prosperous era to the realm!" the Chief Physician hastily put on an act of attempting to commit suicide by striking a pillar.
"Enough!" Lu Zhi's voice suddenly rose. The Chief Physician stopped, but the Spirit Emperor's expression was somewhat enigmatic.
Ye Feng surveyed the people around him. Sun Quan and Xu Gong were not present. There might be other schemes at play, and he had to be prepared.
Ye Feng did not rush to expose the hypocritical beasts in fine robes. He calmly listened as the ministers listed ten major offenses and over twenty minor ones. Then, he sneered and said playfully, "So, you have already decided my guilt. Am I supposed to confess and submit to the law next?"
"Ye Feng, if you do not wish to forget your ancestors and betray Your Majesty's trust, kneel down quickly, and you might save your dog's life!" the Chief Physician roared. "Otherwise, I will surely shatter you into pieces!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire Golden Hall fell into a strange silence. Who was this? This was Ye Feng, the formidable figure who had taken control of Liangzhou. Such words could easily lead to retaliation!
The Chief Physician hurriedly looked back. The next moment, his eyes widened in terror, and he stumbled back a few steps. He tried to grab Lu Zhi's leg, but Lu Zhi silently stepped aside.
Helpless, the Chief Physician rushed to the Spirit Emperor and wailed, "Your Majesty, I have been loyal to you! You must save me, save me, Your Majesty!"
"Fool," the Spirit Emperor cursed inwardly. He himself dared not provoke Ye Feng, let alone a mere Chief Physician.
"Your Majesty, if I lose my life, who else will serve Your Majesty with all their might and die only after their duty is done? Your Majesty!" the Chief Physician spoke urgently.
He had to admit, this statement struck a nerve with the Spirit Emperor. Currently, he was isolated in court and could not afford to lose more support. With this thought, he glared and said, "Ye Feng, you are presumptuous! Do you truly think I would not act against you? Do not push me to the brink!"
Ye Feng half-bent his body and spoke unhurriedly, "Who said I wanted to oppose His Majesty? Anyone who says that deserves to be beaten to death. I have always been loyal and true. It is merely His Majesty's suspicion of his minister."
"If Your Majesty is suspicious, you should reassure him. How can you still do such things?" The Chief Physician, knowing he had offended Ye Feng, decided to disregard everything and spoke.
The Spirit Emperor nodded repeatedly, tapping his fingers on the table faster and faster. After a long while, he finally spoke, "It is not that I do not trust King Chu. Now that Liangzhou is stable, can King Chu allow the Third Legion to be disbanded and return to civilian life?"
To control the world, one needed troops and wealth.
If the Third Legion was disbanded, and his own power base established, then Liangzhou would be under his control. This was the Spirit Emperor's plan.
However, imagination was beautiful, and reality was harsh. Ye Feng snorted, and the Spirit Emperor trembled.
"Your Majesty is not feeling well. We shall adjourn today, and the remaining matters will be discussed another day!" Lu Zhi glared at everyone and spoke solemnly.
But the Spirit Emperor already had other plans and could not easily agree. "No, this must be settled clearly today."
Upon seeing Ye Feng's cold expression, the Spirit Emperor's voice suddenly softened. "I mean to discuss all these matters clearly, lest future troubles arise!"
"Very well, as Your Majesty wishes!" Ye Feng readily agreed. "If some people are unwilling to speak, then they should never speak again. And the rest should not say too much!"
At this point, Ye Feng felt weary and did not wish to continue arguing. He deliberately issued a warning.
The Chief Physician suddenly trembled like a sieve, but still maintained a calm demeanor before the Spirit Emperor. "Your Majesty, I..."
"I know your intentions. I will not treat you unfairly," the Spirit Emperor said softly, picking up his teacup as a cover while giving the Chief Physician an encouraging look.
With this, the Chief Physician gradually gained a fearless courage. "I do not know what King Chu intends to do, but with me here today, the law of the land cannot be abolished. No one will trample on it."
Ye Feng's words were meant to deter the officials and make the influential families speak. He didn't expect the Chief Physician to jump out. Although useless, he was still disgusting. "You wish to uphold the law?"
The Chief Physician nodded heavily. "Even if I perish, the law must not be abolished. If King Chu wishes to act, then come. His Majesty has already said that the Han dynasty court is not important; only the law should remain in the world."
The Spirit Emperor was utterly confused. When had he ever said that? This old fellow must have misunderstood. His expression changed instantly, and he quickly waved his hand, but it was too late.
Lu Zhi sighed heavily. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Ye Feng say righteously, "I never knew you had such ambitions, nor that His Majesty had instructed you. You have truly made me look at you in a new light."
"Your Majesty, this old minister feels his strength waning and wishes to withdraw first!" Lu Zhi cupped his hands respectfully. "I request Your Majesty's permission."
At least on the surface, the Spirit Emperor did not want to offend the old minister Lu Zhi too much, and he said softly, "Granted!"
Word spread layer by layer. Lu Zhi slowly retreated a few steps and turned to leave, unheard by anyone. Lu Zhi was already sighing.
Following Lu Zhi's lead, many ministers did the same, eager to leave. Ye Feng stared coldly at the ministers before him, curious to see how much support the Spirit Emperor could still garner.
Before long, only slightly more than half of the court remained. Ye Feng felt a surge of emotion. The Chief Physician still glared defiantly, refusing to back down.
"Your Majesty, I beg you to punish Ye Feng to uphold the court's laws and discipline!"
"If the Chief Physician wishes to purify the court's laws so much, I have a few questions for you, my lord!" Ye Feng moved slightly. "Chief Physician, have you ever heard of a sow?"
"King Chu, why do you digress? Do you have something to hide!" the Chief Physician pointed at Ye Feng's nose and cursed.
"Not at all, not at all. In the past, a crow landed on a sow's back. The sow only saw the crow's blackness and not its own blackness!" Ye Feng said with a smile.
Instantly, the Golden Hall erupted in uproarious laughter. The Spirit Emperor gripped the armrest tightly and coldly uttered, "King Chu has indeed risen from humble beginnings. I have never heard such words before."
"Then Your Majesty should truly listen more to the voices of the people, lest you be blinded by the clouds!" Ye Feng countered without hesitation.
If the Spirit Emperor retorted again, he would lose his dignity. He gave a slight nod, and the Chief Physician spoke again, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven. King Chu should not bring such vulgar words from the common folk into this place."
Ye Feng gave the Chief Physician a look and said unhurriedly, "If the Chief Physician believes I should say something appropriate for this place, then I shall."
"Your Majesty has been on the throne for three years. You ordered your subordinates to extort over a hundred mu of land from the people, gaining silver amounting to one thousand three hundred and twenty-five taels, six qian, and three fen."
"In April of the same year, you obtained five hundred and thirty-two taels and four qian and five fen!"
"..."
With each item Ye Feng read out, the Chief Physician trembled. By the end, sweat dripped heavily onto the ground. He could not fathom how Ye Feng had obtained this information.
"King Chu, you are spouting nonsense?" the Chief Physician shouted like a madman.
Ye Feng calmly took out a stack of documents and threw them heavily at the Chief Physician. "See for yourself!"
Of course, these documents were collected by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Ye Feng had meticulously sorted them before the court session, specifically for this moment.
The Chief Physician grabbed a few documents and his face changed drastically. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you must believe me. I am loyal to you, Your Majesty. If not for me, who else will help you!"
The Chief Physician kowtowed frantically. Soon, his head was bleeding. The Spirit Emperor sat on his chair, stunned. He wanted to help but was powerless.
"Your Majesty, I implore you to handle this justly, lest you chill the hearts of all under heaven."