Jiang Chen's expression turned serious upon hearing this.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was one of the few loyal and upright officials in the court. If he spoke up, it must be important.

He immediately said solemnly, "Speak frankly, esteemed minister."

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review took out a memorial from his sleeve and said, "Your Majesty, after several days of interrogation, those rebels have confessed!"

"This is their confession. I have personally verified its authenticity and removed the redundant parts. This is the final result. Please review it, Your Majesty!"

Because there were colleagues present, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review did not go into detail, but simply narrated the situation.

Because this rebellion was so widespread, there might be undetected rebel accomplices among those present.

As a precaution, he did not intend to reveal any information until the matter was over!

This was also the life-saving wisdom he had gleaned after becoming the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. If he wasn't cautious enough, how could a straight-laced official like him, who didn't rely on anyone, survive in this turbulent and treacherous court?

Jiang Chen was currently reviewing the memorial, oblivious to the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review's thoughts.

Or rather, even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

After all, many ministers in the court had dealings with Mei Wenshi. He couldn't possibly dismiss them all, could he?

If he really did that, the court would probably be paralyzed immediately.

Therefore, Jiang Chen planned to focus on the big issues and let go of the small ones. He would only replace key positions in each department with his own people. As for the other officials, as long as they severed ties with Mei Wenshi in time, they would not be pursued.

Jiang Chen finished reading the memorial without saying a word, simply surveying the ministers below with a blank expression.

The gaze, which concealed a chilling intent, made the already guilty ministers even more terrified. Their official robes were soaked with cold sweat, and the thought of surrendering grew like weeds, completely uncontrollable.

Jiang Chen could see their hesitation and was pleased. He decided to add more fuel to the fire.

He turned to Su Wen and said, "Esteemed Minister, you have done well."

"There are several names on this list that were unexpected. I didn't think they would be involved with Zhang Kang. You have made a great contribution this time, and I must reward you handsomely!"

With a wave of his hand, Jiang Chen said, "Issue my decree: Su Wen, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, is rewarded for his meritorious interrogation with a jade ruyi, an additional thousand taels of silver, and several pieces of brocade and porcelain."

Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Su Wen was overjoyed and immediately knelt down to thank the emperor, sincerely saying, "This humble servant thanks Your Majesty for the reward and is willing to die for Your Majesty!"

As a straight-laced official, Su Wen did not participate in bribery.

Therefore, compared to his wealthy colleagues, he was much tighter on money.

As the saying goes, 'It's not easy to live in the imperial capital.' Because he was short of money, his wife, the 'shrew from Hedong,' had scolded him a lot!

However, with this huge sum of money bestowed by His Majesty, he would finally be able to stand tall at home!

Just as Su Wen was overjoyed, the faces of the other ministers in the hall turned pale.

The reason they had all gathered in the Hall of Diligent Governance today was because they had heard rumors that the interrogation had yielded results. They were afraid of being implicated and wanted to get some information from Su Wen.

But unexpectedly, this guy was impervious to persuasion. They had probed him in both subtle and obvious ways for a long time, but they hadn't gotten any information at all. How could they not panic?

Moreover, they had been secretly glancing at His Majesty when he was reviewing the memorial.

The book was so thick that it probably included most of the officials in the court!

Were they... also among them?

The ministers pondered, feeling as if a blade was hanging over their heads, and their hairs stood on end.

After a long while, someone finally couldn't stand the pressure and spoke up!

"Your Majesty, I am the Minister of the Ministry of Appointments, in charge of the examination and promotion of officials. Now that such a big flaw has occurred in the court, it is my dereliction of duty!"

With that, the Minister of the Ministry of Appointments took off his official hat and kowtowed with tears streaming down his face. "I implore Your Majesty to give me a chance to atone for my sins and allow me to participate in the cleaning up of the rebel accomplices, to make up for my mistakes and prove my innocence!"

Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing this.

Making a statement in front of so many people, the sincerity of this declaration of allegiance was very high!

Moreover, now that even a big fish like the Minister of the Ministry of Appointments had publicly defected, once the dam broke, the other officials would probably follow suit!

Pleased, Jiang Chen's gaze towards the Minister of the Ministry of Appointments softened a lot, and he said, "Since esteemed minister has the intention to repent, I will naturally grant it. Then you will be responsible for arresting the guilty officials on the list. These people must die. Can esteemed minister do it?"

As he spoke, his tone gradually turned cold, revealing a hint of warning.

The Minister of the Ministry of Appointments broke out in a cold sweat when he heard Jiang Chen's threat.

Personally executing the people on the list would definitely offend Mei Wenshi's faction completely.

But he had no way out. Double-dealing opportunists don't last long in the officialdom!

He put on a look of gratitude and said decisively, "This humble servant will obey Your Majesty's orders and will not let go of the rebels on the list!"

Jiang Chen was very satisfied with his attitude and smiled, "Well, it is great to correct one's mistakes. As long as esteemed minister does what I have instructed, I can let bygones be bygones and not punish your dereliction of duty."

The other ministers were all moved when they heard this.

Since His Majesty had made a promise in public, he would certainly not go back on his word. They had to seize the opportunity!

The crowd no longer watched and began to express their positions one after another. "Your Majesty, I am here for the corruption case of the Censorate. I am at fault for failing to discover that my subordinates colluded with each other to solicit bribes from local officials and intercept memorials impeaching them!"

"This is a list of officials who participated in soliciting bribes. Please review it, Your Majesty. I am willing to atone for my sins and personally deal with these lawless officials!" The Vice Censor-in-Chief stepped forward, presented the memorial, and knelt down to request.

Jiang Chen took the memorial and browsed through it, very satisfied.

Because the names inside were basically all Mei Wenshi's subordinates and relatives.

Once this 'declaration of allegiance' was submitted, it meant that the Censorate had completely turned against Mei Wenshi and there was no possibility of reconciliation.

This resolute attitude was exactly what he wanted. He immediately said kindly, "Esteemed minister, rise. I have approved your request to atone for your sins. Your past mistakes will be forgiven from now on. I hope you can learn from this and not make the same mistake again!"

With the Censorate and the Ministry of Appointments falling into his hands one after another, Jiang Chen was in a great mood and couldn't restrain the smile on his face.

The officials below saw this and began to express their positions in a scramble.

Important ministers from the Ministry of War, the Imperial Guards, the Ministry of Works, and others stood up one after another.

"Your Majesty, during the construction of the Lishan Imperial Villa, many officials took kickbacks and embezzled the national treasury. I have already found out..."

"Your Majesty, there are also many generals in the army who have accepted financial support from the rebels. I have already found out..."

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards..."

Snowflake-like memorials of impeachment flew to Jiang Chen's desk, almost covering it completely.

And the number of people denounced in the memorials was unimaginably large!

Jiang Chen was happy, but he also felt a sense of shock.

This Mei Wenshi was truly powerful and influential, secretly colluding with so many officials.

From low-ranking sixth-grade officials to high-ranking second-grade officials, it was roughly estimated that at least two hundred officials were involved!

Jiang Chen estimated, his eyes gradually becoming dangerous...