The next day.

As dawn's first light touched the sky, Jiang Chen, clad in plain clothes, arrived at the imperial prison, escorted by his personal guards and eunuchs.

The imperial prison was no ordinary jail. Reserved for officials and nobles who had fallen from grace, it was outside the law's reach, directly under the Emperor's control, untouchable by others.

The Minister of Rites, Shi Ping, had been detained here for several days for dereliction of duty in allowing the relatives of convicted criminals into the palace.

Yes, he's been softened up enough.

It's time to bring Shi Ping, the Ministry of Rites, into my hands!

Jiang Chen calculated in his mind as he descended the prison's stone steps.

Illuminated by the faint candlelight on either side of the wall, he and his entourage arrived at the deepest cell. Shi Ping, bound in chains, was huddled in the corner, disheveled and with a look of numb despair.

Hearing the commotion, he turned his head dazedly, and saw Jiang Chen in black robes outside the cell.

His eyes widened in disbelief, and he trembled, "Your...Your Majesty?!"

He straightened up abruptly, dragging his weakened body, and crawled to Jiang Chen's feet.

He cried out hoarsely, "Your Majesty, I know my crime! I truly know my crime!"

"Please give me one more chance, Your Majesty! I will never disappoint you!"

Jiang Chen sneered, his gaze dark as he looked at the prostrate, weeping Shi Ping. "Another chance? The relatives of those criminals infiltrated the palace for so long, and you didn't notice a thing! How can I trust you when you're so muddle-headed and careless?!"

Shi Ping was stunned by the rebuke.

But as if realizing something, he ignored the pain and crawled forward, grabbing the prison bars. "Your Majesty, although I am foolish, I have a loyal heart!"

"If Your Majesty needs it, I am willing to risk my life to serve you!"

A light flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes, and he raised the corners of his mouth, feigning indifference. "Oh? Tell me more!"

Hearing this, Shi Ping breathed a sigh of relief, and the tension in his body eased.

He'd gambled correctly!

After the assassination attempt, His Majesty did not immediately punish me, but instead imprisoned me in the imperial prison. There must be a deeper meaning.

I must seize this only opportunity!

Thoughts racing through his mind, Shi Ping knelt respectfully, his forehead touching the ground.

"Your Majesty, the current situation is chaotic, and powerful ministers are disrupting the government. This will lead to disaster!"

"As the Minister of Rites, I am willing to lead the people of the Ministry of Rites to assist Your Majesty in purging the court and regaining control!"

At this moment, Feng Jin brought a grand master's chair.

Jiang Chen sat down, not immediately accepting Shi Ping's surrender, and said lightly, "Minister, you truly are the Minister of Rites. Your flattery is so eloquent. However, it is impossible to escape punishment with mere words!"

His voice turned cold, and Jiang Chen's face darkened. "Do you know how much turmoil the assassination attempt has caused outside? Those royal relatives and ministers have all submitted memorials, demanding that you be executed as a warning to others!"

"Now that the people are outraged, how can I appease them if I show favoritism and give you a lenient punishment?"

Silence fell inside and outside the prison.

Jiang Chen glanced at Shi Ping, seeing his pale face and head bowed in silence. He feigned regret, "It's quite funny, you as a Minister, your connections are so weak. Even though you are trapped in prison, not a single official in the court has stood up to speak for you."

"You have been cautious and worldly for so many years, but in the end, you have been pushed to the brink by everyone... Minister Shi, are you willing to accept this?"

"Are you aware that, apart from me, the other ministers in the court are all determined to put you to death!"

The situation was naturally not as serious as he described, but one must use some tricks to bestow favor.

Jiang Chen said these words to warn Shi Ping, to make him understand.

That he, the Emperor, was the heaven of Great Wei, the most reliable support! Those so-called colleagues and allies were simply unreliable at critical moments!

A clever man knows how to choose.

Shi Ping knelt on the ground, his face dark, a hint of ferocity flashing in his eyes.

He had already guessed who had caused all this!

As an important official of the court, Mei Wenshi had tried to win him over dozens of times, but he had always brushed him off.

Now that something had happened in the Ministry of Rites, this old thing must be trying to take the opportunity to put him to death and arrange for his own people to take the position of Minister of Rites!

Damn it, he would never let this old dog succeed!

Shi Ping clenched his palm, a touch of determination flashing across his face.

*Thump!*

He kowtowed heavily to Jiang Chen, gnashing his teeth. "Your Majesty, I have fallen into this situation because some villain is framing me! They want to silence me!"

Jiang Chen frowned, somewhat puzzled.

Silenced? What does he mean?!

As if sensing Jiang Chen's surprise, Shi Ping quickly spoke, explaining everything.

"Your Majesty, I once obtained a ledger by chance, which contains the expenditures of the Ministry of Revenue for building the Lishan and other palaces. Many of the expenses were enormous and not put to practical use!"

"This matter involves the national treasury, the entire Ministry of Revenue, and even more than half of the officials in the court. Now that they are all united in wanting to put me to death, someone must have received the news and wants to kill me to silence me!"

"Your Majesty, I am willing to offer the ledger to help you bring down the treacherous officials and purge the court!"

After speaking, Shi Ping kowtowed repeatedly.

Amidst the sounds of impact, he cried with tears streaming down his face. "Having suffered this great disaster, I have awakened and seen through those villains who kick a man when he's down!"

"From now on, I will definitely pledge my allegiance to Your Majesty and do my utmost to purge the court for you!"

Jiang Chen's dragon body trembled, and a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

He didn't expect Shi Ping to offer such a 'gift'!

As the Emperor, he naturally understood that this ledger must have been carefully collected by Shi Ping to guard against his opponents, but at this time, unimportant details could be ignored for now.

After all, he had even taken out his 'trump card', which showed that he was sincerely loyal, and some things could be appropriately relaxed.

His scrutinizing gaze fell on Shi Ping, Jiang Chen suppressed the excitement in his heart, and said solemnly.

"Minister Shi, since you have such loyalty, then I will trust you one more time!"

"However, I cannot tolerate treachery in my eyes. If you dare to have ulterior motives, or secretly engage in petty actions... I don't mind taking some effort to have the guards throw your entire clan into the imperial prison!"

The cold words struck him, and Shi Ping's hairs stood on end.

"Your Majesty, I swear on my life that I will only be loyal to Your Majesty in this life and will never have two masters!"

Seeing Shi Ping's posture of wanting to knock himself to death on the spot, Jiang Chen nodded in satisfaction, confirming that he had truly returned to his heart.

It was not in vain that he got up before dawn and made this trip.

Signaling the guards to unlock Shi Ping's shackles, Jiang Chen consoled him, "Rest assured for a few more days. When the storm has passed, I will find a reason to get you out."

Hearing this, the big stone in Shi Ping's heart fell to the ground.

He had lost his father at a young age and was raised by his widowed mother, to whom he was deeply attached.

If something happened this time and his head fell to the ground, what would happen to his elderly mother in her sixties? Who would support her?

Watching Jiang Chen leave, Shi Ping dragged his body with difficulty and curled back into the corner.

He had seen the Emperor's changes in the past few days, and he was very relieved by such a monarch with great talent and vision. He believed that no one could stop his progress.

When he regained his freedom, he would not let go of those who wanted to put him to death!