Chapter 1 Golden Palace

The imperial capital, the Golden Palace.

Civil and military officials stood in two rows, holding their tablets, heads bowed in solemn silence, awaiting Jiang Chen's arrival.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

With Feng Jin's loud proclamation, the officials all knelt and shouted, "Long live the Emperor!"

Jiang Chen, draped in a dragon robe, his gaze majestic, slowly took his seat, as if overlooking all living beings.

"Rise, my subjects. Speak your business."

As soon as his voice fell, more than a dozen ministers stepped forward and knelt in the center of the hall.

Jiang Chen was not surprised by this.

Yesterday's two imperial edicts had affected the interests of many in the court, and it was reasonable to expect them to collude and remonstrate.

But something unexpected happened.

These ministers didn't mention the edicts at all!

The Vice Censor-in-Chief, Liu Wenlang, led the group, his forehead touching the ground, speaking with righteous indignation, "Your Majesty, we impeach Consort Shu for disrupting the court and interfering with state affairs!"

Jiang Chen was stunned for a moment, then his eyes shot out a cold light!

Consort Shu had the people at heart and was willing to dedicate everything to the Great Wei Dynasty. What crime was there?!

"Impudence!"

Xu Changqing roared and immediately stepped forward, pointing his finger at Liu Wenlang's nose and cursing,

"You pedantic scholar, how dare you slander the current imperial consort! Believe it or not, this general will chop you down for His Majesty!"

Disrupting the court was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of relatives. Once labeled with this, not only his younger sister, but the entire Xu family would be doomed.

Liu Wenlang looked at the furious Xu Changqing, but he wasn't afraid at all. There was even a hint of disdain in his eyes.

A mere brute dares to jump out and compete with this official. Overestimating himself.

Liu Wenlang raised his head and said coldly,

"Xu Changqing, you dare to show such contempt for imperial authority and roar in court! What audacity!"

"Your Majesty, I beg you to order Xu Changqing flogged to uphold the law!"

"Your Majesty, I second that!"

"Indeed, such an act of disrespect deserves severe punishment!"

More than a dozen censors spoke one after another, leaving Xu Changqing no chance to interrupt.

How could a general who relied on martial arts be a match for these civil officials who spent their days finding fault with others?

Soon, he not only failed to defend Consort Shu, but he also implicated himself and was burdened with accusations.

Xu Changqing was so angry that his eyes were bloodshot. His hands, hanging at his sides, were clenched into fists, as if he was about to strike at any moment.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen frowned and slammed the table, roaring, "Silence!"

Everyone fell silent instantly.

Xu Changqing cast a pleading gaze at him, as if saying, don't believe these people's slander.

Jiang Chen naturally sided with Consort Shu. He gave her a reassuring look, then slowly turned his gaze to Liu Wenlang, the Vice Censor-in-Chief.

"You said just now that Consort Shu is disrupting the court?"

Liu Wenlang was flustered by Jiang Chen's gaze, and the confidence he had a moment ago was gone. But he still stubbornly said:

"Your Majesty, Consort Shu is causing chaos in the government. Please punish her severely!"

"Alright, then tell me, how has Consort Shu disrupted the court?"

"If the accusation is true, I will promote you to Censor-in-Chief, to lead the Censorate and supervise all officials!"

"But, if you deliberately slander her, I will exterminate your nine generations of relatives!"

Jiang Chen's cold tone made everyone's hair stand on end.

When the last word fell,

Everyone's blood seemed to freeze.

His Majesty is angry!

If they continued to remonstrate, they would be courting death!

The emperor's authority was unquestionable. If His Majesty really had the intention to kill, it would indeed be a matter of a word!

Liu Wenlang's back was already soaked. His Majesty's favor for Consort Shu far exceeded their expectations.

Daring not to continue, he glanced at Mei Wenshi in front.

Mei Wenshi understood. He cupped his hands and stepped forward, trying to deflect, "Your Majesty, Lord Liu is the Vice Censor-in-Chief and has the authority to report on hearsay and supervise all officials. Today's remonstrance is his duty, how can it be considered slandering Consort Shu?"

"If Your Majesty's words are too harsh, wouldn't that dishearten the officials and make them afraid to speak frankly and remonstrate in the future?"

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes.

Remonstrate?

So many censors launched an attack together. Wasn't this putting pressure on him, forcing the Son of Heaven to submit?

"Lord Mei, I said that if it's true, I'll reward, and if it's false, I'll punish. Is there anything wrong with clear rewards and punishments?"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

The Censor-in-Chief, Zhang Kang, stepped forward and mediated, "Your Majesty, Lord Liu has good intentions. Why not listen to what he has to say?"

Jiang Chen lowered his cold gaze.

Liu Wenlang wiped the sweat from his face and said, "Your Majesty, when you summoned Yuan Buyi and Xu Changqing to the Hall of Diligent Governance yesterday to discuss matters, was Consort Shu present?"

Jiang Chen frowned. Does that count as interfering with state affairs?

Liu Wenlang continued, "Consort Shu is Xu Changqing's younger sister. Being present during the discussion of state affairs gives rise to suspicion of favoring her relatives."

"Furthermore, according to the laws of Great Wei, concubines of the harem are not allowed to enter the Hall of Diligent Governance! But Consort Shu not only entered, but even listened in on you and your ministers discussing state affairs!"

"This behavior is clearly relying on your favor to disrupt the court!"

"If she is not severely punished, won't the concubines follow suit? Such unhealthy trends cannot be encouraged!"

After speaking with tears in his voice, Liu Wenlang knocked his head on the ground, pleading with Jiang Chen to issue an edict to severely punish Consort Shu.

Beside him, more than a dozen censors also knelt down and echoed loudly, posing as if they were coercing the emperor.

Xu Changqing's face was unsightly.

He was careless.

He shouldn't have let his younger sister see him off from the Hall of Diligent Governance yesterday!

If he had been more careful and avoided the eyes of the traitors, there wouldn't be this disaster today!

It was all his fault, his head was clouded by joy!

Jiang Chen said calmly, "The Consort entered the Hall of Diligent Governance on my orders."

"If there is to be blame, then I am the one who broke the rules."

"Since Lord Liu is so upright and concerned about the country, why not take down me, the culprit, and eliminate the root of the problem forever? What do you say?"

As soon as he finished speaking,

A series of dull thuds echoed in the Golden Palace.

'Thump, thump!'

Liu Wenlang kowtowed like a chicken pecking at rice, terrified, "Your Majesty, this humble official, this humble official has no such intention!"

"This humble official's remonstrance is to protect the Great Wei Dynasty. Your Majesty is the master of all people, how could you be wrong? The one who is wrong is Consort Shu, the enchanting woman who bewitches the ruler!"

"I beg Your Majesty to punish Consort Shu!"

Jiang Chen's eyes shot out a sharp light: "What if I don't?!"

The decisive voice echoed in the hall, causing the ministers to change color!

With His Majesty's attitude, this matter may be difficult to end...

"If Your Majesty insists on protecting her, then we will kneel here and not rise!" Liu Wenlang said hoarsely.

The coldness in Jiang Chen's eyes intensified.

Even if the Heavenly King himself came today, he wouldn't even think about harming a hair on Yun'er's head!

"In that case, you can all go kneel outside the hall!"

"Consort Shu is acting according to my orders. Anyone who has an opinion is going against me!"

"If you make a fuss about this, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Hearing this, Xu Changqing breathed a sigh of relief and unclenched his fists.

As long as His Majesty is determined to protect her, this matter shouldn't be a problem.

Mei Wenshi, Zhang Kang, and the others had complex expressions, and their hearts sank suddenly.

It's not a good thing that His Majesty trusts Consort Shu so much.

The Xu family was already wealthy, and Xu Changqing also held military power. If the emperor was determined to support them, the Mei family would have a tricky enemy.

But now is not the time to tear off the mask!

Mei Wenshi hesitated for a moment, then silently returned to his place, no longer involved in this matter.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen signaled Yuan Buyi to step forward and steer the topic towards serious matters.

"Your Majesty, this is the list of disaster relief funds that I have compiled. Please take a look."

As soon as he finished speaking, the memorial was presented before the emperor.

Jiang Chen opened it, glanced at it roughly, and began to have a headache.

Although the Lishan Palace had been stopped, and the materials that could be exchanged for money had all been sold, they had only managed to raise 400,000 taels of silver.

And all the surplus in the national treasury added up to only 700,000 taels.

This money was enough for disaster relief, but what about the subsequent expenses of the imperial court?

Thinking of this, Jiang Chen

Signaled to pass the memorial to the ministers to circulate.

After that, he took out the wooden box that Consort Shu had presented last night and slammed it in front of Liu Wenlang!

"All of you, open your eyes and take a good look!"

"These are what the Consort gave to me, saying they should be used to purchase grain and settle the disaster victims."

"For the sake of the people of Great Wei, the Consort has given everything, even donating her dowry. What about you? What have you done?"

"Holding high positions, yet not sharing my worries, and even slandering the Consort!"

As he spoke, Jiang Chen slammed the dragon chair and put on an appearance of being enraged...