My chat group is full of female losers

Chapter 257 Take action
On the other side, Yan Zheng and Fang Xiaozhi, who were forcibly dragged out, were filled with anger, which grew stronger and stronger. They struggled and cursed all the way until they were thrown out of the palace gate by the guards. They barely restrained their voices, but their faces were still ashen.

"How can this be! How can this be!" Fang Xiaozhi was so angry that he was shaking all over. He pointed in the direction of the imperial study, his hair and beard standing on end. "He is stupid! He is stubborn! He treats the laws of the country as a joke! He treats human life as worthless! How could such a monarch appear in our dynasty! God is blind!"

Yan Zheng was also furious. He supported Fang Xiaozhi, who was a little unsteady due to excitement, and said with gritted teeth: "Master Fang, calm down! We can't just sit back and watch such a tyrant! If he can wrongly accuse Zhao Dequan today, he can wrong you and me tomorrow! If this continues, the government will collapse and the country will be in danger!"

The two looked at each other, and saw reluctance and determination in each other's eyes. They knew that they alone could not shake the stubborn emperor.

"Let's go! Go find Lord Li!" Fang Xiaozhi made a prompt decision, his voice firm, "Lord Li must come forward for this matter!"

Yan Zheng nodded heavily, "That's right! Lord Li is an important minister entrusted by the late emperor. His students and former officials are all over the court and the country. He is highly respected. Only he can perhaps give some advice! Even if the advice fails, we must let him know that he is not the only one who has the final say in this world!"

The two men did not hesitate any longer and immediately turned around and headed angrily towards the residence of Li Wenyuan, the president of the Hanlin Academy.

Li Mansion, in the study.

Li Wenyuan, who is nearly 70 years old, sits on the armchair, with white hair, gaunt face, and deep wrinkles like knife carvings, recording the vicissitudes of life. He is holding a yellowed ancient book, reading it carefully, with a focused and calm expression.

When he heard the servant report that Fang Xiaozhi and Yan Zheng were coming to visit angrily, he slowly put down the book, habitually stroked his long, sparse, slightly yellow beard under his chin, and a hint of understanding flashed in his eyes.

Soon, Fang Xiaozhi and Yan Zheng were brought in. As soon as they saw Li Wenyuan, they felt like they had found their backbone and cried to Li Wenyuan about everything that happened in the imperial study.

"Master Li! You didn't see it! That tyrant... He, he is simply..." Yan Zheng was so angry that he couldn't even speak clearly. He slammed his fist on the table, "He investigated the wrong person and almost killed an innocent person. With irrefutable evidence, he still refused to admit his mistake! Instead, he denounced loyal ministers like me as parasites! Where is justice! Where is justice!"

Fang Xiaozhi also had a look of grief and indignation on his face: "Yes, Lord Li! We advised him with all our heart, but he turned a deaf ear to us and instead turned the tables, saying that we were putting the cart before the horse by abiding by the rules! Our dynasty has been established for a hundred years, relying on these rules and laws! Now that they are in his hands, they have become a dregs that hinders his work? This, this is simply..."

Li Wenyuan sat in the main seat, listening quietly to the two people's accusations. His mind couldn't help but recall what happened in the morning court that day and his embarrassed appearance when he was forcibly dragged away.

His wrinkled old face suddenly became overcast. This old official who had served in the court for decades and experienced three dynasties had unprecedented anger in his eyes.

"That's enough." He spoke slowly, his voice low. "Now that things have come to this, what's the point of just being angry?"

Yan Zheng and Fang Xiaozhi looked at each other and saw a deep sense of powerlessness in each other's eyes.

"Sir, what should we do?" Yan Zheng asked, "We can't just watch him go on like that, can we?"

Li Wenyuan's cloudy old eyes narrowed, and a gleam of light flashed across them: "Since he disrespects the law, let him respect God's will! Since he doesn't listen to us, let's find someone who dares him not to disobey!"

Fang Xiaozhi and Yan Zheng looked at each other, confused.

Li Wenyuan slowly told his plan: "Yan Zheng, you go to the Imperial Observatory right away and find the director Liu Bowen. Ask him to report immediately and say that there was something strange in the sky last night, the Purple Star was dim, and the evil star was approaching the emperor's throne. This is a warning from heaven, condemning the king for his immorality!"

Yan Zheng was stunned for a moment, then he understood Li Wenyuan's intention, his eyes lit up: "Great idea! I'll go right away!"

"Xiaozhi," Li Wenyuan turned to another person, "Go and invite a few respected old ministers, as well as the censors and imperial censors under our command, to come with me into the palace tomorrow! The more people, the greater the momentum, the better!"

Fang Xiaozhi also nodded heavily: "Yes! Sir, don't worry!"

After the two men took the order and left, Li Wenyuan pondered for a moment, and finally made up his mind. He changed into court clothes and went to the harem in person to ask for an audience with the empress dowager.

In the Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager listened to Li Wenyuan's worried and earnest statement, especially when she heard the words "the strange signs from heaven may harm the country's destiny", her well-maintained face could not help but reveal a solemn expression. Although she did not care about state affairs, she knew the importance of the ancestral foundation, and she understood even more how a perverse and unrepentant emperor would bring disaster.

"Alas..." The Queen Mother sighed softly, "How could the Emperor's temper become so stubborn? Since even the heavens have given us a warning, I cannot ignore this matter. Scholar Li, rest assured, I will stand on your side."

With the support of the Empress Dowager, Li Wenyuan felt relieved and respectfully bowed to take his leave.

The next morning.

As soon as the sky brightened, an unusually solemn atmosphere enveloped the entire palace.

Led by Li Wenyuan, followed by dozens of white-haired old ministers, indignant censors, and many more disciples and old friends who rushed to the scene after hearing the news, they formed a mighty team that passed through the palace gate and headed straight for the Hall of Mental Cultivation where the emperor was.

At the front of the team, there was the Queen Mother's phoenix carriage.

When Chu Lu received the notification and saw the dark crowd outside the palace and the empress dowager sitting on the phoenix carriage with a solemn expression, even though he was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but frown slightly.

"Your Majesty, your subjects, bow to you! Long live the Queen Mother!" Li Wenyuan was the first to kneel on the ground, his voice shaking the palace.

Everyone behind him knelt down in unison, their movements in unison, with a silent sense of oppression.

Chu Lu sat on the dragon chair, looking down expressionlessly: "My dear ministers, and mother, why are you mobilizing so many troops today?"

Li Wenyuan raised his head, looked at Chu Lu with sharp eyes, and said in a sad tone: "Your Majesty! We came here today to persuade Your Majesty to stop and turn back! Yesterday, Your Majesty was stubborn and self-righteous, and almost caused an unjust case. Fortunately, with the blessing of heaven, the truth came to light. However, Your Majesty not only did not repent, but instead rebuked the loyal and good people and did perverse things! This move has angered the heavens and the people. Last night, there was a strange phenomenon in the sky, the Purple Star was dim, and Mars was in the heart. This is the most severe warning from heaven to Your Majesty! If Your Majesty continues to be stubborn, I am afraid that the century-old foundation of our dynasty will be destroyed!"

The officials behind him also spoke up one after another, speaking earnestly and explaining the pros and cons.

The Queen Mother also spoke at the right time, her tone carrying the dignity and worry of an elder: "Your Majesty, what Li Xueshi and the others said was all for your own good, for the good of the country. Your actions yesterday were indeed inappropriate. Now that God has given you a warning, you must not be stubborn anymore. You have hurt the hearts of your ministers and chilled the hearts of the people of the world!"

Chu Lu listened to these words with an indifferent expression. He had killed countless people, so naturally he would not be frightened by such a scene.

"Oh?" Chu Lu said calmly, "Since all my dear ministers and my mother think that I am wrong, then according to your opinions, what should I do to calm the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people?"

Seeing that Chu Lu seemed to be relenting, Li Wenyuan perked up and immediately stated the conditions he had prepared:
"In order to show your Majesty's sincerity in repenting and to appease the people, we implore your Majesty:

First, the court will explain the whole story to all officials tomorrow morning and admit that yesterday's investigation was reckless and biased, which violated the national laws and ancestral system!

Second, immediately transfer the poisoning case, along with all the files and evidence, to the Ministry of Justice!

Third, to prevent similar incidents from happening again in the future, the scope of the Imperial Guards’ authority should be clearly defined, and they should not be called upon to do anything outside of their scope! "

As soon as these three conditions were stated, the hall suddenly fell silent.

Even the officials who came to help gasped. Li Wenyuan's first condition was to ask Chu Lu to publicly apologize and admit his guilt. The third one was clearly restricting the imperial power.

After hearing this, Chu Lu was stunned for a moment. Obviously, he didn't expect the other party to be so bold.

If you say this is asking for a sky-high price and then paying it back, then your price is a little too high, isn't it? Chu Lu's expression gradually calmed down. He was not angry or annoyed, and said calmly, "What if I don't agree?"

Li Wenyuan met Chu Lu's gaze without fear, and said in an old voice: "If Your Majesty does not agree, we... will kneel here and die to persuade Your Majesty! Until Your Majesty changes his mind! By then, everyone in the world will know how Your Majesty forced loyal people to death and how you treated the foundation of your ancestors as a joke!"

"We are willing to die for your advice!" Dozens of officials behind him shouted in unison, the momentum was terrifying. They all straightened their backs, looking like they were ready to die bravely.

"Good! Very good!" Chu Lu couldn't help but laugh, as if he had just watched an absurd drama. "Do you really think I dare not kill you?"

Li Wenyuan closed his eyes and stopped talking, just kneeling on the ground. Other officials also lowered their heads and knelt silently, showing their determination with their actions.

The hall once again fell into a suffocating stalemate.

Chu Lu looked at the crowd of kneeling figures below and smiled disdainfully.

"Okay, you want to kneel, right? Then kneel down." He leaned lazily against the back of the chair, "I want to see how long you can kneel."

He ordered the eunuch who was trembling with fear beside him, "Go! Tell the imperial kitchen to prepare some tea and snacks for me. I will stay here today and will not go anywhere."

The young eunuch quickly responded and retreated.

The Yangxin Palace once again fell into a suffocating silence. The kneeling officials did not move at all, like stone statues, while Chu Lu looked at them with his hand on his chin.

……

On the other side, the imperial kitchen, which received the order, immediately became busy.

All kinds of ingredients were quickly washed and cut, the flames on the stove were blazing, and the pots and pans were clattering. Frying, stir-frying, boiling, deep-frying, all kinds of cooking methods were used, and the aroma filled the air above the entire imperial kitchen.

Although the eunuchs and kitchen servants did not know what earth-shattering event had taken place in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, they knew that the Emperor suddenly wanted to have an extra meal at a non-meal time, and looking at the nervous expression of the eunuch who delivered the message, they knew it was definitely no small matter. No one dared to be negligent, and they all used their best skills to make careful preparations.

And in a corridor somewhere, several palace maids who were in charge of sweeping the floor were gathered together, talking in low voices.

"Have you heard? Scholar Li brought many adults and surrounded the Yangxin Palace!"

"Is it true? Why?"

"It seems to be about the case yesterday! He said that Your Majesty wronged Chief Steward Zhao and refused to admit his fault!"

"Oh my God! Your Majesty is really... Alas!"

Several palace maids talked at once, their voices filled with concern for the emperor and shock at the ministers' bold actions.

But none of these gossipy palace maids could have imagined that the murderer of the case they were talking about was standing next to them at this moment.

The poisoner stood in the corner, listening silently.

She lowered her head, holding the broom in her hand, with no expression on her face, but she was mocking with smugness in her heart.

——Humph, a bunch of idiots! That steward is really good. He used a little trick to fool the self-righteous emperor! But I didn't expect the imperial physician in the palace to be so good that he could even tell the year of the poison.

After she poisoned Zhao Dequan last time, she destroyed her original poison to avoid being discovered, so she could only use another batch of poison to frame him. She thought they were all the same poison and there would be no difference. But she didn't expect that she would fail because of a small problem like the year.

——But it doesn’t matter… That stupid emperor, who is stubborn and self-willed, is now entangled by this group of old stubborn people and is in a state of panic. He certainly didn’t expect that I would dare to take action again at this time, right?

A sinister gleam flashed in the poisoner's eyes.

——This time, I used a new poison given by the steward. There won't be the fluorescent flaw from last time. Let's see who can find it this time! Stupid emperor, just go on your way with peace of mind!

After a while, after a busy period in the imperial kitchen, the carefully prepared snacks were finally completed and the food boxes were carefully brought out.

The eunuch in charge of delivering the meals, in accordance with the palace custom, gathered the four eunuchs in charge of delivering the meals, informed the guards and eunuchs at the checkpoints along the way, and came all the way out of the palace.

However, the palace maid in charge of serving meals looked embarrassed when she saw this scene. After all, a poisoning case had just happened a few days ago, and now the atmosphere in the Yangxin Palace was so scary, so naturally she was unwilling to go.

This was within the expectations of the murderer who had poisoned her. She immediately took the initiative to step forward and said in a tone of deep sisterly love and sharing worries: "Sister, I see that you don't look very well. You must be tired. Plus, the atmosphere in the palace... is really frightening. If you go in to deliver the meal at this time, if you make any wrong move and upset His Majesty or the Queen Mother, it will be a huge trouble! How about this, sister, you take a rest first, and leave it to me this time!"

The maid was worried about not being able to find a reason to shirk responsibility, and after hearing what the murderer said, she was just wishing for it. She immediately showed a look of gratitude on her face: "Oh, you are so thoughtful, sister! Thank you for your hard work, sister!"

Later, the eunuch came and handed her an exquisite food box containing some steaming snacks and a pot of fragrant tea.

The poisoner took a deep breath and adjusted his expression to make himself look respectful and fearful. Then he carried the food box and walked quickly towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

She lowered her head and walked hurriedly, but in her mind she was imagining the upcoming scene - Chu Lu ate the poisonous snack that she personally delivered to him in front of everyone, and then died on the spot!
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. Her steps became faster and faster, and soon she arrived outside the Yangxin Palace.

The hall was still deathly silent.

The murderer calmed down, took a deep breath, and walked in carefully with the food box. She walked straight to the imperial table without looking around, ready to put the food box down.

Just as she was about to put the food box on the imperial table, she couldn't help but secretly glance at Chu Lu.

Then she saw Chu Lu's face and the look on his face out of the corner of her eye.

Those eyes were actually staring at her, full of confidence, full of murderous intent, full of absolute confidence condensed with murderous intent, as if they were a falcon locking onto a hare, a chess player making a fatal move, and the final stillness before the guillotine fell.

The murderer's heart skipped a beat when she saw this look, and an ominous premonition instantly enveloped her whole body. Her hand holding the food box shook involuntarily.

Then, her wrist was grabbed.

She heard Chu Lu say in a calm but strangely penetrating voice, "I've finally waited for you, A Ling."

(End of this chapter)