I embezzled 100,000 taels at the beginning, and the empress begged me to be more greedy

Situ Hua was specially left by the empress's side in Jiangzuo to supervise the Thousand Cavalry Division in Jiangzuo.

Based on Chen Qingyun's understanding of Situ Hua, there is absolutely no way he would speak for Jiang Zuo, right?

Chen Qingyun held his forehead and slowly closed his eyes, feeling extremely confused.

"Did Jiang Zuo say anything?"

Chen Qingyun asked.

Zhang Huan then remembered and replied: "Envoy Jiang said that if Your Majesty wants to destroy the State of Chen, you must act according to his plan..."

"According to his plan?"

At this moment, some images emerged in Chen Qingyun's mind.

Zhang Huan added: "Deputy General Situ also said that the emperor is far away in the capital, so don't believe the rumors. The Jiang Patrol Envoy is devoted to the country and has absolutely no intention of rebellion."

Chen Qingyun was still skeptical about Jiang Zuo's words.

After all, in Anding County before, Jiang Zuo personally told Chen Qingyun his true purpose.

"Forget it. Since Situ Hua is willing to speak for Jiang Zuo, it means that there is room for reversal..."

Chen Qingyun said silently in his heart.

Recall the various scenes of the past.

Chen Qingyun could only choose to trust Jiang Zuo for the time being.

It had been several days since she sent the letter in the name of Chen Siyue, but she still hadn't received a reply from Jiang Zuo.

In the past, Jiang Zuo would reply to Chen Siyue’s letters within a few days.

But this time, Chen Qingyun always felt something strange.

Could it be that Jiang Zuo has changed his mind?

"Keep a close eye on Jiang Zuo, and report everything he says and does to me."

Chen Qingyun ordered.

"As ordered!"

Zhang Huan knelt down and said.

Looking at Qianqisi kneeling on the ground, Chen Qingyun sighed helplessly again.

"Why don't you retreat?"

Chen Qingyun frowned slightly.

Zhang Huan looked solemn and was silent for a while before he said, "Your Majesty, there are many voices in the court saying that Envoy Jiang is planning to plot a rebellion against the people of Chen. This..."

Originally, Zhang Huan did not believe these rumors, but he had been ordered by the empress to monitor Jiangzuo in Guangning City. He saw how Jiangzuo tried to curry favor with the people of Chen in order to make money, which was a disgrace to the reputation of Yan State.

"Please remember these talkative officials and I will settle accounts with them later."

Chen Qingyun said sternly.

If you say that Jiang Zuo intended to escape to the State of Chen, Chen Qingyun might believe it, but given Jiang Zuo's character, it is simply ridiculous to say that he wanted to rebel.

After hearing what the empress said, Zhang Huan also understood what the emperor meant, and dared to whisper again: "Now the ministers in the court are taking the opportunity to make trouble and criticize Jiang Patrol Envoy. There are even rumors that Jiang Patrol Envoy is a remnant of the King of Qi. Please order me to arrest these people who are spreading rumors."

The King of Qi he was referring to was the vassal king who intended to rebel back then. However, before the King of Qi and his party could even start a rebellion, they were all slaughtered by Chen Qingyun.

This matter is still a knot in Chen Qingyun's heart.

Hearing these words, Chen Qingyun couldn't suppress his inner anger.

Ever since the Jiangzuo incident was reported back to the capital, many ministers with ulterior motives have impeached Jiangzuo, but in fact they were secretly satirizing the empress.

This trend must be suppressed.

"Call all civil and military officials to court immediately!"

Chen Qingyun ordered sternly.

Above the imperial city.

Overcast.

It is winter and the wind is cold.

All the civil and military officials looked uneasy and came to the Zhonghe Hall with heavy steps.

Whenever the emperor urgently summoned his ministers to court, nothing good would happen.

"The Emperor is attending court this morning, presumably to discuss matters concerning Jiangzuo. What do you think?"

Before the empress came to court, the ministers were already discussing quietly.

"It's been so many days, we should have figured out something. I think that Inspector Jiang will not escape punishment this time."

"I heard that the Thousand Cavalry Division of the capital has already gone to the State of Chen. I think they are going to punish Jiangzuo..."

"I might as well tell you that Jiang Zuo can't escape his crime this time."

Everyone was talking about it.

After a while, all the civil and military officials arrived at the hall.

After waiting for a while, the empress, dressed in a dragon robe and with a majestic look, appeared in front of the ministers.

She slowly sat on the dragon throne, but remained silent.

All the ministers bowed down.

After a moment, the entire hall was as quiet as death.

The civil and military officials were uneasy, but they did not dare to say anything.

"What do you think about the Jiangzuo incident?"

Chen Qingyun finally spoke. She looked calm and glanced at the ministers below.

The ministers below were silent.

Sure enough, the empress still didn't make a decision.

Right Prime Minister Lu Jun turned his head and gave one of them a look.

At this time, a minister stepped forward and leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty, Jiang Zuo and Situ Hua have committed treason. This is a crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of their clan. They must be severely punished!"

Hearing this, Chen Qingyun frowned and looked fierce.

As the Empress, she had only just received the news about Jiang Zuo and Situ Hua. Could it be that these ministers had heard about it earlier than her, the Emperor?

There are countless ministers in the court who pretend to obey the orders but actually disobey them.

All the ministers bent over, not daring to look directly into the empress's eyes.

They knew that if they impeached Jiang Zuo, the empress would be angry.

But some of them just wanted to do this, trying to put pressure on the empress in the name of Jiangzuo.

"Okay, then I will appoint you as the General of Conquering the Barbarians, lead 10,000 elite soldiers south, invade the State of Chen, and kill Jiang Zuo, how do you do that?"

Chen Qingyun's expression became a little calmer, and his words carried a hint of authority.

She suppressed the anger in her heart and tried to use this method to suppress this group of ministers with ulterior motives.

"This..." The official was stunned for a moment, and said after a moment: "Your Majesty, how can I be qualified to take on this position?"

He was only a fourth-rank civil servant, how could he possibly be capable of holding such an important position?

Lu Jun raised his head slightly and looked at the majestic expression on the empress's face.

"It seems that the emperor still wants to protect Jiang Zuo."

The Right Prime Minister said secretly in his heart.

"Then shut your mouth."

Chen Qingyun suddenly shouted angrily.

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole place fell into deathly silence.

The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment; they had never expected that the emperor's attitude would be so firm.

Previously, if the empress suspected someone of rebellion, that person would be killed without a doubt. But when faced with Jiang Zuo, the emperor was indecisive and could not make a decision.

Even a fool knows what's going on.

The empress's attitude is already very clear.

Even though there were so many voices impeaching Jiang Zuo inside and outside the court, Chen Qingyun still chose to protect Jiang Zuo.

The official was so angrily rebuked by the empress that he felt panic in his heart and retreated quickly.

"Your Majesty, I feel that this is quite strange. I think we should urgently summon Jiang Zuo back to the capital and confront him face to face. If he refuses to return, it won't be too late to make a final decision."

At this time, Left Prime Minister Wei Hong came out to smooth things over.

He seemed unaware that the empress had already sent a thousand cavalrymen to the State of Chen to bring them back to Jiangzuo.

However, Jiang Zuo's stubborn character made him not take the Thousand Cavalry Division seriously at all.

The empress pondered for a moment before she said, "I have already sent people to investigate the matter of Jiangzuo."

Having said that, she stopped again and looked around.

"If I hear anyone spreading rumors again, I will kill them without mercy!"