After the death of the previous emperor, the Empress Dowager became arrogant

Yuan Qing kept his identity in mind and followed behind Zhong Xiao and Lu Zhao, not daring to relax for a moment. He stared at the fluttering clothes in front of him and walked hurriedly.

As she approached the palace door, she heard a heart-wrenching cry for mercy from inside. She raised her head curiously, but Lu Zhao happened to block her view by moving sideways.

Lu Zhao tilted his head slightly and said, "Hide behind me honestly and don't look at anything."

Yuan Qing said "Oh" and hid herself behind Lu Zhao's tall body, without even a hair showing.

In fact, it doesn’t matter whether he hides it or not. As early as the moment he came to Beijing, Gong Bin’s identity had become a thorn in the eyes of some people, and he would definitely offend more people in the future.

She had talked with Gong Xuan and said: Once she intervened in the court in the name of Gong Bin, many forces would inevitably rush to the Gong family and break the existing peace and tranquility.

Gong Xuan did not answer directly at that time. Instead, he looked at her with a smile and said: Where there is loss, there must be gain.

These five words give her the greatest power and confidence.

Yuan Qing withdrew his thoughts and focused all his attention on the noise in the hall.

The eunuch who delivered the message had been in there for a long time and had not come out, so they could only stand outside the door and wait.

The early sun had gradually climbed up the eaves. A thin layer of sweat appeared on Yuan Qing's back, and the soles of his feet felt like they were being pricked by needles, which was both painful and numb.

She lifted her heels and moved them, and the uncomfortable feeling eased a lot.

"Your Majesty! I am innocent!!!"

"His Majesty!!!"

Three ministers had their official hats stripped off in public and were dragged out of the Council Hall by the imperial guards. They looked embarrassed, with faces full of resentment and resentment.

These people do not have a good reputation in the capital. They have been relying on buying and selling official positions and accepting bribes to seize power for many years. Many of their people have obtained official positions in the capital through these connections.

Getting rid of them will not have much impact on the government.

It can not only solve the current problems, but also deepen Wen Chengyu's image in the minds of the people, and also take this opportunity to strike at those undercurrents that are ready to move, achieving three goals in one fell swoop.

Yuan Qing just took a glance and then looked away.

Eunuch Shun followed the imperial guards out, flicked his whisk, bowed and said, "Lord Zhong, His Majesty invites you in."

Zhong Xiao nodded and was led into the hall by Eunuch Shun.

Eunuch Shun only said that His Majesty summoned Zhong Xiao alone, so Yuan Qing and Lu Zhao continued to wait, awaiting the imperial summons.

Zhong Xiao had been in there for only a moment when Eunuch Shun said loudly in front of the emperor: "Send Master Lu and Gong Bin into the palace!"

Lu Zhao and his ministers had also seen it. What they were more concerned about at the moment was Gong Bin, who had caused a series of recent disturbances.

The charges against him were removed, and he was the first in the provincial examination in Pingjin Prefecture.

According to the rules, he had no right to meet the emperor, but after this incident, the emperor saw him and his reputation spread. Under such circumstances, the top scholar could no longer be compared with usual ones.

Such a big commotion has occurred just after entering the capital. If we can hold on and be smart, His Majesty will protect us...

This kid's official career path seems blocked, but in fact it is open.

Many people were secretly evaluating the boy's future and value in their hearts.

Even with her head down, Yuan Qing could still feel the gazes coming from all directions. Countless glares passed over Lu Zhao and pierced her accurately.

She gritted her teeth and tried to move her thin body back as much as possible, letting Lu Zhao take some of the pressure for her.

The two knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, pay my respects to you."

"Stand up." Wen Chengyu said in a gentle voice.

The rage he had just experienced had consumed most of his energy, and it was only through his strong willpower that he managed to avoid losing his dignity as a king in front of his ministers.

But due to excessive losses, his speech was not as sonorous and powerful as usual, and he spoke softly with a series of hoarse sounds.

Yuan Qing's hands loosened and tightened, tightened and loosened again.

It's only been two years since we last met, has Wen Chengyu's body become so weak?

For the first time, I began to doubt my own persistence.

During the five years since she came to Dayuan, most of her heart has been devoted to the Yuan family.

Even though he has traveled far and wide for missions over the years and has seen a lot of suffering among the people, and perhaps he can empathize with them and has some concerns about the country and the people, this is also based on the premise that the Yuan family is safe and sound.

She didn't dare to think that if the Yuan family followed the path of the previous life and went to destruction...

"Hey," Lu Zhao saw that she was distracted, so he whispered, "His Majesty is looking at you."

The crime of being distracted in front of the emperor could be serious or minor. At the least, one would receive a reprimand. At the worst, one would be accused of contempt for the imperial authority and might even be dragged away and beaten to death.

Wen Chengyu naturally wouldn't care, but he couldn't stand others pulling his braids hard.

Just as Yuan Qing was about to kneel down and confess his crime, someone stepped forward and said righteously, "Your Majesty, this person dared to openly defy the imperial power. His crime is unforgivable."

Yuan Qing's kneeling movement froze in mid-air.

The wording was exactly what she had thought.

Since she was being targeted, she simply knelt down, not caring what others thought. She just lowered her body and kowtowed without saying a word.

Wen Chengyu glanced at her, then turned his gaze to the official from the Ministry of Rites who was speaking.

I just stared at him for a long time but couldn't think of his name.

Eunuch Shun stepped forward, bent over, and reminded in a low voice: "He is the newly appointed doctor of the Ministry of Rites, Feng Yan."

Wen Chengyu understood immediately.

I remember that the favorite concubine of Minister of Rites Luo Rong was the daughter of Feng from Tongzhou. I'm afraid that Feng Yan was promoted by him by abusing his power for personal gain.

Luo Rong wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, stood in front of the man, and said, "Your Majesty, he..."

Wen Chengyu raised his hand to stop him and looked at Feng Yan: "Then according to your opinion, how should we deal with it?"

Feng Yan did not understand Wen Chengyu's hidden meaning. He just thought that he could finally show his face in front of the emperor. He immediately held his head high and said, "Your Majesty, I should be punished with thirty strokes of the cane."

Luo Rong wanted to speak out to stop him, but under the emperor's gaze, he dared not move at all. He could only close his eyes and pretend not to hear.

Everyone looked at the skinny scholar kneeling on the ground. After thirty strokes of the cane, would he die instantly?

Wen Chengyu did not respond and continued, "Then if someone deceives his superiors and subordinates, uses public power for personal gain, does not think about doing things, and exceeds his authority, how should these... be dealt with?"

Feng Yan became more confident. His Majesty asked about things he had written down a few days ago, so he said, "Those who use public power for personal gain should be fined one year's salary, and then..."

Luo Rong on the other side could no longer hold back and immediately fell to the ground and shouted, "I admit my guilt!"

Feng Yan was completely stunned by his shout. Why did his uncle say that he was guilty for no reason?

Luo Rong winked at him. Although Feng Yan didn't understand, he still followed his uncle and bowed his head to confess his guilt.

Wen Chengyu straightened up, "Luo Qing, you are too serious. What crime have you committed?"