Princess Promotion

The first ray of sunlight in the morning shines through the carved window lattices and onto the magnificent hall.

The court officials entered one after another, each with a different expression on their face, some solemn, some indifferent, and some faintly excited.

Li Jinglong held the file in his hand and walked ahead with steady steps.

Yu Zhijian stood aside, his face looking a little haggard, obviously exhausted from days of investigation and thinking.

At the court meeting, Li Jinglong spoke first, his voice loud and powerful: "Your Majesty, I have found out that An Tian is suspected of hiring a killer. His crime is notorious. He is behind the scenes instructed by Lord Xiao. Last night, Lord Xiao even went to the prison without permission and attempted to collude with An Tian. Such behavior is simply unforgivable!"

Upon hearing this, Elder Xiao's face changed, and he immediately retorted, "Master Li, you are making a false accusation! I have always been impartial and have never done anything wrong. I knew nothing about An Tian's affairs, so how can you accuse me of collusion?"

The conversation between the two was like a confrontation between two armies, with swords drawn.

Li Jinglong pressed on, "Master Xiao, the evidence is irrefutable. Weren't you the one who orchestrated An Tian's actions? You've sacrificed innocent people for the sake of your own faction. How can someone like you be capable of such a heavy responsibility?"

Elder Xiao glared at him, "Li Jinglong, you're just trying to find a pretext to accuse me! I've lived a life of integrity, how can I allow you to slander me like this? Matters concerning An Tian will be dealt with impartially by the law. You and I are both subjects, and we should respect the law, not attack each other here."

The debate in the court intensified, with both sides holding their own views and unable to reach a consensus.

However, in this heated debate, no one seemed to really care why An Tian took this path. They only cared about the forces behind An Tian and the impact of this debate on the interests of their own faction.

No one cares whether Mengchangjun is a person full of evil.

Yu Zhijian observed all this quietly, feeling mixed emotions.

He knew that no matter what the final outcome was, An Tian, as one of the masterminds, would hardly escape death.

Just when Li Jinglong and Xiao Ge Lao were arguing fiercely.

The drum outside the hall sounded again, and the debate in the court died down instantly, and all eyes turned to the outside of the hall.

"Hurry up and check at the palace gate to find out who is so bold as to beat the drum at this time?" Yao Chuguang rubbed his temples which were aching from the noise.

The eunuch took the order and left, his steps hurried yet steady.

When the eunuch rushed to the palace gate, he was stunned by the scene before him.

In the past, there were only heavily guarded imperial guards at the palace gate. They were dressed in armor and held spears, guarding the safety of the palace.

However, what he saw today was so shocking that even he, who had seen many ups and downs in the palace, was speechless.

I saw a long line in front of the Dengwen Drum.

The people in the team were ragged and skinny. Some of them were farmers, some were merchants, and there were even some petty officials wearing shabby official uniforms.

Some of them were holding petitions, some were holding babies, and some were supporting sick family members, but their goal at the moment was the same - that was to make their case by beating the drum.

The eunuch had never seen so many people gathered at the palace gate in his life. There were so many of them that the line stretched into the distance, as if there was no end.

The eunuch realized that he might be in trouble that day.

Not daring to delay even a moment, the eunuch turned around and ran, almost stumbling back to the hall.

"Your Majesty..." The eunuch finally caught his breath.

His voice was filled with fear and shock. "There's a long line at the palace gate... There's a long line at the palace gate. Countless people are lining up in front of the drum. They... They're all waiting for the drum to be struck!"

There was an uproar in the hall, and the ministers looked at each other in confusion.

Yao Chuguang sneered, "Why, is there no one in the government office, so everyone comes to me to complain."

The eunuch's forehead was covered with sweat and his lips trembled: "It seems that most of these people are conveying a message to Mengchangjun."

Yao Chuguang turned around and looked meaningfully at Li Jinglong, then looked at Yu Zhijian, and finally looked back at the eunuch who was almost trembling like a sieve.

"It seems there is something else hidden in this case!"

Yao Chuguang sat upright on the dragon throne, tapping the armrests lightly with his fingers.

After a moment, Yao Chuguang's gaze fell on Yu Zhijian.

"Yu Zhijian, you must quickly go to the palace gate and record the people's complaints one by one. All those that are justified and well-founded must be verified."

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhijian immediately bowed and accepted the order.

"I will obey your orders and will see to it that this matter is completed and live up to your Majesty's high expectations."

Yao Chuguang looked at Li Jinglong again and said, "Mr. Li's family will be brought to court immediately. All those found guilty, regardless of status, will be dealt with according to the law. Those who must be beheaded will be executed immediately."

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong had no choice but to bow and accept the order.

After that, Yao Chuguang issued several decrees in succession, but all of them were mobilizations of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice, even Li Yinhan's imperial guards were mobilized.

Elder Xiao felt that something was wrong with the development of the situation, and a familiar sense of foreboding arose spontaneously.

The atmosphere in the hall became turbulent with the departure of Yu Zhijian, Li Jinglong and others, causing the ministers' hearts to fluctuate.