I have been a county magistrate for ten years. My subordinates insist on giving me a yellow robe.

"My dear Ning, why don't you kneel when you see me?" Duanmu Yuanchen said lightly.

Ning Zhiyuan looked at Duanmu Yuanchen with a forced smile: "Your Highness, may I ask where His Majesty is?"

"My father and Shengxia passed the throne to me last night." The grief on Duanmu Yuanchen's face deepened again.

Ning Zhiyuan took a deep breath. Is it still the same?

Duanmu Xiongtu finally chose to pass the throne to this unlearned person.

"In that case, may I ask where the late emperor's will is?"

"Your Majesty, please read out the late emperor's will to convince the people."

Duanmu Yuanchen nodded slightly. Ning Zhiyuan was an old fox after all. The late emperor's edict openly provoked him, but he also acted according to the rules.

Without waiting for Duanmu Yuanchen to speak, Chen Liu, who had been standing aside for a long time, stood on the platform with the brocade box in his hand.

"Here is the late emperor's will!"

After saying that, Chen Liu carefully opened the brocade box, took out the will and unfolded it.

"Greetings to the late emperor!"

Many ministers spoke up again, and Ning Zhiyuan had to kneel down on the ground.

"I have been on the throne for twenty-two years. Fortunately, Heaven has blessed me with peace and prosperity, and the weather has been favorable..."

"For the sake of the people, I have passed the throne to my eldest son, Duanmu Yuanchen, and ordered him to inherit the throne. He should be self-disciplined and diligent in governing..."

"My youngest son, Duanmu Yuanji, is still young and cannot be separated from his mother. I command that when he comes of age, he be granted a fiefdom in Hanzhou..."

"All officials should assist me wholeheartedly. Among them, Chen Liu, Zhou Chen, Lü Fang, and Yang Cheng are outstanding in their abilities and care for the people. I can guarantee their unwavering loyalty and will allow them to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple in the future to show my grace..."

After Chen Liu finished announcing the will, Lu Fang and Yang Cheng, among the officials, took a deep breath at the same time. This was the content of the will, and if nothing unexpected happened, it would definitely become a reality in the future.

Of course, the prerequisite is that the two of them must stand firmly on Duanmu Yuanchen's side.

"I thank the Lord for your kindness!"

After reading the will, Chen Liu slowly stepped back and gave the platform to Duanmu Yuanchen.

"My dear ministers, the edict has been read. Does anyone have any objections?"

This time, even Ning Zhiyuan was speechless. At least now he didn't dare to confront Duanmu Yuanchen openly.

Duanmu Xiongtu had just passed away, so Duanmu Yuanchen naturally had no intention of attending the morning court. After asking a few questions, he saw that there was nothing serious and announced the withdrawal of the court.

"Minister Lu, Minister Yang, and Minister Zhou, the three of you stay here. I have something to ask you." Duanmu Yuanchen said lightly.

After all the officials left, among the few people left in the court, Zhou Chen and Chen Liu, as the ministers entrusted with the care of the young emperor last night, naturally remained calm.

Yang Cheng and Lu Fang also understood why they were left behind. Without waiting for Duanmu Yuanchen to speak, they knelt on the ground and said, "Your Majesty."

"Well, Lord Yang and Lord Lu, you two are ministers appointed by our father. I hope that we can be one as ruler and subject in the future." Duanmu Yuanchen spoke slowly.

"Even if I die a thousand times, I cannot repay the emperor's grace. I must serve you with all my heart and soul!" Lu Fang and the other two shouted together.

After another round of testing, Duanmu Yuanchen waved his hand and asked the two to go back.

"Your Majesty, I'm worried that the Ning family will take action." Chen Liu said with a frown.

Duanmu Yuanchen was also a little troubled: "I'm worried too, but..."

"Your Majesty, please call me 'I'." Zhou Chen spoke at the right time.

Duanmu Yuanchen sighed. He had just ascended the throne yesterday and was really not used to it.

"Well, I understand. Regarding the Ning family, although Ning Zhiyuan seemed provocative, he did indeed act according to the rules. I am a little helpless for the time being. Do you two beloved ministers have any good ideas?"

"Kill them all! It's all over!" Chen Liu said suddenly.

Zhou Chen looked at Chen Liu speechlessly. What the hell did this guy know besides killing people?

Do you really think the Ning family is like cabbages and radishes that you can chop down just like that?

"I think Commander Chen's words are inappropriate. Your Majesty has just ascended the throne. If you start a war, it will probably cause panic. Then all officials will be in danger. What should we do?"

"Then what do you say we should do? Are we going to leave the Ning family alone? Don't forget, Queen Ning, no, now she should be called Queen Mother Ning, Queen Mother Ning is still in charge of the harem. If she has any ideas, and Ning Fei is away, what should we do?" Chen Liu said bluntly.

"And what's holding us back the most is that the Ning family has so many minions, like the twisted roots of an old tree, crisscrossing and intertwining. If we don't cut the Gordian knot quickly, do we really have to waste time with them?"

Zhou Chen smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "If you want to kill, please ask Commander Chen to produce evidence. It can be considered killing according to the law, but you must never kill without reason."

Duanmu Yuanchen sighed. After all, he had too few trusted followers. When it came time to get things done, there was no one to make decisions.

"Chenliu, I... can you remember all the officials, both big and small, whom I met during my travels?"

Chen Liu patted his chest and quickly pulled out a list from his pocket. "Your Majesty, everything is recorded here. I have also had people sort out the positions that are vacant in the imperial capital, or those whose incumbents are about to return home. Your Majesty can directly summon these people to the palace according to the above records."

Duanmu Yuanchen was shocked. This guy finally did something serious besides killing people.

When he opened the booklet, a familiar handwriting appeared before his eyes. Duanmu Yuanchen's nose suddenly felt sore. This was Duanmu Xiongtu's handwriting.

The booklet was filled with great detail, including the personality of each person, the positions they were good at, and even the positions they would hold after being summoned to the palace.

"Father..." Duanmu Yuanchen choked up and muttered to himself, then closed the book heavily.

"Chenliu, summon these people to the imperial capital according to the vacancies on the roster. Let's gather ten people first."

Chen Liu responded and then asked, "Your Majesty, may I ask who these ten people are?"

Duanmu Yuanchen thought about it and realized that what he lacked most at the moment was naturally a capable person to deal with the Ning family.

"Search among the counselors."

Chen Liu nodded, quickly opened the roster, and read out the names one by one. After he finished reading all of them, Duanmu Yuanchen seemed to suddenly remember something.

"Oh right! Let's see if Lao Jiang is here."

"Your Majesty, you should call him Lord Jiang!" Zhou Chen reminded again.

"Okay, I got it. I will definitely do it next time." Duanmu Yuanchen said, his eyes following Chen Liu's hands as he flipped the book.

However, after all the names on the list were reviewed, Chen Liu scratched his head and said, "Your Majesty, no, Jiang Yuan is not on the list."

"What? How could it be, Mr. Jiang, you are so capable and courageous, how could you not be on the list?" Duanmu Yuanchen said in confusion.

Chen Liu sighed helplessly, "That's right, Your Majesty. I once mentioned Jiangyuan to the late emperor."

"What did my father say?" Duanmu Yuanchen asked hurriedly.

Chen Liu smacked his lips as he recalled, "According to the late emperor's original words, this is what he said."

"Jiang Yuan is too immoral. If I use him, my reputation will be in jeopardy. In short, this person needs both ability and character."

"So the late emperor recorded it in another book. He also instructed that Your Majesty should not use the people in that book unless it is absolutely necessary."