Deep Palace Pet Peach Blossom Flawless

The atmosphere in Qianzheng Hall was stagnant. Over a dozen important civil and military officials stared in shock at the Grand Master, who held the late emperor's jade tablet. The Shenwu Emperor stood atop a high platform, his expression unfathomable as he gazed at the frantic yet calm Grand Master within the hall. The Master held the tablet aloft, solemnly and solemnly declaring, "Here is the late emperor's imperially bestowed jade tablet. Why don't you kneel and bow?"

The ministers in the hall, Prince Ding, Qian Hui and others looked at each other, but they did not dare to openly ignore the late emperor. They could only kneel on the ground helplessly and aggrieved.

The Grand Master's gaze turned to the Divine Martial Emperor. At this moment, there was no trace of the frailty of a long bedridden man in his features. His gaze remained unwavering, blazing through the Divine Martial Emperor. The Divine Martial Emperor's piercing gaze, like the depths of the abyss, met the Grand Master's, and for a moment, neither spoke.

"Why did the Grand Tutor come to the palace holding the jade tablet bestowed by the late emperor?"

The Grand Master stared at the Emperor Shenwu: "Your Majesty, why don't you kneel and bow when you see the jade tablet bestowed by the late emperor? This was bestowed by the late emperor himself. Seeing the jade tablet is like seeing the late emperor in person!"

Emperor Shenwu said calmly, "If Father knew that his tolerant Master Taifu was using the jade token bestowed upon him personally to threaten and manipulate me, I'm afraid Father wouldn't let me kneel!"

Emperor Shenwu was domineering and strong in character. Having been an emperor for many years, he was already accustomed to controlling everything, making decisions arbitrarily, not allowing anyone to refuse, and certainly not allowing anyone to disobey. It was a dream for the Grand Tutor to think that he could suppress the emperor who had been on the throne for many years with just a piece of dead object!

"The Emperor personally bestowed upon the Grand Tutor the Jade Token in order to show mercy to the descendants of the Master family. If anyone violates the laws of the land, the Jade Token can be used to protect the descendants' lives! Grand Tutor, now that you have brought this Jade Token to the palace, what do you intend to do? Who do you want me to forgive?"

Master Shi's cheeks were twitching. Ever since he saw his daughter being sent back to the mansion with blood all over her head and face without any dignity, Master Shi had already lost all his patience. His retreat was cut off, and the Emperor Shenwu had purged the power in the court time and time again. The Shi family no longer had any descendants who were able to turn the tide.

"I, this old minister, do not need this jade token to forgive anyone in my master's family!"

Just because the daughter he wanted to protect and forgive had died miserably.

"I have dedicated my life to the Dasheng Dynasty and the people of the world. This time, I have the audacity to use this jade token for the sake of the thousands of soldiers on the border! Your Majesty, please issue an immediate order to execute the Wujinghou who is committing atrocities on the border, collaborating with the enemy and treason, and selling national weapons!"

"Idiot's dream!"

The Crown Prince strode in from the main hall entrance, bowed and said, "Father!"

The Grand Tutor stared at the young boy in front of him. If his daughter could have a prince like this, why would he have to restrict her in every way like he does today!

Emperor Shenwu turned around and sat back on the dragon throne, "My son, come up!"

The prince took a look at the jade token in the master's hand and saw that the jade token was extremely crystal clear and emerald green, with the words "personally present" faintly engraved on it!

The Crown Prince ascended the dais and stood beside the Shenwu Emperor. The Imperial Tutor narrowed his eyes as he looked at the father and son, one sitting and the other standing on the dais, and said word by word, "Your Majesty, are you going to ignore the late Emperor's will? Are you going to disobey it?"

The Crown Prince retorted, "Grand Tutor, you are now holding the jade token bestowed upon you by our great-grandfather, yet you attempt to interfere in state affairs after so many years! Grand Tutor, have you forgotten that you only hold the title of Grand Tutor now, having long since resigned from your official position? The court has already made a decision on this arms trafficking case, and all those implicated will be brought back to the Imperial City for a joint trial by the Three Courts! How can you immediately execute soldiers who have guarded the border for years just because of a jade token or a single word from the Grand Tutor? Isn't this a joke?"

The Grand Master suddenly took a few steps back with the jade token in his hand. More than a dozen ministers in the hall all knelt on the ground, unable to stop the Grand Master's actions.

The Grand Master retreated to the golden pillars in the hall, decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, and raised the jade tablet high again. "My late emperor! Today, I will die in this Qianzheng Hall. Please watch over me from heaven. I will die for the laws of the Dasheng Dynasty! For the people and soldiers of the Dasheng Dynasty!"

Prince Ding quickly stood up and said, "Master Taifu, what are you doing? His Majesty didn't say he wouldn't try this case!"

A desperate look flashed in Master Shi's eyes. "Hold still! This old minister came to this Qianzheng Palace today without even thinking of returning alive! The Lan family's arms trafficking case has witnesses and evidence! Countless gold, silver, and treasures were seized from the Lan family's villa, along with numerous letters! There were even hidden helmets, weapons, and armor! This is such an undoubted crime of treason, yet Your Majesty continues to delay. Could it be that you've been bewitched by that evil queen? This old minister will die here today! I'm giving this advice in death. After I die, I hope Your Majesty will bury me in the Master family's ancestral tomb, to preserve my loyal patriotism!"

Prince Ding was sweating profusely. "Wait! Master Taifu, everything can be discussed!"

Lin Suzhi even advised, "Master Taifu, you have taught His Majesty for many years. What is your intention in being so aggressive now? Your Majesty has never intended to be lenient with the Queen's family!"

Qian Hui and Leng Qujing looked at each other, secretly gauging the distance between themselves and their Grand Master. No matter what, they couldn't let their Grand Master bleed to death in the Qianzheng Hall today!

If this Grand Tutor were to be killed by a collision in this Qianzheng Palace, then Your Majesty would be forever infamous for forcing the death of his mentor and loyal ministers! This would also be recorded in history books, and Your Majesty would become a tyrant and incompetent ruler known and reviled by all future generations!

The Grand Master was calm and composed, ignoring everyone: "Your Majesty, please issue an order to execute the traitors immediately!"

The master teacher put on a lot of pretense, as if he was ready to bang his head against the pillar if he disagreed with something!

Seeing this, some ministers who were wavering immediately changed their minds and said, "Your Majesty, please issue an order to execute these traitors immediately!"

Emperor Shenwu clenched his fists tightly. He had been on the throne for so many years and had been an emperor for so many years, but he had never been forced to this point!

The Crown Prince was also somewhat annoyed. He had never expected this Grand Tutor to be so determined to force his father to swiftly execute the Lan family, even at the cost of his own life. If he followed his wishes, what dignity would remain for the Emperor? His father would never be able to face his own mother again! If he ignored the Grand Tutor and allowed him to die by colliding with a pillar, his father would be covered in dirty water. With so many civil and military officials watching, his father would never be able to clear the stigma of forcing his mentor and loyal ministers to death!

Emperor Shenwu's eyes were heavy. He could see that Master Taifu was determined to die. He had come to Qianzheng Palace to face death head-on, leaving a good reputation for himself and his family. They no longer cared about each other's situation. "I never thought that Master Taifu and I would end up like this!"

The true intention is revealed! The kindness of former teachings has been corrupted beyond recognition by the power situation over the years!

Emperor Shenwu moved his fingers slightly. Of course, he would not be forced into this situation. Forced by such circumstances, Emperor Shenwu had no choice but to secretly command the Phantom Guards to see if there was any chance of a turnaround.

Suddenly, a woman's clear and rebuking voice came from the entrance of the main hall: "Master, go ahead and hit the pillar! I will accompany you to the end!"

The Master looked in the direction of the voice, his eyes instantly bloodshot. He gritted his teeth and said, "Empress!"

Lan Qingwu was seen wearing a majestic and elegant Nine-Sky Phoenix robe and a dazzling Nine-Phoenix Pearl Crown on her head. Her face was calm and solemn, her eyes were not looking away, and her whole body was full of dignity and majesty, showing the extraordinary dignity of a mother of the world. Lan Qingwu walked towards the master step by step.

"Master, go first, I will follow closely behind! You want to sacrifice your life to leave a good reputation, so that the people of the world will admire and follow you? I will not agree with you! If you hit the pillar with your first foot, I will follow closely behind, and let Master, be charged with the crime of abusing the late emperor's jade token and forcing the current empress to death!"

Emperor Shenwu suddenly stood up again: "Empress!"

The Grand Master looked at the elegant woman before him, feeling a tightness in his chest, unable to breathe. He angrily said, "Empress, this is the main hall of Qianzheng Palace. How dare a woman like you come here and speak nonsense? It's like a hen crowing at dawn! How disgraceful!"

Emperor Shenwu took this opportunity to wave his hand, and several more guards appeared in the hall instantly. Qian Hui and Leng Qujing quickly rushed towards the master. The master was angry for a moment, and when he wanted to move again, he had lost the initiative. In just a few moments, he was surrounded by densely packed Xuanyu guards. There was no space for the master to hit the pillar anymore, and he was surrounded by the guards forming a meat shield.

The master's expression suddenly became horrified, and wherever his eyes fell, he saw the cold and ruthless expressions of the people in the hall.

The Grand Master gripped the jade token tightly, his palm turning almost white. He suddenly pointed his spearhead at Lan Qingwu, "Empress, you, as a woman, have stepped into this Qianzheng Palace. Are you trying to imitate the demon concubines of centuries ago and interfere in government affairs?"

Lan Qingwu looked straight at the Master: "You are about to put the butcher knife on my head, and you still want to cover my mouth!"

The Grand Master roared, "With so many ministers watching, the Lan family's crimes, the Marquis of Wujing's crimes, are unforgivable! Are you going to use your status as Queen to shield your own people?"

Lan Qingwu refused to back down. "You said I was using my status as Empress to shield my clansmen. Master, what you just did was to vent your own personal anger. You couldn't wait to condemn the Lan family before the court had even reached a final verdict!"

"Master, your daughter, Shi Qingluan, poisoned the prince many years ago. His Majesty, out of respect for you, confined her to her confinement. Not long ago, she poisoned me again. The evidence is irrefutable, and the whole palace has been informed! His Majesty and I have repeatedly shown consideration for our friendship with your mentor by not immediately exterminating your entire family! Yet, you abused the late emperor's generosity and, before the arms trafficking case had even reached its trial, attempted to force His Majesty to commit suicide! How dare you claim you harbor no selfish motives?"

"You are indignant at your daughter's tragic death, a self-inflicted rage, yet you still seek revenge against me, attempting to interfere in state affairs and manipulate His Majesty! Your selfish desires are obvious. It would be better not to use the banner of serving the people and the Great Sheng as a pretext!"

The civil and military officials in the palace all came to their senses. Yes! If the Grand Master was only doing this for Da Sheng and the people, why couldn't he just wait for the court to follow the national laws and wait for the three judges to conduct a joint trial? He had to be so anxious to kill the Queen's family. Now, if he said that the Grand Master had no selfish motives, they wouldn't believe it!

Prince Ding immediately stepped forward and said solemnly, "Master, His Majesty has decreed that this case will be heard by the three courts. If you have an open mind, you can simply wait for the final verdict instead of threatening His Majesty with death! Otherwise, people will doubt your intentions!"

The Grand Tutor was shaking with anger. This Queen usually only had a reputation for kindness, but he never expected that her appearance would instantly change the situation in his favor. But today, even if he had to try his best, he would bite the Queen until she bleeds!