The emperor faked his death? Never mind, I will ascend the throne directly!

Li Chengfeng's laughter stopped abruptly, and the atmosphere in the hall changed abruptly, as if it had instantly fallen from the warm sunshine of spring to the bitter cold of winter.

He put away his folding fan, and with a crisp "snap" sound, a few timid birds were startled and flew away from the eaves of the palace.

"I like Feng Rusi's poems very much."

Li Chengfeng's tone was calm, yet there was a hidden edge. "Because it reveals some... disgusting truths."

He swept his gaze across the courtiers, finally landing on Xu Zeyou, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's. "Lord Xu, I remember before the poetry gathering began, the Right Prime Minister once said, 'The national treasury is empty, so we should increase revenue and reduce expenditure.'"

"And you're the first to support it."

"Today, the Right Prime Minister is away. I would like to ask, does this 'increase revenue' approach refer to increasing taxes on the people, or is it about plundering their wealth?"

Xu Zeyou's expression changed, and he quickly knelt down. "Your Majesty, I have absolutely no such intention! What I mean is that we should encourage merchants to trade and develop the economy..."

"Encourage merchants to trade?"

Li Chengfeng sneered, and he turned from a benevolent king who enjoyed himself with the people into a decisive and murderous emperor.

"I heard that Xu Aiqing's sons have been hoarding goods and driving up prices recently."

"Is this what you call 'encouragement'?"

Xu Zeyou was sweating profusely as he trembled as he tried to defend himself: "Your Majesty... this is slander! This minister's son... they were just doing normal business..."

"Normal business practice?"

Li Chengfeng spoke slowly and deliberately, as if he was chewing and pondering, and then suddenly shouted.

"I think this is just taking advantage of someone's misfortune! Xu Zeyou, as the Minister of War, you don't prioritize the people's hearts, but instead allow your sons to exploit the people. What crime should you be punished for?"

Xu Zeyou was so frightened that his soul was about to be shattered that he kept kowtowing: "Your Majesty, spare my life! I know my crime! I know my crime!"

Li Chengfeng ignored him and turned his attention to several other ministers from aristocratic families.

"And you, all of you, are so righteous and talk so much about morality, but you're actually committing crimes behind the scenes!"

"You say that my appointment of Song Yuwei as prime minister was child's play. Then I want to ask, what are the virtues and abilities of those mediocre people you recommended?"

"Your Majesty, we are not questioning Prime Minister Song's ability..."

A minister spoke tremblingly.

"shut up!"

Li Chengfeng shouted angrily, "Don't you just think that she's a woman and unfit to be prime minister?"

"I tell you, Prime Minister Song's talent surpasses yours a hundred times!"

"She has devoted herself to her country and her people. What qualifications do you, a bunch of idlers, have to question her?"

"Your Majesty, calm down..."

Several ministers from aristocratic families were so frightened that they trembled like sieves and tried to make excuses.

"Calm down?"

Li Chengfeng sneered, "I haven't finished yet!"

"You say the treasury is empty, but I heard that your palace has mountains of gold, silver, and jewelry."

"You say you want to save money, but why do I see you partying every night and spending money like water?"

"You keep saying you're doing this for the sake of the Great Qian Empire, but in reality, all you care about is your own glory and wealth!"

With every word Li Chengfeng spoke, the faces of the ministers grew uglier, and the atmosphere of the poetry gathering became even more depressing.

"And you, Master Su."

Li Chengfeng turned to Su Dezheng, who was so frightened that he knelt down.

"You keep saying you value education, but what kind of heresy is being taught in your family's private school?"

"You teach students to flatter and form cliques, and this is what you call 'valuing education'?"

"Your son has learned these skills quite well."

Su Dezheng's face turned pale and he couldn't say a word. Su Yuan was even more shocked. He couldn't help but think of "Mr. Li" who said that he would fail the exam.

His appearance is gradually becoming consistent with that of the young emperor in front of him.

"And you, Ouyang Xiu."

Li Chengfeng pointed at another person and said, "As the Minister of Rites, you are corrupt and accept bribes, enriching yourself. Are you worthy of my trust?"

Ouyang Xiu was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, trembling all over.

In this way, Li Chengfeng revealed all the secrets of these ministers who usually showed off their power in the court.

Li Chengfeng's sharp gaze swept over the trembling ministers, like an eagle looking down at a cowering rabbit.

The atmosphere of the poetry reading was frozen, and the air was filled with the smell of fear.

However, the poem completely shocked the common people and Confucian scholars who were watching.

When had they ever seen the emperor so angry?

Everyone was stunned.

The officials who were usually high and mighty now looked like dogs that had lost their homes. This scene gave them a strange sense of pleasure.

At first, it was just whispers, but later, the discussions became louder and louder, boiling like oil in a pot.

"Wow, this emperor... is really... really powerful!"

An old farmer in coarse linen clothes had his eyes wide open and his mouth wide enough to fit an egg.

He had lived for most of his life, but this was the first time he saw the emperor so angry. He felt both scared and excited.

"That's right! These adults who are usually so high and mighty have had their day come to pass!"

A young Confucian scholar clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

He had once been expelled from school for offending an official. Now, seeing these officials being scolded by the emperor, he felt indescribably happy.

"Shh! Keep your voice down, or someone might hear you!"

Another Confucian scholar quickly reminded him, although he felt happy in his heart, he was still a little scared.

"What are you afraid of? Your Majesty is acting for the people!"

A brave butcher shouted at the top of his voice, "These corrupt officials should be punished!"

"This... is this really His Majesty?"

A young scholar muttered to himself, his eyes wide open, "I thought the emperor was a weak and incompetent person, but I didn't expect..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down!"

The old scholar beside him quickly covered his mouth and said, "Your Majesty is acting on behalf of the people! Are you trying to save your life?"

The young scholar then realized that he had spoken out of turn and quickly shut up, but his eyes were still gleaming with excitement.

The people were even more talking about it. They were used to being bullied by these officials, and now they saw them being humiliated, and they felt indescribably happy.

"Serves them right! These corrupt officials should have been punished long ago!"

"Your Majesty is wise! Long live His Majesty!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, and suddenly a thunderous roar of "Long live" resounded through the sky.

When Li Chengfeng heard the roar of the mountains, the corners of his mouth rose slightly.

He walked to the edge of the poetry gathering platform, looked down at the crowd, and said loudly: "I know that the people have resentment in their hearts, and I also know that you are extremely disappointed with the court!"

His voice was a little hoarse but full of power, penetrating the noisy crowd and reaching everyone's ears.

"Today, I want to tell you that I will never let you down!"

Li Chengfeng paused, his eyes filled with pity for the injustice of the world. "I will make those corrupt officials pay the price!"

His words resonated with the people around him, and they cheered.

"Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

……

The people's cries grew louder and louder, echoing over the royal gardens.