Traveling through another world to stir the emperor's heart

The next morning, sunlight shone brightly on the glazed tiles of the imperial palace. However, this light failed to penetrate the solemn atmosphere of the court.

The ministers stood on either side, heads bowed, silent as a mouse. They seemed to be deliberately breathing softly, as if afraid to touch the invisible but tense atmosphere that permeated the air.

Jun Lingyuan sat upright on the dragon throne, his figure as tall and straight as a towering mountain. With a stern gaze, he slowly scanned the courtroom and said, "I caught a cold a few days ago, so I asked the Empress Dowager to assist me in governing the country. What are your thoughts on this, my dear ministers?" His voice was steady and calm, yet like the undercurrents beneath the surface of a tranquil lake, it was unpredictable.

Upon hearing these words, the court officials reacted in varying ways. Most of those bribed by the prime minister lowered their heads in guilt. They knew full well that the emperor's so-called "cold" was merely a cover-up; he had actually been missing for some time. Those who knew the truth were now on edge, feeling anxious and on edge.

A few upright ministers showed signs of joy. One of them stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty is finally in good health. We have been deeply worried for a while now. In your absence, some people have acted recklessly, attempting to control the court with one hand." His words were a direct challenge to the Prime Minister, and the voice echoed loudly in the silent court.

Jun Lingyuan just stared at the man quietly, without saying a word. The Prime Minister, standing nearby, gnashed his teeth in anger upon hearing these words, his cheeks puffed up, and his eyes seemed to be spitting fire.

"My dear ministers, do you have anything to report today?" Jun Lingyuan asked again, his voice like a loud bell, echoing in the court.

The Prime Minister took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and then said: "Your Majesty, I have an important matter to report. The war on the border is now tense. I heard that Major General Feng Qingcheng made many mistakes while fighting on the border, causing our army to suffer heavy losses. I implore Your Majesty to severely punish Major General Feng, and select another capable person to lead the army." He spoke slowly and clearly, as if everything was conclusive.

After hearing the Prime Minister's words, Jun Lingyuan looked at him with a deep gaze. Then, like a sharp arrow, he swept his gaze over the ministers below the stage and said, "The Prime Minister feels that we should choose someone else to lead the troops. Then, I would like to ask, among the ministers below the stage, who is willing to lead the troops?"

His voice echoed throughout the court, but received no response. A dead silence fell from the audience, and the ministers seemed frozen in time, no one daring to respond.

In this silence, an upright minister stepped forward. He fixed the Prime Minister with a steadfast gaze and declared, "Your Majesty, the Grand General and the Junior General have fought for our dynasty for years, winning countless battles and thwarting countless foreign invasions. Their achievements are undeniable. Now, they are coming with meticulous preparations, deliberately invading our borders, and our dynasty is already short of troops. Despite this disadvantage, General Feng's family, a family of our dynasty's generals and queens, has loyally guarded our frontiers for generations. The Prime Minister, however, is now threatening to severely punish the Junior General for a minor offense and is even considering selecting someone else to lead the expedition. This clearly shows he is playing with the safety of our dynasty and completely disregarding the fate of the nation. What are your intentions?" The minister grew increasingly agitated, his body trembling slightly.

Jun Lingyuan sat on the dragon throne with a stern expression, as expressionless as a sculpture, making it difficult to glimpse his inner joy and anger.

"Does the Prime Minister have any evidence?" Jun Lingyuan asked coldly, his eyes like frost, shooting straight at the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister replied confidently: "Your Majesty, I have found several young generals in the army who can testify for me." As he spoke, the Prime Minister slightly turned sideways and raised his hand to signal the people below to bring those young generals up.

The subordinates hurriedly retreated after receiving the order. A moment later, the man returned in a panic, a look of terror on his face, whispering something in the prime minister's ear. The prime minister's face instantly turned pale, as if his soul had been suddenly drained away. The subordinates had informed him that the young generals had disappeared.

Jun Lingyuan noticed the change in the Prime Minister's expression, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, as if with a barely perceptible sneer, and said, "Prime Minister, where is your witness?"

The prime minister seemed to be suddenly awakened from a nightmare. He knelt heavily on the ground with a plop and said in panic: "Your Majesty, your humble servant... your humble servant doesn't know why those young generals suddenly disappeared. Someone must be secretly making trouble." His voice was obviously trembling, and beads of sweat the size of beans kept rolling down his forehead.

Jun Lingyuan snorted coldly, his voice filled with majesty. "Prime Minister, your actions truly disappoint me. I was grateful for your years of service to the court and wanted to give you a chance, but you remain unrepentant and have the audacity to frame your colleagues and play with the fate of the nation. Come, take the Prime Minister to jail and await your sentence."

After receiving the order, the soldiers quickly stepped forward, holding the Prime Minister on either side. The Prime Minister was like a powerless puppet, allowing the soldiers to drag him towards the prison.

Jun Lingyuan then said to the crowd, "Now that the Prime Minister has been taken to prison to reflect on his mistakes, I believe everyone knows what to do next."

After saying that, Jun Lingyuan looked at General Feng again and said, "General, the defense of the border is now in your hands."

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhanxiong took a step forward. His posture was as straight as a pine tree, his armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight. He knelt on one knee, his right fist clenched over his left chest, and spoke respectfully and firmly, "Your Majesty, protecting our dynasty is my family's mission, and I will live up to it! I swear on my life that I will keep the invading enemy at bay, ensuring the peace of our people and the eternal security of our country!" His eyes revealed unwavering determination and the courage to face death head-on.

Jun Lingyuan nodded slightly, looked at the officials with dignity again, and said loudly: "If you have something to report, please report it. If not, please dismiss the court."

Seeing this, the ministers knew that today's court affairs had been settled, and they all bowed respectfully and took their leave.

Jun Lingyuan was soon the only one left in the court. He sat on the dragon throne, eyes slightly closed. He knew that after today's events, while the Prime Minister had been temporarily imprisoned, the evidence he currently held was insufficient to completely bring down the Prime Minister and his faction. The Prime Minister's influence within the court was complex and intertwined, and there might be other forces secretly supporting him. It would take some time to completely resolve the Prime Minister's situation.

In the harem, the Queen Mother nearly fainted upon hearing the news. She sat on a chair, her body swaying, her face as pale as paper.