The empress disliked my achievements for overshadowing her own, so she turned her attention to the N

In the Northern Wei Dynasty, in the Imperial Garden, at Chen Nan's urging, the Empress Dowager chose to temporarily spare Changsun Du's life.

When Chen Nan told Changsun Du the news, the latter's aged face smiled like a chrysanthemum.

The next morning, Chen Nan got up very early. He remembered that the Empress Dowager had specifically instructed him the day before.

The envoy from Western Shu will arrive in Northern Wei early this morning, and as the Prince of Zhennan and the Left Chancellor, he naturally has to uphold the prestige of Northern Wei.

He specially changed into a black python robe bestowed by the emperor, with a large banner draped behind him and a sword at his waist, looking quite imposing.

With the arrival of the envoy from Western Shu, the security of the Wei capital has become even more stringent.

To ensure the safety of the envoy, Chen Nan specially arranged for Mo Bai to guard the Weidu government office day and night.

His safety was naturally the responsibility of Wu Xu.

Chen Nan planned to bring Wu Xu with him to the court this time.

Firstly, the two men have been with him for quite some time, and it's time to seek official positions for them.

Secondly, it would also allow the two men to gain exposure among the court officials, making future reforms easier.

However, because Mo Bai also had to take care of the security issues in Wei Capital, only he and Wu Xu went to court together this time.

After they finished getting ready, the two walked towards the palace, one after the other.

When the two arrived outside the Fengtian Hall, the eunuch outside the door announced their arrival.

Chen Nan led Wu Xu into the hall.

As soon as he entered, Chen Nan noticed that today's morning court session was different from usual.

All the officials, both civil and military, had changed into brand-new clothes, and the military officers all had a hint of murderous intent on their faces.

Meanwhile, the civil officials also looked unforgiving.

Chen Nan felt that this was making a mountain out of a molehill. No matter what, Western Shu was a defeated country and did not deserve such treatment.

However, he did not offer any advice, but instead watched everything silently.

When he reached the head of the military officers, he was met with Hongming's resentful gaze.

Chen Nan smiled wryly. It seemed that Hongming hadn't gotten over yesterday's emotions yet.

Chen Nan had no choice but to pretend he hadn't seen anything and close his eyes to doze off.

Wu Xu followed slowly behind Chen Nan, and when he saw Hong Ming, he gave an embarrassed smile and closed his eyes as well.

Hongming was filled with resentment, and with her murderous gaze, she had no one to vent her anger on, so she could only stomp her feet hard in frustration.

A short while later, a shrill, hoarse voice boomed, "Attend court!"

Chen Nan slowly opened his eyes and met the solemn Empress Dowager on the dragon throne.

"Do any of you have anything to report?" The Empress Dowager ignored Chen Nan and directly asked the court officials.

The vast hall fell into an eerie silence as the Empress Dowager finished speaking.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from among the civil officials: "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present!"

The Empress Dowager blinked, glanced at the civil officials, and finally fixed her gaze on Qin Qingmin.

"Oh? What does Qin Academy have to report?"

Qin Qingmin strode to the center of the hall and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I have heard that a group of bandits has recently appeared on the border of Lecheng."

"Those bandits, using Chen Sheng's name, have been causing trouble around Lecheng, which has long aroused public anger."

"We urge Your Majesty to make a decision on this matter as soon as possible!"

After he finished speaking, the Empress Dowager squinted and looked Qin Qingmin up and down.

The generals also glared at him angrily.

Originally, he reported this matter with good intentions.

However, he made a mistake: he was a civil official, while this kind of thing belonged to the military.

Now that Qin Qingmin has taken over all the military affairs, where does that leave the face of the generals of Northern Wei?

The next second, one of the military officers shouted, "Qin Qingmin, are you fucking bored?"

"Don't we military officers report this kind of thing to the authorities? Who gave you, an academy dean, the right to report it?"

The one who spoke was Qingyu. Today, Qingyu was wearing dark red armor, giving off a gloomy feeling.

Add to that his fiery eyes and his vulgar, offensive language.

Qin Qingmin took two steps back and began to play the victim before the Empress Dowager: "Empress Dowager, I am only thinking about the development of Northern Wei."

"I only dared to submit this report because I saw that none of the generals of Northern Wei had mentioned this matter. I had no other intentions!"

The Empress Dowager maintained her cold expression: "It's alright, this is not Qin Academy's fault."

Then, she changed the subject: "I have a question, and I wonder if Academy Qin can answer it for me?"

"Your Majesty, I will speak frankly and without reservation."

Qin Qingmin rarely showed a smile, and his respectful expression remained unchanged.

The Empress Dowager held her forehead with one hand and said with difficulty, "I was unaware that bandits were causing trouble in Lecheng and arousing public anger."

"May I ask how the Qin Academy came to know?"

"Could it be that all matters, big and small, in the Northern Wei Dynasty must first go through the Qin Academy before they can be processed?"

With just one sentence, Qin Qingmin's legs went weak with fear, and he knelt down without hesitation, saying, "Please, Your Majesty, investigate this matter!"

"I am merely sharing the Empress Dowager's burdens. All matters, big and small, in Northern Wei are naturally decided by the Empress Dowager!"

The Empress Dowager stood up abruptly, pointed at Qin Qingmin who was kneeling on the ground, and shouted, "Qin Qingmin, do you know your crime?"

"Your Majesty, please understand! What crime have I committed?" Qin Qingmin was dumbfounded. He had only submitted a memorial, yet he had been dragged into the center of the vortex.

Below, Chen Nan sneered. He knew that the Empress Dowager was exerting her influence.

He said yesterday that Qin Qingmin has a mysterious force behind him.

He just hadn't expected the Empress Dowager's probing to be so direct and so swift.

"Qin Qingmin, even now, you still dare to speak so arrogantly!" The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the dragon table.

"Qin Qingmin, as the dean of Longtu Academy, you don't care about the training of officials in Northern Wei, but instead focus all your attention on the banditry within Northern Wei territory."

"Does Qin Academy feel that the position I have given you is too low and does not match Qin Academy's noble status?"

"If Qin Xueyuan has any ideas, he can just say them. I am not such an unreasonable person."

"At worst, I'll have the young emperor abdicate, and then you, Qin Qingmin, can sit on the throne of Northern Wei, how about that?"

The Empress Dowager's tone grew louder and her momentum more and more intense.

Qin Qingmin lowered his head further and further, and the cold sweat on his forehead increased.

He knew his own limitations; even if the throne of Northern Wei changed hands, it wouldn't be his, Qin Qingmin's, turn to sit on it.

Then Qin Qingmin's voice, barely loud, rang out: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I only discovered the serious bandit problem in Lecheng by chance."

"As soon as I learned of this matter, I immediately reported it to the Empress Dowager."

"We urge Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly and not disappoint us!"

After Qin Qingmin finished speaking, the voices of the civil officials pleaded at the same time: "Your Majesty, Qin Qingmin is also wholeheartedly for the development of Northern Wei!"

"No one discovered the banditry in Lecheng, but Qin Academy was the first to find it."

"Not only did the Empress Dowager not reward us, but she also blamed Qin Xueyuan. This has truly chilled the hearts of us civil officials!"