The poorest member of the Imperial Guard, the Empress begged me to embezzle.

"presumptuous!"

"Lord Yang is devoted to the public good and has worked tirelessly for our Great Zhou Dynasty. How dare you slander him like this!"

Empress Murong Si's face was ashen as she coldly rebuked her.

"Your Majesty, I dare not. Please forgive me."

Ma Yong's face changed drastically. He prostrated himself on the ground, trembling as he spoke.

Upon seeing this scene, all the civil and military officials felt a sense of surprise and doubt.

Could it be that Murong Si and Yang Yan reached some kind of agreement?

Otherwise, why would Murong Si protect Yang Yan?

Shouldn't we take this opportunity to capture Yang Yan?

The five cabinet ministers—Zhao Duo, Minister of Personnel; Cui Yu, Minister of War; Zheng Yun, Minister of Works; Dugu Tai, Minister of Justice; and Yuan Chongli, Minister of Revenue—had already understood Murong Si's meaning.

Under normal circumstances, Murong Si would not address Yang Yan as Lord Yang.

The name "Yang Gong" says it all.

Deep in their eyes, there was a hint of ambition.

Who wouldn't want to be the Grand Secretary of the Great Zhou Dynasty?

Becoming the Grand Secretary would bring enormous benefits to the factions they represented.

"Get out!"

Murong Si said with a cold expression.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

Ma Yong breathed a sigh of relief, a look of immense relief on his face, and slowly returned to his seat.

"Yang Gong sent someone to deliver his resignation letter last night."

"He resigned from his positions as Grand Secretary and Minister of Rites."

"I have already granted permission!"

Murong Si said calmly.

All of a sudden.

The entire imperial court was once again thrown into turmoil!

Whether they were high-ranking officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty who were expected to become Minister of Rites, or cabinet members who wanted to compete for the position of Grand Secretary, their minds were all restless.

"However, I am not planning to appoint a new Minister of Rites or a new Grand Secretary for the time being."

"All affairs of the Ministry of Rites will be temporarily handled by the Left and Right Vice Ministers."

"Do my esteemed ministers have anything else to discuss?"

Murong Si said calmly.

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials fell silent.

After all, this news today has already shaken all the officials, and they have no mind to talk about anything else.

"Since you ministers have nothing else to say, let's adjourn the court."

Murong Si slowly rose and strode out of the Golden Palace with the grace of a dragon and the gait of a tiger.

"Retreat from the court..."

Jiang Wan'er shouted loudly.

After shouting, she and Pei Guanyin quickly followed Murong Si and left the Golden Palace together.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully bid you farewell. Long live Your Majesty."

The civil and military officials knelt down and shouted in unison.

The headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir..."

Li Jingtian, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Nie Kuangren, the Commander of the Northern Garrison, Ximen Jue, the Commander of the Southern Garrison, Fang Heng, the Grand Commander of the Jingtian Guard, Pei Shiji, the Grand Commander of the Jingxian Guard, Luo Tianxi, the Grand Commander of the Jingshen Guard, and others congratulated Chu Xiu in unison, who was dressed in a bullfighting outfit and looked dashing and extraordinary.

"No gift."

Chu Xiu smiled gently and said.

"Thank you, sir."

Everyone thanked them.

"Li Jingtian, have you looked at the Seven Killers organization's files?"

Chu Xiu nodded slightly and looked at Li Jingtian.

"Your Excellency, I have already reviewed it."

Li Jingtian said with a solemn expression.

All eyes turned to Chu Xiu, and they had already guessed that Chu Xiu must have already entered the palace to meet the emperor.

Otherwise, Empress Murong Si would not have promoted Chu Xiu to the position of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, officially putting him in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and bestowing upon him a bullfighting robe.

So they wanted to know whether to keep the Seven Killings organization or to wipe it out.

"Since you've already seen it."

"Then you should know the identities of the other six hall masters of the Seven Killings Organization."

"You are in charge of sending someone to notify the six hall masters of the Seven Killings Organization to come to the capital to see me."

Chu Xiu pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty can give them a way out."

However, they must work for our Embroidered Uniform Guard and for His Majesty!

They can also choose not to come!

If they don't come, then our Great Zhou Dynasty will completely wipe them out!

Let them choose for themselves: do they want to live, or do they want to die?

However, you must remember one thing.

Their identities must never be known to anyone; they must never be exposed!

Their continued secrecy is even more beneficial to our Imperial Guards!

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jingtian spoke with a solemn expression.

"Let's set it for midnight tomorrow night at our Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters."

"Whoever doesn't come can die!"

Chu Xiu said calmly.

"My subordinate understands."

Li Jingtian said respectfully.

"Alright, that's all. Go and get on with your business."

Chu Xiu stood up, took a step, and disappeared into the hall.

"Congratulations, my lord."

Li Jingtian and the others bowed with utmost respect.

Time flies.

Before I knew it, it was evening.

Youzhou, the Prefectural Commandant's Office.

"Master, this old servant has urgent business to discuss with you."

Xiong Yun, the steward of the Prefectural Commandant's Office, appeared out of thin air outside the main hall of the Prefectural Commandant's Office and bowed respectfully.

"Come in."

A tall, imposing middle-aged man with a straight posture, handsome face, and a touch of heroic spirit between his brows was sitting in the main hall of the prefectural governor's office, handling affairs.

This man is none other than Xiong Tiandu, the Commandant of Youzhou and General Yangwei!

He was a truly extraordinary figure in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, each prefecture had a provincial commandant specifically in charge of military affairs.

Whether it's a border state or an ordinary state, there is always a governor.

However, each border state has a governor, who is the chief administrator of the state.

Therefore, although the governor is nominally the person in charge of the troops in a province, he is still suppressed by the governor of the province.

Even a governor of a prefecture cannot attack a prefectural commander without cause.

It was even necessary to obtain the consent of the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, otherwise it would be considered an attempt to rebel.

"My lord, news has come from the capital."

Xiong Yun whispered to Xiong Tiandu, "Our master's identity has been exposed, and he has been killed by Yan Qingfeng, the Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Observatory."

"Zhang Yue is dead?"

Xiong Tiandu's eyes lit up, showing no trace of sadness, but rather a flame of ambition. He looked intently at Xiong Yun and said, "He's dead. Have our identities been exposed?"

Zhang Yue, as the master of the Seven Killings Hall, is the strongest.

Therefore, even though his status in the Great Zhou Dynasty was actually above Zhang Yue's, he could only be subordinate to Zhang Yue.

But now Zhang Yue is dead.

Among the remaining six hall masters of the Seven Killings Organization, he is the strongest and has the highest status.

Doesn't that mean he has the opportunity to completely control the entire Seven Kills organization?

Thinking of this, even Xiong Tiandu, the governor of Youzhou, couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

If he could control the entire Seven Kills organization, perhaps he could even seize the position of Governor of Youzhou, which is the position of General Manager of Youzhou!

Although this is Youzhou, the territory of the Zhao family of Liaodong.

Zhao Yan, the governor of Youzhou, was no easy man to deal with.

However, opportunities may still exist!