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

"I have no doubts about the matter of embezzlement."

Dugu Tai shook his head, but then changed his tone and said with an iron face, "Even if we can't find out that Chu Xiu has embezzled or accepted bribes."

However, Chu Xiu's unauthorized order to arrest Zhang, the censor, was still an abuse of power and a frame-up of a loyal official!

He looked at Chu Xiu and questioned him sharply, "Chu Xiu, how do you explain this?"

Murong Si's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly as she turned her gaze to Chu Xiu, her eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and doubt.

All the officials, both civil and military, turned their gazes toward Chu Xiu, eager to see how he would explain himself.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Wenqing, the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, has been corrupt, abused his power, and framed loyal officials. My Northern Garrison has obtained all the evidence, which is why he has been arrested and brought to justice."

"We were just about to report to His Majesty after Zhang Wenqing confessed his crimes and accepted punishment."

Chu Xiu smiled calmly, cupped his hands in greeting to Murong Si, and said with a serious expression.

"..."

Upon hearing this, both Murong Si and the civil and military officials were stunned.

These three charges were originally brought by Dugu Tai to impeach Chu Xiu.

But now Chu Xiu is using it on Zhang Wenqing?

The civil and military officials couldn't help but murmur amongst themselves.

Could Zhang Wenqing, this model of integrity in the Great Zhou Dynasty, really be such a model of integrity?

Dugu Tai's eyes narrowed, his brows furrowed, and a complex, indescribable emotion welled up within him.

Right now!

A soldier from the Imperial Guard entered and bowed to Murong Si, saying, "Your Majesty, Fang Heng, a centurion of the Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, has come to pay his respects to Lord Chu. Shall we allow him to enter?"

Murong Si looked at Chu Xiu, as if seeking his opinion.

"Your Majesty, Fang Heng has come here because the Zhang Wenqing case has been settled, and he has come to report this."

Chu Xiu cupped his hands in greeting to Murong Si and spoke calmly.

"Okay, bring Fang Heng in."

A knowing glint flashed in Murong Siqing's eyes, and she nodded slightly.

"As ordered."

The Imperial Guard soldiers responded and quickly left.

Not long after.

The Imperial Guards led Fang Heng in.

"Fang Heng, Imperial Guard, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Fang Heng entered the courtyard and bowed respectfully to Murong Si.

"No courtesy, stay on your own."

Murong Si spoke in a gentle yet authoritative voice.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After expressing his gratitude, Fang Heng stood up.

"But Zhang Wenqing has already confessed and accepted punishment?"

Murong Si nodded slightly, her sharp gaze fixed on Fang Heng.

"Your Majesty, this is all the evidence that Zhang Wenqing has confessed his crimes and accepted punishment. Please take a look."

Fang Heng took out a booklet from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

Murong Si took the booklet, carefully flipped through a few pages, and her face immediately turned ashen. She said angrily, "These corrupt officials actually have the nerve to call themselves models of integrity. They are truly shameless!"

If it weren't for Minister Chu exposing him, I would still be kept in the dark!

Absolutely despicable!

At this moment, all the civil and military officials understood that the matter of impeaching Chu Xiu had come to an end.

"Minister Chu, you have been wronged."

Murong Si handed the booklet back to Fang Heng, looked at Chu Xiu with sincere eyes, and said earnestly.

"Your Majesty, I am not wronged."

"But those who impeached me framed me without any evidence!"

"It is not only a crime of deceiving the emperor, but also a violation of the proper order of our Great Zhou Dynasty."

"From now on, will the censors and officials in the imperial court be free to arbitrarily smear and slander the loyal ministers of my Great Zhou Dynasty?"

"Such malpractices must be severely punished without exception. Your Majesty, please impose a heavy penalty!"

Chu Xiu cupped his hands in greeting, but his tone became serious as he spoke.

The expressions of the civil and military officials changed drastically.

They never expected Chu Xiu to take things so seriously and label the matter with such a serious accusation!

This is Chu Xiu starting his counterattack!

"Minister Chu is absolutely right. Such unhealthy practices must be severely punished!"

Murong Si's expression also turned serious, and she said in a deep voice.

Suddenly, a crisp slap rang out.

A bright red handprint immediately appeared on Chen Wenli's cheek, and half of his cheek quickly swelled up.

"Chen Wenli, you despicable man!"

Enraged, Dugu Tai rolled up his sleeves and slapped Chen Wenli across the face. "I only wronged Lord Chu because I believed your slander."

"I'll beat you to death, you little bastard..."

As he spoke, Dugu Tai unleashed a barrage of punches on Chen Wenli, beating him mercilessly while straddling him in front of Chu Xiu, Murong Si, and the entire court of officials.

Chen Wenli was beaten and screamed in pain.

Murong Si was stunned, a chill running through her heart.

This ginger is indeed spicier when it's old.

Dugu Tai is shifting all the blame onto Chen Wenli.

Chu Xiu raised an eyebrow and gave Dugu Tai a deep look.

That old guy reacted really quickly, immediately putting forward a scapegoat.

Those who have stood firm in the court for many years, and even become regents and cabinet ministers, are indeed not simple people.

They're all real old foxes.

"Lord Dugu, I've been wronged..."

Chen Wenli cried out in agony, "Ouch, Elder Dugu, please be gentle! I truly have no ulterior motives whatsoever, heaven and earth bear witness... Your Majesty, I am innocent..."

"Ahem, alright, this is outrageous!"

"Don't let people laugh at us, my dear Dugu, get up quickly."

Murong Si was both amused and exasperated, and ordered the Imperial Guards to lift Dugu Tai up.

"Hmph, for His Majesty's sake, I'll spare your life for now!"

"If you dare to spout nonsense again, I'll beat you to death!"

Dugu Tai snorted coldly at Chen Wenli, then kicked him again, still not satisfied.

"Yes... I will remember, I will remember."

Chen Wenli's head was swollen like a pig's head, and he spoke incoherently.

"Although Minister Dugu listened to the slander of the censor Chen Wenli, he still cannot go unpunished."

"He was fined three years' salary as punishment."

Murong Si pondered for a moment before speaking eloquently.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your divine grace."

Dugu Tai said with tears of gratitude.

"Censor Chen Wenli has falsely accused Minister Chu out of thin air. He may be spared the death penalty, but he will not escape punishment!"

He was given one hundred strokes of the cane and demoted to the post of postmaster of Beidi County in Liangzhou.

Murong Si said coldly.

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me..."

Chen Wenli's face showed fear as he knelt down before Murong Si, begging for mercy repeatedly.

Liangzhou was a border region of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The postmaster was an even lower-ranking official.

If you go to Liangzhou, you could be lost forever at any time.

How could he not be afraid?

"Take him away and give him one hundred strokes of the cane!"

A hint of disdain flashed across Murong Siqing's eyes as she waved her hand and said.

"Yes."

Two Imperial Guardsmen stepped forward, grabbed Chen Wenli from the left and right, and dragged him away.

Soon, the sound of canes striking each other could be heard from outside.

Murong Si's cold gaze then fell upon the remaining twelve censors.

After all, it wasn't just Dugu Tai and Chen Wenli who impeached Chu Xiu.

Upon seeing Murong Si's gaze, the twelve censors immediately trembled with fear.

After all, Chen Wenli had gone from a powerful and prestigious official in the Ministry of Rites to a lowly post station manager.

The lesson of Chen Wenli is right before their eyes!