I, who disguised myself as a woman, turned out to be a queen! ?

Chapter 1235 The Empress Insults Without Using Vulgar Language

There are many sleepless nights, but those that are so terrifying that they keep people awake are extremely rare.

And tonight.

Destined to be sleepless.

That unwritten rule in the officialdom of the Great Xia Dynasty.

If you offend the Emperor, go to the Empress and ask her to intercede on your behalf.

But if you offend the Empress, you're finished; you've offended the Emperor as well.

All officials remember this rule clearly in their hearts.

But as time went on, some simple-minded people seemed to forget the identity of the Empress, who was always laughing and friendly.

His empress was very kind.

But they forgot that the Empress was simply too lazy to attend court with the Emperor. Otherwise, with both emperors in court, the Phoenix Seal would also have the power of life and death.

After the corpses were carried out of the palace, they were sent to the residences of the deceased's owners, accompanied by the Crimson Cloud Army, as well as officials from the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice, and the Jingzhao Prefecture.

The messages seemed to have been sent out intentionally, not blocked at all, and quickly spread throughout the various residences.

The sound of the wind is roaring.

All the mansions were closed.

The officials in the court sat quietly in the main hall of their respective residences, waiting.

The location of the Lingqi Pavilion within the palace.

Ruyu and Kuangjuan were wiping the bloodstains outside the courtyard with buckets of water in their hands.

There wasn't much blood, because immediately after he died, the Imperial Guards rushed forward and carried him away, fearing it would soil the Emperor and Empress's residence.

But the atmosphere in Lingqi Pavilion was more somber and somber than ever before.

Xun Kuang was taking notes in the lobby.

Mu Xu and Li Lingyun, the Grand Master of the Censorate, looked at the evidence of crimes taken out of the box.

As the saying goes, some things are nothing without weighing them, but once weighed, they can weigh a ton.

Especially the things behind the scenes of officials serving in other places.

Mu Xu and Li Lingyun watched, their anger still burning.

Lu Qingxu from the Ministry of Justice, Li Endi, the Vice Minister, Dugu Ruyuan from the Court of Judicial Review, Zhuo Wen, the Junior Minister, and Luo Anxu from the Jingzhao Prefecture were all on the side, counting and recording each case one by one.

Su Ziyu and Wei Jiu assisted from the side.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, the last piece of evidence has been verified with the officials involved in the case." Lu Qingxu stepped forward and bowed to Su Chang'an and Xia Fengxiang.

Su Chang'an nodded slightly and then glanced at Xia Fengxiang.

Xia Fengxiang stood up without making a sound, with Su Chang'an supporting him.

Upon seeing His Majesty and the Empress rise, the officials in the hall all stood up, not daring to remain seated.

Seeing this, Su Chang'an smiled and said, "You can all just sit here. You must be tired. I've asked Xunxia and the others to prepare some easily digestible late-night snacks for us to eat together later."

Mu Xu and the others quickly bowed in gratitude.

The officials in the hall had all witnessed the battlefield, so they were indifferent to the deaths.

What happened tonight truly shocked them.

Mu Xu was now sober, clutching a scroll tightly in his hand.

Seeing the Empress looking at him, Mu Xu chuckled.

Su Chang'an smiled lightly and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Grand Master. You were drinking when we called you here."

Upon hearing this, Mu Xu immediately bowed and said, "This old minister dares not. I was only moved by Your Majesty's 'Ode to a Humble Abode' and thus had a few sips of wine."

Su Chang'an looked at Mu Xu: "Lin Han is willing to let you see her?"

Mu Xu immediately shook his head: "Su Wenqing only read a couple of sentences. Lin Han is too obedient to her grandfather."

Su Chang'an smiled gently and walked out of the courtyard gate with Xia Fengxiang.

Swish!
The officials outside, whose crimes did not warrant death, were already trembling with fear. Unlike Mu Xu and others in the main hall, who were righteous and fearless, they were all extremely nervous.

Especially after watching one person after another die under that sword, I almost peed myself.

Upon seeing His Majesty and the Empress emerge, they immediately knelt on the ground, their foreheads pressed to the earth, not daring to utter a sound.

Su Chang'an looked at them: "Your crimes do not warrant death, but the matter is not over yet. What those people did for Shen Yuanhao, you should explain clearly when the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review interrogate you."

Everyone responded immediately in unison, "We would never dare to conceal anything."

Su Chang'an turned around and said, "Don't leave yet. Shen Yuanhao has been waiting for a while. Let's all listen to what he has to say."

Everyone remained surprisingly in unison: "Yes."

Xia Fengxiang looked at them, wanting to curse them, but he held back, only coldly saying, "It is the Empress's mercy that I did not kill you. If I were to interrogate you tonight, it would not be like this!"

Upon hearing this, the officials trembled and immediately said, "Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty! Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!"

Su Chang'an glanced at Xia Fengxiang.

Xia Fengxiang glared at these people with a look of disappointment and frustration. Even though none of them had committed murder, the severity of their crimes varied. But one thing was certain: Xia Fengxiang had already made a decision in his heart.

Never hire again!

Su Chang'an, holding Xia Fengxiang's hand, looked at She Yue beside him and said, "Let Lu Cai bring her over."

I clasp my hands in a gesture of respect.

Upon seeing that the Empress had returned with His Majesty, the officials outside immediately breathed a sigh of relief, but remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to make the slightest careless move.

Shen Yuanhao had actually arrived long ago, but since the case was being heard here, Su Chang'an had Lu Cai leave him in the courtyard where they were waiting and lock him up for the time being.

Therefore, after Su Chang'an helped Xia Fengxiang sit comfortably on the cushion, Lu Cai and She Yue brought Shen Yuanhao over. Shen Yuanhao was still as refined as ever, but his clothes were a little dirty.

Upon seeing him, Su Ziyu clenched her fists and then sighed.

He met Shen Pei, and although he didn't understand why such an ambitious person would side with the Eighth Prince, and later even escape to the northern desert.

However, after the emperor issued an edict, Shen Pei was exonerated, and everything was made public.

Su Ziyu then learned what Shen Pei had been doing while bearing the infamy.

The virtues of an ancient gentleman were exemplified only by Shen Pei.

but.
Seeing his younger brother doing these things, Su Ziyu couldn't help but feel annoyed.

Shen Yuanhao looked at Su Chang'an and Xia Fengxiang, bowed and clasped his hands: "Shen Pei's younger brother greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."

After saying this, he looked at everyone in the hall and said, "Greetings, Your Excellencies."

Su Chang'an looked at Shen Yuanhao: "Lu Cai said that there are some things you can only say in front of me and His Majesty?"

Shen Yuanhao replied, "Your Majesty, that is so. However, I wonder if I may ask His Majesty and Your Majesty a question."

Li Lingyun stood up and scolded, "Shen Yuanhao! Don't forget your manners!"

Shen Yuanhao looked at Li Lingyun and smiled, "Lord Li, in officialdom, etiquette is important. But I am a dying man, no longer an official, so why should I pretend to be polite?"

Before Li Lingyun could speak, Xun Kuang quickly stopped him.

Xia Fengxiang was leaning against the cushion looking at the other memorials in his hands when he glanced at Shen Yuanhao.

Su Chang'an looked at him and said, "I also have a question."

Shen Yuanhao paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I will certainly inform you and His Majesty about that matter."

Su Chang'an waved his hand: "I knew you would definitely tell us. I knew it from the moment you took out these boxes and saw how His Majesty and I would deal with these people. But what I want to ask you is, where do you get the nerve to call yourself Shen Pei's brother!"

boom!
Shen Yuanhao felt a sinking feeling in his heart, and his knees buckled and he knelt down uncontrollably.

Moreover, the direction they were kneeling towards was not towards Su Chang'an and Xia Fengxiang, but towards the north.

“I told you the night before last, stop bringing up Mr. Shen, you’re not worthy. Have you forgotten?” Su Chang’an looked at Shen Yuanhao.

Shen Yuanhao was breathing heavily. He wanted to turn his head to look at Su Chang'an and Xia Fengxiang, but found that he couldn't move at all, so he laughed, "How does Your Majesty know that I am not worthy! If I am not worthy, where did these incriminating evidence come from, and how could I, as a mere warehouse keeper, command so many high-ranking officials! Although my actions are not as good as my brother's, in terms of talent, I surpass him by a thousand times!"

"Insolence!" Mu Xu stood up, pointing at Shen Yuanhao: "I taught you to focus on your work, but you are shallow-minded, arrogant despite your lack of talent. That's why you're only a Vice Minister of the Imperial Guards! Shen Pei is humble. Years ago, I recommended him to His Majesty, but I also believed I lacked the talent and dared not serve in the Thirteen Valiant Guards, fearing I might mislead others. And do you know you can't even be a Vice Minister of the Imperial Guards? Your brother died for the country, and His Majesty only gave you the position because of his memory! And look at what you've done!"

Shen Yuanhao looked at Mu Xu: "Teacher, then tell me, why am I able to control so many officials and use them for my own purposes! And right under your noses! Among them is even Hu Youxian, whom you highly regard!"

Su Chang'an said, "You had some people fall into your trap, and you had people watching their every move. If they made the slightest mistake, it would be a handle in your hands. You can do that? Heh, you've used the idea of ​​'cause and effect' to completely brainwash yourself."

Xia Fengxiang closed the memorial in his hand and looked at Shen Yuanhao: "Tell me what you have done in your position as Vice Minister of the Imperial Guard."

Shen Yuanhao laughed: "What can an official who watches over the warehouse and counts weapons do? Does His Majesty expect me to polish weapons and armor every day?"

Su Chang'an said, "There's a guy named Yan Shu, now known as Yan the Stutterer. A while ago, he confessed his feelings to Gu Chiyu, and he stuttered. I heard that people jokingly called him the Stuttering Scholar. You should know him, right?"

Shen Yuanhao spoke up: "Yan Sanwen, I know."

Su Chang'an said, "He works as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, which is basically just looking after the palace library. He's a minor official. Occasionally, if he's lucky, he can be seconded out to help with some tasks, but most of the time he stays in the library of the Hanlin Academy. What do you think of his position?"

Shen Yuanhao couldn't turn to look at Su Chang'an, but seemed to sense something and smiled, "Your Majesty compares me to Yan Shu?"

Su Chang'an shook his head: "You're not worthy."

Su Chang'an continued, "He was there, always reading, and he organized the chaotic library into an orderly manner. In the past, whether it was His Majesty or me, we always had to ask a day in advance to find a book so that the palace staff could easily find it there. But now, we only need to give a heads-up, and it will be delivered in no time because he has categorized the classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections. He can do a good job as a librarian, while you, as a fifth-rank official in the Imperial Guard, have accomplished nothing! That is why Yan Shu was able to become the top scholar, while you couldn't even get into the second-ranked list."

In conclusion, Su Chang'an waved his hand.

Shen Yuanhao felt he could move again, and immediately looked at Su Chang'an and Xia Fengxiang while panting heavily: "Your Majesty, I am not Yan Shu!"

Su Chang'an looked at Shen Yuanhao: "I know, I just mentioned Yan Shu to give you a mirror to see your true colors. Anyway, at this point, it doesn't matter whether you have talent or not, and nobody cares. Alright, ask your questions. After you're done, quickly tell me about what you've been hiding, and then I'll send you back."

Xun Kuang raised his eyes and glanced at Su Chang'an.

My goodness! The Empress doesn't usually scold or hit people; she just teases them.

This is an insult without using any swear words.

What a powerful analogy to mentioning Yan Shu! It's like having a mirror that reveals all the truth!

This must be even more painful than beating up Shin Won-ho.

Scholars, proud of their talents, are most afraid of being outshone by younger generations.

Shen Yuanhao is so arrogant, yet when the Empress brought up Yan Shu, she just said it in such a nonchalant tone. Tsk tsk.

Xun Kuang lowered his head and stole a glance at Shen Yuanhao.

Oh dear, look at that complexion.

The way the Empress looks tonight is incredible, absolutely incredible.

Shen Yuanhao laughed heartily, looking at Su Chang'an: "This is the first time I've seen such a Your Highness. But since Your Highness has said so, then I, Shen, would like to ask His Majesty."

As he spoke, Shen Yuanhao looked at Xia Fengxiang: "Your Majesty! I would like to ask, you have no children, and you have publicly stated that you will not take male concubines. What do you think the future of our Great Xia will be?! How many people will be loyal to an emperor who has no offspring and cannot establish an heir?!"

Shen Yuanhao pointed at Xun Kuang and the others in the main hall, "Will they still be loyal to you in the future? What good is your current strength? What good is it if you adopt other members of the royal family? My Great Xia..."

Xia Fengxiang yawned, interrupting Shen Yuanhao, "Is that all you want to ask?"

Shen Yuanhao was taken aback: "His Majesty has no heir, and Great Xia has no future! This matter..."

Xia Fengxiang said, "You really have no talent."

……

P.S.: I was busy with family matters all afternoon, including the matter of taking leave a couple of days ago, so I'm only updating this evening. Sorry.

The other update will be in the morning or evening, while I eat a meal.

(End of this chapter)