This son-in-law is wicked in a good way!

The Empress's gaze swept over the crowd.

Everyone was speechless.

Zhang, the censor who had previously impeached Wan Yu, felt particularly uncomfortable, as if he had swallowed a fly.

Before this statistical data, all excuses for embezzlement and holding positions without performing duties seem so pale and powerless.

Facts speak louder than words!

Anyone who dares to continue targeting Wan Yu at this time would truly be a complete idiot.

At this moment, the Left Chancellor stepped forward and bowed to the Empress, saying, "Your Majesty's talent is boundless! It is the prosperity of our court, the prosperity of the people, and the prosperity of the Great Martial Dynasty!"

"This memorial will be passed down through the ages, and Your Majesty's name will also be remembered for generations!"

The Left Prime Minister deliberately changed the subject.

But the Empress did not forget.

"Prime Minister Lu, what do you think Lord Wan should do?"

I'm forcing you to say it yourself.

All the ministers' eyes turned to the Left Chancellor.

The Left Prime Minister's face trembled slightly as he said in a deep voice, "Just as His Majesty said, Lord Wan has done nothing wrong."

"I misunderstood you, Lord Wan. Please forgive me!"

The Left Prime Minister was able to take it in stride and took the initiative to apologize to Wan Yu.

Even the Left Prime Minister relented, and the others quickly took the initiative to admit their mistakes.

"Your Majesty, this old minister was confused and misunderstood Lord Wan!"

"Lord Wan, I apologize to you!"

Immediately, all the officials apologized to Wan Yu.

Wan Yu was completely stunned.

Just a moment ago everyone was condemning them, but now they've suddenly become highly sought after?

Indeed, life is like a play, and it all depends on acting skills!

"My lords, there's no need for such formality. I cannot accept it!"

Wan Yu was not good with words; he was an honest official who only wanted to get things done. He found it too tiring to say even one more word to these sycophants.

Then, he kowtowed to the Empress: "Your subject, Wan Yu, kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's great favor!"

"I hereby swear that if I do not completely eradicate the Yellow River's flooding in my lifetime, I am willing to die in the Yellow River!"

He knew very well who had saved him.

Having no other way to repay the divine grace, he could only use his crippled body to do so.

The Empress suddenly smiled slightly: "Lord Wan, please wait. The person you should thank is not me."

Ok?

Everyone was taken aback.

Everyone looked at the Empress.

The Left Prime Minister's gaze sharpened, and I said, "I knew this statistical table wasn't something the Empress came up with."

Wan Yu, being an honest man, asked with doubt, "Your Majesty, then who should I thank? Wasn't this statistical table designed by Your Majesty?"

The Empress smiled without saying a word, then turned to Li De Kui: "Summon the great scholar Zhang to the palace!"

Li Dekui immediately shouted, "His Majesty has decreed that Zhang Xiaoru, the esteemed scholar of the Academy, be summoned to the palace!"

Upon hearing the words "academy," all the court officials frowned.

In an imperial court filled with scholars from the Imperial Academy, those from other academies were like geese among chickens.

They will be attacked by the masses.

Soon, Zhang Xiaoru, dressed in the academy's standard moon-white long gown, walked in with neither arrogance nor servility, his head held high and chest out.

"This humble subject, Zhang Xiaoru, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The Empress smiled and raised her hand: "Mr. Zhang, please rise!"

He turned his gaze to Wan Yu beside him: "Lord Wan, the statistics table was indeed prepared by Zhang Daru. The person you should thank is him."

Wan Yu was immediately startled and stood up to bow: "It's no wonder that such a miraculous statistical table was created by a great scholar of the academy."

"I am deeply grateful to Mr. Zhang for saving my life!"

? ?

The Empress's face darkened instantly, and she almost ordered Wan Yu to be dragged out and beheaded.

Is this even human language?

As if I can't even create a statistical table? Am I that incompetent?

Zhang Xiaoru remained outwardly composed and returned the greeting, saying, "You're too kind, Lord Wan!"

Actually, he was extremely panicked inside.

Peace be with you, I owe you another favor!

If it hadn't been pre-arranged with the Empress, Zhang Xiaoru would never have claimed credit for Zhang Ping'an's work.

The Empress pressed her advantage, suddenly saying, "Sun Guihua, the former Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, has died, and the position is now vacant. I intend for Zhang Xiaoru, a great Confucian scholar from the Academy, to take up the post of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel."

"Your Majesty! I give you my best advice!"

As soon as the Empress finished speaking, Imperial Censor Zhang cried out as if his mother had died and jumped out impatiently.

"Your Majesty, this is absolutely forbidden!"

The Empress suddenly nodded: "Minister Zhang is right."

???

Imperial Censor Zhang was confused.

I haven't even said anything yet, how come you're already in the right?

The others also looked confused.

What's wrong with Your Majesty? When did you become so easily swayed?

The Left Prime Minister and others frowned slightly.

They sensed that the Empress was on the verge of exploding.

Still bewildered, Imperial Censor Zhang asked, "Does Your Majesty also agree with what I said?"

The Empress nodded: "Of course. Minister Zhang may begin."

Begin? Begin what?

Imperial Censor Zhang was even more confused.

"What does Your Majesty wish me to begin?"

The Empress said in a serious tone, "To the death for remonstrance? Minister Zhang was shouting so loudly just now, wasn't he going to remonstrate to the death? I and all the civil and military officials heard it."

"Shall we begin, Zhang Aiqing?"

Imperial Censor Zhang broke out in a cold sweat. "I was just joking around. Isn't that how everyone does it? Your Majesty, why are you suddenly taking it so seriously?"

Zhang Xiaoru and Wan Yu forced themselves not to laugh out loud.

The Left Prime Minister and others frowned even more deeply.

Looking at the earnest Empress, Imperial Censor Zhang stammered, "Your Majesty, I..."

The Empress interrupted him directly: "Minister Zhang, a ruler's word is law!"

If Imperial Censor Zhang still can't understand, then he's lived such a long life in vain.

His Majesty is clearly establishing his authority, making an example of someone to scare others!

"Your Majesty, I believe that with Zhang Daru's talent, serving as the mere Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel is a waste of his abilities. He should be appointed, should be appointed, Minister of Personnel!"

At this moment, Imperial Censor Zhang's will to survive was at its peak.

Minister of Personnel Kong Wenxuan glared at him fiercely, flicked his sleeves, and snorted.

You're being rude and dragging me into this mess!

The Empress laughed: "Minister Zhang, you jest. Minister Kong of the Ministry of Personnel has done nothing wrong. How can you arbitrarily find someone to replace him?"

"Your Majesty is absolutely right; it was this old minister who spoke presumptuously." Imperial Censor Zhang secretly wiped away his cold sweat, knowing that his old life was spared.

"Does any of my ministers have any objections?" The Empress's gaze swept over the crowd.

No one dared to speak.

They didn't want to follow in Zhang Yushi's footsteps since he didn't die.

Many people's eyes were all on the Left Prime Minister.

He was one of the leaders of the students at the Imperial Academy, and he felt it was his duty to stand up against the academy.

As expected, the Left Chancellor stepped forward and said calmly, "Your Majesty, the Provincial Governor of Qingzhou has retired to his hometown. I recommend someone who can take over the position."

"Who is it?" The Empress looked at Lu Chongyang.

"Li Chun, Academician of the Hanlin Academy"

The Empress twitched her lips. Sure enough, Li Chun was a staunch supporter of the scholars at the Imperial Academy.

This is the price paid for Zhang Xiaoru's appointment as head of the Ministry of Personnel.

"Granted."

The Empress also understood that if they didn't give them some tangible benefits, they would definitely continue to obstruct Zhang Xiaoru from entering the Ministry of Personnel.

Consider this the exchange terms between the two parties!

The Left Chancellor turned and smiled at Zhang Xiaoru: "Congratulations, Mr. Zhang, on entering officialdom! From now on, we will serve in the same court and share His Majesty's burdens!"

Having received the benefits, the Left Prime Minister directly expressed his stance.

Congratulations, Lord Zhang!

The court officials followed suit.

But then, an untimely voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, I feel this is inappropriate!"

General Gao Changlin, the mighty general, lifted his brass armor, strode forward, and bowed to the Empress with clasped hands.