When I stopped licking, the lady panicked.

"Wait a minute!"

Just then, the Left Chancellor Luo Zongfu suddenly spoke.

"Luo Zongfu, do you also intend to rebel?" The Empress glared at Luo Zongfu and shouted.

Luo Zongfu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have also heard about the actions of the Imperial Brother-in-law."

"After my investigation, it has been confirmed that the Imperial Uncle has indeed been abusing his power and influence in recent years, taking advantage of his status as a member of the imperial family, committing heinous crimes, rape, and plunder, which has seriously damaged the prestige of the imperial family."

"Therefore, I believe that since Lin Xuan has the authority to act first and report later, his actions should not be punished, but rather rewarded."

The Empress laughed in anger, saying, "He killed my brother, and you want His Majesty to reward him? Luo Zongfu, you must have received a bribe from Lin Xuan, right?"

Luo Zongfu said, "Your humble servant has always spoken frankly."

Xiao Zhan said, "Since Zuo believes Lin Xuan's words, why not let Lin Xuan take out the dragon-headed sword bestowed by the late emperor?"

"The one who truly holds the power to act first and report later is the Dragon Head Blade, not Lin Xuan!"

Lin Xuan replied, "My dragon-headed sword has been shattered."

"Shattered? I bet you're just making this up because you didn't actually do it," Xiao Zhan sneered. "This dragon-headed sword was bestowed by the late emperor, practically a get-out-of-jail-free card. You're saying it was shattered? Ridiculous!"

The Empress said, "Since that's the case, then tell me, who is so bold as to shatter the dragon-headed sword bestowed upon them by the late Emperor?"

Lin Xuan replied, "The Palace Master of the Heavenly Fire Palace is Xiao Yan."

boom!

The emperor suddenly slammed his hand on the armrest, startling the surrounding officials.

Xiao Zhan sneered, thinking: This is going to be a good show. Xiao Yan is my father's teacher. For Lin Xuan to accuse Xiao Yan in public is tantamount to courting death.

"Minister Lin, are you trying to impeach my teacher?" the emperor said coldly.

Lin Xuan replied neither servilely nor arrogantly, "Your subject, yes."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

The emperor suddenly laughed, "Impressive, truly impressive!"

The emperor stood up, clapping his hands as he walked down the steps.

"Lin Xuan, you want to impeach my teacher, do you have any evidence?"

Lin Xuan said, "Of course."

"Then bring it out." The emperor's tone turned cold.

Lin Xuan said, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment, the evidence will arrive soon."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a portly minister entered with a group of people, bowing and greeting, "Your subject Xun Wuqi greets Your Majesty."

Right Chancellor Xun Wuqi, Xun Fu's father, had always been on good terms with Prince Zhenbei, Lin Jiangxian. After Lin Jiangxian's sacrifice, he faded out of the court and had not been seen for a long time.

Even the emperor was somewhat surprised to see Xun Wuqi arrive.

Xun Wuqi, as the Right Chancellor of the court, was on par with Luo Zongfu and wielded immense power.

However, because of the Lin Jiangxian incident, he chose to protect himself and voluntarily asked to go home due to illness.

Because of his many contributions, the emperor granted him permission.

Unexpectedly, he showed up uninvited today.

"Right Chancellor, please rise." The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, a hint of sinister intent in his eyes.

He seemed to have guessed Xun Wuqi's purpose in coming here.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xun Wuqi stood up and took the chopping board from the servant behind him. On the chopping board were fragments of the blade and a handle carved with a dragon's head.

"What does the Right Chancellor mean by this?" the Emperor asked.

Xun Wuqi said, "This is a dragon-headed sword bestowed by the late emperor. I found it in the Heavenly Fire Palace."

Taking the opportunity, Lin Xuan asked, "Does Your Majesty consider this evidence?"

Seeing this, the emperor turned his back, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

Xiao Zhan said, "That's absurd. Just because you say it was found by the Heavenly Fire Palace doesn't mean it was. Besides, even if it really was..."

"Shut up!" the emperor stopped Xiao Zhan.

At this moment, whether the evidence is conclusive or not is no longer important.

The truly important thing is that the two prime ministers, who have always been at odds, actually threatened the emperor for Lin Xuan's sake, which means that the emperor's civil and military officials have begun to band together for mutual support.

This is the last thing the emperor wanted to see.

Their evidence at this moment is more like a threat to the emperor, putting him on the hot seat.

Therefore, even if the evidence wasn't strong enough, the emperor had no choice but to accept it.

After all, Lin Xuan and his group did this not to present evidence, but to tell the emperor that the civil and military officials had joined forces, and if His Majesty turned a blind eye, a bloody storm would surely break out in the court.

In such a situation, even the emperor would have to compromise.

"I understand. Since both of you ministers have stepped forward to point this out, I will naturally investigate this matter thoroughly," the emperor said vaguely, giving both sides a way out.

They thought the matter would be over, with the emperor not pursuing it and Lin Xuan not investigating it further.

But to his surprise, Lin Xuan's purpose was not at all.

"Your Majesty, although I have rid the people of a scourge, I am afraid that my actions today are unworthy of the title of Prince of Zhenbei. I beg Your Majesty to punish me," Lin Xuan said.

Upon hearing this, the emperor wished he could kill Lin Xuan on the spot.

Are you asking me to punish you? You're threatening me! You're conserving your strength! You're plotting a rebellion!

But Lin Xuan's words had no flaws, and it would be unreasonable for the emperor to allow Lin Xuan to continue serving as the Prince of Zhenbei in front of all the civil and military officials.

This was a way out that Lin Xuan offered him, and he had to take it.

"Granted." The emperor waved his hand. "Although you have rid the people of a scourge, your brother-in-law is, after all, a member of the imperial family. You may be spared the death penalty, but you cannot escape punishment."

"Yes." Lin Xuan nodded.

The emperor then said, "Since you are not ready yet, then you shall temporarily relinquish your position as Prince of Zhenbei and return to your position as heir apparent."

"Yes!" Lin Xuan replied.

Lin Xuan's reaction infuriated the emperor.

Only that idiot Xiao Zhan thought the emperor was punishing Lin Xuan, and he even laughed out loud.

Little did he know that the title of Prince of Zhenbei was now a hot potato. Before Lin Xuan was fully prepared, going to the northern border to face those arrogant and fierce soldiers would be tantamount to courting death.

The emperor grunted, gave Luo Zongfu and Xun Wuqi a meaningful look, and said, "My two ministers are quite united. On such an important day, you two are actually of one mind. How interesting."

This statement was both a joke and a threat.

As seasoned veterans of the court, Luo Zongfu and Xun Wuqi naturally understood the emperor's words and immediately knelt down to kowtow.

But they had no choice. The emperor's reduction of their power was too ruthless, and with Lin Xuan's instigation, they had no choice but to comply.

If one day the emperor completely sidelines them, then they will not be far from death.

Even if it's defying imperial authority, it's because the emperor forced them to do it.

The emperor snorted, turned and walked up the steps, preparing to leave with the empress.

Unexpectedly, Lin Xuan then said, "Your Majesty, I have another important matter to report!"

The emperor paused, took a deep breath, and felt a surge of resentment: Is this never going to end?

"Is there anything else you wish to report, my dear minister?" the emperor asked coldly.

"Last night, someone broke into the prison and the wanted criminal Yun Zhenting was taken out of the jail. Your Majesty, I beg Your Majesty's permission to arrest the wanted criminal!" Lin Xuan said loudly.