The Prodigal Son

Drag Lü Chunqiu away and give him fifty lashes!

boom!

As Zhao Luan finished speaking, the entire court fell into a deathly silence.

Lu Chunqiu, who was jumping around happily, was instantly stunned.

The courtiers were also stunned, looking at Zhao Luan in disbelief.

Even if she wanted to protect Qin Yu, this wasn't the way to do it.

Doesn't she know what the relationship is between the Lü family and the Empress Dowager?

Even if you don't care about the monk, you should at least give the Empress Dowager some face.

"Your Majesty, I do not surrender!"

Lu Chunqiu raised his head indignantly, "May I ask Your Majesty, what crime have I committed?"

"What crime have you committed?"

Zhao Luan raised her hand to stop the palace guards who rushed in, and slowly stood up. "Qin Yu merely composed a poem casually, and you all managed to interpret it like this, even going so far as to slander the Sage of Literature!"

"I now suspect that you are using this as an excuse to question my decision!"

"You ostensibly came for Qin Yu, but you're actually after me!"

Lu Chunqiu's expression changed, and he vehemently denied it, saying, "This humble subject absolutely did not mean that! This humble subject did it for the sake of the Great Ning dynasty!"

"I think you're just jealous of talent and using your position for personal revenge!"

Zhao Luan shouted, "A single poem makes you want to skin Qin Yu alive! In the past, Emperor Xiaowu launched four northern expeditions, and countless scholars of our dynasty wrote poems satirizing his reckless military campaigns and disregard for the people's livelihood. According to your logic, should the court arrest and execute all those people?"

"this……"

As soon as Zhao Luan spoke, Lü Chunqiu was speechless.

The ministers who had originally wanted to offer their advice dared not speak again.

Many people know about this.

When Su Yu and Song Zhuo were young and impetuous, they both wrote poems satirizing Emperor Xiaowu's aggressive military campaigns.

Zhao Luan waved his sleeve and shouted sternly, "Drag him away and beat him!"

"Your Majesty, wait!"

Song Zhuo quickly tried to dissuade him, "Even if Lord Lü has committed a crime, he doesn't deserve such a severe punishment! The law does not apply to officials; please forgive Lord Lü, Your Majesty."

As Song Zhuo spoke, he frantically winked at Zhao Luan, practically begging her to give the Empress Dowager face right there in court.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Du Zhiwen quickly spoke up, "Lord Lü is also thinking of the court and does not want the court to discourage the scholars of the world. Please forgive Lord Lü, Your Majesty."

After they spoke up, the other officials also began to plead for Lü Chunqiu.

"Your Majesty, although I also dislike Lü Chunqiu, he is, after all, an important minister of the court. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider!"

Even Xue Chengdao spoke up to plead for Lü Chunqiu.

"I implore Your Majesty to forgive Lord Lü!"

"Lord Lü has rendered great service; Your Majesty's severe punishment of him is surely discouraging to the loyal ministers of the realm!"

"Indeed, if anyone who displeases His Majesty is severely punished, wouldn't His Majesty be cutting off the channels for free speech?"

"Your Majesty, the court must be open to dissenting voices..."

The courtiers pleaded for Lü Chunqiu's life one after another.

They knew Zhao Luan was making an example of someone.

Even disregarding the relationship between the Lü family and the Empress Dowager, Lü Chunqiu was still a high-ranking official!

Lü Chunqiu was over fifty years old and not a martial artist.

Even if they were to go easy on him, after fifty strokes of the cane, Lü Chunqiu would probably lose half his life.

With her targeting Lü Chunqiu so aggressively, wouldn't the strained relationship between her and the Empress Dowager become tense again?

Moreover, if even Lü Chunqiu was severely punished with fifty strokes of the cane for a few words, how could these people possibly survive if they accidentally said the wrong thing in the future?

Even if they don't consider Lü Chunqiu's feelings, they should at least consider their own!

For both public and private reasons, we must plead for Lü Chunqiu!

Seeing the officials pleading for Lü Chunqiu, Zhao Luan's face turned ashen with anger.

After suppressing her anger, Zhao Luan's cold gaze fell on Lü Chunqiu again. "Considering the pleas of the entire court, I will not punish you severely! Drag her away and give her ten strokes of the cane as a warning!"

"yes!"

The palace guards obeyed the order and immediately dragged Lü Chunqiu away.

The courtiers wanted to plead for Lü Chunqiu again, but Zhao Luan's cold gaze swept over them.

Lu Chunqiu struggled fiercely, shouting with grief and indignation, "Your Majesty, I did it all for the court! Your Majesty..."

Zhao Luan ignored him.

"what……"

Soon, Lü Chunqiu's agonizing screams could be heard from outside.

A moment later, a palace guard entered and reported: "Your Majesty, the caning is complete."

"Send him to the Imperial Hospital for treatment, then send him back to his residence!"

Zhao Luan coldly gave the order, her sharp gaze sweeping over the ministers who had just offered their advice. "I know many of you are dissatisfied with my appointment of Qin Yu as the Grand Chamberlain and concurrently the Grand Secretary of the Six Ministries. Even if you want to force me to dismiss Qin Yu, at least use some respectable methods!"

"A group of officials who have served for many years, yet all they know how to do is use a poem as a pretext. Their clumsy methods are shameful enough to make me ashamed!"

"Even if you resort to framing and slander, I will still think highly of you!"

"In my opinion, anyone who is provoked by this poem mocking bamboo is clearly taking it personally!"

"Qin Yu is right. When you throw stones into a pigsty, the one that makes the loudest noise is usually the one that gets hit..."

Zhao Luan unleashed his full power, angrily rebuking a group of ministers in court.

Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to say anything more, but they were indignant in their hearts.

So many scholars were being scolded by Qin Yu, and he wouldn't even let them offer their opinions?

Is she really at the age where she's starting to feel puberty?

After reprimanding his ministers, Zhao Luan then resumed discussing state affairs with them.

Many ministers were dissatisfied with Zhao Luan's punishment of Lü Chunqiu and simply kept quiet about it.

The morning assembly ended hastily.

After leaving the court, the officials surrounded Song Zhuo.

"Prime Minister Song, what exactly does His Majesty mean by this?"

"That's right! Even Lord Lü was flogged. Who among us will dare to speak in court after this!"

"With this commotion, His Majesty and the Empress Dowager are sure to have another falling out!"

"The Northern Qi are now making moves. If this continues, we'll be in chaos before they even attack!"

"Has His Majesty truly taken a liking to Qin Yu?"

The officials expressed their dissatisfaction to Song Zhuo.

Was Zhao Luan hitting Lü Chunqiu?

That's a slap in the face to the Empress Dowager!

Listening to the ministers' words, Song Zhuo also had a headache. "Stop talking! I'll try to persuade His Majesty again later!"

As he spoke, Song Zhuo sighed repeatedly, his face filled with sorrow.

Meanwhile, Zhao Luan had already returned to the Imperial Study.

Upon seeing Zhao Luan, Qin Yu stood up and bowed.

Zhao Luan, with a dark expression, quickly entered the imperial study.

What happened?

What happened today?

Qin Yu cast an inquiring glance at Shangguan Youyi.

Shangguan Youyi gently shook his head, indicating that he should go into the imperial study to talk.

As soon as he entered the Imperial Study, he was greeted by Zhao Luan's smiling face.

Got it!

acting!

This is the Imperial Study!

Aren't they all her people?

She still acts?

Zhao Luan smiled slightly, "I have punished Lü Chunqiu with ten strokes of the cane!"

"What?"

Qin Yu's eyelids twitched. "Wasn't the plan to use Lü Si to stir up trouble? How did it end up involving Lü Chunqiu?"

"Do you think everything can go according to plan?"

Zhao Luan glared at him. "I think you're just trying to take this opportunity to frame Lü Si!"

No! Absolutely not!

Qin Yu vehemently denied it, saying, "I am wholeheartedly devoted to the court, and my loyalty is evident..."

"Alright, alright!"

Zhao Luan interrupted Qin Yu's feigned concern and earnestly instructed, "The plan has already begun, you must prepare immediately! If anything goes wrong on your end, I will not spare you!"

"good!"

Qin Yu readily agreed.

It's definitely time to prepare!

Next, it's time for everyone's acting skills to shine...