Emperor Ming: Your Majesty, you have caused me so much suffering.

Zhu Qiyu watched all of this with a cold eye, his expression unchanged, as if he wanted to look but also felt he shouldn't.

For safety's sake, under the cover of Kim Young-dong and Seong-kyung, they quietly retreated behind the left side gate, peeking out with half their heads.

The ministers did not stop; their punches landed squarely, each one seemingly filled with boundless rage.

Ma Shun lay motionless on the ground, clearly having gone to see the late emperor.

The ministers were in a frenzy, clamoring to find Mao Gui and Wang Changsui, two of Wang Zhen's henchmen, because they had clearly seen the two men present during court.

Zhu Qiyu glanced at Jin Ying beside him and gave her a wicked suggestion, saying, "Eunuch Jin, go and check if Ma Shun is still breathing."

Upon hearing this, Jin Ying broke out in a cold sweat.

These civil officials are now in a state of frenzy. Although he is not a member of Wang Zhen's faction, he has helped Zhu Qizhen to disgust the officials. It cannot be ruled out that he may have been killed by mistake. If these officials cannot distinguish friend from foe, and they die here, wouldn't that be a great injustice?

"Your Highness..." Jin Ying glanced at Zhu Qiyu with great difficulty.

"Go quickly!"

Jin Ying was startled and had no choice but to go forward. Just then, she saw Wang Zhen's confidants Mao Gui and Wang Changsui preparing to quietly retreat towards the left side gate. Jin Ying seized the opportunity and kicked Mao Gui and Wang Changsui into the sight of the officials.

"The treacherous minister is here!"

The officials rushed forward. Wang Zhi and the others realized that something was wrong. They had previously agreed to kneel and remonstrate with the Prince of Cheng to order the execution of Wang Zhen's faction, but there was no agreement to take action in the court.

Wang Zhi and other high-ranking officials rushed to dissuade them. In the ensuing struggle, there was no distinction between officials of rank; they were just a group of people who had lost their minds.

Perhaps he was also venting his anger from yesterday, taking revenge on Zhu Qizhen's lackeys.

The scene was in complete chaos. Wang Zhi and the others had lost their official hats. Yu Qian fared even worse, as he was accidentally punched and his official robe was torn.

Mao Gui and his companion were flattened and beyond dead after being hit by hundreds of chaotic punches.

A short while later, Wang Zhen's nephew, Wang Shan, the deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was bound hand and foot by someone and thrown into the court. The officials rushed forward, ready to beat him to death.

Wang Zhi shouted angrily, "Stop! Don't do anything more!"

"Stop! Stop!"

Chen Yi also realized what was happening and frantically tried to stop it. At this moment, he was also in a state of panic, as things had already spiraled out of his control.

Only after this angry shout did the ministers regain some of their senses.

Looking up at the seat of the regent, he was stunned. The seat that had originally belonged to the regent was empty. Had the Prince of Cheng run away?

As luck would have it, Zhu Qiyu peeked out again, and suddenly one of the sharp-eyed ministers shouted, "His Highness is behind the door!"

Zhu Qiyu was startled. Could these crazy court officials be planning to harm him?

Just as Zhu Qiyu was about to angrily berate Xing'an for his incompetence, Xing'an arrived on horseback, and the court was immediately surrounded by hundreds of Imperial Guards and agents of the Eastern Depot.

With reinforcements arriving, Zhu Qiyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The tide had turned, and he appeared directly before the court officials.

Seeing this, Wang Hong hurriedly pleaded, saying, "Your Highness, Wang Zhen is endangering the dynasty and the state. We request that his entire clan be exterminated to appease the people. If we do not obey the imperial edict, none of us ministers will back down, even to the death!"

These words immediately drew a response from the court officials, who all knelt down to petition for their assistance.

"Very well!" Zhu Qiyu stepped forward alone, sneered a few times, and headed towards the assembled officials. Cheng Jing, Xing An, and Lu Zhong, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, followed closely behind Zhu Qiyu. "Such a fierce look, could it be that you intend to beat me to death at the Meridian Gate?"

Upon hearing this, the ministers were startled; something terrible had happened!

They hurriedly apologized, saying, "We dare not!"

Zhu Qiyu walked up to Wang Hong, no more than a foot away, his eyes filled with icy coldness.

The ministers were instantly terrified and dared not utter a sound, for fear of disturbing the peace. If Wang Hong lost his temper and actually took action, it would be a terrible disaster.

Wang Hong regained his senses slightly. After a brief standoff, his previous fierce and courageous demeanor had vanished, his throat moved, and a chill gradually crept down his spine.

"Step back!"

"minister……"

"Um?"

Looking into Zhu Qiyu's murderous eyes, Wang Hong retreated to the side in panic, knelt down, and was filled with trepidation.

All the ministers' eyes fell on Zhu Qiyu, who walked up to Ma Shun and the other two, looking as if he was about to vomit. If he hadn't witnessed a car accident in his previous life, he would have already collapsed.

Ma Shun was so badly disfigured that even his family members would not recognize him. Mao Gui and Wang Changsui were in slightly better condition; their bodies were flattened, and they could still be recognized. However, they were also covered in blood, a truly gruesome sight.

Zhu Qiyu squatted down, checked the three people's breaths, and then touched their necks to confirm that they were definitely dead.

Zhu Qiyu sighed, lifted the three men's tattered official robes to cover their faces, and then slowly stood up.

"Do you all know your crime?"

Faced with Zhu Qiyu's question, the officials were flustered. After calming down, they finally realized what they had done.

If this had happened during the reign of Emperor Taizu, it would have cost the entire family their lives.

Ma Shun was the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a high-ranking official of the third rank. He was a close confidant of the emperor and a bodyguard of the imperial family. To dare to kill the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in court was, to put it bluntly, a crime of treason.

The two eunuchs were also the emperor's household servants, holding the rank of fourth-grade officials. Without any interrogation or imperial order, they were arbitrarily killed, which crossed the line of imperial authority.

Yu Qian ignored Wang Zhi's advice not to stand out and, forgetting his own self-preservation, hurriedly said, "Your Highness, Wang Zhen is the mastermind, and his accomplices, such as Ma Shun, should be executed. Only by killing them can we appease public anger. The officials are concerned for the country and want to eliminate traitors; they should not be punished."

"Is that really so?" Zhu Qiyu glanced coldly at Yu Qian, then walked up to Wang Zhi and the others. "Gentlemen, since there's no need for the law, do you believe I can simply walk away right now?"

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Guard drew his sword halfway from its sheath, his expression filled with murderous intent.

Yu Qian's expression changed drastically, and he immediately prostrated himself on the ground. Wang Zhi and the others were also awakened at this moment, their faces pale as they knelt on the ground.

The officials suddenly felt a cold sweat pour down their backs. Looking at the Jinyiwei guards with their knives, they were truly terrified!

If Yu Qian's statement is accepted, it means that the law is disregarded and people can kill at will. In that case, after Zhu Qiyu leaves, the group of Imperial Guards surrounding the officials could use the charge of treason to kill them on the spot without any trial by the authorities. This would be considered suppressing a rebellion!

Use your own spear to attack your own shield!

Fortunately, Zhu Qiyu didn't run away, which meant there was still a chance. Wang Zhi hurriedly pleaded, "I will obey Your Highness's judgment!"

This is exactly what Zhu Qiyu was waiting for!

"Ministry of Justice, Court of Judicial Review, what should be the punishment for the murderer?"

"Execute...execute!" The Vice Minister of Justice dared not continue. "Your Highness, there were extenuating circumstances. Please forgive me!"

Zhu Qiyu did not look at the Vice Minister of Justice, but instead glanced at the assembled officials and said, "Those officials who just killed Ma Shun and the other two, step forward and confess your crimes!"

Wang Hong was a real man; he dared to do what he did and admit it.

As soon as Zhu Qiyu finished speaking, Wang Hong stepped forward to apologize, saying, "Your Highness, I was the one who struck first. These three people were killed by me, and it has nothing to do with anyone else."

After Wang Hong finished speaking, several people stepped forward one after another to apologize without hesitation.

"Your Highness, we also killed three people!"

Zhu Qiyu looked at the group and at this moment felt a sense of appreciation.

These Ming Dynasty civil officials were indeed upright and had such integrity; otherwise, the country would perish.

His actions were guilty, but his intentions were commendable!

If the man in the north had even half the backbone of these men, Zhu Qiyu wouldn't dare dream of the throne.

"Someone come here!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhong quickly stepped forward and said, "Your subject, Lu Zhong, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, greets Your Highness."

Zhu Qiyu nodded. He intended to make great use of Lu Zhong. His father-in-law had strongly recommended him, and after inquiring with Xing'an, he found that Lu Zhong was not a member of Wang Zhen's faction and had sufficient seniority in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He was the best candidate to take charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard at present, and now the opportunity had arrived.

"Commander Ma Shun is dead. You will temporarily assume the position of commander. Take all the prisoners to the Northern Garrison Command and keep them under strict guard. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you accountable!"

"Here you go!"

Lu Zhong was overjoyed. He had hesitated when Xing An came to find him, which was really wrong of him!

Upon hearing this, several high-ranking officials wanted to intervene, but they quickly looked at Wang Zhi, who gently shook his head, indicating that they should not act rashly.

For the officials, Zhu Qiyu's move was neither good nor too bad.

If handled lightly, the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial Review would detain the suspect. Placing him in the Northern Garrison Command would mean he wouldn't be easily let go, but at least he wouldn't be beheaded immediately, leaving room for maneuver.

Wang Zhi exchanged glances with Chen Yi and the others, and was filled with regret. However, he had to look at the Prince of Cheng in a different light, as he was able to stabilize the situation with just a few words.

However, the officials were unsure how to deal with the court officials next, and how to deal with Wang Zhen's cronies. Was all their efforts going to be in vain?