I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

"Your Majesty is the mountain in this land, majestic and guarding the four directions; while the ministers and the people are the river, nourishing all things and flowing endlessly."

"The Eastern Depot's current reckless actions will surely alienate the officials and the people. If the country turns its back on us, the nation will be in grave danger!"

Zhu Houcong was stunned when he heard this, as Xia Dong's theory on the state was exactly the same as Hai Rui's.

He immediately realized what was happening and sneered, "How arrogant! Can the country be discussed in separate parts?"

"Straightforward advice, straightforward advice, what use is it if one is not well-versed in literature, but merely relies on the word 'straightforward'?"

Instead of retreating, Xia Dong advanced, his voice growing ever more forceful and resounding.

"I am speaking frankly. Your Majesty is the mountain of the Great Liang Dynasty, but the ministers and the people are the river of the Great Liang Dynasty."

"A mountain without a river to surround it will become an isolated peak, and a river without a mountain to lean on will inevitably overflow."

"The rampant activities of the Eastern Depot are tantamount to digging up the river and cutting off its flow, shaking the very foundation of the nation."

These words were spoken with great force and resonated throughout the hall for a long time.

Zhu Houcong turned his gaze to Consort Yue and Consort Hui: "Do you think what she said makes sense?"

Yue looked flustered and quickly lowered her head.

"Your Majesty, I am foolish and dare not presume to discuss state affairs."

Consort Hui bit her red lips and mustered her courage to speak softly.

"Lord Xia...she has her own insights, and they're not entirely without merit..."

"Seemingly true, but actually false!"

Zhu Houcong suddenly sneered, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and recited.

"Peach blossoms adorn the mountaintops, while the spring waters of the Shu River lap against the mountain. The fleeting beauty of the blossoms mirrors my lover's heart, and the endless flow of the river reflects my deep sorrow."

"The river flows mightily, crashing against the mountains. But what is the relationship between the river and the mountains?"

"Since rulers are like mountains, I ask you, of all the wise and virtuous rulers throughout history, which of their mountains still stands?"

[Say one of Jiajing's classic quotes, play Jiajing +1, and receive the Great Heavenly General Pill]

"You keep saying you want to abolish the Eastern Depot, but have you ever considered that your Suspended Mirror Division is also independent of the Three Judicial Offices and has the same power to arrest and prosecute cases?"

"According to your logic, shouldn't the Suspended Mirror Bureau also be abolished?"

"This... the Suspended Mirror Division is different!" Xia Dong said urgently.

"What's the difference?" Zhu Houcong pressed on relentlessly.

"The Suspended Mirror Bureau does everything for the good of the nation, and those it arrests are all treacherous officials!"

"Isn't the Eastern Depot one?"

Zhu Houcong's sneer deepened, "If it weren't for the Eastern Depot's efforts, could you have investigated the case of the Duke of Qing?"

"Go back and think it over carefully. Why not ask your master, Xia Jiang, if he's willing to abolish the Suspended Mirror Division as well!"

"Your Majesty..." Xia Dong wanted to argue.

Zhu Houcong waved his hand impatiently: "Get him out!"

The guards outside the hall immediately entered and dragged Xia Dong out.

Xia Dong struggled to speak, but was held down firmly by the guards.

The palace doors slammed shut behind her, shutting out all her resentment.

Xia Dong walked along the palace road in a daze, her steps unsteady, unaware of the approaching patrol.

"Summer and winter?"

Meng Zhi's surprised voice suddenly rang out, "Weren't you judging the case of Duke Qing? What are you doing in the palace?"

Xia Dong looked up, revealing a bitter self-mockery.

"What else is there to interrogate? The Eastern Depot has already arranged everything."

Seeing that she looked strange, Meng Zhi quickly pulled her to a secluded place.

"What exactly happened?"

Xia Dong recounted in detail the Eastern Depot's extensive implicating of others and the Emperor's ambiguous attitude.

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhi's expression changed drastically, and his grip on his sword tightened involuntarily.

"So many people have been implicated?"

He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "Perhaps we could discuss this with Mr. Su."

"Su Zhe?"

Xia Dong frowned slightly.

"Indeed. Rumors are circulating in the capital that he's Prince Yu's strategist, and the Duke of Qing is also Prince Yu's man, so perhaps… but you've never liked Prince Yu."

Xia Dong remained silent for a moment, a look of struggle flashing in his eyes.

She has always despised Prince Yu.

"It's alright. National affairs come first. As long as it stops the Eastern Depot from implicating innocent people, what harm is there in me going to see him?"

After saying that, she turned and left, her clothes fluttering as she mounted her horse and headed straight for the Su residence.

When Mei Changsu finished listening to Xia Dong's story, his usually calm eyes were now filled with turbulent emotions.

But things quickly calmed down.

"I understand about this. You can go back now," Mei Changsu said with a smile.

Xia Dong couldn't detect anything unusual on his face, so she had no choice but to take her leave.

After watching Xia Dong leave, the smile on Mei Changsu's face gradually faded.

He gently stroked the brazier in his hand, gazing thoughtfully at the falling snow outside the window.

"Sect Master, how should we deal with this?" Li Gang asked in a low voice.

Mei Changsu's lips curled slightly, and a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.

"This matter is not difficult; the fact remains that the Eastern Depot has coerced a confession through torture."

"Even if they can get away with it at the joint trial of the three laws, they might not be able to get past the court's deliberations."

He coughed twice and continued, "If a newly established Eastern Depot dares to act so recklessly, how can the officials in the court not feel insecure?"

"Once Prince Yu unleashes his power, the barrage of criticism from all those officials will be enough to make the Eastern Depot suffer a terrible fate."

Li Gang nodded thoughtfully, but then Mei Changsu suddenly changed the subject.

"However, I'm more concerned about the Suspended Mirror Division right now."

He stroked the patterns on the stove, lost in thought.

"Since Emperor Liang already had the Suspended Mirror Bureau, why did he need to set up the Eastern Depot?"

"Could it be that he's dissatisfied with Xia Jiang, or perhaps he's harboring some suspicion?"

Li Gang's eyes lit up: "If that's true, wouldn't our chances of dealing with Xia Jiang be even greater?"

"Exactly."

Mei Changsu chuckled lightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Go and tell Prince Yu what Xia Dong said, and he will naturally contact his court officials to retaliate."

"Remind him to emphasize the detail that the Eastern Depot bypassed the Three Judicial Offices to arrest people without authorization; this is what will most likely trigger the court officials' nerves."

Li Gang understood and was about to turn and leave.

Suddenly, Mei Changsu added, "By the way, have Zhen Ping investigate who the Eastern Depot's subordinates are. We need to pay close attention to this newly established agency."

When news of the Eastern Depot reached Prince Yu's ears, he immediately decided to impeach the Eastern Depot with all his might during the court ceremony the next day.

"Your Highness, please reconsider!"

Xu Anmo, the Vice Minister of War, who was in the Prince Yu's residence, urgently tried to dissuade him.

"The Eastern Depot is, after all, a newly established agency by His Majesty. Aren't you... "

Prince Yu raised his hand to interrupt him, his face ashen.

"How could I not know that this would offend my father?"

"But the Eastern Depot is so brazenly implicating court officials. If I don't stand up for those behind me, who will be willing to serve me in the future?"

"This is knowingly doing the impossible!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Anmo and the others all showed expressions of admiration.

However, Prince Yu seemed to have forgotten that the fundamental reason these people supported him was because he was the emperor's most favored prince, not because of his own talent and character.

After all, in the Liang Dynasty court, who could be more virtuous than Prince Qi, Xiao Jingyu?

Chapter 44 The New Puppet Suzaku

Just as Prince Yu was busily devising countermeasures for the court meeting, Zhu Houcong in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was intently activating the second Great Heavenly General Pill.

He bit his fingertip, and a drop of bright red blood fell onto the crystal-clear pill.

In an instant, golden light shone brightly inside the hall, illuminating the entire Yangxin Hall, but it quickly dimmed again.

As the light faded, a golden-armored warrior with empty eyes stood before him.

This puppet looked completely different from the previous Zhu Qi, yet it was equally unremarkable, the kind of appearance that would be lost in a crowd.

"From this day forward, you shall be called Vermilion Bird."

Zhu Houcong looked at the newly acquired puppet with satisfaction.

After failing to receive a reward for naming his first puppet "Zhu Qi," he completely abandoned the naming method used in "Da Ming Dynasty."

The name Suzaku is still more imposing.

If I can obtain more Great Heavenly General Pills in the future, I will do everything I can to collect the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise, and gather the Four Symbols incarnations.

Not for any other reason than for good luck.

The thought of receiving such a precious reward simply for reciting a poem filled Zhu Houcong with excitement.

It can also be described as "the emperor was overjoyed".

He had even already decided that when he killed Xia Dong in the future, he would definitely choose a quick and painless way for her to die, so that she wouldn't suffer too much.

After his consciousness possessed the body, Zhu Houcong discovered that the Vermilion Bird clone had also reached the early stage of the Grandmaster realm.

From this perspective, all the avatars conceived by the Great Heavenly General Pill should be at the same level of strength.

However, he was already satisfied with the early stage of Grandmaster.

As Zhu Houcong thought of this, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, and a wicked smile appeared on his face.

With the help of the Vermilion Bird, the success rate of what we need to do next is 100%.

The next second, a wicked smile appeared on Zhuque's lips as well.

"Next, it's time to go find Cao Zhichun."

After saying that, he leaped into the air and disappeared into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Inside the Eastern Depot's office, Cao Zhichun sat upright in a grand chair, his fingers tapping the table absently, producing a chilling "tap-tap" sound.

Wen Feng, then Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, knelt on the ground, his official robes already soaked with cold sweat.

He trembled as he raised his head, meeting Cao Zhichun's venomous eyes.

"Lord Wen, have you made up your mind?"

"Chief Supervisor Cao..."

Wen Feng swallowed hard, looking troubled. "Even if I were willing to instigate him to rebel, given the Duke of Qing's temperament, he... he wouldn't dare!"

Cao Zhichun asked calmly, "Why wouldn't he dare? With a knife to his throat, he's not going to resist?"

"You jest, Your Excellency. Things haven't reached that point yet. The Duke of Qing might still be waiting for Prince Yu to rescue him!"