A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Although he was indeed a member of the Wei family in secret, he was neutral on the surface.

Almost no one knew about the exchanges between them and the Wei family.

At least the Zhao family father and son, and Emperor Huang of Han, were unaware of this.

Do you know what you're saying?

Emperor Huang of Han did not expect that the Imperial Censor would jump out and get involved.

It can only be said that Emperor Huang of Han had no political wisdom at all. You were about to give away someone's official position, and you didn't allow them to fight back?

Emperor Huang of Han felt that the entire country belonged to him and that he should rightfully have the right to control it.

Naturally, they wouldn't care what their subordinates thought.

But these people were all real, flesh-and-blood individuals, and Emperor Huang of Han did not have the power to govern the entire country; he was simply incompetent and loved to play around.

"I have evidence."

As imperial censors, the Zhao family father and son, relying on the favor Zhao Feiyan enjoyed, engaged in embezzlement, bribery, and the buying and selling of official positions without much concealment.

Even now, they still act as if they don't care.

They are the current empress's biological father and younger brother. Can they really be put to death just because of corruption, bribery, and buying and selling official positions?

impossible.

Not to mention that the emperor now relies on them to deal with the Wei family, and even the Grand General and the Imperial Censor have been brought out. How could they possibly get into trouble over such a trivial matter?

Three cups of penalty wine, picked up high, then gently put down.

So what if you have evidence? Don't you really believe there's any fairness and justice in this world?

No way, no way, no one can be that naive, right?!

The Imperial Censor, adopting a "go all out" attitude, publicly announced every single bribe that the Zhao family had received over the years.

Every word he uttered could withstand scrutiny and examination, completely unlike the baseless accusations made by the Zhao family father and son.

"What?! They embezzled so much!"

Emperor Huang of Han blurted it out.

This caused the ministers' opinions of him to plummet.

Completely guileless.

The evaluation of His Majesty by a prominent figure from the Wei family has once again gained weight.

Emperor Huang of Han should now pretend that he is completely unaware of the situation and is furious.

But in reality, they were just surprised by how much they had embezzled.

The Zhao father and son knelt on the ground, their expressions somewhat grim.

They weren't worried about being executed for it, but rather that the censor's investigation had revealed far too much detail, possibly even more detailed than their own family records.

With so much money now being eyed by Emperor Huang of Han, a huge sum of money is bound to be spent to satisfy this emperor's appetite.

Where in the world have relatives of the emperor been executed for corruption and bribery?

It's just a matter of stripping someone of their title and imposing a fine.

The Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede sisters are currently very popular, and it won't be long before they can regain everything they've lost.

You won't even lose it.

"These were indeed done by your subject, and you acknowledge your guilt!"

"My son is unaware of this matter; I beg Your Majesty to investigate."

Zhao Lin took the blame for everything, kneeling on the ground with his head held high, still looking down on everyone.

The Imperial Censor looked at the Zhao father and son with a cold gaze, his eyes almost revealing his mockery.

It seems that the Zhao father and son haven't quite figured out the situation yet.

"I have evidence that Zhao Qin was also involved in this matter. On April 1st of the second year after Your Majesty ascended the throne, Zhao Qin accepted a bribe of one thousand taels of gold and recommended a minister to a local county magistrate."

"besides……"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you punish these two individuals according to the law."

"Court Official, what should the verdict be according to the law?"

Emperor Huang of Han looked at the Minister of Justice, frowned, and asked.

"Your Majesty, given the amount of bribes and corruption committed by the Zhao family father and son, as well as their selling of official positions, their entire clan should be executed!"

"Her Majesty the Empress has already married and holds the position of Empress, so she can be pardoned."

"But all the other members of the Zhao family, including those over ten years of age and related by blood, were beheaded."

"Boys under the age of 10 were exiled to Lingnan, and girls were sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district).

The Minister of Justice replied that there were precedents for these matters during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han.

Is it that serious?

Emperor Huang of Han really didn't know that while he understood eating, drinking, and having fun, he was completely ignorant of governing the country and enforcing laws.

But when I thought of the beautiful and charming Zhao sisters in the harem, I felt a little reluctant.

If he really did that, his happy sex life would be over.

"They made an unintentional mistake, so let them take the blame with their titles and flush the proceeds of their embezzlement and bribery into the imperial treasury."

"Let them atone for their crimes by conducting a thorough investigation into the corruption of the Wei family."

"If the inquiry is true, the Wei family will be allowed to take the blame with their titles, but they will have to relinquish their military power."

Emperor Huang of Han wore an arrogant expression, attempting to use his imposing presence and authority to oppress these ministers.

"Your Majesty, this is incorrect."

At this moment, Wei Lun stepped forward. Although this emperor was rather incompetent, he was still an emperor after all, and only he was qualified to confront him directly.

According to Han law, selling official positions and titles was considered treason.

"Even the crown prince and the feudal lords will be executed along with their entire clan."

"If a prince breaks the law, he shall be punished the same as a commoner. If such a serious crime is not severely punished, wouldn't everyone follow suit?"

"At that time, no one will do anything practical. Everyone will think about currying favor with the powerful and ruthlessly exploiting the people. The money they have plundered will be used to bribe the powerful and ruthless to obtain higher official positions."

"The country is doomed."

"I beg Your Majesty to act in accordance with the laws of the Han Dynasty, to exterminate the Zhao family and their nine clans, and to depose the Empress and build a Kundao Academy in Chang'an so that she may spend the rest of her life there."

"I am willing to accept the investigation. If there is indeed corruption within my clan, I will act in accordance with the law."

LOL. With the current status of the Wei family, do they still need to embezzle and accept bribes?

Money is just a number to them; nobody cares.

Seeing that their leader had fallen, many ministers in the court also pleaded with the emperor, and the Wang family's power, under Wang Mang's leadership, closely followed the Wei family.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the few remaining officials in the court followed suit.

Only a few officials from the Zhao family's faction remained, standing there all alone.

Emperor Huang of Han felt desolate once again, for none of his officials were loyal to him.

"This matter will be discussed later. Court is adjourned."

Emperor Huang of Han was about to leave when he was stopped by his ministers.

"What do you want to do!"

"Are you trying to force me?!"

"I won't listen! What can you do to me!"

Emperor Huang of Han acted as if he were a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, giving up entirely.

If the emperor is like this, unless they really become like Dong Zhuo and others in later generations, there's really nothing they can do about him.

"Then Your Majesty, please consider it carefully."

Wei Lun shook his head, glanced at Wang Mang out of the corner of his eye, and led the many ministers out of the palace.

Not long after the court session ended, an unexpected person appeared at the Marquis of Yan's residence.

Wang Mang met with the Grand Minister of Agriculture.

This person was none other than Wang Mang.

"What brings you to my residence, Marquis of Xindu? Is there anything you wish to instruct me on?"

Wei Lun asked with a smile, as if he were a kind old grandfather.

But Wang Mang should not be underestimated; this seemingly kind old man actually controlled more than half of the power of the entire Han Dynasty.

If you stomp your foot, the whole world will tremble.

"You flatter me, Grand Minister of Agriculture. I have come here today to ask you some questions."

Wang Mang treated him with courtesy, humbly placing himself in the position of a junior.

Of course, no matter how you look at it, he is the junior.