I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen was angry, Li Banghua quickly knelt down and bowed.

"I have failed in my duty of discipline, which has led my subordinates to readily believe rumors. I beg Your Majesty's punishment!"

Zhu Youjian snorted coldly: "I have said long ago that officials can impeach, but they must have solid evidence and cannot make things up! Today, casual conversations in a teahouse can be used as the basis for a memorial to the throne. Isn't this just making us a laughingstock?"

"Your Majesty, I know my crime!" Li Banghua kowtowed repeatedly. "I will certainly discipline him severely when I return!"

Seeing the situation was turning against him, Du Yang hurriedly shouted, "Your Majesty! Although I have only heard rumors, this blood-written letter is absolutely true! The Embroidered Uniform Guard is acting recklessly in Jinan City. They are the Emperor's personal guards! If this gets out, it will damage Your Majesty's reputation!"

"Shut up!" Li Banghua shouted sternly. "You can't even explain your source, yet you dare to argue? I'll deal with you when I get back!"

Du Yang, unwilling to give up, held up the blood-written letter: "My lord, please look! This blood-written letter is real! Absolutely true!"

Li Banghua took the blood-written letter and examined it carefully. His expression began to change, and he asked, "Where did you get this blood-written letter?"

Du Yang stammered, "This humble official...this humble official..."

Li Banghua was even more enraged, and roared, "At this point, you still dare to conceal the truth? Do you intend to deceive the Emperor?"

Du Yang broke out in a cold sweat and stammered, "Actually, actually... this news was indeed delivered by express courier. It's said that General Liu Zeqing, the Shandong commander-in-chief, is also in Jinan. After Luo Yangxing forced the women of the Xiong family to their deaths, Commander Liu, fearing the matter would escalate, sent a letter written in blood, imploring His Majesty to intervene..."

Upon hearing this, the courtiers erupted in uproar once again.

Minister of War Fang Yuegong immediately stepped forward: "Your Majesty! Liu Zeqing has left his post without imperial order; this is a grave offense!"

Zhu Youjian's face was grim as he slowly said, "Leaving aside whether it's true or not that Luo Yangxing forced the Xiong family women to their deaths, what does this have to do with Liu Zeqing? Why would a general like him interfere in local affairs?"

Du Yang knelt on the ground, his face pale: "Your Majesty, I know nothing of the details. I only know that the Embroidered Uniform Guard is committing atrocities! As an Inspector General, I have the duty to impeach them!"

Zhu Youjian chuckled and said, "Aren't you afraid that you've received false information and will be used by someone?"

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty has a blood oath to prove it, it is absolutely true!"

"Is a letter written in blood evidence?"

"This, this..."

Du Yang was even more conflicted, not knowing what to do.

Zhu Youjian then asked, "What if the blood-written letter is forged?"

Du Yang was covered in cold sweat, and when he opened his mouth, he couldn't utter a word.

Zhu Youjian's gaze was piercing as he coldly said, "I have long said that those who make meritorious impeachments should be rewarded! But if one makes an impeachment without verification, and it is found to be untrue, then you will be punished for counter-accusation!"

Du Yang trembled all over and kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I will go down and investigate the matter thoroughly..."

"Too late!" Zhu Youjian slammed his fist on the table. "Today, all the officials witnessed your impeachment of Luo Yangxing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, for blatant corruption and driving people to their deaths. Where is the Minister of Justice?"

Minister of Justice Zhang Xin immediately stepped forward: "Your subject is here!"

"I ask you, if Du Yang's report is true, what crime should Luo Yangxing be punished for?"

Zhang Xin solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, officials who are corrupt, pervert the law, and drive people to their deaths are guilty of egregious acts and should be executed immediately!"

Zhu Youjian's gaze swept across the assembled officials with lightning speed: "Very well! But what if the investigation reveals the truth..."

Zhang Xin understood and immediately added, "According to the law, he should be punished in reverse; Du Yang should also be executed!"

"Guards!" Zhu Youjian ordered, "Take Du Yang to the imperial prison. He will be dealt with after the matter has been investigated!"

Two burly generals immediately stepped forward and helped up Du Yang, who was limp as a rag doll.

Du Yang's face turned ashen, and he suddenly struggled to shout, "Your Majesty! I am innocent! I have been deceived..."

"Wait!" Zhu Youjian suddenly raised his hand. "Speak, who have deceived you?"

Du Yang collapsed to the ground, his face contorted with grief, and cried, "Your Majesty, please understand! I received a secret letter from Zeng Hualong, the governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, ordering me to impeach Luo Yangxing, and he even sent me this letter written in blood... I didn't know it was fake! I thought it was real, that's why I dared to submit this memorial..."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Youjian's eyes: "How much silver did you receive from Zeng Hualong?"

"I am innocent!"

Du Yang kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead bleeding from the effort: "I have not taken a single penny; I only wanted to plead for the people..."

"Speaking out for the people?"

Zhu Youjian sneered and asked, "Where are the men Zeng Hualong sent?"

Du Yang answered tremblingly, "Yes, at the Xiuchun Pavilion in the south of the city..."

Zhu Youjian immediately slammed his fist on the table: "Wang Chengen!"

Wang Chengen, the head of the Eastern Depot, immediately stepped forward: "This old servant is here!"

"Take men to the Embroidered Spring Pavilion immediately and bring him back to me. No matter what method you use, I must see his confession today!"

"As you command!"

Wang Chengen bowed and left the main hall quickly.

Zhu Youjian surveyed his assembled officials, who had been so indignant moments before, now all bowing their heads in silence. He coldly declared, "I will say it again today: impeachments require evidence. Officials may speak based on hearsay, but if they are manipulated, it is a crime of deceiving the emperor! Disperse!"

After saying that, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

The officials shouted in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

After the court session ended, the officials who had just impeached Luo Yangxing with Du Yang ran the fastest, seemingly afraid that if they were a step too late, they would be arrested and taken back.

Wang Chengen arrived at the Eastern Depot's office, quickly explained the situation, and then said, "The Eastern Depot has almost completely lost face. If we mess this up again today, I won't have the face to live. Wang Dehua, remember to buy two catties of rat poison when you come back. I'll take the poison with you!"

Wang Dehua hurriedly said, "Please calm down, Eunuch Wang. This servant will go and arrest them right away. We absolutely cannot afford to mess this up again!"

After saying this, he personally led more than twenty barbarians, each armed with a brocade knife, straight to the Embroidered Spring Pavilion in the south of the city.

Xiuchunlou was open at night, when the girls and their patrons were asleep and the doors were tightly shut.

"Break this house down!"

At Wang Dehua's command, two guards raised their legs and kicked.

With a loud bang, the door bolt broke. The guards inside rushed over upon hearing the noise, and upon seeing that it was the Eastern Depot's men, they turned pale with fright and knelt down to beg for mercy.

"Your Excellency, spare us! We didn't know it was the Eunuch Lord himself..."

Wang Dehua didn't even glance at them, and shouted sternly, "Where is the person in charge?"

A plump shopkeeper came tumbling and stumbling from the backyard, then knelt down with a thud: "This humble servant greets the Eunuch..."

Wang Dehua narrowed his eyes: "I'm asking you, have you had any guests from Shandong these past few days?"

The portly shopkeeper, sweating profusely, stammered, "Yes, Master, there are indeed three or four guests with Shandong accents staying on the second floor..."

"Lead the way!"

"Yes, yes..."

The portly shopkeeper led Wang Chengen and his entourage up to the second floor.

Just as I reached the door of room number A, I heard a loud crash coming from inside, as if the window had been smashed open.

"Oh no!" Wang Dehua's expression changed drastically. "They're banging on our door!"

The two guards rammed the door together, and it opened with a bang.