Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

March 29th, 3:45 AM.

The air inside the Golden Palace thickened after Shen Anbang's resounding accusations and Nangong Ye's thunderous decree.

A brief, almost vacuum-like silence fell.

Those account books, held high, seemed not to be pages at all.

Instead, it was a red-hot branding iron, so hot it made the Liu faction officials tremble with fear.

The heat sent chills down the spines of neutrals and weighed heavily on the hearts of everyone else.

Liu Chengzong suffered a stroke and fell into a coma, the Liu family mansion was raided, and the Liu faction faced a purge... All of this happened too fast, catching everyone off guard.

Many people have not yet recovered from the shock of Shen Anbang's ten major crimes.

The scales of power seem to have tipped dramatically.

However, just as this silence was about to be broken,

As some people began to consider how to sever ties with the Liu family and how to align themselves with newly emerging powers—

The sound of hurried, heavy footsteps came again from outside the hall, accompanied by suppressed exclamations and attempts to dissuade them.

"Prime Minister Liu! Prime Minister Liu, you can't go in! Your health..."

"Get out of here!"

A hoarse, weak roar, yet filled with a kind of insane obsession, rang out.

Then, everyone witnessed an unbelievable scene—

Liu Chengzong, practically half-carried and half-lifted by two strong servants, staggered into the Golden Palace!

He was no longer the dignified prime minister in his purple robes and jade belt.

He was dressed in a plain white undergarment, with a dark cloak haphazardly draped over his shoulders.

His hair was disheveled, and his complexion was as sallow as paper.

There were still dark red bloodstains left at the corners of his mouth.

Half of his body seemed unable to support itself, and it twitched slightly.

His left eye was also slightly crooked, clearly indicating that the symptoms of the stroke had not yet subsided.

But his right eye was bloodshot, fixedly staring at Shen Anbang below the imperial steps.

And the account books in his hands burned with overwhelming resentment and a dying, desperate madness.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty!"

Liu Chengzong broke free from the servants' support and, with all his might,

He suddenly fell to his knees, his forehead slamming heavily against the gold brick with a dull thud.

He raised his head, tears streaming down his face, his voice hoarse and broken, yet it carried with extraordinary clarity throughout the hall:

"This old minister...this old minister is innocent! You have been utterly wronged, Your Majesty!"

He struggled to raise his trembling hand and pointed at Shen Anbang.

Especially the account book in his hand, his fingers trembled like leaves falling in the autumn wind:

"Shen Anbang! You...you have wolfish ambitions!"

To avenge your daughter Shen Qingci and to overturn the verdict against your Shen family,

They actually went so far as to forge account books, fabricate charges, and frame me!

They framed my entire Liu family!

How cruel you are! How ruthless you are!

Forging account books! Frame an honest official!

This counterattack was so direct and so ruthless!

The public opinion, which had been almost unanimously in favor due to overwhelming evidence, suddenly cracked.

Yes, Shen Anbang and Liu Chengzong are political enemies, and there is also a deep-seated hatred between them, such as the deposition of Empress Shen and the confiscation of the Shen family's property!

He had every motive to fabricate evidence and bring down the Liu family!

As if grasping at a straw, officials of the Liu faction immediately stepped forward to echo their sentiments:

"Your Majesty! What Prime Minister Liu said is absolutely right!"

Shen Anbang neglected his public duties for personal reasons and sought revenge out of personal grudges; his intentions are despicable!

Those account books are of dubious origin and must be forged!

"Shen Anbang's sudden return, followed by the presentation of such a 'detailed' account book,

The time, place, and amount were exactly the same; what a coincidence!

It was clearly premeditated and prepared in advance!

"Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly! Do not listen to only one side of the story, lest you chill the hearts of loyal ministers!"

Faced with this sudden counterattack, Shen Anbang remained calm.

He simply gripped the dragon-shaped staff in his hand even tighter, his voice steady and powerful:

"Liu Chengzong, stop distorting the truth and making baseless accusations!"

All the account books I present are verifiable and can withstand any scrutiny!

"But you, embezzling military funds and salt taxes, the evidence is irrefutable, and you still dare to deny it?!"

Liu Chengzong coughed up a mouthful of blood and hissed:

"Source? What source?"

It's nothing more than you, Shen Anbang, colluding with petty thugs in the underworld or bribing some greedy clerks to fabricate something out of thin air!

You say the military pay accounts are incorrect, but the archives of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue are clearly correct!

You say the salt tax was embezzled, but the accounts of the Salt Transport Commissioner are crystal clear!

With just a few tattered booklets you pulled out of who-knows-where,

They wanted to sentence the current prime minister, a veteran official of two reigns, to death.

This is utterly ridiculous!

He struggled, turned to the throne, and kowtowed repeatedly, blood quickly forming on his forehead.

"Your Majesty! This old minister has served the late Emperor and Your Majesty for decades."

Though I have neither made any great achievements nor committed any major transgressions, I have been diligent and conscientious, and Heaven and Earth can attest to that!

Shen Anbang's actions were intended to use the Emperor to eliminate his political opponents and pave the way for his daughter.

Your Majesty, let's advocate for the Shen family to regain power!

If Your Majesty believes him, you will be destroying your own Great Wall, causing pain to your loved ones and joy to your enemies!

This old minister...this old minister will die with his eyes wide open in disbelief!

Tears streamed down his face, his voice hoarse and strained, a sight that combined with his distorted face from the stroke and his disheveled, pitiful state.

He actually managed to portray himself as a tragic old minister who had been framed by his political enemies and whose loyalty had been tarnished!

Extremely inflammatory!

Some officials who were already wavering, or who had little connection with the Liu family's interests but were wary of the Shen family's resurgence,

A look of hesitation appeared on his face.

Yes, ledgers can be forged, and witnesses can be bribed.

Shen Anbang's motives are indeed too obvious. What if it really is a frame-up...?

Nangong Ye sat high on the throne, his brows furrowed and his face gloomy.

He was naturally more inclined to believe Shen Anbang and the authenticity of the ledger.

He had long suspected Liu Chengzong's crimes, but he lacked conclusive evidence.

Shen Anbang's actions today can be described as providing timely help.

However, Liu Chengzong's counterattack was also extremely cunning and ruthless.

It directly grasped the two key points: "motive for revenge" and "source of evidence".

In the imperial court, procedural justice is emphasized.

Based solely on the account books provided by Shen Anbang, whose origins require explanation,

It is indeed difficult to immediately and completely eliminate a deeply entrenched prime minister.

Especially now that Liu Chengzong is adopting a desperate, life-or-death stance,

If a conviction is forcibly imposed, it will inevitably leave room for accusations that "the emperor listened to only one side of the story and unjustly killed an old minister."

"Shen Qing," Nangong Ye said in a deep voice, looking at Shen Anbang.

"What Liu Xiang said, although it is only one person's opinion, is not without reason."

The ledgers you presented are of great importance. Where did they come from?

Are there any more direct physical evidence besides the account books themselves?

Or... an irrefutable key witness?

He needed a breakthrough, irrefutable evidence that could completely silence Liu Chengzong and all the doubters!

Otherwise, the case would have reached a stalemate, giving the Liu family a chance to catch their breath and launch a counterattack.

Shen Anbang took a deep breath; he was prepared for Liu Chengzong's counterattack.

But they never expected their opponent to be so fierce, even with a stroke, he insisted on going to the palace to fight to the death.

He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the source of the account books involves many aspects, and in order to protect the safety of the informant, this old minister cannot disclose it for the time being."

But I, your humble servant, can guarantee with my life that the account books are absolutely true!

As for more direct physical evidence or witness testimony…

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Liu Chengzong's venomous face, and said in a deep voice:

"This old minister needs time."

Some evidence is buried very deep;

Some witnesses, whose absolute safety must be ensured, are allowed to testify in court.

This statement is tantamount to admitting that there is currently no conclusive "ironclad evidence" or "ironclad proof" to definitively prove the case.

A vicious glint flashed in Liu Chengzong's eyes.

As if a drowning person had grabbed onto a piece of driftwood, their voices became even more excited:

"Your Majesty! Did you hear that?"

He couldn't produce it! He was feeling guilty!

He fabricated evidence and made false accusations!

Your Majesty, please arrest Shen Anbang immediately and punish him for false accusation!

To rectify the court's affairs!

Officials from the Liu faction rose up again in protest.

"Your Majesty, please investigate this matter thoroughly!"

"Severely punish those who framed him!"

The situation, surprisingly, became a stalemate due to Liu Chengzong's desperate and frantic counterattack.

One party possesses seemingly detailed account books, but cannot disclose their source, and temporarily lacks crucial corroborating evidence to definitively prove their case.

The other party insists that the other party fabricated evidence and sought revenge by feigning resentment, using their own miserable situation and years of experience to gain sympathy and relentlessly pursue the matter.

The two sides remained deadlocked in the Golden Hall.

All eyes were on Nangong Ye on the throne, awaiting his decision.

Is it to trust Shen Anbang and continue the investigation despite the risk of "wrongfully killing a veteran official"?

Or should we put it on hold for now and demand that Shen Anbang provide more conclusive evidence?

Behind the beaded curtain, Shen Qingci sat quietly, her fingertips gently tapping the armrest of the chair from inside her sleeve.

Liu Chengzong is indeed shrewd and experienced.

Even after suffering a stroke, he can still stir up the wind and rain like this.

but……

She raised her eyes and looked through the swaying beads in a certain direction outside the palace.

It should be about time.

The "key witness" she arranged...

We've arrived.