Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

"How dare you!"

"You instigated His Majesty to personally lead the army into battle, and half a million soldiers died because of you."

"You not only ruined the lives of 500,000 families, but you also destroyed the Great Yan Dynasty! Do you know your crime?!"

Wang Zheng didn't even turn his head, and sneered:

"Just say we should take the blame; there's no need to label us with such a huge accusation."

"Ha, you've really given up on yourself, Wang Zheng. Do you think death is that simple? You're now in a state of wishful thinking, unable to live or die."

"Your entire family will be executed, and you'll be hung up at the city gate and slowly sliced ​​to death. If you can endure that, then you're a real man."

Wang Zheng's shoulders trembled slightly.

He could die, but he hoped for a painless death.

A cup of poisoned wine or a white silk ribbon—either is acceptable.

Even executing nine generations of one's family is not a big problem; after death, who cares about the deluge?

But the thought of being slowly sliced ​​to death... made his heart sink to the bottom.

pain!

It hurts so much!

He had seen that kind of death.

3357 cuts, ten cuts followed by a break, the torture lasted three days; no one could withstand that kind of cruelty.

"Wang Zheng."

Chen Shao's tone softened.

"I'm giving you a chance to live; it's up to you to see if you can seize it."

Wang Zheng suddenly froze.

Then he slowly turned around.

His eyes were fixed on the young man's face.

"Sixth...Sixth Prince...Your Majesty..."

Wang Zheng once held immense power in the court and could be considered a champion of palace intrigue.

The moment I saw Chen Shao, my mind started racing.

Yuwen Huagu, Han Cao, Empress Dowager, Sixth Prince...

In an instant, he understood everything.

puppet!

But ambitious people like this are the ones who are best at seizing every opportunity.

Even if you know that the other party is powerless and vulnerable, or even just like you, a fish on someone else's chopping board.

Wang Zheng also knelt down and performed a full and proper salute.

"King Zheng, a sinful slave, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"But...forgive my bluntness, but His Majesty himself is probably in dire straits, how could he possibly save me..."

"Since you see things so clearly, I won't hide it from you. I want to cooperate with you."

"If you succeed, you can still enjoy the same glory as before; if you fail, it won't make much difference to your current situation."

"But Your Majesty..."

Chen Shao waved his hand to interrupt, pointing at Eunuch Wei.

Wang Zheng followed his gaze, and the next moment, he exclaimed in surprise:

"Wei Zhongguo!"

The Empress Dowager's trusted confidant, he actually defected to this new emperor?

This suggests that...this sixth prince must be quite capable.

Facts speak louder than words.

Without Chen Shao saying anything more, Wang Zheng kowtowed several more times.

"If Your Majesty does not abandon me, this sinful slave's life is yours!"

"That's...very good."

Chen Shao nodded, and then began to plot with Wang Zheng.

Half an hour later, urged by the jailers, he finally left the imperial prison.

Wang Zheng watched the young figure disappear at the end of the passageway.

He remained motionless for a long time.

He murmured to himself:

"Perhaps... he really can do it."

......

The next day, there will be a court meeting.

Officials filed in and stood in order of rank.

Everyone is fully aware of the matters to be discussed today.

The first case is Wang Zheng's case, which should have a result today.

Secondly, it's about how to deal with the Northern Barbarians and whether or not to migrate south.

"If you have something to report, do so now; otherwise, the court may adjourn."

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager."

A middle-aged military officer dressed in a flying fish robe strode out of the column.

He bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, Xie Yong, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, has a memorial to present."

"Your Majesty and Empress Dowager, I have been ordered to investigate and confiscate Wang Zheng's assets. All of them have now been inventoried and are presented for your perusal."

These things were finalized yesterday; today is just a formality to let the officials know.

Xie Yong unfolded the memorial.

"A total of seventeen residences belonging to the Wang government were searched, and gold, silver, land, antiques, calligraphy and paintings were confiscated, amounting to more than 537,000 taels of silver."

The moment the words were spoken, the hall erupted in chaos.

"Five hundred and thirty thousand taels!"

"How could a mere eunuch amass such a vast fortune? This scoundrel Wang Zheng truly deserves to be torn to pieces!"

"He deserves far more than a thousand cuts. This eunuch's wealth is equivalent to most of the national treasury. He's not just a corrupt official; he's a parasite, a traitor to the country!"

"The abuse of power by eunuchs is a great scourge to the nation! It's utterly shocking and appalling!"

"Your Majesty! Our annual salary is only a few coins, yet this eunuch has done such a thing. We beg Your Majesty to order this scoundrel to be executed by slow slicing."

The ministers were all increasingly agitated, and they cursed with great fervor.

Chen Shao was amazed.

I don't know how these guys can be so shameless.

I just casually let a little slip by, and I already have a million taels.

Now, pointing at a powerful eunuch who had only been found to have 500,000 taels of silver, he cursed him.

How can a person be so shameless?

If given the chance... these bastards could really be wiped out.

The more the ministers cursed, the harsher and harsher the insults became, eventually including more and more vulgar language.

It is still elegant and proper.

"Has your mother died?"

"Is your mother dead?"

"Screw your mother!"

Chen Shao waited a moment, then suddenly slammed his hand on the imperial desk.

"asshole!!!"

It's unclear who he was cursing with that "bastard," but the force of it was undeniable.

The entire court fell silent instantly.

The courtiers looked at the seemingly weak emperor with surprise.

"What a parasite on the nation!"

"Guards! Bring that bastard Wang Zheng here! I want to execute him in front of the entire court!"

......

Soon, Wang Zheng was brought up.

This once powerful eunuch now had disheveled hair and was covered in weeds.

He was thrown into the center of the main hall by the Imperial Guards, where he knelt and curled up in a ball.

"Wang Zheng, you dog slave!"

"The Emperor Emeritus treated you well, yet you not only caused the army to be wiped out, but also embezzled so much silver. Are you even human?!"

Wang Zheng knelt in the hall, banging his head hard on the floor, and wailed loudly.

"Your Majesty...this old servant knows his crime..."

"The Emperor Emeritus has been incredibly kind to this old servant, but this old servant... has been heartless and has failed in his trust."

"Not only did he suppress dissidents, but he also embezzled tens of millions of taels of silver. This old servant confesses his guilt, this old servant confesses his guilt!"

He cried his heart out, looking every bit the villain who had suddenly realized his mistake.

But as soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall immediately changed.

Especially Xie Yong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who was in charge of the main force of the search and seizure, his old face instantly turned liver-colored.

Pointing at Wang Zheng, he shouted sternly:

"fart!"

"Wang Zheng! You dare to spew false accusations even when you're about to die!"

"I personally led the search and confiscation team, and all your assets combined amount to no more than 537,862 taels!"

"The accounts are clear and every item can be verified. Where did this ten million taels come from!"

"You want to slander me, slander the imperial court, and drag a few people down with you?"