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

"Commander Xie, who knows your family's assets better than me?"

"I own more than a dozen houses in Beijing, and each one must have at least the number you mentioned, right?"

"Five hundred thousand taels? Who are you trying to humiliate?"

"This shortfall is too huge. I deserve to die, but this money..."

"shut up!"

Xie Yong's face turned deathly pale, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

He turned to look at Chen Shao, his tone surprisingly commanding.

"Your Majesty, this scoundrel is clearly framing us. His tricks are obvious. I beg Your Majesty to execute him immediately."

He panicked.

Chen Shao sneered inwardly.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards, they should have been the emperor's most loyal swords.

Now, however, he has fallen so low as to collude with other court officials.

They don't even respect their own father.

The emperor is your father, you fools.

"Thank you, Commander!"

Wang Zheng's body was already straight. "Every penny of the silver I embezzled is accounted for and traceable. I know my sins are grave and I am willing to be torn to pieces, but before I die, all I want is for this silver to be deposited into the national treasury."

Then, he kowtowed deeply to Chen Shao.

"Your Majesty! Ten million taels of silver is no small matter. This old servant would never dare to lie. Please investigate thoroughly, Your Majesty."

Chen Shao was furious:

"You bastard, even on your deathbed you still try to slander a high-ranking official! Wang Zheng, are you truly not afraid of death?"

"This old servant is not lying in the slightest. Since the Commander and I have different versions of events, His Majesty can send someone to search Commander Xie's residence to find out."

"presumptuous!"

Han Cao finally stepped forward.

Xie Yong could not afford to make any mistakes, and he certainly could not be allowed to investigate Xie Yong's residence.

Otherwise, it would implicate a large number of people.

He gave Wang Zheng a cold look.

"Xie Yong is the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a high-ranking official of the third rank in the imperial court. How can you just search him like that?"

"Moreover, you are an unforgivable criminal; how could the court tolerate your rampant slander and accusations?"

Chen Shao exclaimed in surprise, "That's very strange."

"One said 500,000 taels, the other said 10 million taels, the difference is just too big."

"How about this, I will personally go to Xie Yong's residence and clear the commander's name."

Xie Yong broke out in a cold sweat instantly.

"Absolutely not!" Han Cao exclaimed urgently.

"Damn it..." Chen Shao looked at him helplessly.

"This won't work, that won't work, so tell me what we should do?"

Who are you yelling at? Or are you swearing at someone? Han Cao's face darkened.

He was about to speak again.

The Empress Dowager, who had remained silent behind the curtain, could no longer hold back.

"That's fine then. Let's send someone over to check and clear Commander Xie's name."

"???"

Han Cao's heart skipped a beat, and his vision blurred.

What does the Empress Dowager mean?

While kneeling, Wang Zheng was overjoyed. He finally understood why Eunuch Wei was following His Majesty.

It turns out the Empress Dowager supports His Majesty!

Xie Yong knelt down with a thud:

"Your Majesty! I am innocent! My loyalty to the Great Yan is as clear as day and night. I have served in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for many years, and I have never embezzled a single tael of silver. This scoundrel Wang Zheng is clearly slandering me..."

"It's settled then."

The Empress Dowager was already restraining her voice.

She was furious.

Behind the curtain, her chest heaved violently.

That bastard Xie Yong!

What the hell!

They actually found ten million taels of silver, but only gave one million taels to themselves as a tribute!

Does he even respect me anymore?!

That's all my money!

He made a fortune himself, and I, who only got a small share, had to thank him.

The Empress Dowager felt she had been deeply offended.

"Wei Zhongguo, take the Imperial Guards and go to Xie Yong's residence."

"Until the results of the search are in, Commander Xie, please wait here."

Finished!

Xie Yong's vision went black, and he fainted.

Sacrificing a pawn to save the chariot, Han Cao sighed inwardly, but immediately came up with a countermeasure.

Xie Yong's household couldn't withstand an investigation; he was finished.

As for those implicated, they probably make up half of the imperial court.

The law does not punish the masses; everyone took it, even the Empress Dowager took it.

In the end, major issues will inevitably be reduced to minor ones, and minor issues will be resolved peacefully.

He suppressed his anger and changed the subject:

"That's fine, we'll find out who's lying once we investigate."

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, now we can discuss how to deal with the Northern Barbarians."

This is the most important thing.

Yu Qi'an immediately stepped forward.

"I would rather die defending the capital than flee south!"

Several pro-war factions also followed suit and expressed their opinions.

Han Cao didn't bother arguing with these troublemakers; he simply smiled faintly.

"Your loyalty is commendable, and I admire it greatly."

"But at this point, His Majesty has already made all the decisions on his own, and we, as his subjects, only need to follow his wise guidance."

He turned around. "I request Your Majesty to announce this in court."

All eyes turned to the young emperor on the dragon throne.

Chen Shao had indeed already made up his mind.

Moving south my ass.

Migrating south might allow them to survive temporarily, but that was their situation.

Once I arrive in Jinling, the first thing I will do is be dismissed.

The best outcome would be a lifetime of house arrest, with no chance to even flirt with palace maids.

It's better to be dead than alive.

If we're going to die, we'll all die together.

Let them all stay in the capital.

He was about to speak when he suddenly heard a system notification:

[Ding! A life-or-death situation has triggered a side quest: Stop the southward migration!]

[Complete the task and you will receive one chance to win a prize.]

This is an easy question.

Chen Shao slowly stood up.

His gaze swept over each of the assembled officials.

cough cough.

"I know."

"The Northern Barbarian cavalry is fierce, and the capital's military strength is depleted. Moving south to Nanjing is the best choice."

"Staying in the capital is a dead end. You all have wives, children, elderly parents, and children to support. It would be too cruel for you all to die here."

The signal was very clear, and those who advocated relocation immediately became excited.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"Your Majesty is truly a benevolent ruler for all ages."

Chen Shao pressed his hands together in a gesture of quiet.

"But the emperor guards the nation's gates, and the monarch dies for the state; this is the ancestral precept of our Great Yan."

"Therefore, after much consideration, I have come up with a solution that satisfies both sides: you will move south, and I will stay behind to guard the capital and cover your retreat!"

"???"

The group of people who had just been celebrating were instantly speechless, as if they had lost their parents.

No... if the emperor doesn't leave, who the hell dares to leave?

How should history be written?

The officials fled south, leaving the emperor to die?

Wouldn't people gossip and curse me behind my back?

He'll be infamous for eternity.

This is absolutely the most vicious insult.

Chen Shao turned around and looked north.

She sighed softly:

"The ministers all face south, while I alone face north."

"I will not regret it until the Northern Barbarians are defeated."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his silhouette profound.

As luck would have it, a gust of wind blew by, causing his clothes to flutter and making him appear even more imposing.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

With the offensive and defensive forces in opposite directions, the pro-war faction, who had just looked utterly hopeless, immediately became as energetic as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"His Majesty is truly a benevolent ruler for all ages!"