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

The brocade box was opened, and inside was a small figure carved from boxwood.

The little figure has exquisite features and wears a dragon robe.

It was exactly what Chen Yuan looked like.

The little figure had seven silver needles stuck in its chest, three in each of its four limbs, one on its head, and one on the sole of its feet, all densely packed together, making one's scalp tingle.

Chen Shao took out the little figure and held it up in front of everyone.

"Sun Shouxin".

Sun Shouxin, who was called out, stood in the crowd, stunned at first, before realizing what had happened.

He knelt down with a thud:

"Your Majesty! I know nothing! I am innocent! This must be a frame-up!"

The Imperial Guard captain looked up and said:

"Your Majesty, this humble servant found it in a hidden compartment under his bed. Sun Shouxin's wife, Wang, witnessed it herself, and her son has also signed it."

He waved his hand, and several more people were brought in from outside.

Sure enough, Sun Shouxin's wife and servants were also brought along.

"Master...how could you...hide that thing..."

"You bitch! What nonsense are you spouting!"

The woman was startled by the shout and cried out:

"But if you weren't hiding, how did you end up under your pillow in full view of everyone... Sir, do you have a grudge against us?"

Sun Shouxin's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he collapsed to the ground.

The most difficult cases to prove are those involving witchcraft.

"Who...who has such a deep grudge against me, Sun..."

He looked at Han Cao, "Prime Minister, you know my character well, please vouch for me..."

Han Cao turned his head away and did not say anything.

All the previous events, when put together, made him suddenly realize something.

Everything was actually setting the stage for this witchcraft.

Chen Shao used him, the officials, the high priest, and his two trusted confidants, Yu Qi'an and Shen Qingci...

The point is to tell everyone that anyone who gets involved in witchcraft will die.

Han Cao sighed inwardly. He had a premonition that he was in dire straits, barely able to save himself.

Sun Shouxin was someone he had worked so hard to promote, yet he became the first victim...

Therefore, it is quite obvious what Chen Shao is going to do.

The only thing that's puzzling is how he did it? And how did he know it?

"Sun Shouxin, what deep-seated hatred do you have for the Emperor Emeritus that you would curse him like this?"

Chen Shao was furious:

"For someone like this to still be able to stand in the imperial court, the Great Yan Dynasty has truly lost all moral order."

"Drag him out, behead him, confiscate his property, and ban his family from holding office for three generations."

Sun Shouxin, supported by two Imperial Guards, had no strength left, but he could only crane his neck and shout:

"Prime Minister Han, please plead for me..."

Before everyone could recover, a second, a third... fast horse arrived.

"Your Majesty, this item was found in the residence of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works."

"Your Majesty, this item was discovered in the office of the Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue."

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites..."

Each report was presented by a lifelike wooden figurine resembling Chen Yuan.

Each time he reported this, Chen Shao flew into a rage, denouncing him for being heartless and cursing the Emperor Emeritus.

With each report, Han Cao's posture became slightly more hunched.

"Seize their property!"

"Execute immediately!"

In just half an hour, the Imperial Guards found the same witchcraft figurines in the residences of five officials.

These five people are all high-ranking officials in key positions in the central government.

Everyone finally realized that this whole thing seemed to have been premeditated...

The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive, making it hard to breathe.

This time, it was Bingbing who came carrying the brocade box.

"His Majesty."

"Things were also found in Han Cao's residence, the residence of Prime Minister Han."

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback, including Chen Shao, who shouted:

"How is this possible!"

But Han Cao remained calm and composed, his expression unchanged.

He slowly walked out and knelt down in front of Chen Shao.

The voice was extremely calm:

"Your Majesty, if you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext."

"As the head of all officials, I am utterly loyal to Your Majesty and the Emperor Emeritus. Everyone in the world knows how to use this, but I alone do not!"

"For the past twenty years of the Qing'an Dynasty, this old minister has devoted himself to the cause, unable to sleep or eat properly. Even if I were to die ten thousand times, I would never fail my sovereign and father."

"Moreover, throughout history, witchcraft has not only been a major taboo, but it has also never been effective. This old minister is not that foolish."

His words were both generous and melancholic.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.

Many officials felt compassion upon seeing this.

After all, Han Xiang was a veteran of three reigns and would never use witchcraft to harm people.

If we were implicated in this matter today, it would be a shameful and laughable incident in the history books.

Bai Bingbing looked at him expressionlessly.

"Prime Minister Han, don't get agitated. No witchcraft items were found in your residence."

Han Cao: "What is that?"

Chen Shao: "Is it also roast chicken?"

Bai Bingbing opened the brocade box, and inside were stacks of letters.

Some of them had even turned yellow.

"Your Majesty, this is what I found in the hidden wall of Prime Minister Han's study. There are many secrets inside."

"Oh?"

A glint flashed in Chen Shao's eyes. "Let's read it in front of everyone."

"On the 17th day of the third month of the third year of Qing'an, Wanyan Hun, the envoy of the Tata tribe of Northern Mang, respectfully greets Your Excellency Han, the Prime Minister of Great Yan: I have received your secret letter and presented it to His Majesty."

"His Majesty was very pleased and said that Lord Han was a man of great understanding and righteousness. The Empress has already ordered the men to temporarily halt their military advance regarding the matter of the three prefectures and seventeen counties that he discussed. She hopes that Lord Han will proceed quickly. If the demarcation of the northern lands is successful, next autumn when the horses are fat and strong, he will surely go south to petition the Emperor and help you accomplish your great task. Do not divulge this information. Burn it after reading."

After Bai Bingbing finished reading, a commotion broke out in the crowd.

Three prefectures and seventeen counties.

Back then, Han Cao strongly advocated appeasing the Northern Court through peace talks, repeatedly saying, "We will exchange an inch of land for thirty years of peace." In reality, he was just trying to curry favor with others.

Bai Bingbing ignored it and opened the second letter.

"On the second day of the ninth month of the sixth year of the reign of Emperor An, Helian Temu sent an envoy to the Prime Minister's residence. He received a gift of 500,000 taels of silver from Lord Han to purchase iron for making arrows in the Northern Court. If the matter is successful, taking Youyun will be as easy as turning one's hand. His Majesty was moved by Lord Han's righteousness and promised to make Lord Han the ruler of the Central Plains after the matter was accomplished."

"November of the ninth year of Qing'an."

"The eighth day of the first month of the thirteenth year of Qing'an."

"..."

"In the autumn of the twentieth year of Qing'an, the Empress replied to Lord Han: 'As you predicted, the matter of your personal expedition has been resolved. The Northern Court has already set up three ambushes thirty li northwest of Shuangmu City. If Chen Yuan comes, he will undoubtedly be defeated. I hope you will make arrangements as soon as possible. Once Chen Yuan is captured, a new emperor can be established in the court, and the world can rest easy from then on...'"

By the time Bai Bingbing finished reading this, everyone had already knelt down.

The beginning was alright, but in the last letter, the blame for the defeat of the 500,000-strong army at Shuangmu City fell entirely on Han Cao.