The Empress remarried, and I retaliated by wiping out the court.

The Imperial Study.

Zhang Shouzhi paced back and forth anxiously, and then spoke to Cao Ji without any politeness:

"Where is His Majesty? It's been three hours, why hasn't His Majesty arrived yet?"

Cao Ji glanced at him indifferently and said in a nonchalant tone:

"His Majesty is extremely busy. If he wants you to wait, then wait. If you don't want to wait, then get out! His Majesty isn't keeping you here!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the hall were furious, especially Zhang Shouzhi, the Minister of Rites, who had been well-versed in the classics and had never heard such an insulting remark.

He angrily rebuked, "You audacious eunuch! How dare you, a physically disabled person, insult a high-ranking official of the court?"

Cao Ji's forehead veins throbbed as he said, "Minister Zhang is right. This old servant is indeed lacking something, but at least... this old servant lacks two ounces of flesh down there, unlike some people who lack brains!"

"His Majesty has asked you all to wait today, so you should wait. What? Does Minister Zhang think he is superior to His Majesty?"

"You...you...you!"

Zhang Shouzhi was so angry that he trembled all over, pointed at Cao Ji, and couldn't say a word for a long time.

Li Juzheng opened one sleepy eyelid: "Save your energy, stop talking!"

"snort!"

Zhang Shouzhi snorted coldly, feeling a vague unease for some reason.

Today's coup attempt saw the old fox Li Juzheng obediently charge into battle, which is quite inconsistent with his usual steady approach.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

"Empress Xiao, Empress Li, and Empress Ma have arrived!"

A sharp, piercing announcement echoed throughout the imperial study.

The ministers responded perfunctorily with, "Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Without telling him to rise, Ye Wudao coldly looked at Zhang Shouzhi: "Minister Zhang, I just heard you complaining that I was too late outside the hall? Should I apologize to you in public?"

Ye Wudao's words made Zhang Shouzhi tense up suddenly.

Today he came with Li Juzheng to force the emperor to abdicate. Li Juzheng should be at the forefront of this matter; he doesn't want to take the lead.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your humble servant had no intention of urging you. It's just that we have important matters to discuss with Your Majesty and were worried that the eunuch might not report in time, thus missing the appointed time. That's why we asked one more question."

Even if Ye Wudao, as the emperor, was displeased upon hearing this, he would still have to give face to this Minister and Grand Secretary, since the power behind him was not to be trifled with.

But this time, Ye Wudao slammed his hand on the dragon table: "Insolence! How dare you call me a castrated dog?!"

"Cao Ji was personally appointed by me as the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, tasked with conveying imperial edicts and carrying out my duties. You call him a eunuch dog; are you implying that I have poor judgment in personnel?"

Ye Wudao looked down at him, his voice cold:

"Do you still feel that everyone around me is inferior to you?"

Zhang Shouzhi's face turned deathly pale, and he finally knelt down, trembling as he said:

"Your Majesty! This humble subject had absolutely no such intention!"

Wu Qingxun, a colleague, frowned slightly. Although he was unhappy that Zhang Shouzhi had taken the lead, he still forced himself to say, "Your Majesty, Lord Zhang is just being outspoken. That's not what he meant."

Ye Wudao let out a cold laugh:

"Frank and outspoken? What a fine word 'frank and outspoken'! According to Minister Wu, if officials insult their colleagues in court from now on, they can simply say 'frank and outspoken' and be absolved of their crimes?"

"If I were to indiscriminately kill my ministers one day, wouldn't I be able to simply say 'I spoke my mind' and get away with it?"

Wu Qingxun's expression changed drastically. He never expected Ye Wudao to be so eloquent. If he continued, Ye Wudao's raid on his home yesterday might be easily forgiven.

"Your Majesty, I know I was wrong!"

As he spoke, Wu Qingxun and Zhang Shouzhi exchanged a glance, and Wu Qingxun slapped himself in the face in front of everyone.

Upon witnessing this scene, all the ministers in the court wore expressions of disbelief.

These two ministers have always been arrogant and looked down on Ye Wudao behind his back. Now, they have actually lowered themselves and tied him up in public.

Seeing their behavior, Ye Wudao secretly felt it was a pity.

The other party was clearly using a feigned retreat as a tactic; having already publicly humiliated him, he couldn't afford to pursue the matter any further.

These two were truly decisive in order not to be the first to stick their necks out today!

Ye Wudao flicked his sleeve and said calmly, "What brings you all to my study so early in the morning?"

At this moment, Li Juzheng slowly cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty has not held court for nearly a month. I have no choice but to come and ask Your Majesty for advice."

Ye Wudao said, "Speak up if you have something to say, or shut up if you have something to say!"

Li Juzheng asked, "Yesterday, I heard that Your Majesty investigated and confiscated the property of the Fan and Zhong families on trumped-up charges, imprisoned the head of the Cui family, and robbed the Jiang family of their property. Is this true?"

Ye Wudao wore an expression of utter ignorance: "What is Chief Minister Li talking about? When have I ever done such a thing? That was done by my Empress, what does it have to do with me?"

Xiao Luan's expression changed drastically: "Ye Wudao, you're spouting nonsense! When have I ever done such a thing?"

Ye Wudao feigned shock: "What? Wasn't it you who led the raid on the Fan family yesterday? You ministers don't believe me, do you? I'll summon the Fan family members as witnesses immediately! Guards..."

"Ye Wudao!"

Xiao Luan gritted her teeth in hatred: "You forced me to do that."

"Oh?" Ye Wudao raised an eyebrow. "Am I holding a knife to your throat, or threatening you with your family?"

"I..." Xiao Luan was speechless for a moment.

She then realized that yesterday they had intended to trip up Ye Wudao, but it had no effect on him at all, and they had instead been used as pawns by him!

Ye Wudao looked at Ma Wanlan: "Empress Ma, Emperor Xiao and his ministers have slandered me. You must give me justice!"

Upon hearing this...

Everyone present had strange expressions.

You were the one who committed murder, you were the one who ransacked the house, so why are you acting like a victim now?

Ma Wanlan stammered, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I was forced into this situation..."

Ye Wudao retorted, "I'm just asking you, did you lead the confiscation of their property?"

"Your Majesty..."

"I'm just asking, isn't that right?"

"……yes."

The entire room fell silent!

The officials were speechless.

Zhang Shouzhi and others had prepared a whole host of attacks last night, but they instantly turned into useless nonsense.

Ye Wudao has completely shirked responsibility, so how can you blame him?

Could it be that you intend to take action against Empress Xiao and Empress Ma?

Li Juzheng's solemn expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, there have been numerous battles. Those who died at Your Majesty's hands include Censor-in-Chief Li Chongde, Imperial Guard Commander Feng Yu, and Imperial Guard General Yan Shichang, in addition to the Fan and Zhong families who died at Your Majesty's hands yesterday."

"Your Majesty has exceeded the deadline by no more than a month, yet hundreds of lives are on your hands. How can the court officials not be filled with fear, and how can the people of the realm live in peace?"

Li Juzheng spoke the most ruthless words in the calmest tone:

"This old minister is incompetent. Although I assisted the late emperor in governing the country for more than thirty years, Your Majesty's actions are unacceptable to this old minister. Please allow this old minister to retire to his hometown!"

The six ministers, including Zhang Shouzhi and Wu Qingxun, along with other officials such as the vice ministers and the chief justice of the Supreme Court, knelt down and uttered the slogans they had agreed upon beforehand:

"Your Majesty, I am incompetent! I beg Your Majesty to grant us permission to retire and return to our hometowns!"

"Your Majesty, please grant me permission to resign!"

"Please grant permission, Your Majesty!"

All officials... resigned en masse!

It's like they're all holding a knife to Ye Wudao's neck, forcing him to submit!