Can't a girl be a traitor like Cao Cao?

However, at this moment, Chi Junlin, who had reached the end of the main hall and was standing before all the civil and military officials, turned around slightly.

He glanced at the assembled officials with sharp eyes.

With his sword at his side, Gong Jun's imposing presence was fierce, his gaze sharp as an eagle's and a wolf's.

The officials were secretly alarmed.

Unexpectedly, Chi Junlin, though a woman, possessed an aura that was so terrifying.

If left unchecked, how far will it grow in the future?

At that moment, the eunuch official, with his hands clasped in front of him, ordered, "Hail!"

The officials bowed in response, "Long live the Emperor!"

This was repeated time and time again.

Only Chi Junlin stood there, sword in hand, staring at the court officials, his body motionless.

The court officials were secretly alarmed, and Fu Wen, the head of the officials, was furious.

One can't help but think that since the Crimson Emperor dared to be so disrespectful at the court assembly, he probably didn't even want to put on an act anymore.

If this disregard for etiquette and social norms continues, where will the dignity of the royal family be placed?

I fear that by then, people will only know of Chi, but not of the ruler.

However, before the court officials could react, an imperial eunuch came down to the emperor and read out the decree.

The imperial eunuch first extended his greetings to all the officials. On behalf of Jiang Hao, he expressed his appreciation for their attendance at the grand court assembly and their concern for the emperor's health.

Then, the first imperial edict of the day was issued.

"Now there is an edict:

The Grand Eunuch Jiang Wanqian claimed to be the Emperor's father, controlling the Emperor above and issuing orders to all officials below, wielding absolute power and wreaking havoc on the court. He allowed his fathers, brothers, sons, relatives, and guests to occupy prefectures and counties, illegally seizing wealth and oppressing the people. The people had no way to express their grievances, so they plotted rebellion and gathered together to become bandits.

Fortunately, Commander-in-Chief Chi Junlin of the Northern Army led his troops into the capital. He purged the court of corrupt officials, quelled internal strife, executed treacherous ministers, and suppressed rebellions, thus safeguarding the peace of the nation.

I am greatly pleased. I hereby order Commander-in-Chief Chijun to enter the capital, to waive all the cumbersome formalities, to stabilize the court and the people, and to deter the wicked!

This imperial decree essentially defined Jiang Wanqian's character, shifting the blame for all the previous problems in the court onto him, without any other issues.

But more importantly, this imperial edict served as an endorsement of Chi Junlin's previous act of leading troops into the capital.

This can be seen as getting on the train first and buying the ticket later, thus downplaying the political impact of Red King's move.

Whether others agree or not is another matter.

But the courtiers knew that this was not the end.

Sure enough, the eunuch produced a second imperial edict.

This is where the bestowal of titles and rewards began on a series of military commanders in the Zhenbei Army.

A large number of generals were awarded titles and honors.

Besides Chi Zagu and Zheng Gaoda, who were the most trusted by Chi Junlin, more than a dozen generals from various units were awarded military merits and received various rewards.

Among them, Chizagu and Zheng Gaoda were even appointed as third-rank military officers, each in charge of the imperial guards in the four directions of the city and the imperial guards.

This also formally endorsed their command of the city's troops.

That's alright.

After all, the Zhenbei Army had previously rendered meritorious service in destroying a country, so it was normal for the generals and commanders of various ranks in the army to receive some rewards.

But what followed was an astonishing reward bestowed upon Chi Junlin, the commander-in-chief of the Zhenbei Army!

"...Furthermore, the Commander-in-Chief of the Zhenbei Army, Princess Chi Junlin of Zhenbei, has rendered meritorious service in protecting the country."

He was specially granted the title of Marquis of Anguo, and given the seal of Grand General, with the authority to command all the troops in the realm…

He held a rank equivalent to the Three Dukes, was the Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs both inside and outside the capital, and was granted the additional title of Grand Master of the Three Departments...

He was granted the special privilege of ruling with a sword and wearing shoes in the palace, not having to bow when entering the court, and not having to mention his name when praising or paying homage!

Upon hearing the imperial edict bestowing honors upon Chi Junlin, a commotion erupted within the hall.

Under the noble system of the Great Zheng Dynasty, military generals were not granted the title of Duke, and Marquis was the highest rank of nobility!

Aside from the very few kings of different surnames, how many people could be granted the title of marquis?

And he was the Marquis of Anguo!

This is so shocking that it even surpasses the exceptional case of the Red King being granted a title because he was a woman!

Even more significant were the privileges granted to the Red King's Landing as outlined in the imperial edict.

Will he be granted the title of Grand Master of the Palace? Will he be allowed to wear a sword and shoes in the palace, enter the court without hastening his steps, and be honored without being named?

What will she do next? Usurp the throne?

All the officials reached a consensus: this could not possibly be an edict written by Jiang Hao to Chi Junlin.

It was written by the eunuchs at Chi Junlin's own behest!

If that's really the case, then what wouldn't she dare to do!

Chapter 27 What are the rites and social order? I'm talking about the social order!

What shocked and bewildered the civil and military officials of the court was not only Chi Junlin's bestowal of titles upon himself.

What's even more frightening is that they quickly realized that the hereditary title of Prince of Zhenbei is still undecided.

Many had already guessed that Chi Junlin's prolonged inaction after entering the court strongly suggested she intended to pass the throne to her younger brother, Crown Prince Chi Junbao.

But no one expected that Chi Junlin would also bestow upon himself the title of Marquis of Anguo.

If she really manages to do this, even if Chi Junlin makes no further progress in the future...

With just one king and one marquis from the Chi clan in court, how could they possibly manage?

After this, will the world belong to the Chi or the Jiang?

Just as the imperial edict was issued, civil and military officials were discussing it heatedly.

A loud shout suddenly rang out in the main hall.

"Absurd! How can a woman be granted the titles of king or noble? How can a hen crow at dawn?"

The speaker stood in front of the officials, his white hair thick and his face radiating righteousness.

He looks like a senior official in the imperial court.

When he spoke, all the officials in the hall and Chi Junlin looked at him.

So he became even more enthusiastic.

He immediately began to loudly refute the decree, arguing that it was against etiquette and precedent.

Chi Junlin did not interrupt him, but casually asked the eunuch beside him, "Who is he?"

The official in charge of ceremonies, intimidated by Chi Junlin's imposing presence, immediately replied respectfully, "Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, it is Fu Wen, the Minister of Rites, one of the Nine Ministers."

"Oh……"

Chi Junlin smiled, indicating that he understood.

At this moment, Fu Wen seemed to have finally laid the groundwork for his actions with words.

The next moment, he reached into his sleeve, preparing to take out the memorial he had written overnight.

"Your subject has a memorial to present..."

"You are Fu Wen?"

Unexpectedly, before Fu Wen could even take out the memorial, Chi Junlin suddenly asked him a question.

The old man stood there awkwardly, as if his spell had been interrupted.

But when Chi Jun asked him, he had no choice but to answer.

After all, whether he could read the memorial in his hand depended entirely on Chi Junlin's word.

So he could only put down the memorial and proudly said to Chi Junlin, "Indeed!"

Chi Junlin nodded, but didn't mention the decree he had just received.

Instead, he asked Fu Wen, "Do you know Jiang Wanqian?"

Fu Wen, after all, was politically experienced and seemed to know what Chi Junlin wanted to say.

If he says he knows her, then he will immediately fall into Chi Junlin's trap and be falsely accused by Chi Junlin of being Jiang Wanqian's accomplice in bringing disaster to the country.

He did not fall into the trap of Red King's Landing.

He immediately retorted arrogantly, "I am sworn enemies with eunuchs. Why do you speak of this?"

But to everyone's surprise, Chi Junlin didn't play by the rules at all.

She immediately raised her hand to Zheng Gaoda, who was standing outside the hall.

He then said, "But before Jiang Wanqian died, he confessed that Fu Wen, the Minister of Rites, had conspired with him to garrison troops outside the pass and intend to rebel."

Take it down.

As soon as he finished speaking, two imperial guards entered from outside the hall.

Before Fu Wen could react, they lifted him up from both sides.

Fu Wen was caught off guard, and the memorial in his sleeve fell to the ground.

The officials looked terrified and were deeply shocked.

Fu Wen, who was being held up, quickly realized what Chi Junlin was doing.

He shouted to Chi Junlin in fear and disbelief, "Emperor Taizu once decreed that the ruler and his officials should share the world."

This world belongs to us scholars!

Chi Junlin, your perverse actions have utterly distorted the moral order and social norms!

Do you intend to go against the entire world?

Although Fu Wen had anticipated that Chi Junlin, now in control of the government, would inevitably try to monopolize power, he was not entirely without reason.

However, he believed that as long as his memorial was presented and read aloud in court, it would surely arouse great excitement among scholars in and out of the court.

Then he can launch another attack, which will garner a strong public response.

Once the Red Emperor arrived, it would be difficult to silence the gossip of the world.

Little did he know that Chi Junlin would not play by the rules at all. He didn't even give him a chance to read the memorial, but directly accused him of treason.

He immediately said in a flustered manner, "Where have I stationed troops outside the pass with the intention of rebellion? Chi Junlin! You have no evidence at all! This is a false accusation!"

Other high-ranking officials in the court also spoke out in condemnation.

Chi Junlin chuckled lightly and said to Fu Wen, "Really no evidence? Think about it again. Isn't all the evidence in the Minister's residence?"

Fu Wen was about to deny it when he suddenly realized something and immediately looked dumbfounded, unable to argue any further.

The other ministers, however, believed that Chi Junlin only wanted to extract a confession through torture and frame loyal officials.

Someone then said, "His Majesty has not yet given the order, how can you, Chi Junlin, overstep your bounds? Without an imperial edict, how can you arbitrarily arrest high-ranking officials?"

But what these people didn't realize was that they had misjudged Red King's actions from the very beginning.

They assumed that the Red King's assembly was to oversee the administration of the government.

But they were wrong. The Crimson King's Arrival was actually there to establish his authority!

Unfortunately for Fu Wen, he ran right into the line of fire.

At this moment, Chi Junlin casually waved his hand and said to those behind him, "Want an imperial edict? Someone! Write one for him!"

Immediately, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonies came out with pen and ink and, in front of everyone, hastily drafted an edict according to Chi Junlin's instructions.

"Fu Wen, Minister of Rites, conspired with the eunuch Jiang Wanqian to garrison troops outside the pass and plot a rebellion. His crime deserves to be punished. The Imperial Guards are hereby ordered to immediately lead troops to suppress the rebels. His entire family shall be exterminated."

The edict was quickly written and stamped with the emperor's seal, taking effect immediately.

As for Fu Wen, before the imperial edict was even finished being written, his official hat and belt were ripped off, his mouth was gagged, and he was dragged away like a dead pig.

Chi Junlin didn't even bother to glance at him.

Because when she gave the order, Fu Wen was already destined to die.