368: Palace examination, meeting the empress, all the big guys gathered!

This was Guo Feng’s first time in the Hall of Political Affairs.

Last time, Guo Feng was led by Ninth Chief Eunuch through a side door, entering the palace from behind.

This time, he arrived at the Hall of Political Affairs.

Indeed, the decor here was similar to the palaces Guo Feng had seen on television.

But it was even more magnificent and splendid.

More imposing!

And larger!

At this moment, the Empress sat majestically on the dragon throne, looking down from above.

She exuded a sense of ruling the world.

At this point, the Empress’s peerless beauty had become her least noteworthy attribute.

Her every gesture, even a single glance, exerted immense pressure on others.

Her strength was unfathomable!

Guo Feng also sensed an extremely powerful aura hidden behind her.

As expected, the Imperial Palace was full of hidden talents.

Besides her, there were four other people in the entire Hall of Political Affairs.

One was a middle-aged scholar in white, with a benevolent face, yet his eyes contained wisdom.

This person was Imperial Preceptor Nan Yin.

Standing opposite South Yin, to the Empress’s left, was another extraordinarily imposing middle-aged man.

This man wore a golden crown.

If the Empress hadn't been sitting on the dragon throne, others might have thought he was the emperor!

This person was none other than the Empress’s Imperial Relative, Zhao Xing!

Below the Imperial Relative was a person of ambiguous gender, but with a strong aura.

This person was Eighth Chief Eunuch Hu Xu.

The last person, dressed in a platinum Daoist robe, had an aura no weaker than the Imperial Relative.

His brows were furrowed with anger.

This person was the Sect Master of Taiyi Sect, Kuang Yin!

The Empress, the Imperial Preceptor, the Imperial Relative, and the Sect Master of Taiyi Sect—these four could be said to be the most powerful people in this world.

They were also the strongest individuals in the empire.

Even a slight conflict between them would result in mountains of corpses.

Their imposing presence was also imaginable.

As soon as Wang Shengzhi entered this grand hall, his legs couldn't help but go weak, and he secretly glanced at Guo Feng.

He was shocked to discover that Guo Feng, who was much younger than him, was surprisingly calm and composed.

Coming to this Hall of Political Affairs was like visiting a backyard garden for sightseeing.

He didn't know that, in Guo Feng’s view, the combined strength of these people was probably inferior to Lord Huntian.

And he had even escaped from under Lord Huntian’s hands.

Moreover, as someone with a cheat, his confidence was unmatched by others.

“Greetings, Empress!”

At this moment, Guo Feng bowed to the Empress along with everyone else, then his gaze swept over the people present.

In fact, he could already guess their identities from their auras.

“You may rise, my lords.”

The Empress waved her hand, then looked at the Imperial Relative and the others, “Guo Feng and the others have arrived. Imperial Relative, Sect Master, do you have anything to say?”

“I am not here for the Grand Manager’s matter.”

The Imperial Relative, however, smiled and cupped his hands.

His words caught everyone present by surprise.

And Sect Master Kuang Yin of Taiyi Sect said, “My true disciples are all pillars of my Taiyi Sect.”

“This Guo Feng first killed my true disciple Guo Xiaoyi, then killed my true disciple Tang Ru.”

“And along with Mo Daoqing, the Sect Master of Sumi Sect, he broke into my Taiyi Sect’s office, killing a total of nineteen of my inner and outer disciples!”

His voice grew louder and louder as he spoke, “Even if Tang Ru and he made a life-and-death pact this time, it was because he killed my Taiyi Sect disciples first!”

“Therefore!”

His gaze sharpened as he looked at the Empress, “Empress, I, Kuang Yin, Sect Master of Taiyi Sect, request you to slay this villain and eliminate future troubles!”

As he spoke, surging killing intent permeated the entire Hall of Political Affairs.

Guo Feng frowned. This Taiyi Sect was truly overbearing, directly demanding the Empress to act!

“Hm, alright, I understand.”

The Empress nodded, her face devoid of emotion, and looked at Eighth Chief Eunuch, “Hu Xu, why have you come to the main hall?”

“To redress my adoptive father’s injustice!”

Eighth Chief Eunuch cupped his hands, then pointed at Guo Feng, “This child, under the pretext of supervising Qin Tian, disregarded my adoptive father’s persuasion to stop him from killing Tang Ru. Instead, he threatened Qin Tian and Marquis Shenwei, together killing my adoptive father, Hu Lie!”

As he spoke, tears streamed down his face, and he immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowing forcefully, “Your Majesty! My adoptive father, loyal to the sovereign, once rendered great service, yet he met such a fate.”

“Hu Xu is willing to pay with his life to ask Empress to severely punish Guo Feng and severely punish Marquis Shenwei!”

He spoke while kowtowing forcefully.

“Enough.”

The Empress remained unperturbed. She waved her hand, stopping Hu Xu’s kowtowing, and then said, “Regardless of the Grand Manager’s mistakes, your filial piety, Hu Xu, is commendable. Since you possess such filial devotion, no matter what, I must grant your wish.”

Upon hearing her words, Hu Xu hurriedly cupped his hands: “Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty is wise!”

At this moment, the Imperial Relative frowned.

Kuang Yin also looked puzzled.

Guo Feng’s heart also tightened.

This Empress was too profound; her words carried no emotional fluctuations.

She was so inscrutable that one couldn't guess her thoughts!

At this moment, the Empress looked at Kuang Yin again: “Taiyi Sect Master.”

“Your subject is here.”

Kuang Yin hurriedly bowed.

The Empress said, “Did your Taiyi Sect overstep the imperial law and disregard my imperial decree?”

“Ah?!”

Kuang Yin’s heart trembled, and he quickly cupped his hands, “Your subject would not dare, Your Majesty, why do you say such a thing?”

“That day, regarding the Taiyi Sect matter on Sect Street, I personally led the Ten Regular Attendants to handle it.”

“Punishing Sumi Sect from establishing an office within ten years.”

“Punishing Mo Daoqing from entering the imperial capital within ten years.”

“Punishing Guo Feng by stripping him of his imperial decree, subjecting him to a thousand-staff punishment in the Prison Punishment Division, and imprisoning him for three days.”

“My golden words are known to all the people.”

“What, you do not obey my command?”

There was still not much emotional fluctuation in the Empress’s words.

However, everyone present felt immense pressure.

Even Kuang Yin was sweating profusely at this moment!

Kuang Yin cupped his hands: “I dare not!”

“You dare not?”

The Empress chuckled, “If you dare not, why come to this hall to act wildly? Life-and-death duels, no one may interfere—this is imperial law. Is your Taiyi Sect trying to rise above imperial law? Or are you saying that your Taiyi Sect intends to rise above this Empress?!”

Boom—

As she spoke, her aura surged.

A powerful, faintly discernible Phantom Spirits emanated an extremely terrifying pressure.

It was actually a tenth-grade Phantom Spirits!

The strongest Phantom Spirits in the entire empire!

As soon as this Phantom Spirits appeared, everyone immediately held their breath.

“Your subject dares not!”

Upon seeing this, Kuang Yin was terrified, as if he hadn't expected the Empress to be able to control a tenth-grade Phantom Spirits!

He immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

He quickly bowed and cupped his hands, “Your subject was reckless!”

“Since you know you were reckless, do you have any other opinions?”

The Empress asked indifferently.

“None.”

Kuang Yin quickly shook his head.

“You may withdraw.”

“Yes!”

After he finished speaking, he retreated to his original position, casting a helpless glance at the Imperial Relative.

The Imperial Relative did not look sideways, a smile on his face.

At this moment, the Empress spoke again: “Alright, since you have nothing else, I will continue to discuss the Grand Manager’s matter.”

She paused, then continued, “The Grand Manager has contributed greatly over the years. Although he died with a crime, his merits cannot be erased.”

“Eighth Chief Eunuch’s filial piety is as clear as the sun and moon. As I govern the world with filial piety and fraternity, I must consider Eighth Chief Eunuch’s feelings.”

“Therefore!”

She then looked at Guo Feng, “Guo Feng, you must be punished for the Grand Manager’s death!”

Upon hearing this, Guo Feng raised an eyebrow, but still stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “Empress, please speak!”