15: Chapter 15

A group of ministers knelt on the ground, their voices continuously shouting, "Long live Your Majesty!"

However.

Time passed bit by bit.

Their throats were nearly raw from shouting, yet they still hadn't heard Wang Chen tell them to rise.

This made them feel a bit awkward...

They feared Wang Chen would be displeased if they stopped, but their throats couldn't take it if they continued.

Ultimately, their survival instinct took over.

If their throats were ruined, they could still take medicine.

But if they displeased Wang Chen, they might lose their lives; they didn't dare gamble...

However.

Just as everyone was on the verge of collapse.

Wang Chen finally spoke.

"My dear ministers! Do not be in such a hurry. I have some things I need you all to see!"

Although Wang Chen had spoken, he did not tell them to rise.

Instead, he turned his head to look at Ji Gang, who was standing to the side.

This strange and abnormal scene sent a jolt of alarm through everyone's hearts, and a sense of foreboding surged within them.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone.

Ji Gang shouted toward the outside of the Golden Throne Hall.

"Men!"

As soon as Ji Gang finished speaking.

Dozens of Embroidered Uniform Guard, dressed in flying fish uniforms and exuding a sharp aura, immediately entered carrying several heavy wooden chests...

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard opened the wooden chests.

Before everyone appeared Dossiers, each labeled with a name and official position.

Ignoring the confused looks on everyone's faces, the Embroidered Uniform Guard distributed the Dossiers one by one to the corresponding ministers according to the names on them.

When the ministers received the Dossiers with their names and positions on them, even though they were filled with curiosity, they were in no rush to open them!

It wasn't that they didn't want to.

It was that without Wang Chen's permission, they could not view them privately; this was the rule!

Once he saw that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had finished distributing all the Dossiers, Wang Chen spoke indifferently:

"Alright, everyone. Open the items in your hands and take a look. I imagine you're all quite eager!"

Although Wang Chen's voice sounded very calm.

However.

To the ears of the crowd, it was no less than a thunderclap striking them directly on the head.

They weren't fools.

Although they didn't know what was recorded in the Dossiers, they were certain of one thing.

Anything they were required to read while kneeling was definitely not something good!

And the facts proved they were right.

The moment they flipped open the Dossiers in their hands and their eyes touched the contents, they were all dumbfounded...

"This... this is..."

"How is this possible? How did they know..."

"It's over..."

*Thump...*

Someone collapsed.

Not just from weakness, but they had fainted from sheer terror!

Immediately afterward.

As if a chain reaction had begun.

The sounds of "Thump!", "Thump!", and "Clatter!" echoed incessantly!

In just a few breaths' time, over a dozen people were lying on the ground, their faces deathly pale.

As for the others.

Though they hadn't fainted, their expressions were equally ghastly.

Many couldn't even hold the Dossiers in their hands, letting them fall to the ground with a "Clack...".

"How is it possible... how... how could they know?!"

"It's over... everything is over..."

"Even... even the contents of that secret letter are recorded word for word..."

"They've even investigated my Family assets more clearly than I know them myself..."

"So I have ten illegitimate children outside? How did I not know that?"

"Eh? My son isn't actually mine? It's the butler's!"

...

Exclamations, groans of despair, and the sound of teeth chattering...

...intertwined within the Golden Throne Hall into a symphony of panic.

There was no helping it.

The contents recorded in the Dossiers were simply detailed to an appalling degree.

Which year, month, and day, and how much in bribes was accepted from which power.

When and where they met secretly with outsiders, and what intelligence was transmitted.

Even conversations in private settings and deeds they thought no one knew about... everything was clearly recorded in black and white!

Time, location, people involved, amounts, summaries of conversations, and even some physical evidence and clues—everything was there!

The entire court.

It could be said that everyone held a copy of their own "criminal evidence"!

One must understand.

When an avalanche occurs, no single snowflake is innocent.

In this apocalyptic era where imperial power was declining and the great edifice was about to collapse, these high-ranking officials had more or less colluded with external forces for self-preservation, profit, or under pressure.

Some used their authority for personal gain, some leaked information in exchange for future protection, and others played both sides to pave a way out for themselves.

These were all driven by human nature.

In the face of survival and Family interests, loyalty and patriotism sometimes appeared very hollow.

With the experience of two lifetimes, Wang Chen could understand this "selfishness."

However.

This absolutely did not mean he could forgive them, much less tolerate them!

Wang Chen sat high upon the Dragon throne, like a deity above the clouds, looking down at this group of "pillars of the state" who had been cast down to the mortal realm and were now showing their unsightly true colors.

He did not speak immediately, but simply watched silently, allowing the emotions of panic and despair to spread and ferment among the crowd.

He wanted these people to fully realize.

That their lives and the fate of their Family were now held entirely in his hands.

Time passed bit by bit.

For those ministers, every second felt incredibly long.

Finally.

Someone managed to regain a sliver of reason from the extreme shock and fear.

The instinct for survival overrode everything else.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, have mercy!!"

The Minister of Personnel, one of the heads of the Six Ministries, was the first to react. He scrambled on all fours to the base of the Imperial Steps, tears and snot streaming down his face, and slammed his forehead against the ground with desperate "thuds!"

As the Minister of Personnel who controlled the promotions of officials throughout the world, his crimes were so numerous that he surely ranked at the very top among all officials.

This was exactly why he was so terrified.

"This old servant... this old servant was momentarily confused! My heart was clouded by greed! I beg Your Majesty for mercy! Spare this old servant's life! Spare my Family this once! I am willing to surrender all my assets and serve Your Majesty like an ox or a horse! I only beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness!!"

Once there was a first...

...there was a second, a third...

"Your Majesty! I have realized my mistake! I will never dare to do it again! I beg Your Majesty to give me a chance to turn over a new leaf!"

"Your Majesty! They forced me to do those things! I had no choice! Please see the truth, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty! I am willing to redeem myself through service! I know many inside secrets! I am willing to confess everything! I only beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

"Your Majesty! I wish to report someone; I know the secrets of the Marquis of Xibo!!"

...

Cries, pleas for mercy, and the sound of kowtowing instantly filled the entire Golden Throne Hall.

These high court officials, who were usually so dignified and lofty, were now like the lowliest of beggars, casting aside all dignity and decorum just to plead with Wang Chen to spare their lives.

They knew very well.

Based on what was recorded in the Dossiers, any single entry was enough to ruin their reputations and destroy their families!

According to the law, many of these were capital offenses punishable by the confiscation of property and the extermination of their entire clans!

Wang Chen had every reason, and the capability, to wipe them all out!

Besides.

A three-legged toad is hard to find, but are two-legged humans hard to come by?

Especially for Wang Chen, who held absolute military power and had the Embroidered Uniform Guard spread across the world as his eyes, ears, and claws, replacing a batch of officials was definitely not a difficult task...