The Minister of Rites, the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Taichang Temple, and the others stood in the main hall. The Empress's voice was still echoing in their ears.
It was not easy for them to enter the four great academies. After leaving the academies, they had to wait for a long time before they could fill a vacancy. They had also worked hard in the bureaucracy for many years before they could reach their current positions.
Decades of hard work had turned into bubbles in a single day.
They should have known that Li Mu was as cunning as a fox. How could he suddenly fall out of favor? This was all a trap set by him. There were so many officials in the court, but only a few of them took the bait.
After the morning assembly, the Minister of Rites was taken away by the Ministry of Justice. No one knew how many people were involved behind him.
The other nine officials were also demoted, especially the Ministry of Rites. Under the Minister of Rites, half of the important officials were gone. The imperial examination was imminent, and the court had to fill the vacancy in the Ministry of Rites. The imperial examination could not be delayed.
As usual, this matter was nominated by the Hall of Secretaries.
The position of Minister of Rites was very important. It needed an experienced official. However, there were not many Rank Four officials in the court. Every one of them held an important position. It was not possible to transfer officials of the same rank to the Ministry of Rites. If they were transferred back and forth, there would be a vacancy that could not be filled. It would cause chaos in the other departments.
After thinking about it, Liu Yi came to the Ministry of Rites to seek the opinion of the Minister of Rites.
The Minister of Rites was also worried about this matter. The imperial examination was imminent, and the Ministry of Rites did not have enough manpower. After this incident, more than half of the officials in the Ministry of Rites were gone. Even the Minister of Rites was dismissed. He urgently needed an assistant.
He thought about it but could not think of a suitable candidate. In the end, he said, "Why don't we let Minister Liu take over? Although he has not been in the Ministry of Rites for long, he is familiar with the affairs of the ministry. He can take on this responsibility."
Liu Yi had some impression of Minister Liu. He said, "Minister Liu has just been transferred and he is going to be the Minister of Rites. Isn't this promotion speed a bit too fast?"
If he had someone he could use, the Minister of Rites wouldn't be forced to do something beyond his ability. He shook his head and said, "Doctor Liu was transferred here on a regular basis. It can't be considered a promotion. His experience is not shallow. Although he is still somewhat lacking as an assistant minister, there is no other way at the moment. The imperial examinations are important. If it is delayed, none of us can bear the responsibility …"
According to Great Zhou's usual practice, the officials of the various ministries were rarely transferred outside. The position of assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites was usually taken over by a doctor. However, the doctor often had to work hard for ten years or even longer before he could become an assistant minister. This Doctor Liu had just been transferred not long ago, but he had already made an exception and was promoted. This was very rare in the officialdom.
But who asked the former assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites to seek his own death? Of all the people he could have touched, he just had to touch Li Mu. This move was not a big deal, and Li Mu did not suffer any losses. More than half of the Ministry of Rites was lost by him.
If the vacancy in the Ministry of Rites was not resolved as soon as possible, the imperial examinations would definitely be affected.
After thinking for a long time, Liu Yi nodded and said, "Since the Minister recommends Doctor Liu, the Secretariat will nominate him …"
Ministry of Justice.
Inside the prison of the Ministry of Justice.
The Assistant Minister of Rites, who had been in high spirits during the morning court session, was now a prisoner. He sat dejectedly in a corner with a lonely expression.
Zhou Zhong walked to the door of the prison and said, "Open the door."
The jailer hurriedly opened the door, and Zhou Zhong slowly walked in.
He walked in front of the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites and said, "His Majesty has ordered that the people involved in this case be severely punished. Lord Qin and that Li Mu have no enmity. Who is behind this?"
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites said, "Zhou Zhong is my wife's younger brother. He died because of Li Mu. I just want to avenge him. There is no one behind this."
Zhou Zhong shook his head and said, "You are the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites. You have a high position. After the imperial examinations were reformed, you have even more power. Zhou Zhong is your wife's younger brother, not your biological brother. You have no reason to do this."
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites said, "I am responsible for what I did. Don't waste your breath."
Zhou Zhong smiled and said, "Actually, even if you don't say it, I know. On the day Li Mu was imprisoned, your wife and mother-in-law came to the Ministry of Justice. If there is anyone in Shendu who hates Li Mu the most, it would be your mother-in-law. Her son died at the hands of Li Mu. It is reasonable that she wants to kill Li Mu for revenge …"
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites looked at him and said, "Lord Zhou, you should know better than me that some things require evidence."
Zhou Zhong shook his head and said, "I know what you are waiting for. You are waiting for the Zhou family to protect you. However, have you ever thought about why no one from the new party stood up for you in the imperial court today?"
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites' expression froze. This was something he could not understand even now.
Zhou Zhong continued, "They already knew that this was Her Majesty and Li Mu's scheme, but they did not tell you. It is obvious that they have given up on you. You hired assassins to frame your colleagues and touched Her Majesty's bottom line. The Zhou family cannot protect you, and they have no way to do so. Regardless of whether you give them up or not, you will be sent to the battlefield at the border. With your cultivation, you will become a dead soul at the hands of those Demon Kings and Ghost Kings in less than a month … No, they will devour your body and soul. They will not give you the chance to become a dead soul …"
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites thought carefully and his face gradually paled.
Zhou Zhong looked at him and said, "When the late emperor was still alive, Her Majesty was already chosen as the crown prince's wife. At that time, the Zhou family's goal of stealing the country had not been exposed. The late emperor treated the Zhou family very well and gave them two death exemption tokens. Now that you have been sentenced to exile, it is no different from a death sentence. If the Zhou family is willing to save you, although they cannot restore your position, they can let you stay in the Divine Capital and keep your life. If the Zhou family is not willing to save you, then you can only wait for death …"
Zhou Zhong looked at him one last time and turned to leave.
Fifteen minutes later, a woman came to visit him in the prison.
When the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites saw the woman, he immediately got up and ran to the door of the prison. He shouted, "Wife, wife, save me …"
The woman's expression was ugly. She asked, "How did this get exposed?"
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites said, "It must be Her Majesty's divination. Li Mu's fall from grace was fake. We were all fooled by them!"
The woman gritted her teeth and said, "We are her family. She actually treated us like this for an outsider!"
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites quickly said, "It's too late to say this now. Wife, you have to think of a way to save me. I heard that the Zhou family has two death exemption tokens. As long as I have one, I won't be exiled to the border counties …"
The woman nodded and said, "I will go and beg Father. Wait for me here."
Zhou Manor.
Zhou Ting had just finished his seclusion. When he heard about the recent events, he was furious. "Stupid!"
The woman who had returned to the Zhou family said with a cold face, "Stupid or smart, I have to avenge Chu. He is a piece of flesh that fell from my body. I will not let him die in vain …"
Zhou Ting said with a sullen face, "Because of your stupidity, we lost an assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites. Do you know how important that position is?"
The woman said coldly, "I don't know and I don't want to know. I only know that I have to avenge Chu!"
Zhou Qian looked at her father and said, "Father, you have to save my husband. If he is exiled to the border counties, what will happen to me? What will happen to our child …"
Zhou Ting said indifferently, "This matter is already known by the entire court. His Majesty has personally issued a decree. How can I save him?"
Zhou Qian said, "Doesn't our family have a death exemption token? As long as we use the death exemption token, we can exempt him from the crime of being exiled, right?"
Zhou Ting glanced at her and asked, "Who told you that?"
Zhou Qian did not answer directly. She said, "Father, I beg you. Save my husband!"
Zhou Ting was expressionless. The Zhou family did have a death exemption token, and there were two of them. They were both bestowed by the previous Emperor. The Zhou family had seized the Emperor's Aura and destroyed the continuation of the Xiao royal family. If they were to use their death exemption token, it would probably enrage the old faction of the Xiao royal family.
Moreover, the minister of the Ministry of Rites was already a useless person. There was no need to waste a token to save him. Even if he agreed, his eldest brother and the rest would not.
Zhou Ting said, "The Zhou family does not have a death exemption token. We cannot save him."
Zhou Qian complained tearfully, "Father, are you so heartless? Are you going to watch your daughter lose her husband and your grandson lose his father …"
Zhou Ting thought for a moment. He looked at her and said, "There are many talents in the Fairy's Capital. After separating from him, I will choose another young talent for you. No matter what, he will be several times stronger than him …"
"…" Zhou Qian looked at her father. Her crying gradually stopped.
An hour later, in the prison of the Ministry of Justice, Zhou Qian stood outside the cell and said to the minister of the Ministry of Rites, "I have asked. The Zhou family does not have a death exemption token. Father cannot save you. Don't worry. After you go to the border counties, I will take good care of the child. Do not involve more people in this matter …"
Zhou Qian did not stay for long. She left in a hurry. The minister of the Ministry of Rites leaned against the cell door and slid down weakly.
After an unknown period of time, a sigh came from behind him.
He turned his head and looked at Zhou Zhong, who was standing in the shadows. He asked, "What are you sighing about?"
Zhou Zhong looked at him and said slowly, "I feel bad for you. You are doing well as the minister of the Ministry of Rites. You have no enmity with Li Mu. But because of someone else, you got into trouble. Your efforts in the first half of your life have been wasted. You do not have long to live. And the person who caused you to fall to this state is not even willing to save you. I believe you know very well that the Zhou family has a death exemption token. It is just that they are not willing to save you."
The minister of the Ministry of Rites looked at him with a cold smile and said, "Don't you want me to give up more people? I am afraid you will be disappointed. This matter was done by me alone. It has nothing to do with anyone else!"
Zhou Zhong looked at him and said with a faint smile, "Have you ever thought about what you will be like after you die?"
He looked at the minister of the Ministry of Rites. His eyes were like deep pools. His voice carried a strange power as he slowly said, "Your wife, although no longer young, is still in the prime of her life. After you die, she will still have a long life. She will definitely remarry. At that time, she will take in an even younger and more handsome husband than you. In the future, they will have their own children. That person will live in your mansion, sleep with your woman, and if he is not happy, he might even beat up your children …"
Zhou Zhong looked into his eyes. His gaze was deep as he said slowly, "They treated you like this. Is it worth it for you to protect them like this?"
Zhou Zhong's voice seemed to have a magical power. When the minister of the Ministry of Rites heard this, a trace of confusion appeared on his face. Then his chest began to rise and fall slightly. His breathing became rapid, the veins on his forehead bulged, and his eyes became bloodshot …
I didn't want to interfere, but that old woman forced me to do so. That False Form Elixir was given to me by her, but she didn't save me. What right does she have to not save me? Since she doesn't want me to live, then let her die with me! "Translator's Note: Liu _ Kaixuan Translator: Kaixuan Editor: Valvrave Editor: Valvrave Editor: Valvrave Editor: Valvrave Editor: Valvrave Editor: Valvrave Editor: Valvrave Editor: Valvrave Editor: Valvrave Editor: Valvrave
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