"Your Majesty, please... please be gentle, lest you wake up Imperial Concubine, elder sister..."

"If elder sister sees... then, then this concubine will have no face to go out!"

As Liu Huiyin spoke, her slender waist slowly lowered.

The already scant and thin gauze rode up even further due to this fiery posture, revealing large patches of her voluptuous, snow-white skin.

Jiang Chen looked at the shy yet wanton woman before him, and the flames in his lower abdomen burned even higher.

His large hand reached out directly, tearing the obstacle before him to shreds...

Before long, the sound of delicate, tearful moans echoed within the curtained bed, intermittent, as if the source of the sound was desperately trying to restrain something.

"Your Majesty, please, please be gentle, Imperial Concubine, elder sister... Unh~!"

The continuous sound of splashing mingled with occasional pleas for mercy, reverberating in the inner hall, awakened the Tranquil Imperial Concubine from her slumber.

"Hmm? What's that sound?"

"And this scent, it's so familiar..."

She slowly opened her beautiful eyes, only to see an extremely erotic scene.

Jiang Chen had grabbed Liu Huiyin from behind, his pair of large hands placed directly on her snowy mounds...

Liu Huiyin, who was being tightly suppressed, had a face like a lotus blossom, her watery eyes glazed and rippling, and her waterfall of black hair rose and fell rhythmically on the bedding, her red lips occasionally overflowing with murmurs.

The fiery scene before her made the Tranquil Imperial Concubine's heart pound wildly.

She hurriedly closed her eyes, shrinking back into the quilt, afraid to look any further.

However, the constantly shaking bed beneath her was clearly telling her how intense the two of them were.

Remembering Liu Huiyin's suppressed voice and seductive jade-like legs, the Tranquil Imperial Concubine felt extremely awkward and could only think of serious matters to distract herself.

"Speaking of which, it's not early, shouldn't His Majesty be going to court?"

"At this time... wouldn't he be late?"

About half an hour later.

Jiang Chen got out of bed, refreshed, and dressed in his dragon robes under the service of the palace maids before heading to the Golden Luan Hall.

At this time, after a day and a night of arrests.

The hall appeared somewhat empty.

The number of civil and military officials had sharply decreased!

Many people had been verified as Mei Wen Shi's accomplices, and at this time, they were either dead or had been thrown into the Ministry of Justice prison.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long, long live!"

The officials immediately bowed upon seeing the dragon robe, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

Jiang Chen was very satisfied with their attitude.

After dealing with the powerful minister's clique, the remaining ministers were much more obedient.

He strode towards the dragon throne, looking down on those below: "Now that the traitorous officials have been executed, the imperial capital is in dire need of restoration. I hope you can shoulder the heavy responsibility and handle the affairs of your respective departments well, to reassure the people."

"Of course, I will also give you the necessary support. Today's court session will be extended. Any problems can be reported to me directly."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

As soon as Jiang Chen finished speaking, Su Wen, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, stepped forward to report.

"Your Majesty, Mei's family's rebellion is far-reaching. This humble official has compiled a list for your review."

As he spoke, Su Wen took out a document from his sleeve.

Feng Jin received it and presented it to the imperial table for Jiang Chen to read.

Those who had been arrested and imprisoned were primarily from the Ministry of Revenue, the Censorate, and the Imperial Observatory.

From the military to the local powerful families and officials, more than three hundred people were involved.

And this number only referred to the direct line; those with shallower connections to the Mei family were not included.

Jiang Chen finished reading with a cold expression and said in a stern voice, "All those on the list shall be beheaded and displayed to the public, and their nine generations shall be exterminated!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Su Wen bowed and slowly retreated.

This time, there was no dissenting voice in the court.

The newly promoted Minister of Revenue, Zhao Peng, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, yesterday the forbidden army searched the residences of the rebellious traitors overnight and seized countless gold, silver, land deeds, antiques, workshops... How should they be disposed of?"

Jiang Chen raised his eyebrows, "What is the approximate total amount?"

Zhao Peng pondered for a moment: "Converted into silver notes, those gold, silver, and antiques are worth at least five million taels of silver. As for the fertile land, workshops, and so on, they are still being counted."

"However, the assets that have been accounted for are enough to support the lives of all the people in the imperial capital for a year."

Jiang Chen's face darkened, and he said in a cold voice, "These damned things, they are not good at governing, but they are good at extorting the people's wealth and embezzling the national treasury!"

"Continue to investigate, and do not give up any clues. This money is definitely just the tip of the iceberg. I want to confiscate the entire family property of these traitorous officials into the national treasury!"

"Yes, this humble official will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty's expectations!" Zhao Peng nodded and retreated.

"Your Majesty, this official also has something to report!" The Prime Minister stepped forward, his face solemn.

"Report," Jiang Chen said.

"The rebel Mei Wen Shi has far-reaching connections behind him, not only involving officials but also powerful families entrenched in the localities. How should they be dealt with?"

"Moreover, not long ago, these aristocratic families have declared one after another that they have severed ties with the Mei family and have also offered a lot of money..."

As the Prime Minister spoke, a look of embarrassment flashed across his face.

He came from an aristocratic family and even knew how difficult these local forces were to deal with. Unless it was absolutely necessary, it was best not to offend them easily.

But the matter involved treason. If it was a case of much ado about nothing, the consequences would be endless!

Jiang Chen understood his worries and pondered for a moment: "Then I will issue an imperial edict first. Anyone who is not deeply involved, as long as they show enough sincerity and loyalty, I can be lenient."

"Give them a chance to redeem themselves!"

The Prime Minister nodded and said again, "Your Majesty, this old minister has selected a group of talented individuals from the four academies."

"Now that the court is empty, they can just fill the vacancies. What do you think?"

Jiang Chen did not immediately agree.

Actually, in theory, he should now promote the imperial examination and allow these people to enter the court through examinations.

But this year's imperial examination has already ended, and the next one will not be until next year.

And the situation in the court simply cannot support it for so long.

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Chen reluctantly nodded: "Alright, let this group of people come to the Qin Zheng Hall to see me this afternoon."

"In addition, esteemed ministers, what are your opinions on this matter? I am allowing people to enter the court as officials without going through the imperial examination. Do you have any objections?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the ministers looked at each other and bowed in unison: "Reporting to Your Majesty, we will listen to your arrangements."

Seeing this, Jiang Chen nodded with satisfaction. This was the pomp and circumstance that a supreme ruler should have!

He looked around at the ministers, and finally stopped on the Minister of War: "Minister, what are the recent arrangements of your Ministry of War?"

Feeling the emperor's majestic gaze, the Minister of War quickly stepped forward: "Reporting to Your Majesty, in the battle last night, nearly 70% of the Imperial Guards and border troops were killed in battle, and they are already dead in name only."

"The Southern Army and the four battalions of the imperial capital have also suffered heavy casualties. It will take a lot of time to recover."

Jiang Chen frowned: "The Imperial Guards and border troops shall have their designations abolished and be assigned to Lingnan to reclaim wasteland."

"As for the other armies, start recruiting new soldiers now, and be sure to restore combat power in the shortest possible time."

The Minister of War hesitated: "Your Majesty, recruiting troops requires money..."

Jiang Chen glanced at Zhao Peng: "What, is the newly promoted Minister of Revenue making things difficult for you?"