Jiang Chen caressed the ferocious dragon head on the chair.

He used the cold sensation on his hand to suppress the restlessness in his heart.

He spoke softly, "Minister Mei, the mistakes committed by Imperial Concubine Mei involve treason, armaments, and assassination!"

"Any one of these crimes is enough to result in the confiscation of your property and the extermination of your clan."

At this point, Jiang Chen paused, and then his tone turned cold.

"I understand your anxiety, but that doesn't mean you can forget your duty as a subject and act recklessly!"

"As a subject, I advise you to avoid suspicion. Otherwise... be careful of dying a miserable death and being infamous for ten thousand years!"

The blatant warning caused the ministers in the hall to change their expressions and their hearts to race.

Even Mei Wenshi, who had been calm all along in the center of the hall, couldn't help but change his expression at this moment.

After Jiang Chen's voice fell, he immediately bowed and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! This old minister has no intention of offending you!"

"It's just that I was too concerned about my beloved daughter and lost my composure for a moment, which is why I lost my sense of duty as a subject. I hope Your Majesty will understand!"

As he spoke, tears streamed from his old eyes as he put on a miserable and sorrowful look, and he took off the official hat on his head.

"If Your Majesty minds, this old minister will request to resign from the position of Minister of Revenue to avoid suspicion."

This scene caused Jiang Chen to frown.

Even at this time, this old fox was still trying to play tricks on him!

Knowing that Mei Ruoying had committed a grave mistake, he should hand over his position as Minister of Revenue out of reason and emotion.

Yet, he was still trying to put on a show as he relinquished power, portraying himself as a victim to gain sympathy. This old fox was indeed difficult to deal with!

Seeing through Mei Wenshi's intention, Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes. He wouldn't let this old fox get his way!

He spoke softly, "Minister, this is the Golden Luan Hall, the central hub of the Great Wei!"

"Your constant crying and wailing here is truly unseemly."

As he spoke, Jiang Chen's tone carried a hint of playfulness. "Moreover, if I remember correctly, disrespecting the court is punishable by caning... Tell me, how should I deal with you?"

Mei Wenshi froze.

Jiang Chen's reaction completely exceeded his expectations. With a few words, he had punctured the situation he had painstakingly created!

A gloomy look flashed in his eyes as he racked his brains for a solution.

He definitely couldn't endure the caning.

Losing face was a small matter, but the situation was different now. The Mei family and the Emperor had completely torn their faces apart.

If this tyrant went all out and took this opportunity to beat him to death, then there would really be no way to recover.

Just as Mei Wenshi was pondering a countermeasure, Jiang Chen spoke again, his tone mocking.

"Minister, don't worry. I am a person who cherishes old relationships. We have been ruler and subject for many years, and you are about to resign from your official position. I will not be stingy with the respect you deserve."

"Today is your last time attending the court meeting, so I will forgive you for the crime of disrespecting the court and will not pursue the matter."

"I just hope you can learn from this in the future and always pay attention to your words and actions."

At this point, a hint of malice flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes, and he deliberately ridiculed.

"After all, a crooked beam makes for a crooked house. Imperial Concubine Mei's committing such a big mistake is inseparable from you, her father!"

Being humiliated by Jiang Chen in front of the entire court, even Mei Wenshi, who was usually so calm, couldn't help but feel a fire burning in his chest.

But he didn't have the power to retaliate!

No matter how influential he was in the court, he was still just a subject. If the Emperor intended to humiliate him, he could only endure it.

Kneeling in the hall, Mei Wenshi clenched his fists.

The complex gazes from his colleagues made him feel uneasy, knowing that he had lost another round to Jiang Chen.

However, having been through many ups and downs in his official career, he quickly adjusted his mentality and regained his composure.

He respectfully bowed and said, "This humble subject thanks Your Majesty for your teachings!"

Jiang Chen looked at Mei Wenshi, who had regained his fighting spirit, and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes.

At the same time, his belief in executing Mei Wenshi and the Mei family became even stronger.

If such a person cannot be used by him, then he can only send him to the underworld!

While his thoughts were racing, Jiang Chen raised his hand, signaling the palace servants to retrieve Mei Wenshi's official seal as Minister of Revenue.

However, at this moment, a group of ministers suddenly stepped forward and shouted in unison.

"Your Majesty, you must not! Lord Mei is a pillar of the nation, and the court cannot be without him!"

"Your Majesty, we guarantee with our lives that the Imperial Concubine must have been framed. You cannot punish her so rashly!"

More than twenty high-ranking officials knelt down in succession, creating an astonishing momentum.

This posture of 'using the crowd of ministers to command the Emperor' directly hit Jiang Chen's reverse scale.

Almost at the same time as they spoke, Jiang Chen's face turned ashen.

He slammed the table and roared, "Grand Astrologer Xu Zhongxuan, City Guard General Du Ming, Vice Minister of Revenue Mei Kang, Chief Secretary Liu Xuan... what are you doing?"

"Are you defying my decree with so many ministers? Are you trying to rebel?!"

Although Jiang Chen had been making decisions unilaterally in the court these days, it didn't mean that the ministers' opinions were unimportant.

Now he was in a fierce battle with the Mei family.

In this critical moment, any bit of power could determine the final outcome.

Therefore, Jiang Chen could no longer scold and kill as he pleased... In the crucial period of the game, he still had to respect his subordinates a little and not push them to Mei Wenshi's side.

In the past, Jiang Chen would not have wasted his breath on these rebellious ministers who dared to contradict him.

He would have directly summoned the imperial guards to drag them out and beat them. After dozens of strokes, they would understand how to speak.

Just as Jiang Chen was trying his best to suppress his anger, the Prime Minister stood up.

He was well aware of Jiang Chen's situation and didn't want him to fall out with the ministers, so he proposed a compromise.

"Your Majesty, why not have a joint trial by three parties, and have Zhao Minghe, the captured assassins, and the palace servants of Hanzhang Palace interrogated one by one to see if we can find out anything?"

Jiang Chen waved his hand, his attitude very firm.

"Once the imperial decree is issued, even the King of Heaven himself cannot change it!"

"Mei Ruoying must die! Mei Wenshi must also resign from his position as Minister of Revenue!"

As soon as the words fell,

Grand Astrologer Xu Zhongxuan suddenly raised his head, his eyes containing a hint of threat. "Your Majesty, are you not afraid of leaving a bad name in history and being唾骂 cursed by the world for doing this?"

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was silent.

Everyone around turned their heads, and even the imperial guards who were standing guard in the hall like stone statues showed surprise.

Was this person out of his mind? He actually dared to threaten His Majesty! There was no way to seek death like this!

At this moment, it seemed that even the air had solidified.

Even Mei Wenshi couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat on his back, cursing Xu Zhongxuan for being foolish in his heart!

But to everyone's surprise, Jiang Chen on the dragon throne did not show any anger.

In fact, the corners of his mouth even curled up in a smile, adding three points to his handsome face.

However, such an expression, in the eyes of those who were familiar with Jiang Chen, was as terrifying as the arrival of a demon!

Your Majesty, His Majesty is about to start a massacre!

Seeing this, Feng Jin bit his teeth and stepped forward to stop him, but was frightened back by a look from Jiang Chen.

As for the Grand Astrologer Xu Zhongxuan under the imperial steps, he didn't understand anything and only thought that Jiang Chen was frightened by him, feeling complacent in his heart...