While the ministers inwardly grumbled,

Mei Wen Shi also frowned, a hint of speechlessness in his eyes.

*This idiot!*

If he wanted to deal with Xu Changqing, then deal with Xu Changqing. Why did he have to drag the Xu family and Noble Consort Shu into it?

His intention to exploit the situation was so obvious. Did he think the emperor was a fool?

At that moment, everyone was afraid to breathe, afraid of getting burned by the fire. Just as they held their breaths,

Jiang Chen spoke.

He sneered, "You have quite the audacity!"

"My noble consort, in your mouth, is as insignificant as dirt. Just for some unsubstantiated minor mistake, you want to throw her into the Cold Palace, imprisoned for life?!"

"Do you think that with the support of the imperial clan, you can disregard me?!"

The moment these words landed, the Golden Luan Hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The Imperial Guards standing around the hall all drew their swords at the Emperor's gesture.

*Shua shua!*

The blades were drawn, and murderous intent surged.

The sharp light, accompanied by the vast power of the heavens, swept through the entire hall, causing everyone to sweat and tremble.

Jiang Chen smirked.

The moment he heard this dog mention Noble Consort Shu's name, he had murder in his heart!

The Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs felt his mind go blank.

Looking at the menacing Imperial Guards around him, he trembled and stumbled back a few steps, shouting:

"Your Majesty, this humble subject, this humble subject has no such intention!"

"My suggestion to severely punish Noble Consort Shu is all for the sake of upholding Your Majesty and the authority of the Great Wei Imperial Family! Your Majesty, I am loyal and have worked hard for the court for many years. Please, Your Majesty, see clearly!"

As he spoke, the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs knelt down, his voice hoarse and filled with tears.

He even tried to crawl to Jiang Chen's feet, wanting to hug his dragon boots and beg for mercy.

However, the moment he moved, Jiang Chen saw through his intention and kicked him away in disgust.

"You dog, you dare to slander my noble consort!"

"If I don't teach you a lesson today, I fear that all the officials will follow suit and climb on top of my head!"

Roaring angrily, Jiang Chen still wasn't satisfied and added a few more kicks.

He kicked the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs several meters across the ground, unable to even stand up.

Lying on the ground like a dead dog, blood spilling from his mouth, the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs felt as if several of his bones had been broken, and cold sweat poured down him from the pain.

But the emperor's murderous gaze and the Imperial Guards with their long swords told him that this was not over!

Terrified, he cried out and begged, "Your Majesty, this subject, this subject is guilty. Please spare my life!"

"Lord Mei, please, please help me explain to His Majesty! I am wholeheartedly devoted to the country and have no intention of being disrespectful!"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen couldn't help but turn his head, his icy gaze piercing Mei Wen Shi, and said, "What, does Minister Mei also think that the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs is right and that I should not punish him?"

Mei Wen Shi calmly cupped his fist, not even looking at the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs, and said respectfully, "This humble subject has no such intention! Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven of Great Wei. None of us subjects are qualified to question any decision you make."

"If you believe that the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs is guilty, then he is guilty. As for how he should be punished, this humble subject supports Your Majesty and has no objections. I believe that Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven of Great Wei, will surely enforce the law impartially and deal with the Grand Master and General Xu properly."

This old fox, insidiously satirizing him and shifting the blame back to Xu Changqing, is truly deserving of death!

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, a flash of displeasure in their depths.

Although he couldn't touch Mei Wen Shi for the time being, there was no problem with taking it out on his subordinates. He sneered, "Oh, Minister Mei is truly understanding!"

Saying that, Jiang Chen raised his hand and said faintly, "This Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs is disrespectful to the noble consort and despises my authority. His crime is unforgivable! Someone, drag this guilty official out of the hall and beat him to death with a staff!"

As soon as these words came out, the faces of the ministers in the hall changed.

The Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs was an important official of the court. Was he just going to be killed like that?

This was completely the behavior of a tyrant!

"Your Majesty, please withdraw your order. Although the Grand Master's words were inappropriate, his starting point was good. His crime does not warrant death!" The Prime Minister stepped forward, his expression serious, his eyes full of disapproval.

As a veteran of two dynasties, he had always been a peacemaker in the court, rarely expressing his opinions. This time, he stood up for the first time and clearly expressed his opposition.

Jiang Chen frowned and looked at the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs lying on the ground, his face ashen.

Deep down, he didn't want to let this dog go.

But the Prime Minister had rarely spoken, and as the head of all officials, he had to give him some face.

After a long while, he reluctantly said, "Since the Prime Minister has spoken, then I will spare your dog's life and change the beating to death with a staff to a hundred strokes!"

Hearing this, the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs cried out in despair, "Your Majesty, no! This old subject is old and frail. How can I withstand a hundred strokes? Please have mercy on this old subject!"

"Lord Prime Minister, please plead for me again, I..."

Seeing the miserable state of the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs, the Prime Minister couldn't help but frown.

He only had a nodding acquaintance with this person. The reason why he stood up to speak was simply because His Majesty's recent actions had been too brutal, and he was afraid that His Majesty would go astray and become a tyrant. That was why he spoke out to dissuade him.

As for the life and death of the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs, he didn't have the leisure to care.

However, a hundred strokes were indeed too heavy, almost a disguised killing, and still had the suspicion of tyranny. He should still dissuade him again.

The Prime Minister stroked his beard and spoke again, "Your Majesty, this subject is not questioning your decree, but such a heavy punishment is truly against harmony and may cause criticism and lead to the name of a tyrant. For the sake of your reputation..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Jiang Chen's laughter.

The laughter was hearty, with an overbearingness that looked down on the world, as if he didn't put anyone in his eyes.

Jiang Chen walked to the dragon throne while laughing, then stopped his laughter, turned around, and looked down at the civil and military officials, saying without any doubt, "A tyrant is a tyrant!"

"I am the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler of Great Wei! You, and this vast land, should prostrate yourselves at my feet! Even if I want to be a tyrant, no one is qualified to question it!"

After saying that, Jiang Chen waved his sleeves, stood with his hands behind his back, and his eyes were full of unparalleled dominance:

"I will only say the reminder once!"

"In the future, if any court official dares to challenge my authority like the Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Affairs, then no matter who comes to plead, I will never forgive them!"

The ministers were terrified, their knees weakened, and they knelt down and shouted, "We will remember!"

This scene of all beings bowing down and respecting him alone made Mei Wen Shi, who was in the midst of it, feel suffocated.

Not long ago, this weak emperor, Jiang Chen, had been obedient to him and very dependent on him.

But now, in just a few days, he had the aura and means of a generation of heroes, and he had broken free from his control.

Thousands of thoughts surged in Mei Wen Shi's mind, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.

After a while, he stared at the ground with a complicated expression, preparing to wait and see...