The day was the Grand Court Assembly, and no matter how much these scholars protested, those who were meant to attend would still come.
As the time for the court session approached, the area outside Xuande Gate became increasingly crowded.
Observing the gathered imperial students, and the figure of Liu Zhengyan in mourning attire at the front of the crowd, holding the memorial tablet of Liu Fa, a sense of unease settled over them.
Almost all the officials, from the middle ranks downwards, felt that an invisible storm was brewing in the imperial court.
Having survived in the officialdom to this day, they were certainly not fools. Strange occurrences often signal hidden dangers. Apart from a few censors eager to make a name for themselves, the vast majority chose to remain aloof and indifferent.
Before the censors could finish their words, they were forced to retreat by Liu Zhengyan's murderous glare.
"The Prime Minister has arrived!"
"Prime Minister Zhang!"
Soon, Zhang Bangchang's carriage pulled up to the palace gate.
Despite his questionable character, he held a high position at this moment. The Cai family's affairs were no secret, and within moments, most people knew that Cai Jing had passed away.
Furthermore, Cai You was currently far away in Hebei. Among the Cai family's younger generation, there was truly no one capable of taking charge. In this volatile period, many officials naturally stepped forward to greet Zhang Bangchang.
Seeing all those familiar faces, even Zhang Bangchang felt a sense of overwhelmed gratitude.
In the past, most of these people would have treated him with disdain and indifference.
Cai Jing's death truly allowed him to taste the sweetness of power.
"What are you people gathered here for? Don't you know this is outside the imperial palace? Are you rebelling?"
Zhang Bangchang, clearing his throat, sternly berated the students kneeling outside Xuande Gate.
"Prime Minister! We are gathered here today for only two matters!"
Seeing Zhang Bangchang's arrogant demeanor, Chen Dong said without fear.
"Two matters? Regardless of your reasons, you should not be gathered here, coercing the ruler. Is this the sage's path you learned in the Imperial Academy?"
As Zhang Bangchang spoke, he stared intently at Chen Dong.
This was an opportune moment for him to assert his authority!
"First, we request His Majesty to vindicate the wrongly accused former pacification commissioner of Xihe Circuit, Liu Fa!"
"Second, we request His Majesty to thoroughly investigate the crimes of Tong Guan, Cai You, and others for disgracing the nation!"
Facing Zhang Bangchang's threat, Chen Dong showed no fear, his eyes filled with resolve.
"Absurd! Liu Fa disgraced the nation; this was the judgment personally passed by His Majesty. Are you questioning your sovereign?"
As soon as Chen Dong finished speaking, Zhang Bangchang's voice rose by another octave.
Looking at his righteous expression, even many of the officials privately scoffed.
If one didn't know Zhang Bangchang, they might have believed him at this moment. But how could these seasoned officials not know his true character?
Everyone could see that Zhang Bangchang intended to use these students to establish his authority!
"Questioning the sovereign? Prime Minister Zhang, that's a grave accusation."
Just as he was about to erupt, a slightly hoarse male voice suddenly came from behind him.
Upon seeing the man's face, Zhang Bangchang's voice suddenly became strange: "Zi, Zi Yi brother, why are you here? How can you associate with these traitors?"
Although Zhang Bangchang's expression remained stern, his eyes were clearly filled with panic.
He had put on such a grand display, clearly intending to show his power.
If it ended without further incident, he would truly become a laughingstock today.
"Prime Minister Zhang, you call us traitors. Does the Prime Minister have any evidence? Is it treasonous for us to be indignant that loyal officials are wronged and that treacherous officials sell out the country?"
With Fan Zhengguo's support, Chen Dong's voice became even more resolute.
"Bold! Whether Tong Guan is guilty or not is for His Majesty to decide. The matter of Liu Fa's guilt has long been settled. Without any merit, how dare you utter such rebellious words! Do you have proof?"
Under the public gaze, being retorted by an imperial student, Zhang Bangchang, without thinking, blurted out his response.
"Proof? This is the original confession letter written by the treacherous official Cai Jing on his deathbed. After writing this letter, the old scoundrel Cai Jing committed suicide by poison out of fear of punishment. There are also blood letters from three thousand old soldiers of Xihe Circuit. Prime Minister, can these two items be considered evidence?"
As soon as Chen Dong uttered these words, a stir swept through Xuande Gate.
Almost all eyes were drawn to the letter in Chen Dong's hand.
Everyone knew that Cai Jing had died last night, but no one dared to believe that Cai Jing had committed suicide by poison...
"Preposterous! Utterly preposterous! Arrest him! Arrest all of them! If there is any resistance, kill them without mercy!"
Although Zhang Bangchang's words remained strong, his body, hidden beneath his voluminous official robes, trembled faintly.
Cai Jing was dead, Zhao Zhen was on his way back to the capital, and Fan Zhengguo had solidified his position. If he stood by and watched Tong Guan fall, then Zhao Zhen's reckoning would await him!
Receiving his command, the Imperial Guards, who had been watching from the sidelines, became eager to act.
"Hahahaha! Well said, kill them without mercy! Old scoundrel, since we dared to present this plea today, we never expected to return alive. Since there is no justice or law at Xuande Gate, then let the blood of Chen Dong stain the official hats of all you esteemed lords!"
"Hahahaha, Brother Chen is noble. Since Brother Chen is willing to offer his head, Liu Zhengyan will follow Brother Chen to his death! Today, to die alongside Brother Chen, I believe my father in the netherworld would smile in his sleep!"
As soon as Chen Dong finished speaking, Liu Zhengyan, holding Liu Fa's memorial tablet, stood beside him.
"We are willing to follow Brother Chen to our deaths!"
"We are willing to follow Brother Chen to our deaths!"
"We are willing to follow Brother Chen to our deaths!"
As soon as the two finished speaking, the imperial students kneeling behind them all stood up.
Looking at their excessively young faces, beads of sweat began to form on Zhang Bangchang's forehead. The development of the situation seemed to have exceeded his expectations.
"Don't you know what you are doing? Because I consider you all scholars, those who return to the Imperial Academy to study now will be forgiven. Do not forget that if you continue to make trouble like this, your future achievements will all be revoked, regardless of the outcome!"
Although the situation seemed to be spiraling out of control, Zhang Bangchang still tried his best to manage it.
Seeing the cold gleam of steel in the soldiers' hands, Chen Dong took another step forward!
"Hahahaha! The nation is on the verge of collapse, what use is there for future achievements? Those who sacrifice themselves for the country are still slandered after death, while those who frame loyal officials and sell out the country for personal gain hold high positions. If justice in this Great Song requires bloodshed to be restored, Chen Dong is willing to be the first! My head is here, Prime Minister, if you want it, just take it!"
"You! What are you waiting for?"