Imperial Palace, Yangxin Hall.
Lou Hongtao stood before the Emperor, maintaining a bowing posture.
As a high-ranking court official, he did not need to perform a grand salute in front of the Emperor, especially in a private setting like Yangxin Hall.
Back when Qin Ziheng was still the Crown Prince, he and Lou Hongtao had once shared jolly monts in this very hall.
Now Lou Hongtao adopted such a cautious stance because today's affair allowed no room for laxness.
Qin Ziheng held in his hand the thick booklet that Lou Hongtao had presented, remaining silent for a long ti.
After a mont of silence in the hall, the Emperor slowly spoke:
"Mr. Lou, have you read the contents of this booklet?"
Lou Hongtao kept his head lowered: "Your Majesty, I have not read it!"
Qin Ziheng pursed his lips: "So, you want to investigate this case for you?"
Lou Hongtao's body trembled, and he abruptly looked up.
The Emperor's words had already revealed a certain attitude.
But...
"Your Majesty!"
Lou Hongtao exclaid loudly, "The Grand Secretary has dedicated his life to the country and the people, working tirelessly, and now lying gravely ill in office; how can we allow petty figures to slander him?!"
If possible, he would have ordered Ye Qin's arrest without hesitation and burned this booklet.
But Ye Ze'an had been rallying support for Ye Qin for over a month, and he knew he couldn't cover up this matter, which forced him to enter the palace to see the Emperor.
He hoped Qin Ziheng could suppress this matter entirely in his capacity as the emperor!
"Mr. Lou, does the Supervision Pavilion investigate cases based rely on conjecture?"
Qin Ziheng's tone was not loud, sounding sowhat oppressed.
Thump!
Lou Hongtao, the Supervision Pavilion Master and an eighteen-level civil servant, actually kneeled on both knees before Qin Ziheng!
"Your Majesty—"
"Lord Chief Minister could never be a treacherous and wicked minister; please reconsider, Your Majesty!"
The veins on Qin Ziheng's hand holding the booklet bulged, and he didn't speak for a long ti.
Lou Hongtao noticed that the Emperor was also hesitating and quickly said:
"Your Majesty, the western expedition is imminent, and we have spent six years preparing for it; the court cannot have internal strife at such a ti!"
Qin Ziheng remained silent.
At that mont, the voice of Imperial Eunuch Feng Cheng ca from outside the hall:
"Your Majesty, people from the Ten Gate Valves have all gone to Ye Mansion!"
...
The main gate of Ye Mansion slowly opened.
The servant guarding the gate was already terrified by the spectacle before him and didn't dare to obstruct.
A group of people entered in single file, the heavy footsteps shattering the tranquility of Ye Mansion.
The heads of the Ten Gate Valves, with a sense of impending storm, headed straight for the backyard where Ye Ze'an was recovering from illness.
The disturbed Hu Tingzhong ca out from the guest-receiving hall, face pale at this unprecedented scene that could strike terror into anyone.
"Gentlen..."
However, he was completely ignored.
Ye Xuanming didn't even spare a glance at this Zixu Hall University Scholar.
The other family heads also looked straight ahead, and a Martial Arts Master serving as a guard gently pushed Hu Tingzhong aside, clearing the way.
The group left him with nothing but their backs, the light stretching their shadows long, engulfing him in a vast darkness.
Hu Tingzhong stood frozen, his palms cold as ice.
He saw the deeply hidden fury in the eyes of these family heads.
This was the first ti in history that the heads of the Ten Gate Valves united against a single person!
In the backyard where Ye Ze'an was recuperating, a figure stood like a rock.
This person held a long spear, with a lean face, and eyes brighter than the cold stars.
His na was Pang Li, a Four Divine Abilities Martial Arts Master, a Tributor of the Ye Family, and Ye Ze'an's personal guard.
Ye Xuanming led the group into the small courtyard, his gaze as sharp as icy arrows directed at Pang Li:
"Get out of the way!"
Before Ye Ze'an rose to power, Pang Li was Ye Xuanming's guard, having trained in martial arts with him from a young age, serving as a sparring partner, and held great fear for this ancestor of the Ye Family.
But now, Pang Li deeply bowed his head, his posture respectful, yet he stood as if rooted to the spot, unmoved:
"Honored Ancestor, please be inford. Lord Chief Minister is recuperating and should not be disturbed."
His voice was not loud but remarkably clear, each word like a stone cast into stagnant water, stirring layers of suppressed waves.
"Insolence!"
Ye Xuanming's hair and beard stood on end, his angry shout like thunder out of a clear sky, vibrating the corridor pillars, dust pouring from the eaves.
The powerful figures following him all turned their eyes to Pang Li, their overwhelming aura like a tsunami, crashing down upon him!
"I want to see my son, and you, a re Tributor, dare to interfere?! Move aside, or by family law, you will die where you stand!"
Ye Xuanming made no secret of his intention to kill, even at the expense of his own family's Tributor!
Pang Li looked at the powerful figures before him, knowing that if he dared to resist, he might be torn apart in an instant.
His clothes flapped violently, Gang Qi swirling around him, creating a three-foot space in front of him, isolating the overwhelming pressure.
He lifted his head, his eyes devoid of any fear:
"Gentlen, the person in that room is still the current Grand Secretary; please act with caution!"
In terms of seniority, these family heads present were all elders to Ye Ze'an.
But in terms of their official status and position, how could they compare with the current Grand Secretary?
"Today is about handling family matters; the person inside is not so Grand Secretary, but a descendant of the Ye Family, my son!"
Ye Xuanming shouted harshly, "I'm saying this for the last ti, move aside!"
Pang Li: "Guarding the Grand Secretary is my duty. Honored Ancestor... please forgive Pang Li for being unable to comply!"
The other family heads looked on coldly, the Xiao Family Head, Xiao Ruiming, curling his lips into a cold smile, ready to deploy his array at a single thought to imdiately suppress Pang Li.
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