Mo Li, who did not know what to do, saw Marquis Shuo coming from the side.

Then he joined the fight and went up to Mo Li and said, "Leave this to me."

"Yes, My Lord!" Mo Li replied. Then he left and went to deal with the other people in black.

The leader in black saw Shuo Ling, saying, "I've heard that Marquis Shuo is good at martial arts. Today I will see how excellent you are."

Then the man in black took out his sword and stabbed at Shuo Ling.

Shuo Ling's body moved slightly and he dodged successfully. Then he pulled the sword out of the scabbard and began to fight with the man in black.

After a few movements, Shuo Ling found the flaw of the man in black.

Although every movement of the man in black was quick and fierce, which seemed to be very powerful, this would also consume much physical strength. So, he couldn't fight with this person directly. He should dodge. When this man was tired, he would beat him easily!

When the man in black saw Shuo Ling dodging all the time, he couldn't help sneering. He had thought how powerful Marquis Shuo was, but he didn't expect that he would only dodge.

Then he tried his best to fight with Shuo Ling.

Shuo Ling still dodged. Within a moment, Shuo Ling felt that it was almost time to fight back, so he started to fight back. The man in black quickly resisted with his sword. Then Shuo Ling picked up the sword and began to attack the man in black again.

After a few movements, the leader in black had already consumed a lot of energy. Now Shuo Ling began to fight back, how could he be Shuo Ling's opponent? While the man in black was distracted, Shuo Ling stabbed his sword into his heart.

Then he pulled out the sword.

The rest people inpeople in black were also controlled by Mo Li and others. At this time, Shuo Ling walked forward and said coldly, "Will you commit suicide or go to the Throne Room with me tomorrow?"

Shuo Ling said, lifted the sword in his hand and wiping the blood left on the sword on the people in black.

The remaining people in black looked at each other. With a force, blood flowed down the corner of their mouth.

"My Lord, they killed themselves by chewing off their own tongues." Mo Li then checked and said.

Shuo Ling took a glance at them and said coldly, "Deal with them!"

"Yes, My Lord!" Mo Li answered. Then he turned and told the others to deal with the bodies of the people in black.

When Xu Qing in the secret room heard that there was no sound outside, he felt relieved and went to sleep.

In the mansion of Prime Minister

Prime Minister Lan and Lan Ruojing, who had been waiting for news in the house, couldn't help worrying.

It was already around 2 a.m. and these people had not come back, so they must not succeed.

Prime Minister Lan couldn't help feeling flustered. What should he do?

Lan Ruojing comforted Prime Minister Lan at this time. He sighed and said, "Dad, we can only proceed with caution. His Majesty thinks that dad is a minister who has served three emperors, and he will certainly show mercy."

"My life is worthless. His Majesty is paranoid. I'm afraid that this thing will implicate your sister and the Crown Prince. His Majesty has long planned to weaken the power of our family. Now he will take this opportunity to take back the power held by me." Prime Minister Lan said with a sad face.

Lan Ruojing held Prime Minister Lan at this time. "Dad, under the circumstances, the power isn't important as long as you can be safe."

"But in this way, I have no power, and your sister will have no backing. Those who have princes in the imperial harem all want to get the position of the Crown Prince. If Lanfu doesn't have a backing, I'm afraid... I'm afraid of..." Said Prime Minister Lan, sitting aside and holding his forehead with his hand.

Looking at Prime Minister Lan like this, Lan Ruojing felt very sad. "Don't worry, dad. Lanfu is kind-hearted. He will be the Emperor."

"You don't understand, Ruojing. The biggest shortcoming of Lanfu is kindness. It's hard for him to hurt others. If I couldn't support him, I'm afraid Lanfu will suffer. Now, not only has Xu Qing not been killed, but also ten dare-to-die soldiers are sacrificed!" Prime Minister Lan looked at Lan Ruojing and said.

Lan Ruojing also sighed at this time.

The next day, in the Throne Room

All ministers had arrived.

Chushi Youtian sat on the throne.

"Long live Your Majesty!"

"Stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After all the ministers got up, Chushi Youtian asked, "Shuo Ling, what about Xu Qing and the account book you mentioned yesterday?"

"Xu Qing is waiting to be summoned outside the hall, Your Majesty." Shuo Ling took a step forward and saluted him, saying.

After hearing this, Chushi Youtian glanced at Eunuch Li, who was standing by.

Eunuch Li knew his meaning and said in a loud voice, " Let Xu Qing, the Community Head of Jiandu, meet His Majesty!"

After hearing this, Xu Qing, who was standing outside the Throne Room, tidied up his clothes and quickly walked in.

At this time, all ministers turned their heads to look at Xu Qing.

When Xu Qing came in the Throne Room, he knelt down and said in a loud voice, "Xu Qing, the Community Head of Jiandu, is kowtowing to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"

"Stand up." Chushi Youtian said.

Xu Qing kowtowed to Chushi Youtian again, "Thank Your Majesty."

Then he stood up.

"Xu Qing, tell me something about the destruction of the dam in Jiandu. Do you have any evidence that these officials embezzled from it?" Chushi Youtian asked Xu Qing directly.

Xu Qing took the account book out from the inner side of his clothes and said, "Your Majesty, the money used for the dam is recorded here."

"Where did you get your account book?" Chushi Youtian continued to ask at this time.

Xu Qing then replied, "Please listen to me, Your Majesty. After the dam was destroyed, the local people were destitute. But the local prefect didn't care about them at all. I had no choice but to go to his mansion to find him. Unexpectedly, at the door of his study, I heard the prefect was discussing the account book with the magistrate. After hearing this, I hid on the side. After they came out, I came into the study secretly and stole the account book."

"Eunuch Li, show it to me!" Chushi Youtian said to Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

With that, he went to Xu Qing and took the account book. Then he turned around and walked to the side of Chushi Youtian. He slightly bent down and presented the account book to Chushi Youtian with both hands, "Your Majesty."

Chushi Youtian nodded and took the account book.

At this time, Prime Minister Lan couldn't help but feel anxious in his heart.

Chushi Youtian couldn't help showing anger after seeing it. Then he slammed the account book in front of Prime Minister Lan and shouted, "Prime Minister Lan, what else do you want to say now?"

"I'm guilty. I was foolish for a while. So..." Prime Minister Lan lacked self-confidence, so he quickly knelt down and said.

But before Prime Minister Lan finished, Chushi Youtian interrupted him, "Being foolish for a while? What you did made many people in Jiandu die in vain. How could you do it? You are even the Prime Minister, the father of the Empress!"

"I know my sin. I'm foolish. I'm sorry to bring trouble to Your Majesty." Prime Minister Lan said, kowtowing to Chushi Youtian.

Chushi Youtian slapped the table and said, "Trouble? Have you ever thought about the consequences of this? There are three harvests a year in Jiandu. Do you know that the food for the frontier fortress is from Jiandu? If there were war with Xiling, how should the soldiers of the frontier fortress go to fight? Foolish? Can a word make up for this?"

"I know my fault is unforgivable, but the Empress doesn't know about it. Your Majesty, please just punish me, and I am willing to offer my apology with death." While saying, he ran into the pillar in the Throne Room.

At this time, seeing this, Chushi Lanfu hurried forward and stopped Prime Minister Lan, "Grandfather, no. Stop."

"Father, my grandfather is old. He was confused for a while, so he did something wrong. I hope father will give him a chance." Then Chushi Lanfu knelt down in front of Chushi Youtian and pleaded for Prime Minister Lan.

When Chushi Youtian saw Chushi Lanfu pleading for Prime Minister Lan, he could not help feeling angrier. "As a Crown Prince, you even care so much about family affection. How can I trust you and give you the throne in the future?"

"Lanfu, don't plead for me. I did something wrong and should be punished." Then Prime Minister Lan pulled Chushi Lanfu and said quickly.

Chushi Lanfu turned his head and said to Prime Minister Lan, "Grandfather."

"Please forgive his sin, father." Then Chushi Lanfu said to Chushi Youtian again.

The ministers, who were loyal to Chushi Lanfu, also came forward to plead for Prime Minister Lan at this time, "Your Majesty, although Prime Minister Lan is at fault in this matter, this is the first time that Prime Minister Lan made a mistake. Please consider it. His death is completely unnecessary!"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Prime Minister Lan is a minister who has served three emperors. PYour Majesty, please be lenient with him!" At this time, someone said.

After hearing this, Chushi Youtian could not help pointing to these ministers and saying, "I haven't convicted him yet, but you guys have pleaded for him. I would like to ask you what kind of punishment Prime Minister Lan should get."

"Your Majesty, I don't mean that." The person who spoke just now knelt down and said.

Chushi Youtian snorted coldly, "Although Prime Minister Lan is a minister who has served three emperors, he embezzled the money. What he did brought serious consequences. He can be exempt from death but hard from punishment!"

Then he looked at Prime Minister Lan and said, "This time, Jiandu had suffered a lot. Considering that you are a minister who has served three emperors, I will exempt you from death. However, I will take back all the power in your hands and remove all duties. Do you have any objection?"

After hearing this, Prime Minister Lan couldn't help but sit on the ground weakly and then kowtowed to Chushi Youtian, "Thank Your Majesty for not killing me. I, I have no objection."

"Thank you, father!" Chushi Lanfu also kowtowed to Chushi Youtian at this time.

Although Prime Minister Lan had predicted this, he still felt miserable when he heard about it. In addition, he was old enough, so he fainted on the spot.

Chushi Lanfu rushed forward to hold Prime Minister Lan, "Grandfather, grandfather."

"Guard, take Prime Minister Lan out of the Throne Room and ask the imperial doctor to treat him!" Upon seeing this, Chushi Youtian said loudly.

Chushi Lanfu knew that if he left now, his father would be dissatisfied with him. But looking at his grandfather, he was worried. So, he could only whisper to the guard who came, "Send Prime Minister Lan to the Empress."

The guard nodded after hearing this.