Minister of Justice Feng Tingji's immediate plea for punishment slightly improved Benevolent Sovereign Ji Long's expression.
In truth, this counted as a tradition.
When the Heaven-Shaking Drum sounded, it slapped the faces of Great Zhou's ruler and ministers. But if the emperor's face was slapped, it meant the face of all Great Zhou had been slapped.
Thus, the Minister of Justice pleaded guilty the moment he arrived.
This showed Benevolent Sovereign Ji Long an attitude—regardless of the cause, as Minister of Justice, he was willing to carry the blame and make the emperor and court look a little better.
"When the Heaven-Shaking Drum sounds, there must be a shocking injustice. Yet it may not necessarily be due to your negligence, dear minister. Wait until the ministers have all gathered. Once the cause has been investigated, we shall discuss the rest."
Only then did Minister of Justice Feng Tingji slowly rise and stand waiting to one side. However, he still held his official hat in his hands, signifying that he awaited punishment or was prepared to take the blame for the emperor.
Soon after, Tao Yi, the Right Prime Minister serving in Great Zhou's Secretariat, hurried to the Imperial Study. The first thing he did upon entering was, like Minister of Justice Feng Tingji, hold his official hat and kneel to plead guilty.
This, too, was an attitude of taking the blame.
Before the sky fell, they could not let the emperor lose face. No matter what happened, they had to find the emperor a fig leaf.
Now, it depended on just how great the impact of this matter would be.
Benevolent Sovereign Ji Long was somewhat reassured. With the Minister of Justice and Right Prime Minister voluntarily shouldering the blame, his face would at least not look too bad.
Afterward,