Upon hearing the young eunuch's report, the Desolate Emperor was overjoyed and ordered that Sima Qianyu be summoned for an audience.
Before long, Sima Qianyu entered with a memorial and a signed, fingerprint-sealed confession in hand. His clothes were still stained with blood.
He hurried forward, clasped his fists toward the emperor seated upon the dragon throne, and declared loudly, "This minister, Sima Qianyu, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
"Rise, beloved minister!"
The Desolate Emperor waved his hand and urged eagerly, "Beloved Minister Sima, quickly tell Us how the case was solved!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Sima Qianyu began recounting the capture of the flower-plucking rapist. It turned out that Yan Shuangfei had distinguished the criminal's scent from the air itself and tracked him all the way to Hua Chongyang's hiding place.
The Desolate Emperor was greatly amazed by Yan Shuangfei's ability, and his imperial countenance soon brightened with delight.
Such an extraordinary person was a subject of the Desolate Kingdom, available for his use. How splendid!
When he learned that the culprit behind the drugging and rape cases was actually Hua Chongyang, commander of the Imperial Guards, his teeth began to itch with fury.
He had trusted the man so greatly, elevating him to the foremost position in the Imperial Guards, directly accountable to him, the emperor.
Yet he had never imagined that this bastard would commit such a heaven-shaking crime. How could he possibly deserve the emperor's appreciation and cultivation?
The next day.
The Desolate Emperor sat upright in the Golden Luan Hall, his gaze sweeping over the dense mass of officials below the steps. He declared, "Do you know who deserves the greatest credit for solving this serial flower-plucking and drugging rape case?"
As soon as those words fell, the hall became silent as a graveyard. The