Before long, Luo Xu hurried into the hall with light steps, bent close to Xu Yanli's ear, and whispered a few words.
Xu Yanli slowly opened his eyes.
"Bring them in."
Luo Xu acknowledged the order and withdrew. A moment later, several imperial guards escorted six court officials into the hall.
The man at their head was a gray-haired third-rank veteran official. His court robes were immaculate, his back straight, and his face held no fear—only the stubborn defiance of someone with nothing left to lose. The five behind him were all mid-ranking officials, none of low rank. Their faces were ashen, their heads bowed, and not one dared look up at the throne.
"Kneel!"
The guard barked and kicked the old man behind the knees.
The old man grunted as his knees slammed into the golden-brick floor. Pain pierced him to the bone, but he still refused to bend his back. He held his neck rigid, staring at the ground, unwilling to yield.
Xu Yanli looked at the old man and suddenly gave a faint smile.
The smile was barely there, just the slightest lift at the corners of his lips. But there was not a trace of warmth in his cool, clear eyes.
"Grand Secretary Zhang," he said casually, as though making idle conversation. "I hear you've been secretly rallying court officials, slandering me, and calling me a bastard?"
The old man's body stiffened abruptly. His blood seemed to freeze in his veins.
The five behind him went deathly pale. Their legs weakened, and they nearly collapsed on the spot. Only bottomless terror remained in their hearts.
"That's not all." Xu Yanli continued tapping the armrest with his fingertips, his tone as flat as ever. "I also discovered that you secretly contacted the remnants of the Heaven Dou