The Emperor looked at Li Chen Zhou as well.
Within the Golden Luan Hall, Li Chen Zhou's voice was like an ice-tempered blade, each word stabbing at the civil and military officials filling the court. "The Censorate oversees all officials, yet Prince Jin was allowed to collude with key figures from the Six Ministries as though entering an empty house. The Five Armies Commandery commands military power, yet its generals were infiltrated without noticing a thing. The Ministry of Justice boasts an iron prison, yet assassins came and went freely—my lords, is this the realm you have guarded for His Majesty?"
He spun around sharply, the hem of his dragon-patterned robe sweeping across the golden tiles and stirring a wave of killing intent.
Wang Huanzhi, the Minister of Justice, turned livid. The court tablet in his hand cracked with a "crack." "You yellow-mouthed brat! The Ministry of Justice Prison has three mysterious iron gates, with guards rotating twelve hours a day..."
"And then you let assassins swagger in carrying poisoned daggers?" Li Chen Zhou suddenly stepped forward, the Blood Demon Blade at his waist humming. "Would Your Excellency care to test whether this subordinate can carry a weapon straight into your document-signing chamber?"
The Emperor's fingers paused atop the dragon throne, and faint ripples spread across the tea in his cup.
"Outrageous!" Zhao Tieshan, general of the Left Military Guard, crushed two golden tiles beneath his boots, his armor clanging. "There has been no war at the border for three years, yet Prince Jin secretly bribed..."
"So your scouts cannot even keep watch over your own backyard?" Li Chen Zhou suddenly smiled. "Would you like this subordinate to investigate whether the cook in your residence has also taken Prince Jin's silver?"
Zhang Yan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, had just opened his mouth when Li Chen Zhou turned toward him. "Lord Zhang, did the memorial you submitted last month accusing the Ministry of Works of embezzlement cite account books supplied by Prince Jin's followers?" The words were like a soft blade, instantly sending the old censor staggering back.
The entire court of crimson and purple robes fell to its knees in unison, gilded beams reflecting their pallid faces. Wang Huanzhi's official hat had slipped askew, revealing sideburns soaked with cold sweat. "Your Majesty, please see clearly! The Ministry of Justice these past years..."
"Enough." The Emperor's voice was soft, yet it made every spine turn cold.
He looked at Li Chen Zhou with amusement in his eyes. "In Li's opinion, how should these wine sacks and rice bags be dealt with?"
Li Qing Shan added at just the right moment, "According to the Great Zhou Law, grave dereliction of duty warrants execution."
Li Chen Zhou's words had merely been the opening; the key was that the Emperor had not interrupted him. Could it be that the Emperor truly had such intentions?
This frightened everyone badly. They all erupted, scrambling to prove their own innocence.
Seeing how the civil officials had been angered by Li Chen Zhou until their lungs were about to burst, while the generals were so enraged they wanted to draw their blades, the Emperor saw that the purpose of this warning had been achieved.
So he hurriedly stepped forward to mediate. "All right, all right. There were reasons behind this, so none of it will be pursued further."
"As for Li Chen Zhou, there were reasons for what he did, so his punishment should be lightened. You hold no official post yet, so I shall punish you by having you serve the state. Tell me, which department would you like to join?"
Li Chen Zhou cupped his hands. "This subject obeys the decree."
"Ding... Mission completed. The host is rewarded with twenty years of internal cultivation."
Li Chen Zhou glanced at the system panel:
"Host: Li Chen Zhou Martial realm: Early Stage Sixth Rank (30/50) Cultivation methods: Thirteen Guardian Golden Bell Shield (Mastery), Three Abyssal Slashes (Mastery), Thousand Faces (Mastery), Soaring Illusionary Steps (Mastery) Internal cultivation: 30 years (calculated based on an ordinary person cultivating a basic method for one year) Lifespan: 29 years Weapon: Blood Demon Blade"
Then Li Chen Zhou looked toward the leaders of the various court departments, and every one of them hurriedly avoided him.
The Minister of Justice, whom Li Chen Zhou had just impeached, spoke even more hastily. "Our Ministry of Justice is small. We cannot accommodate a great Buddha such as you."
"Ding! Mission triggered."
A scroll, an imperial decree, and a command token appeared in the void:
From the Eastern Depot scroll extended the withered hand of a mutilated eunuch, its fingertips dripping blood-red words: "Celestial Boy Skill";
The Western Depot decree transformed into a skull that opened its mouth, a black hole of "Star Absorbing Art" spinning within;
The Brocade Guard command token exploded into a blood eagle, and where its feathers drifted down, Sanskrit characters for "Hell Soul Exchange Scripture" appeared.
This choice gave Li Chen Zhou a hint. He intended to become the boss in the future, but the heads of the Eastern and Western Depots were both eunuchs, making them unsuitable.
So he said, "This subject wishes to join the Brocade Guard."
The moment the words left his mouth, in less than the blink of an eye, the blood eagle reverted to the command token. Runes flickered across its surface, radiating a mysterious aura.
The token trembled slightly, then turned into a streak of light and instantly entered his brow.
"Ding... Does the host wish to merge with the 'Hell Soul Exchange Scripture'?"
"Not for now."
After saying that, Li Chen Zhou raised his head and began smiling at Prince Rong, the Minister of Justice, and the others who had traded barbs with him moments earlier.
Wei Wuji, the Commander of the Brocade Guard, found this rather interesting. Judging from Li Chen Zhou's performance just now, he would hardly be a peaceful sort upon joining the Brocade Guard—but the Brocade Guard did not want peaceful people anyway.
The Emperor turned his gaze toward Wei Wuji. "Wei Wuji, what do you think?"
Wei Wuji said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, since Young Master Li wishes to join the Brocade Guard, this subordinate naturally welcomes him. However, one may only begin as a Xiaoqi officer upon joining the Brocade Guard. I wonder what Young Master Li thinks?"
Li Chen Zhou said, "This subject has no objections."
Neither arrogant nor impetuous. Very good. The Emperor nodded in satisfaction. "Then after court, go report to Wei Wuji. Today's court discussion ends here. If there is nothing else, disperse."
All the officials said, "This subject takes his leave."
Just after leaving the palace gates, the Minister of Revenue went before Grand Secretary Yan Shifan and said, "Grand Secretary, that Li Family brat..."
Yan Song smiled. "Hmph. The Emperor wants to use that Li Family brat. Have the Brocade Guard arrange some little moves. I would like to see whether that Li brat has the nerve."
The Minister of Revenue understood at once. "This subordinate understands..."
On the white marble steps before the palace gates, Li Chen Zhou suddenly pressed a hand to his sword hilt—an elusive fragrance tore through the air.
That scarlet figure amid the rain of ginkgo leaves shot toward him like an arrow, only to halt abruptly three steps away. The eastern pearl at the tip of her embroidered shoe barely brushed the golden thread of his Flying Fish Uniform.
"Lord Li carries himself with such imposing official authority." Princess Xuan Yi spun half a broken tile around her fingertips. "When I counted the four hundred and eightieth piece, I was wondering..." She suddenly leaned close, her breath carrying the cloying sweetness of begonia honey. "Since your blade can cut down rebel troops, can it also cut down those who break their word?"
Li Chen Zhou's throat caught beneath her spoiled, willful questioning.
After quelling the rebellion, was he supposed to seek her out in the middle of the night? He had not even been an external court official.
Li Chen Zhou's Adam's apple bobbed, and the night dew congealed on his scabbard dripped onto the golden tiles between them.
He suddenly recalled the system's earlier prompt:
"Ding—Target emotional fluctuation: 87%. Calming measures recommended."
"Your Highness, please see clearly." He stepped half a pace back and saluted. The tassels hanging from his official cap concealed the dark surge in his eyes. "After suppressing the rebellion at midnight last night, the Black Tortoise Gate duty records showed..." Before he could finish, the Princess slapped the broken tile against his chest, her glass-like eyes reflecting his startled face.
"That is not what I want to hear!" As she turned, the twelve panels of her Xiang skirt swept over the steps like a sleeping lotus suddenly closing its petals. "Lord Li, remember this: the debt you owe me..." Her lingering words scattered into the wind, carrying a young girl's unique willfulness and grievance.
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