Led by Kong Rong, the court officials all knelt and bowed in salute.
It was the first time Liu Xie had encountered such a scene.
He had attended court several times while held under Yuan Shao's control.
But how could those men under Yuan Shao have sincerely knelt and submitted to him?
He drew a deep breath, feeling towering aspirations fill his chest, and swept his sleeve with spirited confidence.
"My beloved ministers, rise!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Once the court officials had risen, they knelt and sat in order of rank.
They had barely settled when Guo Jia rose and cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, I have a matter to report."
"Proceed!"
Holding a secret letter in both hands, Guo Jia said, "Word has arrived from Xu County. Cao Thief led armored soldiers into Grand Commandant Yang Biao's residence and forced Lord Yang to name the accomplices who secretly sent Your Majesty to Ye City back then. Lord Yang refused and attempted to take his own life by dashing himself against a wall. Fortunately, he received treatment in time, and his life is not in danger."
As his words fell, all of Tai'an Hall erupted in an uproar.
Kong Rong, Zhang Liao, Xun Chen, Sima Yi, and the others wore expressions of horror. They had never imagined Cao Cao would dare persecute one of the Three Excellencies.
At the same time, they finally understood how the Son of Heaven had escaped to Ye City: Yang Biao had been helping him from behind the scenes.
Kong Rong, who now served as Minister of Ceremonies, was shocked to hear this, but it also left him almost entirely certain that Liu Xie was the legitimate Son of Heaven.
Beside them, Yang Xiu ground his teeth and burst into curses. "Cao Cao truly