"Hahaha, Lord Lü, your forthright memorial was truly admirable."
Xun Yi sat in the seat of honor, smiling warmly, his face full of kindness.
Cui Zan and Guo Zhang sat on either side of him. All three nodded, though their attitudes differed.
Lü Xun knelt before the three of them. Hearing Xun Yi's words, he could not help straightening his back to look more like a Virtuous and Upright Minister.
"Lord Xun, this was simply what I ought to do, part of my duty."
"How could I dare claim credit before you gentlemen?"
Lü Xun spoke with great humility. He had little choice: his family had never been particularly powerful. Though it counted as a large clan, compared with the men before him, it was not worth a damn.
Never mind Lü Xun-even if his father came back to life, he would not dare put on airs before these men.
Seeing how exceptionally humble Lü Xun was, Xun Yi stroked his beard and smiled. "The younger generation is truly formidable. With young men like this, we need not worry about having no successors."
Cui Zan gave a cold snort. "He is merely a selfish man who nearly implicated all the ministers for the sake of his own reputation!"
Alarmed, Lü Xun hurriedly explained, "I would never dare entertain such thoughts. You have truly wronged me, Lord Cui!"
Cui Zan flew into a rage. "Wasn't making a name for yourself precisely why you impeached Chen Qian? Do you know how many innocent people would be dragged into it if His Majesty began slaughtering people?"
Xun Yi countered, "Chen Qian did wrong. Are we not even allowed to impeach him? Do not bully this young man so!"
Guo Zhang spoke up as well. "Enough, enough. Why lose your composure before a young