"Pei Xiu! Come out!"
The armored guards roughly dragged Pei Xiu out of his cell and marched him outside.
At that moment, the disheveled, grime-covered Pei Xiu finally looked somewhat dazed.
He felt some fear, but did not show it, merely closing his eyes slowly.
My life is over.
Once Pei Xiu was brought out, the armored guards marched him a long way, taking a circuitous route before finally bringing him into the place where He Zeng usually worked.
When Pei Xiu was pushed inside, the man sitting in the seat of honor was not He Zeng, but the emperor, Cao Mao.
Pei Xiu's eyes lit up at the sight of Cao Mao, and he hurriedly bowed in greeting.
Cao Mao looked at Pei Xiu, who had lost all his former air of a distinguished scholar, but his expression was far from pleasant.
"Minister Pei, the Imperial Secretariat submitted a memorial accusing you of rebellion. What is going on?"
Pei Xiu was about to denounce the officials of the Censorate when he suddenly caught himself and changed his words. "I consumed powder and neglected government affairs, and was therefore mistakenly placed under suspicion."
"Consumed powder, did you?"
Cao Mao glanced at him. "I seem to recall issuing a new law forbidding officials from excessive drinking and consuming powder?"
Pei Xiu lowered his head. "That is so."
"And as minister of rites, this is how you uphold the court's new law?!"
"I acknowledge my offense! From now on, I will never touch such things again!"
Cao Mao said sternly, "If you feel exhausted, you can tell me plainly, and I will allow you to rest. But why consume powder? Every move made by an official at court becomes an example for officials throughout the realm..."
At these words, Pei Xiu involuntarily