Puppet Emperor, the Empress Wields All Power and Calls a Deer a Horse

Chapter 33 Unpardonable Crime! Execution by Slow Slicing! 

“Hiss!”

As soon as the Imperial Censor Zhao Ze spoke.

In the Tai Chi Hall!

In an instant, the entire court was in an uproar!

The faces of all the civil and military officials changed drastically, and they couldn’t help but draw in a cold breath, their eyes filled with shock as they looked at Imperial Censor Zhao Ze.

Zhao Ze dared to say such words, unafraid of angering the emperor.

Even though Zhao Ze held a high position and had the Empress Dowager backing him, it seemed unlikely he could escape death today.

Everyone knew that the struggle between the new emperor and the Empress Dowager was like a battle between gods, where ordinary people suffered.

In the past, all the officials would have undoubtedly sided with the Empress Dowager.

But now, it was clear that the new emperor was not as simple as they had imagined.

Thus, for the court officials, silently observing the court’s power struggle was the best choice.

Zhao Ze stepped forward at this time and offended the emperor, he probably won’t live long.

All of the officials’ reactions were clearly observed by Gu Changsheng, who remained expressionless, though inwardly, he couldn’t help but laugh coldly.

It seemed that last night’s events had effectively served as a warning.

His methods had instilled fear and apprehension among the court officials.

Otherwise, at this moment, it wouldn’t have just been Zhao Ze standing up to accuse him.

As for demanding he issue a proclamation of self-admonishment and confess his faults to the world.

What a joke.

If he were to issue such a proclamation, wouldn’t that cement his reputation as a tyrant?

Sitting calmly on the dragon throne, Gu Changsheng lightly tapped his fingers, his face showing neither joy nor anger. He ignored Zhao Ze and instead turned his gaze towards the Minister of Justice, speaking indifferently:

“Minister of Justice, according to the laws of Great Zhou, what is the punishment for a subordinate who publicly slanders and defames the emperor in court, showing contempt for imperial authority?”

“Damn it!”

“His Majesty is setting me up!”

The Minister of Justice, Yang Ping, cursed inwardly when the emperor called his name. His face showed hesitation, and he didn’t dare to speak for a long time.

Slandering and defaming the emperor, showing contempt for imperial authority, were crimes punishable by death, including the extermination of one’s entire family.

If he dared to declare such a thing, Zhao Ze would undoubtedly die.

The emperor clearly wanted to use him to get rid of Imperial Censor Zhao Ze.

In doing so, he would offend the Empress Dowager.

It was well known that he was a neutral party in court and dared not offend the Empress Dowager.

“Hmph!”

Gu Changsheng snorted coldly, squinting his eyes, his gaze sharp as he looked at Yang Ping, his tone filled with restrained anger:

“Yang Ping, as the Minister of Justice, are you unaware of the laws of Great Zhou?”

“In my opinion, it’s time to replace the Minister of Justice.”

At these words, Yang Ping’s face changed drastically, and his heart instantly became resolute. He cupped his hands and bowed deeply, saying:

“Your Majesty, according to the laws of Great Zhou!”

“A subordinate who defames and slanders the emperor in court, showing contempt for imperial authority, has committed the crime of great disrespect, an unforgivable offense.”

“The guilty party is to be executed by slow slicing, and their entire family is to be exterminated!”

After saying this, the Minister of Justice, Yang Ping, breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that by making such a statement, he had completely offended the Empress Dowager and could only align himself with the new emperor in the future.

[Ding! Minister of Justice Yang Ping has developed a sense of allegiance towards the host, earning 10,000 plot points!]

Gu Changsheng remained expressionless, listening to the system prompt in his mind, somewhat surprised.

He hadn’t expected to gain some plot points from this situation, an unexpected bonus.

Seeing Yang Ping’s actions, the Empress Dowager frowned slightly, feeling displeased, but she said nothing more.

At this moment, Imperial Censor Zhao Ze’s face showed some regret, and he glanced at Gu Changsheng’s unfathomable figure, taking a deep breath, a bad premonition rising within him.

Sure enough!

In the next moment.

Gu Changsheng squinted his deep eyes, scanning the court, his cold voice echoing through the hall:

“Imperial Censor Zhao Ze, for your blatant defamation and slander of the emperor in court, showing contempt for imperial authority, your crime is unforgivable!”

“Where are the Royal Shadow Guards? Arrest Imperial Censor Zhao Ze immediately and throw him into the imperial prison, where he will be executed by slow slicing.”

Before the words had even finished.

The pupils of the civil and military officials shrank, their faces filled with shock.

The emperor’s methods were too ruthless.

He was directly planning to deal with Imperial Censor Zhao Ze.

Before the officials could react.

The sound of footsteps echoed outside the Tai Chi Hall.

Soon, the Royal Shadow Guards’s Commander Qing Long, radiating an imposing aura, entered the hall with several cold-faced officers, all armed with embroidered spring knives.

Seeing the Royal Shadow Guards appearing to execute Imperial Censor Zhao Ze.

At this moment, the Empress Dowager’s expression darkened. She glanced coldly at Gu Changsheng and said icily:

“Your Majesty’s actions seem somewhat unjust!”

“Although Imperial Censor Zhao Ze’s words earlier were overly harsh, his intention was to admonish the emperor, and his crime does not warrant death.”

“If you execute the Imperial Censor here in court today, won’t that confirm what the people are saying about you being a tyrant?”

“Oh, really?” Gu Changsheng smiled coldly, showing no emotion as he said:

“Could it be that the Empress Dowager agrees with Imperial Censor Zhao Ze’s earlier words and believes that I am a tyrant?”

“Last night, Your Majesty unjustly killed hundreds of Great Zhou’s loyal ministers, turning the imperial city into a river of blood.”

“This matter has shaken the Great Zhou dynasty. Your actions were too childish.”

“As for whether Your Majesty is a tyrant, the people of Great Zhou have already made up their minds.”

The Empress Dowager narrowed her beautiful eyes, gazing deeply at Gu Changsheng, a cold smile of mockery forming at the corner of her mouth as she ridiculed him.

The astute court officials naturally picked up on the Empress Dowager’s disdain and mockery toward the emperor in her speech at these words.

“Heh!”

Gu Changsheng’s face showed restrained anger as he slapped the armrest of the dragon throne, his gaze filled with meaning as he looked at the Empress Dowager, speaking coldly:

“Last night’s events were clearly an act of removing treacherous ministers.”

“But now, according to the Empress Dowager, I am a tyrant, foolish and corrupt, and have slaughtered the loyal ministers of Great Zhou.”

“Could it be that the rumors circulating in the imperial city were spread by the Empress Dowager in secret?”

Hmm?

Hearing this.

The expressions of the civil and military officials grew strange as they looked at the emperor sitting on the dragon throne, unable to suppress their laughter.

“Removing treacherous ministers.”

The emperor had the audacity to say such things.

Last night, hundreds of ministers were executed along with their entire families.

Could it be that all these hundreds of ministers were traitors and rebels?

“Hmph!”

The Empress Dowager’s face was as cold as ice, and she snorted, showing no acknowledgment of Gu Changsheng’s words. She said icily:

“Your Majesty claims that last night’s events were about removing treacherous ministers. Can Your Majesty present any evidence?”

“If not, it will be difficult to silence the rumors in the realm based on Your Majesty’s word alone.”

The Empress Dowager’s face was filled with disdain, a cold smile lingering on her lips.

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