The new prefectural government office was already crowded with people, as well as students who had come after hearing the news. Among them, a group of eight young men dressed in the robes of students from Dongzhou Fengyan Academy stood out.

Everyone was waiting for Xiao Zhixing to appear.

[Yellow comment: Here it comes, here it comes, the walking idiom allusion is back again...]

[Yellow comment: LOL, every time our prince is provoked, it's a memorable scene.]

[Red comment: Xiang Ganti's words should not be underestimated. If not handled properly, Xiao Zhixing could truly be labeled a traitor, damaging his reputation. Beizhou is at a crucial time for development; we cannot afford to let this affect it.]

[Green comment: In ancient times, the ruler was the guide for his subjects, and loyalty was paramount. No matter how many good deeds a disloyal person did, they could not salvage their reputation.]

[Red comment: Who is Xiang Gan working for? Could someone be behind this?]

[Yellow comment: He's not on anyone's side; he represents a group of people who share the same ideas. Look at those old men kneeling behind him—they're all like that.]

[Red comment: That's why this is so tricky. They say they're doing it for the sake of the world, for the Great Prosperity, and are loyal and unyielding. You can't just kill them all at once.]

[Green comment: Tsk, Xiao Zhixing still needs to protect them for a while, otherwise if something happens to them, rumors might spread that she killed them out of revenge.]

At this moment, Xiao Zhixing came out with everyone from the meeting, and behind her two guards were carrying the prince's throne.

The other two guards... were carrying a long plank made of golden sandalwood.

"My lord, I arrived a few steps late, not because I felt guilty, but because I was looking for something."

Xiao Zhixing sat down leisurely, surveyed the entire room, and said calmly, "I am a man who likes to take things seriously and cannot tolerate any grievances. Since Lord Xiang is so loyal to the country and wants to question me, I will personally have a good talk with you today."

She easily reached out and took the several-foot-long wooden plank, cut off a section about three palm-lengths long, and began to carve it with her fingers as a knife.

"Specific problems require specific analysis. You ask, and I will answer. Please begin." She said, glancing indifferently at the people behind Xiang Gan.

Enraged by her expression, Xiang Gan's beard bristled. He grabbed the memorial tablet from his arms, raised it high, and roared, "Fine! Today, in front of the late emperor's memorial tablet, I will ask you for an explanation!"

Whoosh—

Everyone was in an uproar, never expecting that he was carrying the memorial tablet of Emperor Xiao Yuzhen, the last emperor of the Yin Dynasty!

That's disgusting.

Now, not only officials in the imperial court and across the country, but also ordinary people are gradually hearing the rumors that Xiao Zhixing is most likely Xiao Yan's daughter.

However, Xiao Zhixing did not admit it personally, and everyone knew about it but kept it a secret.

However, it is generally accepted that she is indeed of legitimate lineage from the Yin Dynasty.

Using her maternal grandfather's memorial tablet to interrogate her is utterly despicable.

Everyone looked at Xiao Zhixing's expression.

Xiao Zhixing remained expressionless, his hands moving rapidly as he carved the board, urging Xiang Gan, "Stop rambling, just ask."

Xiang Gan's expression was serious. "Very well! I dare to ask Your Highness, do you intend to kill Xiao Xing, the magistrate of Heiwu County?"

Xiao Zhixing slightly raised his eyelids. "Xiao Xing colluded with rebels to hide weapons and joined forces with bandits to wreak havoc in the countryside. Li Sandi accidentally discovered his crimes and risked his life to report them to me. If I were to let such a vicious person live and turn a blind eye, how could I live up to His Majesty's high expectations and my own conscience?"

Xiang Gan angrily said, "Your Highness is not an official of the Ministry of Justice. What right do you have to arrest Xiao Xing? You can report to the court and let the court deal with him. You are disposing of Xiao Xing on your own. Isn't that overstepping your bounds?"

"Lord Xiang, have you forgotten? Xiao Xing is involved in An Ziji's death, and it also involves Northern Barbarian spies and the Ghost Hero Pass Incident. Tell me, do I not have the right to intervene?"

At this point, the board in her hand was finished. She even carved patterns on it and decorated the area around the sign with an ornate design.

Everyone stared intently, and realized... this was also a memorial tablet?

Xiao Zhixing shoved the memorial tablet into Ji Bai's arms, who was standing next to him, and made him show it to everyone.

Everyone's eyes widened as they saw the inscription: "The Spirit Tablet of Emperor Wen of Yin, Xiao Changji"!

Everyone: ...Absolutely amazing.

Xiang Gan and the others had ashen faces, and the memorial tablets they were holding seemed to tremble.

The students from Fengyan Academy couldn't help but cover their mouths, wanting to laugh.

Xiao Zhixing cut another piece of wood and continued carving a new memorial tablet, mocking Gan, "This question is over. Next one, please continue."

Did he want to use Xiao Yuzhen's memorial tablet to suppress himself?

Why doesn't she use the ancestors of the Yin Dynasty to suppress her?

If he's so capable, let him bring over more memorial tablets.

Xiang Ganqi was having difficulty breathing, and he didn't know whether to put down the memorial tablet in his hand or hold it up.

He trembled for a moment before bravely saying, "Second question: Of the ten county magistrates in Beizhou, six are under the Prince's command, and Prefect Qi has become your subordinate, obeying your every word. You control the military affairs of Beizhou. May I ask, Your Highness, what do you intend to do?"

"I am puzzled and worried. If this continues, will Beizhou still be the Beizhou of Dasheng?"

Xiao Zhixing carved faster and faster; before he could finish speaking, the second plaque was already finished.

It was the memorial tablet of the second emperor of the Yin Dynasty, which she held up for Su Zhen.

She began carving the third piece while simultaneously responding to Xiang Gan's words, "The appointment of officials in the Northern Prefecture is decided by the court and approved by His Majesty. No one can criticize it. I disdain to answer this question. If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. If you can confirm that I am plotting a rebellion, then produce the evidence. Whoever makes the accusation must provide the evidence. Without evidence, it is slander."

Xiao Zhixing sneered, "I dare to say this before His Majesty. I have not rebelled, and no one can force me to admit it, let alone slander me."

Xiang Gan angrily said, "Is it disdain or guilt? Although you have not put your rebellious intentions into practice, your various methods reveal your wolfish ambitions. Tell me, which minister in the world would dare to be so unscrupulous as you and regard the Northern State as your private domain?"

Snap! The third memorial tablet was ready and handed to Xiao Bei to hold.

The three of them stood motionless, frozen like they were holding a bomb, unsure of what expression to make.

Xiao Zhixing started working on the fourth piece of the plan, and upon hearing this, he scoffed, "Why wouldn't I dare? For the sake of the safety of this northern land, I have even dared to venture into Mengzhou and Ningzhou. I have a clear conscience!"

"His Majesty trusts me and has never doubted me. He entrusted the safety of the North to me, and I feel a great responsibility and am deeply moved. It is you stubborn people who are trying to sow discord between me and His Majesty?"

"Xiang Gan, I also want to ask you, in front of the ancestral tablets, answer me with your conscience, did you have any selfish motives in this matter today?"

Xiao Zhixing bowed slightly and asked, "I dare to swear before all our ancestors that I, Xiao Zhixing, will never initiate war or disrupt our land. Do you dare?"

However, if one is forced to rebel, that's a different story.

"Tell our ancestors what your true intentions are. Are you merely trying to prove your false loyalty? Or do you wish to sow discord between me and His Majesty?"

"Your actions are so absurd, so presumptuous in trying to fathom His Majesty's mind. Where do you place His Majesty? I believe you are the real traitors and rebels!"

Xiang Gan's face was grim, and the men behind him hunched their shoulders, their imposing manner completely gone.

With so many memorial tablets displayed here, they were extremely wary and dared not utter a word.

Xiang Gan's face turned pale, and he could only argue, "This humble official has absolutely no disloyalty to the country and the people!"

Xiao Zhixing's gaze turned icy. "Your loyalty is poison to the nation and arsenic to the people!"