"absurd!"

The wicked husband suddenly roared, his voice like a thunderclap, making everyone in the hall's eardrums buzz and their hearts tremble, knowing that the wicked husband had become angry again!

Feng Jie was about to speak to dissuade him, but he was intimidated by the cold, knife-like gaze. He opened his mouth, but didn't dare to utter a single syllable.

Ying Zheng, sitting on the throne, appeared unusually calm, seemingly quite interested in his wicked husband's opinion.

"Spirits and gods cannot be insulted?"

The wicked man's voice, booming like a bell, echoed throughout the hall: "The people of China must not be humiliated!"

He strode up to Ran Zang in a few steps, stood with his hands behind his back and chest out, looking down at him with arrogance, and said loudly: "This Grand Commandant possesses the strength to uproot mountains and lift cauldrons. As a young man, I joined the army and fought in the south and north, killing enemies like horses."

"Now, thanks to the King's favor, I have been appointed to the high position of Grand Commandant, in charge of military and national affairs, with more than a million men under my command?"

"With just a word from me, Grand Commandant, millions of heads will roll. Even ghosts and gods fear me like mice peering at light."

The wicked man's words were as hard as steel, filled with an arrogant and domineering air: "So what if they are ghosts or gods? Even if they see me, they must bow their heads!"

Upon hearing this, Ran Zang's expression changed. As a fellow courtier, he knew that the evil man's words were not false and was well aware of his power. A chilling fear rose in his heart.

But thinking of his bright future, he straightened his back, looked back firmly at his wicked husband, and said in a deep voice, "Grand Commandant, the power of gods and spirits is beyond human capability. Although you are brave, if you offend the wrath of Heaven, I'm afraid..."

The wicked man sneered, interrupting Ran Zang: "Hmph, divine might? I only believe in the Qin sword in my hand, not in fate! If you really have the ability, why don't you show me your supernatural power now and let this mortal see it?"

The atmosphere inside the hall was extremely tense.

Ying Zheng remained calm, but a hint of anticipation flickered in his eyes. His domineering husband's presence stirred his heart and ignited his passion.

"Ghosts and gods? So what if they are?"

He not only wanted to investigate whether ghosts and gods existed, but also whether they could be compared to his trusted ministers.

Let's see if the ghosts and gods are more powerful, or if our own Grand Commandant is superior.

Ran Zang's embarrassment vanished in an instant. "When did I ever say that I could summon ghosts and gods? If I could really summon ghosts and gods, would I still be standing here arguing with you, my wicked husband?"

"Oh..."

The wicked man sneered, "Trying to profit from ghosts and gods? Do you really think I, the Grand Commandant, am deaf and blind? Or do you believe the King is a plaything for you to toy with?"

"When a major disaster strikes, instead of thinking about how to provide disaster relief and protect homes, they persecute young children and women in order to beg for so-called divine protection?"

At this point, the wicked man's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Do you have any young boys or girls in your household? You said it needs to be supplemented with the blood of a great sage?"

"I, the Grand Commandant, have taken too many lives and am unworthy of the name of a great sage. I think it would be better to sacrifice young boys and girls from your relatives and friends, along with you, a sage who can communicate with spirits and gods. What do you say?"

"Presumably, the gods and spirits will be satisfied, and the disaster will naturally subside. If it doesn't, then it may be summoning your relatives and friends to be sacrificed together..."

The officials in the hall all gasped in shock.

Okay, okay!

This was the same wicked Grand Commandant they knew, though this time he was being a bit reserved, but the meaning behind his words was clear to even a fool.

After her husband's outburst, Ying Zheng began to understand the situation and asked with a warm smile, "Ran Zang, can you summon spirits and gods?"

Ran Zang's forehead instantly broke out in a cold sweat. He gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I have never said that it is possible to summon ghosts and gods, let alone know such magic."

"cannot....?"

Ying Zheng's smile vanished instantly, his face turning as cold as ice in the dead of winter. "No, why did you still propose to perform that sacrificial ceremony?"

"No...why do you still offer sacrifices of young boys and girls?"

Ran Zang's face turned ashen. He knew he had no way out, so he had to bite the bullet and explain, "Your Majesty, the reason I proposed the sacrifice was to appease the people and prevent panic from spreading."

"Although I have no ability to summon ghosts and gods, please believe me, Your Majesty. As long as we are sincere, Heaven will surely bless our Great Qin."

Upon hearing this, the wicked man's anger intensified. He pointed at Ran Zang and angrily rebuked him, "Absurd! You are fooling the people and gambling with innocent lives! If you truly have this intention, why don't you dare agree to my proposal?"

The hall was deathly silent; none of the officials dared to utter a sound. They knew that this was no longer a simple court debate.

Ying Zheng's gaze was piercing as he stared directly at Ran Zang and asked, "Do you think I am more benevolent than the Grand Commandant, someone you can manipulate at will?"

Between the unseen and intangible spirits and his wicked husband, he chose to trust the wicked husband. At least the wicked husband had shared his hardships and his abilities were evident to all; how could he not trust his confidant because of spirits?

Ran Zang was utterly desperate and lost in thought. Ying Zheng's words were tantamount to a direct verdict on him, and what lay ahead for him was certain death.

"This is how my life is... I'm not resigned to it!!"

After a long while, Ran Zang, who had come to his senses, let out a loud shout, and his whole demeanor was surprisingly calm.

The wicked man smiled and said with deep emotion, "So, the sage's words were not wrong, but were deliberately distorted and exploited by those with ulterior motives."

"It's time to think carefully about what Ba Liang brought up back then."

Suppressing his thoughts, the wicked husband revealed his murderous intent. "Ran Zang, since you have nothing more to say, then this Grand Commandant will personally send you on your way!"

Having said that, he turned to face Ying Zheng and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I impeach..."

The word "impeachment" had barely left his lips when Ying Zheng raised his hand to interrupt him, "Impeachment is out of the question. You, a mere warrior, are trying to learn the ways of a civil official?"

"Do whatever you wish, I will grant your request."

Upon hearing this, the wicked man immediately revealed a smile of extreme satisfaction. "Hehehe, Ran Zang, did you hear what the king said?"

Even as death approached, Ran Zang appeared remarkably calm, simply saying, "My life..."

The wicked husband immediately interrupted, "Walking on thin ice? You opportunistic scoundrel... do you even deserve to say such polite words?"

"Someone come here!"

With a roar, guards rushed in from outside the hall. The wicked man drew the guard's sword and beheaded Ran Zang with a single stroke.

Crimson blood gushed out instantly from the severed neck, staining the ground red. The head rolled to the ground, and the headless corpse slammed to the ground with a muffled thud.

"You all, watch closely and listen carefully!"

The wicked man's sharp eyes swept over the assembled officials. "From now on, anyone who dares to spread falsehoods and mislead the public, mentioning those ethereal ghosts, gods, and heavenly laws... this will be their fate!"

None of the civil and military officials expected that the wicked husband would actually commit murder inside the Zhangtai Palace. Many timid people were so frightened that they trembled and almost vomited.