Lin Mo glanced around and saw that most of the civil and military officials had arrived, along with Sun Mian and Sun Ruoxi. They filled the entire hall, all their eyes fixed on Lin Mo.

"Your humble servant Lin Mo greets Your Majesty!" Lin Mo bowed to her according to etiquette.

"No need for formalities!" Wei Maozhen said with a smile. "Please take a seat!"

"They acted quite convincingly, considering they brought in so many extras," Lin Mo thought to himself.

After thanking her, he walked to the seat that the Empress had arranged for him, which was only one seat below Wei Maozhen's.

Next, the banquet officially began.

The music continued.

The vast majority of the sounds came from the musicians' pavilion in the corner of the hall, along with the sounds of flutes, chimes, pipa, and zithers.

The beautiful melody echoed in the room, but Sun Mian felt uncomfortable listening to it.

Lin Mo did not listen to He Xiao. At this moment, he not only started drinking the wine on the table, but also hummed a melody.

Poisoned wine? Lin Mo was not afraid.

First of all, she had always portrayed herself as a wise ruler, and Lin Mo did not believe that the Empress would use such low methods to kill him.

Secondly, even if the Empress used poison, Lin Mo remained calm.

The all-purpose antidote herb in the system shop isn't expensive either, only 300 points per plant, and it's guaranteed to cure all poisons!

On the contrary, Lin Mo actually hoped that Wei Maozhen would poison him, so that they wouldn't have to act!

You've already poisoned me, what am I waiting for if I don't retaliate?

The rain outside continued unabated, but the air inside the hall grew increasingly stuffy and warm.

After several rounds of drinks, Wei Maozhen raised his glass, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

"Gentlemen, let us once again welcome His Highness the King of Shu, who has traveled from afar."

After everyone finished their drinks, Wei Maozhen narrowed his eyes, his lips moving from side to side, and said, "Your Highness, I heard some strange rumors the other day, saying that you are going to 'purge the court of corrupt officials'?"

Upon hearing this, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone stopped, including the musicians.

"Is it finally starting? A face-to-face talk, 'removing the emperor's inner circle'?" Lin Mo thought to himself, "Well, this boring banquet is quite torturous."

"Yes!" He didn't want to act, nor did he enjoy it. "His Majesty has too many treacherous officials around him!"

These words shocked everyone.

"You're being too audacious," Sun Mian couldn't help but think. "In front of so many people, in front of His Majesty, you say there are treacherous officials and admit you want to purge the court of corrupt ministers?"

He wiped the sweat from his forehead, stood up unsteadily, and tried to walk over to Lin Mo and say something.

But the Imperial Guards around Sun Mian quickly stopped him with their actions.

Lin Mo glanced at it, then gestured to He Xiao, who had come with him, to be careful to protect his future father-in-law.

"Oh?" Wei Maozhen spoke again, "May I ask, Your Majesty of Shu, which of those present are treacherous officials?"

So, you're going to pull this tactic? Lin Mo gave a cold laugh, then stood up.

"Your Majesty, let me point them out to you one by one!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he first went to Sun Mian's side and pointed at Sun Mian.

"No way, you're saying Lord Sun is a treacherous minister?" one of the ministers exclaimed in astonishment.

"No, no, no. Lord Sun Mian is not a treacherous minister!" Lin Mo declared. "He is one of the few loyal and virtuous officials in the court."

Before Sun Mian could respond, Lin Mo had already turned and left.

With calm and composed steps, Lin Mo approached Ling Tiande and pointed at him.

"What, is this guy who rose to power by selling his ass also a loyal and virtuous person?" the crowd questioned.

Lin Mo smiled slightly and said loudly, "Your Majesty, this man is the most treacherous minister in the Great Xia Dynasty! Therefore, I suggest that he be torn to pieces and his entire clan be exterminated!"

Everyone was astonished by these words.

"You...you...you're being insolent!" Ling Tiande trembled, whether from anger or fear. "Your Majesty, please don't listen to his slander!"

Your humble servant is utterly loyal to Your Majesty, and also to the people…

"Shut up!" Wei Maozhen shouted sternly. "Minister Ling, the King of Shu says you are a great traitor, and he must have plenty of evidence to prove it."

Otherwise, to slander court officials in front of all these ministers would be a grave offense, even for the King of Shu!

"Evidence?" Lin Mo smiled. "Colluding with Qiu Zi, the Abbasid Caliphate, and the Eastern Pango, selling out the country for personal gain. Isn't that enough to exterminate three races?"

"What?"

"You're making baseless accusations!" Ling Tiande shouted angrily. "Words are no proof, where's the evidence?"

"Lord Ling, those beads that Dongpan envoy Chai Qixin gave you, you immediately gave them to your third concubine, what was her name again? Ning'er, right?"

There was also a ruby ​​that the Arab envoy gave you, which you gave to your wife. It is said that she wore it around her neck every day to show it off to others.

Oh, right, there's also a piece of jewelry that Qiu Zi sent. Who did you give it to again?

Upon hearing the words "Qiu Zi jewelry," Wei Maozhen trembled, for Ling Tiande had given this item to him.

And at this moment, it was hanging on her head.

"You...you...you..." Ling Tiande was so panicked that he couldn't utter another word for a long time.

"Minister Ling, is what the King of Shu said true?"

Of course it's true; these are all things that the Venerable Master of Xuanhua Palace told Lin Mo personally.

The head of the continent's top assassin organization could gather this kind of information in a matter of minutes; there's absolutely no way he could be wrong!

"Reporting...Your Majesty! Yes, it's true!" Ling Tiande said, "However!"

"But what?" Wei Maozhen asked angrily.

"Your Majesty, I am the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. Isn't it normal for me to have dealings with envoys from other countries?" He quickly explained, "These countries respect our Great Xia as their master, and haven't they been sending tribute to us every year?"

"So you lined your own pockets?" Lin Mo pressed.

"You're talking nonsense!" Ling Tiande retorted angrily. "These are merely exchanges of courtesy between me and the envoy. What's wrong with that?"

"What a fine example of reciprocity!" Wei Maozhen's gaze turned cold, then he looked at Lin Mo. "Your Highness, what do you think should be done to punish him?"

"Your Majesty..." Ling Tiande panicked. He never expected the Empress to say such a thing in this situation.

Lin Mo carefully examined Ling Tiande and noticed that beads of sweat were dripping from his chin, and there were some water stains on the ground.

His sweaty appearance was rather comical.

After some thought, Lin Mo chuckled and said, "Exterminating their three clans is fine, but there's no need for a thousand cuts; just execute them immediately!"

"What..." Ling Tiande felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this. "Your Majesty, I am innocent!"

Not only Ling Tiande, but everyone was shocked.

Today is the Lantern Festival, and also the day Wei Maozhen officially bestows the marriage upon them. How could Lin Mo actually sentence someone to immediate execution at such a time?

What surprised everyone even more was that Lin Mo suddenly stood up straight and said sternly, "In addition to Ling Tiande, the Minister of War, the Prefect of the Capital, and the Vice Minister of Revenue."

These criminals are utterly wicked and deserve to die!

With a crash, an official's wine glass fell to the ground and shattered...