In the Luoyang Magistrate's Office, the newly appointed Luoyang Magistrate, Gao Cheng, sat at his desk with his eyes closed, swaying his head and rhythmically tapping the tabletop with his hands.

Gao Cheng was humming a little tune, thinking about where to listen to music after his shift ended, without even glancing at the official documents on his desk.

The surrounding officials could only shake their heads and sigh, because many people had tried to impeach Gao Cheng before, but the impeachment petitions had all disappeared without a trace.

Moreover, those people were all expelled by Gao Cheng for various reasons and lost their jobs. Therefore, out of fear of the Gao family's power, everyone dared not speak out against their anger.

Just then, Li Li, an assistant official of the Sili government, arrived at the gate of the Luoyang magistrate's office with several eunuchs.

Li Li looked coldly at the two constables at the door, "Where is Gao Cheng, the magistrate of Luoyang?"

"Reporting to Li Zuo, Magistrate Gao is currently in the office!"

The constable shuddered at the sight of the menacing-looking group.

"Come with me inside to arrest them!!"

"promise!!"

After glancing inside the government office, Li Li immediately went in, followed closely by several eunuchs.

"Heh~, the magistrate of Luoyang, how leisurely you are..."

Upon arriving at the government office, Li Li saw Gao Cheng sitting there humming a tune and couldn't help but sneer.

"Huh? What are you doing here??"

Seeing Li Li and his group suddenly barge in, Gao Cheng frowned and his face darkened. He didn't think he had done anything illegal, so he didn't take the eunuch, whom everyone feared, seriously.

Li Li couldn't help but sneer, "Heh~ What for? Of course, it's to invite Magistrate Gao to be a guest at my Sili government office...!"

"What a joke... Arrest me? Do you have any evidence that I have broken the law?"

Gao Cheng's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this; he hadn't expected that their target was indeed him.

"Hmph~ By order of the Empress Dowager, all those who hold positions without performing their duties and are negligent in their duties shall be dismissed and investigated! Magistrate Gao Cheng of Luoyang disregards the Empress Dowager's grace and shows no thought of repaying her kindness, openly humming a tune within the official residence! Take him away!"

Li Li snorted coldly, then waved his hand, and several burly eunuchs behind him immediately walked over with sinister smiles.

"What did you say...? The Empress Dowager...?"

Li Li's words caused Gao Cheng's expression to change drastically. The Empress Dowager? Had something happened? Why would it be the Empress Dowager who gave the order? Could it be...?

Thinking about this, Gao Cheng couldn't help but think of something terrible.

"Heh~, if you have any questions, go ask me at my Sili Yamen!"

Li Li sneered, then his eyes widened and he shouted sharply, "Arrest him!"

"You guys... ah~!"

Gao Cheng looked anxious and was about to say something when a court attendant swung his fist, which was as big as a sandbag, and punched him in the face, making him cry out in pain. Then he was pulled out from behind the desk.

"By the way, let me tell you, our Sili government doesn't need evidence to arrest people..."

Looking at Gao Cheng, who was being dragged in front of him with blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, Li Li leaned close to Gao Cheng's ear and whispered something, then revealed a mocking expression.

Gao Cheng looked at Li Li with a look of horror. No evidence needed? What does that mean? Could it really be that the Empress Dowager launched a coup?

"Let's go!!"

Then Li Li and his men turned and walked out, brazenly escorting the magistrate of Luoyang out of the government office under the astonished gazes of the officials inside.

Meanwhile, in other government offices in Luoyang, every official who had ever come into Yang Qiu's sights was arrested and imprisoned in the Sili government office's jail.

In just half a day, Yang Qiu arrested nearly a hundred people, many of whom were high-ranking officials in the imperial court. Their relationships were intricate and complex, and could even be said to involve all the prominent families in the entire Sili region.

Yang Qiu's outrageous actions caused a stir in Luoyang's officialdom, with some even wondering if he was plotting a rebellion. How could he be so reckless?!

Upon learning that all of this was the Empress Dowager's decree and that the Emperor was in a coma, everyone, like Gao Cheng, instinctively thought of two words: coup d'état!

In an instant, everyone turned their attention to Dou Miao, the Empress Dowager. At the same time, rumors spread throughout Luoyang, claiming that the Empress Dowager intended to murder the Emperor and depose him.

In the Research and Manufacturing Department, Mo Shang was leading several Mo family disciples on an inspection of the papermaking workshop. Since adopting the method proposed by the Emperor to use water power to crush raw materials for processing, the papermaking speed has been significantly improved.

During this period, Mo Shang also led everyone to try various methods to increase the speed of pulp production, including using quicklime to soften and separate the pulp.

Five days have passed, and Mo Shang is now preparing to check on the progress of the experiment.

Just as Mo Shang was leading everyone toward a fermentation pool, a Mo family disciple rushed over in a hurry.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! I just heard a rumor that His Majesty has suddenly fallen into a coma, and the Empress Dowager has seized control of the palace and launched a coup..."

"What did you say... His Majesty fainted, and the Empress Dowager launched a coup?"

Upon hearing this, Mo Shang was taken aback and looked at the disciple with disbelief.

The disciple swallowed hard and said in a trembling voice, "I've only heard about it, but the Commandant of the Capital Region is currently arresting officials in the city on the Empress Dowager's orders. Many of them were promoted after His Majesty ascended the throne. Something big must have happened..."

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