Upon hearing Yang Qiu's report of the "brilliant victory," the officials were immediately in an uproar.

All they knew was that the Sili government office had been busy all year, arresting people everywhere, but they didn't know exactly how many they had arrested.

Now that Yang Qiu has summarized it like this, they are quite frightened. It seems that apart from the survivors in the court, the entire Sili region and the surrounding area have been almost completely taken by Yang Qiu.

Liu Hong, sitting on the throne, couldn't help but frown. He had repeatedly advised Yang Qiu to take it easy to avoid causing unnecessary chaos, but Yang Qiu remained oblivious.

Some sharp-eyed officials noticed Liu Hong's furrowed brows and assumed that the emperor was also displeased with Yang Qiu's large-scale killing spree, which secretly pleased them.

Many people began to think about how to impeach Yang Qiu, so that this acting Sili Xiaowei could be completely removed from office.

Looking at Yang Qiu, who was standing there with his neck stiff, and the courtiers with their own thoughts, Liu Hong shook his head helplessly, then turned to Dou Miao and cast a pleading look at her.

While seemingly asking for the Empress Dowager's opinion, he actually hoped she would support Yang Qiu and protect him. After all, as the emperor, he had to consider the feelings of the officials and couldn't openly support Yang Qiu. However, the Empress Dowager had no such concerns.

Seeing this, Dou Miao simply smiled slightly. Mother and son were of one mind, and she naturally understood Liu Hong's intention. Then she looked at Yang Qiu.

Dou Miao said slowly, "Yang Qing, you uphold justice, are impartial and selfless, deter lawbreakers, eliminate the parasites that disrupt our Han Dynasty, and safeguard the dignity of the ancestral laws. You are truly a model of loyalty to the country!"

Dou Miao then surveyed the officials and said in a deep voice, "You should all emulate Yang Qing's impartiality and integrity, fulfill your responsibilities to the Han Dynasty, and never do anything illegal, disruptive, or harmful to the country and its people! The law will show no mercy when the time comes!"

"Your Majesty's teachings will be obeyed!"

Upon seeing that the Empress Dowager was actually supporting Yang Qiu, the officials couldn't help but tremble. Now that Yang Qiu had the Empress Dowager's support, he had undoubtedly become a sharp sword hanging over their heads.

The officials then looked at Liu Hong with expectant faces, hoping he would say something. After all, Yang Qiu had killed too many people, and if he was kept alive, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't turn on them one day.

The Empress Dowager looked at Liu Hong with a serious expression, "Your Majesty must always remember that for the country to be stable, the law must be strict! Yang Qing is a rare talent, and Your Majesty must give him an important position!"

Liu Hong feigned a troubled expression, then respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I will obey your teachings!"

"It's over!!"

Seeing that even the emperor had chosen to submit under the Empress Dowager's pressure, the officials couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts.

At the same time, some people couldn't help but start to think that in the past year, the Empress Dowager had rarely interfered in politics, and the Emperor had the final say in everything, which gave them the illusion that the Emperor had taken personal control of the government.

But only today did they realize that the Empress Dowager was still the Empress Dowager who ruled from behind the throne. No matter how wise and powerful the Emperor was, he still had to listen to the Empress Dowager.

However, this Empress Dowager was ruthless and never cared about the officials; she only knew how to protect her clan. This made many people begin to feel dissatisfied with Dou Miao.

Since the emperor ascended the throne, all his actions, whether it was lifting the ban on political parties to assess students, establishing the Imperial Guard, opening trade markets, promoting trade with the Western Regions, or procuring coal from the north, have been aimed at valuing scholars and sharing profits with officials and their families, thus winning the support of the people.

However, looking back at the spring planting, autumn harvest, and recent official assessments, it seems that the Empress Dowager was behind every major crackdown by Yang Qiu, and most of those punished were former officials from the previous emperor's time.

Therefore, in their view, Yang Qiu is now the Empress Dowager's man, and the reason why the Empress Dowager does this is simply because she is dissatisfied with the late Emperor and wants to eliminate the drawbacks left by the late Emperor when she takes over the court.

Suddenly, the originally joyous court assembly became somewhat somber.

After the last official finished reporting, it was nearly noon. Seeing this, Zhao Zhong stepped forward as well.

"All matters are now concluded; officials may withdraw..."

Just as Zhao Zhong finished speaking, Liu Shu quickly stood up and bowed to Dou Miao and Liu Hong.

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager! I have something to report!"

Dou Miao looked at Liu Shu and asked, "What matter did the Grand Master of Ceremonies report?"

"Your Majesty, I hereby impeach Cao Song, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, for holding his position without performing his duties and neglecting some urgent matters. He has failed to share the burdens of Your Majesty and Your Majesty. I request that Cao Song be severely punished to uphold the law!"

"Hiss!"

As soon as Liu Shu finished speaking, the court fell silent, and many people couldn't help but gasp.

Everyone knows that Cao Song has won the emperor's favor and become his most trusted confidant by using his skills of opportunism and flattery. Even Lü Qiang and Zhang Rang fear him like a tiger.

Although many people wanted to bring Cao Song down, they all failed miserably and were even punished and reprimanded by the emperor. As a result, now basically no one dares to cause trouble for Cao Song anymore.

However, Liu Shu's sudden attack on Cao Song today has made some astute people sense something unusual, because Liu Shu, in addition to being the Grand Master of Ceremonies, also holds the title of a member of the imperial clan.

Some people couldn't help but raise their heads to look at the Empress Dowager, who sat upright beside the Emperor's throne.

"The Grand Minister of Agriculture has always been diligent and conscientious; how can you say he's just holding a position without doing his job? The Grand Master of Ceremonies must not speak nonsense!"

Liu Hong, sitting on the throne, couldn't help but change his expression. While defending Cao Song, he also reprimanded Liu Shu.

"Your Majesty, I am not speaking nonsense! The palaces within the city are in dire need of repair, the official roads outside Luoyang are in a terrible state, and government offices in various places are also leaking and drafty. Yet the Grand Minister of Agriculture turns a blind eye to all of this and refuses to allocate funds for repairs. What is this if not a mere figurehead holding a position without performing his duties?"

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