Liu Hong looked at Li Jing with a calm expression.

Hearing the emperor's emotionless question, Li Jing felt a chill. He knew that their actions had displeased the emperor, but there was nothing he could do; he could not and dared not betray those scholars.

Li Jing braced himself and said, "I impeach Zhang Kuang, the Prefect of Henan, for failing to investigate the successful candidates in the imperial examinations. He recommended Zhang Kuang as the Magistrate of Zhongmou County. During his tenure, Zhang Kuang was corrupt, embezzled public funds, and colluded with powerful landlords to seize land on a large scale. According to Your Majesty's decree, he should be dismissed from his post as Prefect of Henan!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong nodded: "Is this true, Governor of Henan?"

"Your Majesty, this is indeed true!"

Zhang Kuang also stepped forward with a somber expression, offering no explanation whatsoever.

Yuan Feng immediately stood up, bowed to Liu Hong, and said urgently:

"Your Majesty, although the magistrate of Zhongmou County was recommended by the Governor of Henan, that was three years ago, when the late Emperor was still alive! Is it inappropriate to dismiss him now on this basis?"

Li Jing retorted, "No matter when, if the person recommended makes a mistake, then the person who recommended them should also be punished. Otherwise, how can we recommend worthy people for the country?"

"Oh ho~, according to you, His Majesty has promoted so many people, and quite a few of them have made mistakes. Does that mean His Majesty should also be punished?"

Cao Song, standing to the side, looked at Li Jing with a strange smile and unusually stood with Yuan Feng.

"His Majesty only bestows the favor of appointing officials, not recommending them. The Grand Minister of Agriculture would be better off not speaking nonsense!"

Upon seeing that Cao Song was actually trying to implicate the emperor, Li Jing quickly changed the subject and tried to defend himself.

Cao Song laughed and said, "So, according to you, anyone who makes a mistake after being recommended should be punished?"

"Of course!"

Li Jing nodded in agreement.

"I see!"

Cao Song smiled at Li Jing, then bowed solemnly to Liu Hong.

"Your Majesty, I request that you remove me from my post as Grand Minister of Agriculture!"