Liu Hong looked at Yuan Feng and the others with a grave expression and said in a deep voice:

"I am comforted that you all have admitted your mistakes and accepted punishment. However, the court cannot do without your support. How about we follow the example of Minister Chen and Minister Cao...?"

"Your Majesty, we are deeply grateful for Your Majesty's divine grace!!"

Yuan Feng, Xun Shuang, and the others bowed to express their gratitude, while glancing smugly at Li Jing and the others.

Immediately afterwards, officials from the bureaucratic faction and the Yuan, Xun, and Yang factions also stepped forward to request the emperor to revoke the tax exemption privilege.

Liu Hong, going along with the flow, took everything back.

In the end, only officials from Li Jing's faction remained in the court, their faces grave.

Liu Hong, sitting on the throne, looked calmly at Li Jing and the scholars and officials.

Those officials whose privileges had been revoked also watched Li Jing and his associates with indifference.

Facing the gazes of the emperor and his ministers, Li Jing and the scholars and officials felt caught in a dilemma.

Resigning means either losing your official position or your privileges.

However, if he doesn't resign, he himself is not clean, and a little investigation could uncover a large number of people who recommended him for wrongdoing, and he would certainly be held responsible.

If it's discovered later, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my official position and privileges.

Every single one of these scholars had recommended a large number of people, forming a huge network of relationships.

But now this very network of relationships has become the key to their self-imposed limitations.

After a moment's thought, Li Jing gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty, I request that you relieve me of my post and allow me to return home to enjoy my remaining years!"

Liu Hong nodded: "In that case, let's remove Li Qing from all his posts, but retain his tax exemption privileges!"

With Li Jing taking the lead, the remaining scholars followed suit, offering their resignations to Liu Hong. Except for a few who had not made any mistakes, most chose to retain their tax exemption privileges.

Liu Hong immediately agreed to the scholars' resignation, and remained calm throughout the entire process.