He slowly stood up, his eyes sharp as a knife, scanning the entire room, and said in a deep voice: "Since that's the case, then we must conduct a thorough investigation! Come, pass on my order to immediately search the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion. If the news is true, they will be severely punished!"

"Withdraw from the court!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Chengfeng turned away, leaving the civil and military officials in the court looking at each other in confusion, with different thoughts in their minds.

...

In the imperial study, Li Chengfeng rubbed his brows and let out a long breath.

"These old foxes really know how to change their attitude according to the situation."

He muttered to himself, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"Your Majesty, Lord Song requests an audience."

Outside the door, the voice of the eunuch chief Gao Hai was heard.

"Let him in."

“Squeak—”

The door of the imperial study was pushed open, and Song Zelin walked in with a worried look on his face.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"Song Aiqing, there is no need to be so polite. Please stand up."

Li Chengfeng said lightly, motioning Song Zelin to sit down and talk.

Song Zelin stood up and stood respectfully aside, his brows furrowed, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

"Song Aiqing, there's no need to be so formal between you and me, teacher and student." Li Chengfeng put down the memorial in his hand and said with a smile, "If you have anything to say, feel free to speak up."

"Your Majesty, I believe... today's incident was deliberately orchestrated by someone with the intention of driving a wedge between Your Majesty and General He."

Song Zelin took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Moreover, the charge of secretly hoarding the dragon robe is too obvious and seems rather deliberate... I dare to speculate that this is most likely a deliberate frame-up."

"Oh? Minister Song, what you mean is..." Li Chengfeng raised his eyebrows, motioning him to continue.

"Your Majesty, the court is unstable right now. Your Majesty's every move is related to the safety of the country."

Song Zelin paused and continued, "Your Majesty must handle this matter impartially, otherwise... the consequences will be disastrous!"

"If this matter is proven to be true, General He will be held accountable. The Zhenbei Army will be thrown into panic, and Your Majesty will lose his right-hand man..."

"But if it is discovered that this was a deliberate frame-up, and Your Majesty is shielding him out of concern for General He, the court officials will undoubtedly doubt Your Majesty's judgment, and rumors will inevitably spread..."

"Your Majesty, you...you must think twice!"

When Song Zelin finished speaking, there was a hint of pleading in his tone.

Li Chengfeng remained silent, just looking at Song Zelin quietly, with an inexplicable light flashing in his eyes.

After a while, he slowly spoke, his voice low and full of majesty:

"Lord Song, tell me...how should I handle this matter?"