Chapter 47 What's Shen Chu up to this time?

Shen Chu's smile faded slightly. "Lord Sun, I'll ask you one last time: did you really fabricate the regulations for managing the files presented to His Majesty?"

Or did you steal the search catalog I wrote and present it to His Majesty?

Sun Jingli's face darkened. "Of course it was made up by me. Don't think you're the only one who's smart and has a brain."

Besides, His Majesty has already reviewed the management regulations. Your questioning of me is tantamount to questioning His Majesty's judgment.

Shen Chu stepped forward, looking at Sun Jingli with disdain.

"I said yesterday that if it happens again, I will personally strip you of your official robes. Since you are so eager to ruin your career, don't blame me for being impolite."

Sun Jingli's pupils contracted slightly, then he laughed heartily with his hands behind his back.

"Young Master Shen, you have quite the arrogance. I am now a fifth-rank official, just promoted by His Majesty. I'd like to see what you're capable of doing to strip me of my official robes."

The minor official fanned the flames from the side, saying, "Lord Sun, don't mind them. Some people are just too jealous. They think that just because they are the newly appointed top scholar, they can show off in the Censorate."

"Pah! They should take a piss and look at themselves in the mirror to see what kind of person they are. Don't you all agree?"

The onlookers exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

"Lord Sun has been in the Censorate for many years, and we trust his character."

The clerk raised his chin smugly, "See? Everyone's eyes are sharp. Lord Shen, stop spouting nonsense here."

Do you think everyone is as idle as you?

Sun waved his hand, "Disperse, everyone. After the grand court assembly tomorrow, people from all the government offices will come to learn my management methods."

Everyone, please be on your guard and treat us well. Don't embarrass our Inspectorate.

The crowd dispersed.

Sun smoothed out the wrinkles on his official robes, his low voice carrying an undisguised arrogance.

"I have ample witnesses and evidence, and I am not afraid to speak out even before His Majesty."

You have absolutely no evidence to prove that the search directory belongs to you, Shen Chu, give up on that idea.

I've said it before: if you obediently follow my instructions, you'll still have a place in the Censorate; otherwise...

"Heh, so what if he's the new top scorer? He'll still go back to where he came from."

Shen Chu smiled slightly and suddenly raised her hand.

Sun's expression changed, and he subconsciously took two steps back, shouting:

"What are you doing? Dare to trample me underfoot again? Let me tell you, I am now your equal."

Shen Chu placed her hand on Sun Jingli's shoulder, patted him gently, and smiled faintly: "Cherish this fifth-rank official robe you're wearing today."

Today is probably your only chance to wear it.

I assure you, in the days to come, you will deeply regret what you did today.

"You!" Sun Jingli's face turned ashen, he clenched his fists and couldn't help but smile smugly.

"All you can do now is talk tough. You've injured the Sixth Prince, so your career is doomed. Haha, I'll be waiting for you to kneel down and beg for mercy."

Sun left laughing.

Shen Chu watched his retreating figure and gently rubbed her fingers together.

"Oh, I didn't expect him to get his teeth knocked out so quickly." A soft laugh came from behind.

Shen Chu turned around and saw He Zhengxiang standing not far behind her, still fiddling with the last walnut in his hand.

"Greetings, Lord He."

He Zhengxiang hummed in agreement, looking at her with a smile, "How did it feel to have your teeth chipped?"

Shen Chu shook her head, "It's not that I was hurting, I was just disgusted."

The censors supervise all officials and investigate criminal cases. I thought they were all upright and incorruptible people, but I never expected this..."

"You've been reading too many storybooks. In reality, how many upright and righteous people are there? One bad apple can ruin the whole bunch."

"Then let's pick out this rotten apple and cook a new pot of soup."

"Re-cook the soup?" He Zhengxiang raised an eyebrow, as if he had heard a joke. "Only the person in charge of cooking is qualified to re-cook the soup. You, a mere censor, can't even protect your own hard-earned results, yet you're spouting nonsense here. What are you talking about re-cooking the soup?"

Wake up, young man, open your eyes and look at reality.

Shen Chu tilted her head slightly, a sly glint in her clear eyes. "How does Lord He know that I can't protect the fruits of my labor?"

He Zhengxiang paused slightly, "What do you mean? You don't mean to expose Sun Jingli on the spot at today's grand court assembly, do you?"

"It's no use. He has Zhao Dewen and Prince Heng protecting him, and officials from the Censorate can vouch for him. No one will believe what you say."

Shen Chu smiled without saying a word, then walked away with his hands behind his back.

Looking at his straight back, He Zhengxiang shook his head and sighed, "Young people still like to never turn back until they hit a wall."

At noon, civil and military officials gathered in the square outside Longquan Palace, waiting for the grand court assembly to begin.

Sun Jingli leaned close to Zhao Dewen and whispered, "Sir, Shen Chu is very likely to expose me at today's grand court assembly. You must testify for me then."

Zhao Dewen glanced at Shen Chu not far away, his face full of disdain.

"You have your own officials and subordinates as witnesses, what are you afraid of? If Shen Chu were to expose you at the grand court assembly, he would be courting death."

Sun Jingli felt relieved. "With your words, sir, I am at ease."

If Shen Chu exposes us today, we'll seize the opportunity to crush him and let him know that only the magistrates of our Inspectorate have the final say.

Zhao Dewen gave a soft hum.

"His Majesty has arrived."

All the officials knelt down and paid their respects.

Emperor Longqing raised his hand and said, "My beloved ministers, rise and report according to custom."

There was a morning court session every day to handle important military and national affairs, and a grand court assembly every five days was generally used to deal with disputes between various departments or to explain the laws and regulations of the court.

Shen Chu knelt down and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I want to impeach Sun Hong, the newly promoted Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, for slandering the government and cursing Your Majesty. His heart is worthy of condemnation."

Sun Jingli and Zhao Dewen's expressions changed simultaneously.

Why is this different from what they expected?

Shouldn't Shen Chu have impeached Sun Jingli for stealing his search catalog?

"You're talking nonsense. When did I slander the government or curse His Majesty? Shen Chu, you need to provide evidence for your words."

Sun Jingli glared fiercely at Shen Chu.

The Longqing Emperor asked, "Does Minister Shen have any evidence for his statement?"

Shen Chu cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Yesterday, Sun Hong presented me with a retrieval catalog, which he said was a set of file management methods that he had painstakingly researched."

"Your Majesty, there's a hidden trick in those case file management regulations. Sun Hong used coded language to curse Your Majesty within them, and not just once."

Is this really true?

"Your Majesty, you may have someone bring out the search catalog, and I will show it to you."

Emperor Longqing frowned slightly and instructed the eunuch, "Go and bring me the search catalog."

He went through that search catalog repeatedly, but he didn't find anything that slandered the government or cursed him.

Emperor Longqing looked at Pei Yuan, who was standing at the lower end of the table, and asked with his eyes.

Pei Yuan watched it with him; I wonder if he noticed.

Noticing the emperor's questioning gaze, Pei Yuan shook his head slightly, his peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze fell on Shen Chu.

What is Chen Chu up to this time?

The eunuch quickly brought the search catalog.

Emperor Longqing waved his hand, signaling the eunuch to give the search catalog to Shen Chu, "Little Shen, tell me, is there anything wrong with this?"