"That's all I have to say."

Liu Tong recounted the reason for their meeting at the tavern, the events that occurred, Green Pearl's pitiful background, and the words He Miao overheard at night. In fact, all the officials already knew what had happened to He Miao and who was right and who was wrong.

But they never stand on the side of justice.

They will only side with those who are interested in the interests.

"It's a sad story, but it's just a story."

Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, without conclusive evidence, it is insufficient to convict General Zhao of any crime, much less justify General Zhao's unauthorized military action in the capital region.

It seems that those who guarded the city gates that day should also be severely punished!

Liu Hong looked at Yuan Feng, who was trying to muddy the waters to gain the He family's support, and smiled disdainfully.

Want evidence? Fine, then Liu Hong will give it to you!

"Summon Prince Swordsman Wang Yue to the palace!"

"pass..."

Soon after handing over the sword, Wang Yue knelt behind the officials and Zhao Hao.

"Your subordinate, Wang Yue, greets Your Majesty!"

"No need for formalities, Wang Yue. How is the investigation going regarding the matter I ordered you to do yesterday?"

"Your Majesty, yesterday when I entered the backyard of General He Miao's residence, I found countless white bones of young children buried three feet below the ground!"

Among them are many old skeletons, and some...not completely decomposed! I'm not good with abacuses, but I estimate there are four or five thousand skeletons!

Wang Yue alone certainly couldn't have dug up so many bones in one night.

All of this was thanks to Zhao Hao's three thousand iron cavalry and He Miao's subjugation of the household slaves!

"Hmm... if that's the case, then that's fine too."

In reality, even without evidence, Liu Hong, as an emperor with real power, could not punish He Miao.

However, he will only take action if he wants to gain greater benefits while also having a balanced strategy.

"He Miao, the evidence is now irrefutable, yet you still dare to try to deceive me! Now, what do you have to say!"

He Miao collapsed to the ground, utterly helpless. Why, why did Zhao Hao have to ruin his years of planning in an instant!

However, none of the officials dared to speak up for him anymore. Even his most 'beloved' brother sighed at him and distanced himself from him.

"He Miao, if you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place?"

Zhao Hao looked down at He Miao.

When He Miao looked up at Zhao Hao, there was a plaque behind Zhao Hao that read "Upright and honorable"!

"Commander Yuan, Grand Commandant Yang, why aren't you talking about my problems now?"

Yuan Feng chuckled, tactfully cupped his hands in apology, and stepped aside.

How could Yang Biao tolerate such humiliation from a junior? He snorted coldly and forced himself to speak to Liu Hong.

"Your Majesty, in that case, please punish General He Miao! But General Zhao Hao's crime must not be forgotten!"

Zhao Hao clapped his hands and bowed to Liu Hong, saying, "..."

"Your Majesty, I am indeed guilty. But before you pronounce judgment on my crimes, may I say a few words?"

Liu Hong stroked his beard and waved his hand.

"It's fine, speak freely!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Immediately, Zhao Hao turned around, and the officials looked at him with a strange sense of fear, all of them subconsciously taking a step back.

"I, Zhao Hao, am a martial artist, but my actions are worthy of my conscience, the common people, and His Majesty's trust!"

There's a saying in my hometown: "Fierce-browed, I defy a thousand pointing fingers; head bowed, I willingly serve the people like an ox!" This is also the reason why I spare no effort to fight for a peaceful life for the people on the border!

However, the people on the border are suffering. I could easily wipe out those rebellious traitors and villains with a single stroke. But in Luoyang, I am hampered at every turn. Even when I encounter evildoers, I cannot bring them to justice.

"Wang Kuang, the Commandant of the Capital Region, get out here!"

Wang Kuang shuddered. He hadn't said a word, so why was Zhao Hao staring at him?

"General Zhao...General Zhao, how have I offended you?"

Zhao Hao didn't speak, but instead turned to look at Green Pearl.

"Green Pearl, have you reported He Miao's crime to the Sili Commandant's Office?"

Green Pearl glanced at Liu Tong, and only after receiving a supportive look from him did she slowly speak.

"Green Pearl had been there. Although she was illiterate and had never been to school, she knew that if someone committed a crime, they needed to report it to the yamen (government office). But it was he who accused Green Pearl of falsely accusing an official of the court and had her gang beaten and driven out of the yamen..."

Wang Kuang trembled and quickly turned to Liu Hong to apologize.

"Your Majesty! I am guilty. I thought it was some wicked commoner trying to frame a high-ranking official and extort money from him, so I did something wrong. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Liu Hong ignored Wang Kuang and instead looked at Zhao Hao.

He knew that Zhao Hao hadn't finished speaking!

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After Zhao Hao sensibly bowed, he addressed the officials.

"Perhaps, in your eyes, a girl as ordinary as Green Pearl is just another ordinary, dispensable maid. But in my eyes, she is also a human being, born of parents, a person with feelings, not an animal!"

Even a servant has the ambition to seek justice for the people and avenge the grievances of his parents and fellow villagers in Xingyang. But what about you? Officials protect each other, you desecrate the law—do you even respect the Emperor?!

Everyone was shocked and immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

But Zhao Hao wouldn't give them a chance to talk nonsense. He stomped his foot angrily, silencing them instantly.

“You also have wives and children, right? If they were like Green Pearl, with no way to appeal and no way to go to the underworld, wouldn’t you feel heartbroken?”

That night, a sixteen-year-old girl risked her life to let the world know what such a beast looked like, enduring two or three nights in the mountains outside, drinking dew and eating mud!

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