Qin Ze knew this was a political game, but he remained calm. He knew how to handle such situations—stay calm, offer rebuttals, and find flaws.

He waited silently, waiting for his chance to speak.

The young emperor's face turned ashen. Faced with Qin Ze's denial, his voice became sharp: "General, do you dare to swear that all this so-called evidence is fabricated?"

Qin Ze said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I swear that this evidence is completely fabricated and has no authenticity whatsoever."

However, the minister who accused Qin Ze was relentless. He knelt on the ground and said to the young emperor, "Your Majesty, the General is so stubborn. His crimes are obvious. I beg Your Majesty to be fair to the people and bring this culpable minister to justice."

Following the minister's words, other officials began to echo his sentiments, urging the young emperor to severely punish Qin Ze.

The young emperor looked at Qin Ze with a troubled expression, his eyes flickering with hesitation and unease. He knew this decision might cause a great uproar, but he couldn't make a final judgment immediately. Finally, he sighed and said to Qin Ze, "Then we'll have to trouble the General. I will investigate the truth as soon as possible and clear the General's name."

Qin Ze sneered, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. He said calmly, "Since Your Majesty has already made a decision, why bother with pretense?" As soon as he finished speaking, the entire court was thrown into turmoil.

The ministers cursed Qin Ze for his audacity and rudeness, accusing him of disrespecting imperial authority and daring to openly defy the emperor. The young emperor's face turned ashen, and he roared, "Seize the Grand General!"

Immediately, soldiers swarmed forward, surrounding Qin Ze menacingly. However, Qin Ze showed no fear whatsoever; instead, his gaze was firm, his posture upright, and he appeared extremely composed.

Qin Ze calmly gazed at the young emperor, his eyes revealing a hint of resolve, but also a touch of disdain and irony. He spoke leisurely, "Your Majesty, do you really intend to kill me?"

The young emperor sneered, his eyes flashing with even colder light: "What use is a disloyal and unjust minister like you to me?" His voice had barely faded when he personally ordered: "Take him down!"

The guards immediately took action and launched an attack on Qin Ze.

Qin Ze remained fearless, his eyes flashing with a cold light. He swiftly grabbed a weapon, its sharp, cold gleam gleaming as it swayed in his hand like a venomous snake.

A group of guards charged towards Qin Ze without fear, but they quickly felt the pressure emanating from him. Qin Ze, drawing upon years of combat experience, displayed extraordinary fighting skills. Every move he made was exquisite, every strike precise and accurate.

Dozens of his personal guards were forced back by Qin Ze's relentless attacks, realizing they were no match for his onslaught. Qin Ze moved across the battlefield like a whirlwind, mercilessly reaping the lives of his enemies.

The ministers present were stunned, never expecting Qin Ze to be so powerful. The young emperor was also shocked by Qin Ze's performance, and a sense of vigilance rose in his heart. Perhaps Qin Ze was not an easy enemy to deal with.

Seeing more and more soldiers pouring into the hall, Qin Ze knew that continuing to fight would only put him at a disadvantage. He decided to look for an opportunity and charged towards the young emperor.

Qin Ze's steps were quick and resolute; his objective was clear. Although the young emperor was still young, he had already been tempered by political maneuvering. Seeing Qin Ze approaching, he quickly retreated, simultaneously shouting to his guards, "Protect me!"

The guards immediately surrounded him, drew their weapons, and formed a human wall, attempting to block Qin Ze's advance. However, Qin Ze did not stop; despite the soldiers' obstruction, he continued to approach fearlessly.

Qin Ze sneered, mercilessly wielding his weapon against the soldiers before him, clearing them one by one. His agility and combat experience instilled a sense of oppression in the soldiers.

Finally, Qin Ze rushed to the young emperor's side like a whirlwind and seized him. The young emperor looked at Qin Ze in horror, while the many ministers were terrified.

Qin Ze gripped the young emperor's wrist tightly and coldly threatened, "If you want this emperor to live, you'd better let me leave this palace safely."

The atmosphere in the hall was frozen; no one dared to utter a sound. Qin Ze's outstanding performance astonished many ministers. They had originally thought that this General Zhenbei would surrender at the young emperor's command, but now it seemed that Qin Ze was showing no weakness and even threatening the emperor's safety.

The young emperor's face was ashen; he knew he was in dire straits. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he had no choice but to agree to Qin Ze's terms and nodded.

The ministers were furious and stood up one after another, their voices echoing throughout the hall.

An elderly minister angrily rebuked, "General, how dare you coerce His Majesty and rebel! This is an heinous crime!"

Another senior official immediately spoke up: "Your Majesty, this rebellious general is unforgivable. He dared to question the emperor's decision; his crime deserves death!"

Another minister stepped forward, his voice shrill: "Qin Ze, you have betrayed the country and the royal family! You have committed an unforgivable crime!"

The voices of numerous ministers mingled, condemning Qin Ze's actions. They believed that Qin Ze's behavior was a blatant provocation against imperial power and a rebellion against the court, and that he must be severely punished.

Qin Ze coldly stared ahead, weapon in hand, pressing down on the young emperor as he walked step by step toward the palace gate. The ministers inside the palace exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts filled with worry and helplessness. They dared not make a move, fearing they might alert Qin Ze and put the young emperor in danger.

The soldiers at the palace gate stood solemnly and imposingly, witnessing this sudden turn of events. They held their swords and spears, tense and prepared, but it was also clear that they were at a loss for what to do in this unexpected situation.

The young emperor was tightly restrained by Qin Ze. His face was pale, and his eyes were filled with fear and helplessness. Under these circumstances, he could only passively follow Qin Ze's footsteps toward the palace gate, his heart filled with guilt and regret.

Qin Ze pressed the young emperor without hesitation, threatening him to open the palace gates. The young emperor felt helpless; he knew that if he didn't cooperate, the consequences would be even more severe. So, he ordered the palace gates opened, and the thick wooden doors slowly swung open, revealing a vast cityscape outside.

Outside the palace gates, Qin Ze's five hundred personal guards had been waiting for some time. Dressed in neat armor and wielding sharp blades, they awaited their general's return. These five hundred guards were all Qin Ze's trusted men, utterly loyal to him, and now awaited their general's leadership.

Qin Ze continued to hold the young emperor hostage, walking step by step out of the palace gates and towards the square outside the city gates. At this time, 50,000 border troops had gathered outside the city, led by Zhao Yunfei. They were lined up neatly, their morale high, waiting for the return of the great general.