Satisfied with the praise from those around him, Zhang Wenfeng said, "Your Majesty, Zhang Xiao has made great contributions to this flood. He should be rewarded accordingly. Promote him and allow him to return to the capital."
Xiao Shengxing's eyes lit up with understanding, and he sneered, "The Prime Minister said the flood has been resolved, but I don't remember there were still refugees fleeing the flood outside the city."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenfeng's smug expression froze, and he quickly knelt down. "Your Majesty, I have already taken care of the refugee issue. I have arranged food, drink, and shelter for them. Everything has been taken care of."
"Really? The Prime Minister has really handled it?"
Hearing this rhetorical question, Zhang Wenfeng felt inexplicably flustered.
What does the emperor mean by this?
"Bring the person up." Xiao Shengxing said with a curled lip.
Immediately, a guard brought up a refugee. He was dressed in tattered clothes, but his eyes were very clear. He looked at Zhang Wenfeng with anger, and he was obviously a representative figure among the refugees.
"Prime Minister, you said you arranged food, shelter and shelter for us, but in reality, we're sleeping in the open air, starving, and can't even survive!"
These words exposed the prime minister's lies on the spot.
"You're talking nonsense..." Zhang Wenfeng's face turned pale and he wanted to argue.
The refugees sneered, "Sir, if you had shown up at the refugee camp just once, I wouldn't have come to identify you. But Prime Minister, when have you ever comforted us refugees? When have you ever given us food?"
The court officials looked at Zhang Wenfeng in surprise, and the court fell silent for a moment.
Xiao Zhaolin stepped out and said, "The Prime Minister is very busy. I believe that the Prime Minister must have issued an order, but his subordinates did not carry it out. This is not the Prime Minister's fault."
With just one sentence, he excused Zhang Wenfeng and shifted the blame to his subordinates.
"Don't his subordinates follow his lead? Regardless, this is the prime minister's dereliction of duty."
Xiao Shengxing stared at the two men.
"Your Majesty, I did not..." Zhang Wenfeng wanted to argue.
"Prime Minister, you still want to deny it? Do you know how many refugees have starved to death?"
Xiao Shengxing's dark eyes were sharp. "The Prime Minister has not recognized his mistakes at all. Suspend him from his post and immediately go guard the city gates. Show me how the people are living!"
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