"Come on, sit down too."
Censor Zhang and the others were startled and immediately sat down carefully. He deliberately pushed Deshun to sit next to Zhou Beichen, and he found a place to sit not too far from Zhou Beichen.
With a sneer, Zhou Beichen ignored him. Deshun had already tested the poison of this dish with a silver hairpin, so he felt more at ease eating it.
He was eating by himself. Deshun took a look and saw that he was very hungry. Since he could sit, he must be able to eat as well.
As they ate, seeing that Zhou Beichen didn't say anything to him or scold him, Deshun was deeply moved.
Woo woo woo, after serving the emperor for so many years, he can finally have a meal with the emperor, although it is outside the palace, but that's it. If he were asked to die for the emperor now, he would definitely not blink an eyelid.
Censor Zhang and his companions didn't dare to pick up their chopsticks. They felt as if there were nails under their buttocks and it was painful.
The emperor is a tyrant, with ruthless methods. If the emperor heard what they just said about their dependence on Prime Minister Li, then they...
Censor Zhang closed his eyes and hardened his heart. Finally, he saw Zhou Beichen put down his bowl and chopsticks, as if he had finished eating. In addition, there were people guarding the door of this private room. Censor Zhang faced Zhou Beichen and knelt down with a plop. Then, the other two officials from the capital who came out with Censor Zhang came out.
"What are you doing? I don't think I asked you to kneel."
Zhou Beichen glanced at Censor Zhang and the other two with a half-smile, but didn't let them stand up.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yushi trembled and became even more panicked. He could guarantee with a pat on his chest that the emperor must have heard what they said, judging from his expression. Now, he could only treat those who confessed with leniency or those who resisted with severity. No matter what, he had to leave a descendant for their Zhang family.
Su Xiaoxiao was completely stunned watching from the side, as were the other two local officials. Zhou Zhaonuan kept eating beside her with her head lowered, not at all frightened by her father's thunderous momentum.
Censor Zhang lowered his head even lower, pressing it against the ground, and said in fear.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty and I beg you to punish me. However, please consider my years of loyalty and only behead me. Please forgive my entire clan. At the very least, please give each of my families a son. Even if I go to hell, I will pray for your blessing."
Zhou Beichen: “…”
The corners of his mouth twitched unnaturally. Is he such a tyrant that he would kill nine generations of his family at any time? What's more, he is still useful now.
After hearing these words, the two local officials and Su Xiaoxiao were stunned and dumbfounded.
They thought of several identities for the person in front of them, but they really didn't expect that this person's background was so great.
The two local officials reacted and immediately knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
Zhou Beichen only raised his eyes to glance at them, and the two of them immediately fell into hell and died soon. The main reason was that they were now Prime Minister Li's followers, and the emperor's eyes just now were too scary.
The two local officials trembled.
Su Xiaoxiao was surprised, and what remained was delight.
Her face was filled with joy. Wasn't she going to file a complaint with the emperor? What a coincidence, she just ran into him.
Su Xiaoxiao also took a few steps forward and knelt in front of Zhou Beichen.
"I, Su Guiwan, pay my respects to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor!"
After a pause, Su Xiaoxiao continued.
"My family has fallen on hard times, and I was forced to change my name and enter the Drunken Red Mansion. I truly had no intention of deceiving the emperor, so I beg Your Majesty to show leniency."
Ignoring Censor Zhang and the others, Zhou Beichen raised his hand and smiled at Su Xiaoxiao.
"It's okay. I didn't tell you your identity first. Ignorance is not a crime. Get up."
Su Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief, straightened her knees, rolled her eyes, and suddenly knelt down again.
Seeing that Zhou Beichen ignored them, Censor Zhang felt that today was going to be a dangerous day and his heart sank.
While Su Xiaoxiao was excited, she clenched her teeth and her tone became angry.
"Today, I am filing a complaint with the Emperor. I beg the Emperor to help my family redress their grievances."
Zhou Beichen was stunned by the angry voice. After he came to his senses, he said slowly.
"Sue the emperor? Who are you going to sue?"
Su Xiaoxiao kowtowed again. Now, seeing the hatred in the eyes of the two local officials, she could no longer hide it.
"I want to sue the local officials Emin and Qingdong. Three months ago, they found my father and forced him to submit to Prime Minister Li. They told him to secretly set up an inn in Zhong County to house their soldiers, but my father refused. Emin and Qingdong then teamed up with Prime Minister Li to brand my father a corrupt official and had him imprisoned. I also ask the Emperor to thoroughly re-investigate this case. This has helped clear my father's name. Furthermore, I believe Prime Minister Li is suspected of plotting a rebellion. Since my father was imprisoned, many people have attempted to assassinate me. If my father hadn't taught me martial arts since I was a child, and if I hadn't been able to disguise myself, I'm afraid I would have been killed long ago."
After saying this word without missing a single word, Su Xiaoxiao almost collapsed on the ground. She hated, hated, hated Prime Minister Li so much.
Zhou Beichen finally understood that Prime Minister Li really would do anything to achieve his goals.
After sneering, he cast his eagle-like gaze at the dejected Censor Zhang.
His body tensed up and Censor Zhang lowered his head hastily. Zhou Beichen frowned, displeased.
He stood up, walked in front of Censor Zhang, and stared at him condescendingly, "Lord Zhang, I want to ask you, right now, are you a close confidant of Prime Minister Li? And, these two, plus the two that Su Xiaoxiao just mentioned."
Pointing at several people, Zhou Beichen spoke in a calm voice. Censor Zhang and the others shuddered all over, and a bad premonition came over them. Their emperor always looked peaceful before he got angry.
After calming himself down, Censor Zhang spoke as if accepting his fate.
"Your Majesty, it is true that several of us, humble servants, secretly formed a clique with Prime Minister Li for personal gain."
As soon as he finished speaking, a sinister and cruel aura instantly swept through the entire room. The air in the small space became much thinner, making it hard for several people to breathe. The only one left was Zhou Zhaonuan, the little girl holding a plate of duck and eating happily.
Deshun's heart was filled with joy. Anyone who dared to betray their emperor and princess would be killed.
Censor Zhang knew that they were probably all finished today. So let it be, he was old anyway and didn't have many years left to live. It would be hard for his descendants, and they would probably be killed along with their entire clan.
Censor Zhang gritted his teeth, grabbed Zhou Beichen's arm, and said with deep sorrow.
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