"I know I am guilty, but Your Majesty, please consider my loyalty over the years and the young and ignorant nature of my children and grandchildren and spare their lives. I am willing to accept any punishment."
Censor Zhang spoke in a miserable voice. Zhou Beichen took a step back and deliberately stayed away from Censor Zhang. He didn't like others touching his clothes casually.
Zhou Beichen's gaze fell on Zhang Yushi's head, and he frowned and thought for a long time without saying a word. This made Zhang Yushi suffer. He felt embarrassed and sweated profusely because of the burning gaze.
After a long time, Censor Zhang finally heard a cold voice.
"How about this? The court is in need of talent right now. Censor Zhang, I'll give you a chance. I'll let you make meritorious contributions while serving your sentence. If you do well, I'll pardon your entire clan's crime. How do you do that?"
What?
Censor Zhang was so overjoyed that he kowtowed repeatedly and cried with joy.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty's great kindness and generosity will never be forgotten by this old minister. I will absolutely serve Your Majesty loyally and will never dare to harbor any other thoughts again."
Zhou Beichen smiled, sat back in his chair, thought for a while, and said solemnly.
"What I want you to do is not difficult, but whether you do it well or not is entirely up to you."
Zhang Yushi thought about it and knew that the emperor wanted him to express his loyalty. He immediately bowed to the ground and said, "From the moment the emperor asked me to redeem myself from my crime and make meritorious contributions, my life belongs to the emperor. I will do my best to get the job done for the emperor."
Zhou Beichen said in a cold tone, "I believe you. I only hope that you will put your words into practice and not give me castles in the air. Censor Zhang, you need to know that if you lie to me again, it will not only be deceiving the emperor, but also treason."
This was a very serious statement. Censor Zhang was no fool, and he nodded hurriedly.
"Before, I was just blinded by greed, which is why I thought Prime Minister Li was reliable. Now I realize that there can't be two tigers on one mountain, and there can't be two masters on one country. Please believe me, Your Majesty, I will no longer be a fence-sitter, swaying with the wind."
After hearing what he wanted to hear, Zhou Beichen finally smiled. He walked down and patted Censor Zhang on the shoulder.
"I came here today in secret, so no one knows. From now on, I want you to act as if you haven't seen me today. Contact Prime Minister Li as if nothing happened and work for him. Tell me everything you know. In addition, you must show your loyalty to Prime Minister Li and learn more about his thoughts. Then, cooperate with me from inside and outside, and then we'll catch him in the trap."
This matter is not too difficult if you say it is difficult, but it is not easy if you say it is easy.
Censor Zhang once again hurriedly agreed, "I understand. I will do my best."
Zhou Beichen nodded. Before Censor Zhang could reply, he heard Zhou Beichen speak again.
"I heard you have two daughters. How old are they?"
Censor Zhang was startled, not knowing what the emperor was up to, but he still did not dare to answer without any hesitation.
"Your Majesty, yes, one of them is seventeen and the other eighteen."
Zhou Beichen paused and issued an order.
"In a few days, I will return to Luan and send both of your daughters to the palace. They will both be given the title of noble... One will be named Concubine An, and the other will be named Concubine Jin."
Censor Zhang was extremely upset. His right eyelid had been twitching violently just now, and now he was sighing, it was true, this person just couldn't do bad things, and now the retribution had come to him.
His two daughters, ah, he really harmed his two daughters. What's the good of entering the palace? A few years ago, the two daughters missed the selection due to illness. Unexpectedly, it was because of him that the two daughters entered the palace.
Now, Censor Zhang has become obedient and really doesn't dare to have any other thoughts anymore. He expresses his gratitude calmly.
Zhou Beichen was quite satisfied. His gaze turned to the people kneeling on the ground again. He walked over and looked down.
"Tell me, do you want to redeem yourself from your crimes and make meritorious contributions like Censor Zhang, or do you want to immediately take your entire clan to face the King of Hell?"
Zhou Beichen spoke these words in a relaxed and nonchalant tone, as if to him, killing a person was no different from killing a chicken.
Those people were really scared. Even Censor Zhang chose to make meritorious contributions while serving his sentence. If they didn't, they would be fools.
Several people kowtowed to express their sincerity.
"Your Majesty, we, the ministers, have all made meritorious contributions despite our crimes. We have made meritorious contributions despite our crimes."
"good!"
Zhou Beichen smiled comfortably, "Now, hurry back. Remember, the consequences of betraying me will not be good."
The ministers had never seen the world before, and they were so scared that they crawled to Zhou Beichen and said, "I know, I understand, and I will do my best to serve the emperor."
After Censor Zhang and his companions left, the inn suddenly became much quieter.
After Nuannuan finished eating the duck, she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and washed her hands. Then the little girl ran to Zhou Beichen and started to flatter him with admiration.
"Dad, I thought you had nothing to do in Zuihonglou, but I didn't expect you to be so useful here. You've turned Censor Zhang into your own people and taken his two daughters as hostages. You've given them high positions, which is quite high. You can say you've used both kindness and power. Now, I'm afraid Censor Zhang won't be loyal."
Seeing his daughter so insightful, Zhou Beichen smiled kindly and patted Nuannuan's little face. "Our Nuannuan is really smart. She can even tell what's going on. Are you tired or sleepy? Let's go back."
Zhou Zhaonuan nodded vigorously. She had been outside for such a long time that she was already sleepy. At this moment, the little girl started to yawn.
"Dad, I'm really sleepy. Let's go back quickly."
However, the little girl looked around, confused.
"But Daddy, what should we do with Su Xiaoxiao? If we take her back to the inn, Mom won't be angry, right?"
As soon as the little girl said this, Zhou Beichen immediately revealed a playful smile. He didn't know what had happened to that woman during this period. She was so happy when he favored the concubines in the harem. Not only that, every time he went, she was polite and distant, not at all as warm as in previous years.
This made Zhou Beichen very distressed for a while.
Although he was the emperor and his words were final, for Shen Nian'an, he had given her enough face and money in the past few years, and even promised her the position of queen.
What's more, so many years have passed. Does she treat his deep affection as a joke?
He is the emperor. Could it be that she still wants him to be with her forever? She must be dreaming.
In an instant, Zhou Beichen had evil thoughts and stepped forward to pull up the kneeling Su Xiaoxiao.
Said in a gentle tone.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
