The prime minister, who was the head of the civil servants, was filled with righteous indignation. After he finished speaking, he knocked his forehead heavily to the ground, putting pressure on the emperor.

"Your Majesty, the virtuous concubine concealed her identity and sneaked into the palace. It is obvious that she does not take the imperial power seriously!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, how can someone who despises the imperial power be favored? She dares to despise the imperial power now, and she will do something even more outrageous in the future! I beg Your Majesty to think twice and not let beauty mislead you!"

"I have long seen that Concubine Xian has ulterior motives. She deliberately disguised herself as a eunuch to get close to Your Majesty. Her intentions are obvious!"

"Your Majesty, I heard that the Imperial Astronomical Observatory has recently observed the celestial phenomena and found that there have been some strange changes in the sky in recent days, which may indicate a disaster. I think this is a warning from the heavens. Concubine Xian...she is the next evil concubine who will bring disaster to the country and the people!"

"I beg your Majesty to order the execution of the evil concubine to preserve the current peace and prosperity!"

The ministers spoke one after another, blurting out all the words they had prepared in advance, completely ignoring the fact that the temperature in the hall was getting lower and lower, and that Song Chengyin's eyes on the throne were already filled with gloom.

After the ministers finished speaking, they knocked their heads to the ground one after another. There was silence in the huge Golden Throne Hall, so much so that you could hear a pin drop!

"Oh."

A faint cold voice came from a high position, and everyone shuddered suddenly and buried their heads even lower.

It's over, it's over. They talked so fast that they almost forgot what kind of temper their Majesty has! The ministers who just spoke were a little annoyed, and they only hated themselves for being too impatient and not observing the Majesty's expression before speaking.

But now they have gotten so excited that they have spoken out loud everything that they had been holding back in their hearts. Once words are spoken, they are like water spilled, and cannot be taken back even if they want to!

Everyone crouched low, a chill running down their spines.

"I keep you in the Golden Palace to benefit the people, not to let you keep an eye on my harem!"

The cold voice came from above everyone's head again, and everyone's body trembled, and their hearts beat wildly.

"You keep saying that Concubine Xian committed the crime of deceiving the emperor. Even I, the emperor of this country, don't care about her deception. What qualifications do you have to point fingers at her?"

"Disdain for the imperial power, ah, you gentlemen really put a good accusation on me!"

"Is this action for me, for the stability of the country, or for your daughter who was confined to the harem and punished to go to the imperial mausoleum? I think you should know it clearly, right?"

Song Chengyin looked grim, looking down at the courtiers kneeling in the hall, and unceremoniously exposed their little thoughts! The ministers whose thoughts were exposed turned pale, and subconsciously wanted to defend themselves.

"I am truly wronged! Heaven and earth can attest to my loyalty to Your Majesty. I am just..."

“That’s enough!”

Before the ministers could finish their explanation, Song Chengyin interrupted them harshly.

His eyes swept over everyone one by one, and his fingers tapped on the jade table in front of him from time to time. The ministers were panicked and regretful after hearing this.

Song Chengyin narrowed his eyes and finally set his gaze on one of the ministers.

"The censor just said that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau recently observed the celestial phenomena and predicted that there would be unusual changes in the sky. I have ordered the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to be summoned to the Golden Palace. I want to see what kind of unusual changes in the sky caused the censor to say such absurd words about the evil concubine who would bring disaster to the country!"

The Imperial Astronomical Observatory had just finished measuring the celestial phenomena half a month ago. He didn't even know the conclusion of the Imperial Astronomical Observatory's last measurement. How could he stand up to a face-to-face confrontation with the Imperial Astronomical Observatory? What he said just now was just a lie that he deliberately exaggerated in order to get His Majesty to order the execution of the Concubine Xian as soon as possible!

"Your Majesty, calm down! The Imperial Observatory has many affairs to attend to. How can you disturb them just because of me? I beg Your Majesty to withdraw your order!"

The censor gritted his teeth and stopped Song Chengyin from summoning the Imperial Observatory. If the Imperial Observatory really came to the Golden Palace, his lies would be exposed on the spot! "It doesn't matter. I don't know when the Imperial Observatory observed the celestial phenomena again. It just so happens that I also want to know the results of this observation. Come, summon the Imperial Observatory."

"yes!"

As soon as Song Chengyin finished speaking, Eunuch Su, who was standing behind him, bowed and responded.

Seeing that Eunuch Su was about to walk down the steps to summon the Imperial Observatory, the censor was completely panicked. He knocked his head heavily on the ground and reported the truth.

"Your Majesty, I was wrong! I know I was wrong! I shouldn't have lied to Your Majesty and fabricated rumors about my birth abnormality. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Song Chengyin sneered, "You are so bold, Censor! How dare you use the country as a rumor to deceive me! Come on, Censor has committed the crime of deceiving the emperor, drag him out and chop him off!"

The censor's pupils trembled, and his forehead slammed on the ground again and again: "Your Majesty, please spare my life! Your Majesty, please spare my life! I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong, Your Majesty! I will never dare to do it again, please spare my life!"

No matter how the censor begged for mercy, Song Chengyin did not respond. He looked at him coldly and let the guards step forward, hold the censor's arm and drag him out of the hall.

The breath of death instantly gathered towards the censor, but he was powerless to resist. No matter how he screamed and begged for mercy, he was finally dragged away.

Song Chengyin killed a chicken to scare the monkeys, and the other ministers were so scared that they swallowed their saliva and turned pale. Especially the ministers who had just spoken were trembling with fear, fearing that the emperor would call on them next! What you fear will come true. After dragging away the censor who was guilty of deceiving the emperor, Song Chengyin's eyes fell on the other ministers.

The fire was started by the Prime Minister, so Song Chengyin would naturally not let him go.

"Has Lord Zhuang become confused because of his old age? He actually did something as shameful as leading the ministers to sow discord. If the Prime Minister feels overwhelmed by the affairs of the court, he can just retire and return to his hometown and hand over his position to someone else."

The angry Prime Minister: "!"

"Your Majesty, please calm down! I know I was wrong. I was really concerned about Your Majesty and was afraid that Your Majesty was deceived and made such an impulsive move. I will prevent such things from happening again in the future. I beg Your Majesty to give me one last chance. I will assist the government with all my heart and be loyal to Your Majesty!"

The prime minister also realized that this action had touched Song Chengyin's sore spot. He regarded his official position as more important than his life and apologized hastily. After several words, he found a suitable reason for his action and expressed his sincere loyalty.

Song Chengyin naturally understood the prime minister's character. Apart from attaching too much importance to power, he was conscientious during his tenure and did not make any major mistakes, so he deserved to be a loyal and trusted minister.

"In consideration of your contributions to the government over the years, I will give you one last chance. Although the death penalty can be avoided, the punishment of life cannot. I will fine you three years' salary. I hope that the Prime Minister will remember the duty of a minister and do not disappoint me."

"I thank you, Your Majesty! Don't worry, I will keep your teachings in mind and live up to your expectations!"

The prime minister, feeling extremely heartbroken, kowtowed in haste to express his gratitude and breathed a sigh of relief!

Song Chengyin turned his ring and glanced at everyone calmly: "Does anyone else have anything to say?"

(End of this chapter)