"Long live the king!"
At the Palace, the officials bowed their hands and spoke together.
In this world, inside the royal court, people could not kneel to worship, they only stood with their hands folded to show respect.
"All of you may rise, no need for formalities!" The Empress spoke sternly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Everyone shouted again, raising their heads.
The Empress scanned the crowd and finally saw Lion behind the officials. She restrained her smile.
Before, she only looked at Lion with casual admiration.
Now, it was more like admiration and respect.
With a pleasant look and a gentle tone, she said: "Lion, my dear, how was your visit to the Master Ta yesterday?"
Lion stood up, calmly and confidently, and replied: "Your Majesty, I was ordered to investigate his property and found evidence of embezzlement. After careful investigation, we have discovered a total of 200,000 taels of silver stolen from the people, with 10 large sums of money. We have confiscated the money and invited Your Majesty to pass judgment."
At this point, more than ten senior officials looked back at him.
Their mouths were wide open, and their eyes were full of shock.
200,000 taels of silver, that's a lot of money!
How could he report it so casually?
Moreover, according to his report, it seemed like a small matter compared to other embezzlement cases.
The Empress was furious, "How could this happen? Master Ta has been an official for over twenty years, yet he still dared to embezzle 200,000 taels of silver. How much sweat and tears did the people shed to earn this money? Killing him a hundred times would not be enough to appease the people's anger!"
"Lion, you are absolutely right," the Empress continued, her face turning cold.
Everyone was shocked again.
How could he speak so calmly, knowing that he himself was also involved in embezzlement?
Did he not care about his own face anymore?
The Empress spoke loudly: "Is anyone there? Drag Master Ta out and execute him on the spot! As for the other officials involved, they will all be punished severely according to the law!"
"Yes, your majesty!" A guard commander obeyed and went out to the palace.
After killing someone, the Empress was in an unusually good mood: "In addition, since you have made contributions, I have decided to promote you to the next rank! You were originally a sixth-rank official, but now you will become a fifth-rank official! As for your future promotions, I have decided..."
At this point, everyone could no longer remain calm!
Just yesterday, he had just passed the imperial examination and had no official position yet. But now, he had been promoted by half a rank and even seized someone's property!
This speed was too fast, wasn't it?
No one had ever seen someone promoted by investigating their family background!
The key was, he was so greedy, why would you still promote him?
Was there still justice in the world?
Was there still a sense of reason?
Even the eminent people present were not convinced!
"Your Majesty, I have something to report!" A senior official stood up.
"What is it?" The Empress was a little dissatisfied.
She was about to reward Lion and pull his heartstrings, but someone interrupted her!
But looking at the senior official, her anger dissipated.
Because the person was a long-serving official named Holland, who had been in office for over 30 years.
However, although it only had seven ranks, the position of low-ranking official held great power. On normal days, he advised the emperor and maintained order, revealing crimes and punishing wrongdoers.
"Holland, do you have something to report?" The Empress asked.
"I have something to report, Your Majesty..." Holland's eyes glared red as he glanced at Lion and said, "I want to reveal the crime of the newly appointed official Lion! Yesterday, he was sent to inspect a house and embezzled 200,000 gold and silver treasures! He has just been promoted to this position and yet he has already accumulated such a large sum of money. How will he cope in the future? I request that Your Majesty investigate this matter!"
The officials present struggled to hide their smiles and looked on nervously.
Sitting on the dragon throne, the Empress remained calm: "Lion, is this true?"
Her heart seemed to hope that he could overcome this trial!
If he couldn't, she would step in to save him!
Lion remained calm: "Your Majesty, Holland is fundamentally speaking nonsense!"
"You!!!" Holland's eyes blazed with fury.
Lion raised his head and chest, and his voice is loud: "Since childhood, I have read the book of Confucius, the Analects of Confucius. To be able to do it is the ceremony of the saint! Throughout my life, I have gone straight ahead and never bowed my head, nor have I ever been ashamed! How could I do something like embezzling 200,000 gold and silver treasures?"
The Empress sitting on the dragon throne couldn't help but laugh.
This liar really widened his eyes and spoke falsehoods. He actually expects me to believe him!
He was obviously greedy, but he still claimed to be innocent!
Shameless!
Too shameless!
At this point, Lion aimed the gun at Holland's throat: "Holland, what's the point of you getting so angry? Is it because you want to take someone else's good place and deliberately cause trouble for me?"
Holland was so angry that he wanted to spit blood: "As a noble and upright court official, how could I take someone else's good place and cause trouble for the government?"
"This is not necessarily true! Previously, it seemed that Master Ta was also a person of pure and upright character, not just someone who covets 200,000 taels of silver. Because, as they say, knowing someone's face but not their heart, it's difficult for a painter to paint the bones of a person!" Lion said coldly, poking fun.
Holland was so angry that his whole body trembled: "Master Ta is a sightseer, how dare you make me fight alongside him?"
"So what are you basing your accusation of me being greedy on?" Lion questioned.
"I naturally have evidence!" Holland clapped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, you can send someone to investigate the assets of the officials we interrogated together yesterday to see if it's true or not! Even the evidence... Yesterday, it was heard that Lion embezzled money and brought it back, many people saw it, we can send someone to search his house to find out!"
At this point, many high-ranking officials shook their heads, Lion was finished.
Indeed, he was too young and greedy, not hiding well enough, and was taken down by someone!
"Lion, do you have anything to say?" The Empress said calmly, making it hard to read her emotions.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent! If you must investigate, then go ahead! I have done everything according to the law and will not commit such a crime!" Lion said righteously.
The Empress wanted to laugh!
This guy is really...
Talking nonsense!
He doesn't know what shame is, even thicker-skinned than an old fox!
The Empress spoke loudly, "Good! In our free time, let's go and observe Lion in the palace to see if he is honest or greedy! If he is not greedy, I will return him to his position! If he is greedy, I will punish him severely!"
"Long live the Empress!" Everyone responded in unison.