In the Imperial Study.
Xiao Hongshen crawled on the ground.
The Emperor sat in his chair, his gaze coldly fixed on him.
"All the evidence has been laid out before me, what else do you have to say!"
Bent over, Xiao Hongshen appeared utterly abject: "Your son was misled by Lin Pingzhi, and momentary greed got the better of him. It is all my fault, please punish your son, Father Emperor."
"Will punishing you silence the ministers and the common people's endless chatter?! Will it restore the face that I've lost due to you?! You truly have some nerve!" The Emperor slammed his hand on the table, his corpulent body quivered with rage, and the eunuchs by his side hurried to help him catch his breath, but the Emperor impatiently pushed the eunuch away.
