Chapter 176: The court is full of intrigue.

"Haha, isn't this Master Xiao En? I never thought I'd be able to see you again alive. Back then, my rank was still low, and I had to look up to you to see you!"

The one who spoke was the Minister of Rites. His words attracted many people to join in the conversation.

"Humph, it's been seventeen years, I didn't expect he's still alive."

"It would be fine if he wasn't dead, but now that he's become an old ghost, why would he return to the court?"

"I think they are reluctant to give up their power. The Jinyiwei have already changed hands one after another, and some people are still living in a dream. It's really pitiful!"

Upon hearing this, Sean smiled shyly and modestly, his eyes almost narrowed into slits, and he simply replied: "I am not so easy to kill. Not only that, in my opinion, everyone is different and has their own value. When a person has no value, even if he is in a high position, he can only end up in disgrace. On the contrary, when a person still has value, even if he is in a trough, he can still make a comeback!"

The person who made the joke just now didn't take it seriously, and some even sneered out loud with a mocking look.

Uesugi Tora was so angry that he almost tore these rubbishes to pieces for his adoptive father, but was stopped by Sean. Uesugi Tora was no longer the arrogant general he had been a dozen years ago. He looked at Li An and his sword cases respectfully, and stopped his actions wisely, only saying sarcastically, "You guys will suffer in the future!"

Seeing that Sean and Shangshanhu had surrendered, the court officials returned to their ranks as victors. The orders from their backers made them cheer up today, and they were eager to fight.

"Adoptive father, why are you stopping me?" Shangshan Hu whispered beside Xiao En. In his opinion, it was His Majesty who summoned Xiao En to the palace today, and he must be re-employing his adoptive father, so why should he be afraid of anything? Shangshan Hu knew that those officials had people behind them, but his adoptive father was extremely intelligent and vicious, and with his own help, he didn't have to worry about what his enemies thought.

As the saying goes, no one knows a son better than his father. The two have been together for many years, and although they are not like biological children, they are better than biological children. Sean has long understood the other party's temperament and thoughts. He said calmly: "When playing chess with others, some people are very skilled in chess, while others play like children. Do you know which of these two opponents is more terrifying?"

"I think it's the former."

"You haven't made much progress in all these years since I was away from you!" Sean touched the scar on his wrist, and there was a hint of disappointment in his tone. He gave the answer as if explaining: "The most terrifying one is naturally the latter!"

Uesugi Tora lowered his head, his eyes drooping: "I am sorry to disappoint my foster father."

Sean shook his head, and inexplicably thought of his old rival Chen Pingping. He said calmly, "I'm not disappointed, but I want you to understand. The former is indeed terrible, just like Chen Pingping to the State of Qi; while the latter has nothing else, but still has the ability and courage to overturn the chessboard, and a childish urchin is also likely to do so!"

"Just like Mr. Li to Qi!"

Uesugi Tora looked at the sword box thoughtfully.

The people playing chess were the descendants of the Zhan family and the overbearing Emperor Qing of the Southern Dynasty. Although the young emperor seemed so effeminate to Shangshan Hu, he still retained some of the heroic spirit left over from the time of Marshal Zhan Qingfeng! He was able to strengthen the national strength of Qi during his reign, and we can also see some of his methods.

Now that Li An and his followers have joined the game and are able to compete with Nanqing, Shangshan Hu will naturally not be stingy with his strength to contribute to Northern Qi.

Perhaps he had been controlled by others before because of his adoptive father, but now he was willing to do so.

People have always admired the strong.

Ku He is strong, but he is too old.

······
"The Emperor has arrived!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Ann!"

Zhan Doudou walked out quickly like a dragon and a tiger, and sat on the dragon chair that looked like a royal chair. Looking at Li An below, he smiled unconsciously and said softly, "My dear ministers, please stand up!"

She waved her hand and signaled the eunuch to give Li An a seat. After all, he was the imperial master of the dynasty, and with Li An's martial arts skills, according to the treatment he had given Ku He in the past, a seat was essential. After hesitating for a moment, she ordered someone to give Sean a seat as well.

This move was the emperor's intention, and it could be regarded as an indirect way of winning over Uesugi Tora, and only after stability was achieved would he take back the military power.

As for the prime minister and the emperor's tutor who were like invisible people, no one cared about their thoughts.

The Queen Mother followed closely behind, and then appeared slowly as if she was late. Accompanied by Haitang Duoduo, who had just returned to the capital two days ago, the Queen Mother sat behind the curtain and said nothing.

Originally, she rarely intervened in the affairs of the court after the drama with Zhan Doudou ended, but today's situation was special, and she also showed her attitude for the officials who were sent out. First, it was to let them see the direction of the court, and second, it was to dispel the rumors of discord between the emperor and the empress, and to stabilize the local people's hearts.

The chief eunuch came out and, after singing praises, summarized the events of the previous year and expressed His Majesty's outlook for the coming year. After that, it was time for the ministers to perform.

"I, the Minister of Rites Mu Yun, impeach Xiao En for accepting bribes and deceiving the emperor; I impeach General Shangshan Hu for previously holding his own troops and disrespecting the emperor, colluding with the Southern Dynasty and committing acts of treason; I impeach the commander of the Jinyiwei, Wang Shisanlang, for condoning Jinyiwei subordinates to commit violence in the street and privately releasing suspects; and..."

"Impeach the Imperial Master Li An!"

"Exceeding your authority and bringing weapons to the palace!"

As soon as Mu Yun finished speaking, not only did those ministers who had previously echoed him in mocking Sean come out to respond, but even many neutral ministers in the front row and some officials from the Imperial Party and the rear party came out one after another and shouted in unison!
"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

This scene was extremely bizarre. If one counted carefully, the number of people actually accounted for half of the officials who were qualified to attend the court.
A group of ministers who had come to Beijing from the localities to report on their work and some young officials who had just entered the court looked at this scene with confusion in their hearts, trembling like frightened birds.

Zhan Doudou rubbed his sore eyebrows. He was angry in his heart but smiled instead.

It wasn't that she had lost her judgment because she fell in love, but her observation of Li An during this period of time had allowed her to draw her own conclusions. Coupled with Ku He's letters, she still believed that the future described by Li An was more likely to be realized.

"Do you have anything to say, my four beloved ministers?"

Zhan Doudou asked with a frown, watching the eunuch Yu Wenyun who was accompanying him in deep thought.

"What happened before was just those people in the south trying to sell me out! How could I not know their sinister intentions?" Shangshan Tiger opened his tiger eyes, his mouth full of anger, and two breathtaking cold lights swept through the crowd from time to time. His voice was not loud, far from the level of roaring in the hall, but it was very deep, like putting a bronze bell next to his ear and ringing it, the sound resounded in the ears of the ministers.

"The truth is not in the loudness of the voice!" Mu Yun glanced at the figure above and said confidently: "The general knows whether he has done it or not. I have the letters in my hand that the general is colluding with the Princess of Qing. I think these are enough as evidence!"

Uesugi Tora frowned and was about to say something, but when he saw the indifferent expressions of his adoptive father and the national teacher, he understood what was going on and kept silent.

As for Wang Shisanlang, he was still happily fantasizing. It would be best if he could be dismissed from his post as the commander of the Jinyiwei, so as not to delay his sword practice. He didn't take it to heart at all.

After that, the imperial censor came forward and told the story of how Sean accepted bribes, how much, and how he colluded with the former commander Shen Zhong to fake his own death. At the same time, he also took out the letter from Shang Shanhu and the witness testimony of Wang Shisanlang who released the suspect privately.

As for Li An, they didn't say anything.

This group of censors did not know who had provided them with the evidence, but their duties forced them to do so today.

(End of this chapter)