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墨書 Inktalez
The day had yet to break, and the heavy darkness still pressed down upon the palace. Outside the court, however, a throng of ministers had already gathered. Lanterns swayed in the morning breeze, casting reflections of faces that were either solemn, cunning, or filled with worry.
Whispers and murmurs filled the air, rising and falling like a restless swarm of bees, carried off by the cool morning air. As the deep sound of the morning bell resonated through the palace walls, the ministers fell silent and filed in one by one.
Dressed in their official robes, they walked with either steady or hurried steps, lining up according to their ranks. The atmosphere in the court was so tense it felt as if it could be wrung out like a wet cloth. The high-ranking officials wore stern expressions, while the lower-ranking ones bowed their heads, stealing glances around them. Everyone could sense that a storm was brewing within the court.
The Emperor sat high upon his dragon throne, clad in a Dragon Robe and wearing a Mian Liu crown. The beaded curtain of the Mian Liu swayed slightly, obscuring his face but not his commanding gaze.
He spoke slowly, his voice deep and resonant: "If there are matters to be presented, do so; otherwise, we shall dismiss."
As soon as he finished speaking, Deputy Censor Zhang stepped forward from the ranks. Dressed in crimson official attire, his expression was grave to the point of being rigid. He raised both hands high to present an impeachment document and took a deep breath before declaring loudly: "Your Majesty, I have a matter to report."
"Fourth Prince Lin Feng has recently taken it upon himself to alter the data from the Official Agency's document review. Such behavior blatantly disregards court protocol. The management of official documents is strict and follows established procedures that cannot be trampled upon at will. If this continues, the laws of our court will become mere empty words; anyone could act on personal whims. What remains of our court's authority?"
"I implore Your Majesty to punish him severely to uphold our court's integrity!"
After finishing his statement, he slightly lowered his head but discreetly scanned the room with his peripheral vision to gauge everyone's reactions.
His words landed like a boulder thrown into a still lake, causing an immediate uproar among the ministers. They exchanged glances; several junior officials appeared shocked, clearly not expecting such a heavy impeachment. Others who had grievances against the Fourth Prince secretly chuckled, as if they could already envision Lin Feng's downfall.
Yet Lin Feng remained calm and composed. Standing tall with an air of dignity, he stepped forward and knelt gracefully before the Emperor, his movements fluid and regal.
Raising his head with clear eyes, he spoke loudly: "Father Emperor, I did review the documents; however, it was not done in secret or for personal gain. Upon returning from disaster relief efforts, I witnessed firsthand the dire conditions in the Disaster Area—bodies lying everywhere and people displaced from their homes."
"I deeply feel that these long-standing issues must be addressed through accurate data collection before any reforms can take place. My actions were solely for the sake of our kingdom's stability and for countless disaster victims. I hope Father Emperor will understand."
His words were earnest, and his eyes were filled with urgency and sincerity. The Emperor furrowed his brow slightly, his gaze deep and inscrutable. He gently tapped his fingers on the armrest, producing a rhythmic sound, and after a moment said, "Even for the sake of justice, we must follow the proper procedures. Has the Fourth Prince made any reports?"
Just as Lin Feng was about to respond, several conservative ministers eagerly interjected. Minister Wang stroked his beard, which trembled slightly with his movements, as if to emphasize his authority.
"Your Majesty," he said slowly, "the Fourth Prince has acted impulsively in the past and has often overstepped boundaries. This time, with the alteration of official documents, it cannot be a mere coincidence; it shows a blatant disregard for court protocols. If we do not impose punishment now, many will follow his example in the future!"
As he spoke, he glanced around at his conservative colleagues, who all nodded in agreement. In this tense atmosphere, a principled Xia Jichen stepped forward with a light cough. He was well-respected in court, known for his impartiality and willingness to judge based solely on right and wrong, regardless of personal connections.
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