Enter the Palace Immediately

Shangguan Yuan's nearly frantic accusations pointed directly at the Six Ministries and even the Grand Secretariat.

Gu Chengyin took a sudden step forward and immediately replied,

"Who says there aren't!"

"The Ministry of Rites has already begun internal investigations and rectifications! And it will soon be the Ministry of Personnel's turn!"

"Her Highness the Eldest Princess once said:"

"Any parasites and giant rats, no matter which ministry or which estate they hide in,"

"As long as they harm the imperial court and exploit the common people, for every one there is, we will investigate one!"

"If there is a nest, we will eradicate the nest! We will never tolerate them, and we will never show mercy!"

These words were not only a response to Shangguan Yuan's accusations but also a public declaration and a form of deterrence.

It demonstrated that his, and even the Crown Prince's Palace's, determination and scope for investigating the case were absolutely not limited to the Ministry of Revenue.

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!

Right at this moment, from the other end of the street, a burst of uniform footsteps suddenly rang out.

These footsteps were not only neat but also extremely fast, approaching from a distance.

A blinding golden torrent swiftly surged into the street!

It was the Golden Feather Guards, and not just ordinary feather guards.

Looking at the superb quality of their armor, their strict and deadly formation, and the invisible murderous aura that only elite veterans possessed,

These were the elite of the elites among the Golden Feather Guards—the Golden Royal Guards who protected the imperial palace.

As soon as they appeared, without any superfluous orders or shouts, they immediately spread out like well-trained machines.

With a skilled and forceful posture, they began to disperse the crowd on the periphery.

"The Golden Royal Guards are on official business! Idlers, disperse immediately!"

"Leave this place at once! No loitering or spectating!"

"Violators will be punished for obstructing official duties!"

...

The shouts, combined with the gleaming blades and cold gazes, were full of deterrence.

The onlookers, who had originally held a spectator's mentality, immediately retreated like a receding tide under the merciless driving of the Golden Royal Guards.

Exclamations, complaints, and the sound of running merged into one, but no one dared to truly disobey.

In just a moment, the street in front of the Shangguan estate had no other idle figures besides the Golden Royal Guards.

Even Madam Jiang, who had been watching the show from a pavilion, silently faded into the darkness.

The scene was completely cleared, leaving only the golden armor representing imperial power. The atmosphere was chilling and solemn.

Subsequently, a quaint carriage slowly drove into this cleared area.

The emblem hanging on the carriage was impressively the insignia of the Grand Secretariat.

The carriage stopped, and the curtain was lifted from the inside by a hand.

A figure bent down and stepped out of the carriage.

The newcomer had a gaunt face and deep, spirited eyes. He wore a black gauze hat and an official robe with a crane mandarin square. His temperament was as calm and heavy as a mountain, commanding respect without anger.

It was exactly Yuan Zhengqing, known for his uprightness and majesty, Grand Secretary Yuan.

Yuan Zhengqing's appearance instantly elevated the already solemn atmosphere to another level.

Gu Chengyin also stopped talking and looked at this suddenly arrived heavyweight figure.

Yuan Zhengqing first looked around. When his gaze swept over the shattered estate gates, his eyebrows twitched slightly, as if he was also somewhat surprised by the tragic extent.

But he did not make any comments about it.

He walked steadily toward the estate gates. When he arrived in front of Gu Chengyin, he did not speak.

He just reached out and gently patted Gu Chengyin's shoulder twice.

This action seemed simple but contained deep meaning.

It was both a senior's comfort and affirmation to a junior, and a silent hint that it was time to stop.

After patting his shoulder, Yuan Zhengqing's gaze swept past Gu Chengyin and nodded at Shangguan Yuan as a greeting.

Finally, he walked straight to the clerk of the Chief Surveillance Bureau who was holding the record files.

Seeing this, Wang Gangfeng hurriedly took a step forward and respectfully cupped his hands in greeting, "Lower official Wang Gangfeng, Censor of the Chief Surveillance Bureau, greets Grand Secretary Yuan."

Yuan Zhengqing waved his hand, signaling him to dispense with the formalities.

His gaze fell on the record files, and he said in a flat voice, "Let me see the records."

"Yes."

The clerk did not dare to be the slightest bit negligent and respectfully presented the record files with both hands.

The entire audience was absolutely silent, a deathly stillness.

Only the slight rustling sound of Yuan Zhengqing turning the files remained.

Everyone's gaze focused on Yuan Zhengqing's hands. This file recorded all the key words spoken during this confrontation.

Yuan Zhengqing read very carefully, not fast, turning the pages one by one.

There was no expression on his face, making it impossible for people to guess his inner thoughts.

Time became incredibly long at this moment.

Finally, Yuan Zhengqing closed the files and handed them back to the clerk.

He did not make any comments on the contents of the file, but just slowly turned around and faced the crowd.

He cleared his throat, his face became stern, and he said loudly:

"An oral decree from His Majesty."

As soon as these words came out, it was like a thunderclap!

Everyone present, whether it was Gu Chengyin, the completely devastated Shangguan, or the solemn-faced Wang Gangfeng, and others.

All of their expressions became awe-inspiring, and they lowered their heads in a posture of respectfully listening to the holy decree.

Yuan Zhengqing's voice was solemn and majestic:

"Marquis Side-by-Side Gu Chengyin, enter the palace immediately to meet His Majesty without delay. Respect this."

The oral decree was extremely brief, but the amount of information was huge.

Hearing this oral decree, Gu Chengyin was also taken aback.

Emperor Luo wanted to see him? At this time?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and his body reacted quickly. He took a step forward, bowed, and saluted:

"This subject, Gu Chengyin, receives the decree."

After reading the oral decree, the expression on Yuan Zhengqing's face softened slightly.

He walked two steps forward, came in front of Gu Chengyin, and said quickly in a deliberately lowered voice:

"His Majesty cares about you, go with peace of mind."

He paused, lowered his voice even more, and added an important sentence:

"His Highness has already entered the palace."

These two sentences were like a glimmer of light, illuminating some of the fog.

Gu Chengyin instantly understood in his heart.

He raised his head, looked at Yuan Zhengqing, a flash of sincere gratitude in his eyes, cupped his hands again, and said in a low voice:

"Thank you, Grand Secretary Yuan, for the guidance. This junior will remember this favor."

Yuan Zhengqing nodded slightly, turned to look at the others, and said in a flat tone:

"I just came to pass a message. You all continue."

After speaking, he didn't stay any longer and walked toward his carriage, leaving behind a majestic figure from the back.

Continue? How could they still continue?

Everyone present felt a chill in their hearts.

Having a Grand Secretary personally run errands to pass a message?

Who would believe that!

It was clearly because the matter at the Shangguan estate had gotten too big, involving a series of explosive events such as the assassination of the Marquis, the sudden death of the Vice Minister, and the frantic accusations. Public opinion was about to spiral out of control.

Ordinary officials could no longer suppress the situation, so Yuan Zhengqing, the most majestic figure in the Grand Secretariat, was sent to hold the fort.

Not only that, but the Golden Royal Guards were also deployed to forcibly clear the scene.

This was both to control the situation and a warning.

This matter ends here.

Yuan Zhengqing's lighthearted remark to continue was less of a permission and more of a declaration of termination.

Gu Chengyin naturally understood this point.

No longer entangled, he turned around and walked toward the Cui estate's carriage.

"To the palace."

After boarding the carriage, he instructed the Cui estate guard who was driving.

The carriage started and slowly drove away under the tacit approval and gaze of the Golden Royal Guards.