Those astute minds in the court were not wrong at all.

In reality, Zhao Jiu didn't care about the puppet Qi regime. The emergence of such a clown was within his 'expectations' from the beginning. He was unwilling to make unnecessary political or military reactions to such matters, even feeling that this issue was not as important as the fortification of Tokyo.

However, since no one agreed with him, and this issue was currently the hottest topic nationwide, he wouldn't be blamed for蹭热点 (cèng rè diǎn - borrowing the heat) and doing what he wanted to do.

After all, both publicly and privately, Zhao Jiu had decided to put an end to that period of 'history', and this was an opportunity that presented itself.

Hu Yin's sincere performance didn't seem to stop Zhao Jiu's intention to issue a self-reproach edict... In fact, once Zhao Jiu's decision was made, and he had placed himself, the Son of Heaven who was in some ways a victim, in the position of a sinner, no one could stop him, as long as he was ruthless enough.

In fact, he couldn't think of anyone who could stop him.

"Your Majesty!"

Just as everyone was looking at Hu Yin with sighs, and things seemed to be going according to the Emperor's wishes, about to create a big news story, Prime Minister Lü Haowen suddenly made a move that caught everyone off guard. He knelt down to the throne in public, giving a grand salute.

The whole place was stunned. This action even made Zhao Jiu, who had been indifferent all day, gasp in shock... After all, a Song Dynasty prime minister, in theory, only needed to kneel during the special ceremony of being appointed prime minister as a superficial gesture, and didn't need to make such a salutation at all.

Historically, when Wang Anshi rode his horse into the palace, he was stopped by the palace eunuchs at the gate and forced to dismount. This signaled the instability of his relationship with Emperor Shenzong, and he was soon dismissed as prime minister. This shows the importance of a prime minister, let alone such a gesture?

To put it bluntly, to force the prime minister to kneel, how willful must this Emperor be?

In fact, Zhao Jiu didn't expect the other party to have such a move... As the saying goes, you can issue a self-reproach edict, and I can kneel... Heaven spares no one?

"Prime Minister Lü..."

Coming back to his senses, Grand Commander Lan Gui almost jumped up, avoiding the gesture directly, and Zhao Jiu also quickly got up from the throne, standing to one side with a complicated expression.

"This subject is guilty!"

Before Zhao Jiu could speak, Lü Haowen directly bowed his head to the ground.

Zhao Jiu was momentarily exasperated: "What are you guilty of?"

"This subject is indeed guilty!"

Lü Haowen did not hesitate, and replied loudly. "During the reign of the Supreme Daoist Emperor, six traitors were appointed, the country was uneasy, and amidst abundance and extravagance, civil affairs were favored over military affairs. As a subject, I could not recognize the danger, nor could I offer remonstrance to the death. I only cultivated a reputation and sought fame, already failing in my duty as a subject!

"During the reign of Emperor Yuansheng, I was suddenly favored and promoted to a close minister, holding important positions in the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War. However, I was only limited by factional disputes, arguing about the old affairs of Yuanyou and Yuanfeng. When the war came, I did not understand the overall military situation, leading to the collapse of the front line... During the Jingkang Incident, I was the Minister of War in charge, and my guilt is immense!

"And when the Jingkang disaster had already occurred, the two Emperors were controlled by the Jin, and Zhang Bangchang usurped the throne. I relied on my reputation as a Confucian scholar of Daoism, but I could not die for the cause, instead, I lingered indecisively with him, which can be called unforgivable! If according to the words of Lord Li in Nanjing in the past, I should have been executed long ago!

"However, the unforgivable part of my crime lies in the years of Jianyan. After Your Majesty ascended the throne, I could not recognize Your Majesty's divine martial prowess. After only a few months of turbulence, I developed the intention to retreat and die... And if so, how could we have returned to the old capital today, and seen the establishment of the The Filature of the Song?

"Today, the puppet Qi regime uses the turbulence of the past to speculate on Your Majesty's state of mind. If Your Majesty truly believes that you are guilty and wants to issue a self-reproach edict to set things right, why not first execute the guilty ministers to rectify the court? Otherwise, I cannot be convinced!"

The hall was solemn, and while all the other ministers were hesitating whether to follow suit, Zhao Jiu was the first to wake up, and then stood beside the throne, shaking his head repeatedly:

"Prime Minister Lü, why go to such lengths?"

"Does Your Majesty think I am protecting someone? Am I fighting for someone's face?" Lü Haowen raised his head, also rarely losing his composure. "Everything I said today is from the bottom of my heart, all the unbearable thoughts that have been in my heart for the past two years, and the thoughts that have been stirring in my heart since returning to the old capital... In the past, we personally witnessed the Jingkang Incident, watching the building collapse in an instant, almost unimaginable. We could only do our best and leave the rest to fate. Who would have thought that in just two years, we would have returned to the old capital? If there is any anger to be expressed today, there is only one sentence: Your Majesty has the qualities of a restorer, and should do the things of a restorer. Why repeatedly dwell on one or two unfounded ministers and absurd theories? Are those old events so important?!"

Zhao Jiu stood there for a long while before sighing: "If so, why does Prime Minister Lü hold onto the old events so tightly? When the great disaster struck suddenly, who was clean?"

"Your Majesty, that is exactly the point." Hearing this sentence, Wang Boyan also quickly knelt down, hastily stepping forward. "In fact, before entering Nanyang, under Fangcheng Mountain, Your Majesty had already pardoned all the previous crimes. The past should not be mentioned again. And the crimes of the ministers can be pardoned, but how can Your Majesty's crimes still be spoken of?"

"Are the Son of Heaven and the ministers the same?" Zhao Jiu smiled again. "Isn't what the *Analects* said just now clear enough? The sovereign can pardon the ministers, but who can pardon the sovereign?"

Wang Boyan was covered in cold sweat, but he didn't know what to say.

"Your Majesty, times have changed." Xu Jingheng finally knelt down. "Since the sovereign has pardoned the ministers, Heaven should also pardon the sovereign!"

"What does Heaven rely on to pardon the sovereign?" Zhao Jiu was still not satisfied, but seeing that all the civil and military officials were about to kneel down, he decided to temporarily settle the matter. "Forget it, I will temporarily not issue a self-reproach edict."

The officials in the hall were all relieved, and bowed in unison, but did not kneel down together... to avoid forming a situation of forcing the Emperor's hand.

"But I still have a few words to say to you gentlemen today..."

Zhao Jiu's gaze swept over the four people with the highest status in the court, that is, the three prime ministers and the weeping censor-in-chief, finally showing a bit of sternness. "Not dwelling on it today is not because you are right and have convinced me. It is because I am not as sincere as Prime Minister Lü, but a hypocrite, so I am putting on a strong front for the sake of everyone's face... As for the so-called guilt of the Son of Heaven, it has already been set in stone, clearly recorded in history, and there will always be a time to avoid it!"

Standing behind the three prime ministers, Hu Yin lowered his head even further when he heard this.

"As for the reason why some people have been clamoring recently, I also want to remind you, the court is currently lacking in resources and strength. Things that cannot be rushed and cannot be done cannot be rushed and cannot be done. You are all high-ranking ministers, what is the point of learning from me in this way, being ignorant of what is important, pretending to be serious? Can shouting a few words conjure up money and solve problems?" Zhao Jiu continued sternly. "Also, the prime minister kneeling is something that can only happen once! In the future, make a rule that those in purple robes are not allowed to kneel arbitrarily in the hall!"

Speaking to this point, Zhao Jiu was ultimately resentful and finally flounced away.

Was today's victory actually a lose-lose situation?

ps: I've been feeling strange these past few days... I feel like my mind is floating... I know what this volume is about, but I still don't think it has substance. It's not just being too tired, I feel like there's also a psychological problem... Can you understand that feeling? Suddenly, for a few days, I felt like everything I did was garbage, and I felt like nothing could bring good mood and joy... Games, novels, coffee, sweets, and even cats couldn't bring satisfaction. I didn't dare to use any means to actively socialize with anyone, I didn't dare to look at the feedback from all channels of the novel, I didn't even dare to look at the same type of novel, or even dare to read the novel... I stared at the news or a few boring game interfaces all day, and when I realized the time was up, I squeezed out a little content.