Compared to these adults who immediately started a fight, Fan Zhengguo and Nie Shan seemed out of place.
Standing in the crowd, silent, they appeared to be cranes among chickens.
For a moment, when their eyes met, they surprisingly saw a playful expression in each other.
After a full fifteen minutes of arguing, Zhao Ji finally couldn't take it anymore.
Looking at the ministers arguing until their faces were red and necks were thick, he truly felt his teeth itching with hatred at this moment.
When asked to solve practical problems, these people were faster than each other, their heads practically shoved into their laps.
But when it came to fighting for power and profit, they were completely different from before.
In such a short time, they all looked like angry chickens.
As he scanned the officials with disappointment, he suddenly noticed a few anomalies among them.
Fan Zhengguo's silence was understandable; as head of the Ministry of Revenue, his mind was full of copper coins at this time.
However, Nie Shan, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, remaining silent was something he could barely tolerate.
So, as an official of the Ministry of Personnel, he was watching a cockfight at this crucial moment?
Especially since this fellow was watching the show, what was with that expressionless face?
"Enough!"
With Zhao Ji slamming the table in anger, the imperial court, which had been as noisy as a marketplace, instantly fell silent.
"Look at yourselves, do you still have the demeanor of important court officials? Do you really think this is a comedy theater in a marketplace?"
Zhao Ji spoke, pointing at the most aggressive scoundrels with disappointment.
"Your subject confesses his guilt!"
Seeing the Emperor angry, Zhang Bangchang could only cough dryly and utter a half-hearted apology.
"I am too lazy to listen to your nonsense. You have been arguing here for a long time, and I can see that it is all about whether Prime Minister Wang will be promoted, right?"
With a cold sneer, Zhao Ji looked directly at Wang Fu.
Under his gaze, Wang Fu suddenly felt as if he had made a fatal mistake.
He seemed to have been too aggressive today, solely focused on competing with the Prince of Yun, completely neglecting the Emperor's emotions.
However, at this point, everything that needed to be done had been done; even regret was too late.
"Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Nie Ai Qing, as Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, why were you silent just now?"
Thinking of the way he was watching the show earlier, Zhao Ji felt a surge of anger.
So, he decisively kicked him to the front.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject is currently hesitating, unsure whether certain matters should be spoken of..."
Seeing that the Emperor had personally called upon him, Nie Shan unhurriedly stepped out of the ranks, coughed dryly, and said directly.
"What is there that cannot be said in court? Say whatever you wish!"
Hearing him say this, Zhao Ji was almost amused to the point of anger. The situation had already escalated to this extent, and you are still unsure whether to speak? Are you trying to be funny?
"Last night, someone placed a package at my doorstep. Out of curiosity, I looked at its contents..."
For some reason, upon hearing Nie Shan's words, Wang Fu had a sense of foreboding.
This scene, why did it feel so familiar?
Could it be such a coincidence?
Another package left by an unknown person?
"Were the contents of this package so unusual that it made you, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, so hesitant at this moment?"
Zhao Ji didn't think that far. He just wanted to see this old fellow make a fool of himself. He understood in his heart that there would inevitably be a struggle for the position of prime minister. And given the current stance of both sides, it would be a miracle if they didn't argue for three to five days. He singled out Nie Shan simply because he found the fellow too displeasing earlier. Why should he, the Emperor, have to listen to their incessant chatter in front, while you, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, could watch from the sidelines?
"Replying to Your Majesty, the package lists evidence of Prime Minister Wang's favoritism, corruption, bribery, and selling of official positions in recent years. Your subject does not know if it is true or false, and is truly unsure whether to present it!"
Damn it!
As soon as Nie Shan finished speaking, Wang Fu felt like crying.
Indeed, what he feared had come to pass!
These things, why did they not appear earlier or later, but precisely at this moment? Wasn't this clearly intended to disgust him?
"Nie Shan, you know full well that everyone is recommending a prime minister. Why are you bringing up these items of unknown origin at this moment? What is your intention?"
As Wang Fu's top henchman, Zhang Bangchang immediately attacked without thinking.
"Lord Zhang, Lord Nie has already made it clear that he himself is unsure whether to present these items. It was only after repeated questioning that he revealed them. Is this also a crime?"
Although he didn't know why Nie Shan had suddenly attacked at this time, this heavy blow truly delighted Cai You.
Regardless of Nie Shan's motives, as long as he could bring down Wang Fu, it would be the best outcome for the Prince of Yun's faction. Although the Prince of Yun lacked powerful figures, their mid-level influence was incredibly strong. As long as Wang Fu was defeated, it would be easy to install a few old figures as puppets!
Even Zhao Ji hadn't expected that Nie Shan, who had been standing silently on the side for so long, had managed to unleash such a powerful move. This sudden heavy blow made even the Emperor feel somewhat awkward. While he was unwilling to see Wang Fu promoted further, he was equally unwilling to see the Prince of Yun dominate the court. However, the problem was that he himself had forcefully brought Nie Shan forward just now. Trying to push him back now seemed too late...
This was truly awkward!
Looking at Nie Shan's half-smiling face, Zhao Ji suddenly felt a headache. What on earth was he thinking bringing out this fellow for no reason...
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject requests that Your Majesty order the relevant authorities to investigate the contents of the package and clear your subject's name!"
Although Wang Fu wished he could bite Nie Shan to death, he could only swallow his pride at this moment.
Hearing Wang Fu speak of clearing his name, Fan Zhengguo, standing nearby, almost burst out laughing. This fellow, clearing his name... If he were innocent, who else in this world would be guilty?