"Nonsense!" Old Mu was a rough character, so naturally, his words were crude. "Damn it, stop causing unnecessary panic. Our Great Zhou is thriving, how could we have reached a point where enemies are at the gates? Are you out of your mind? Even if that day comes, it will be our Great Zhou soldiers defending the city, how could it be a civil official? When would Ye Ziāan ever have the chance to open the gates?"
"And Lord Prime Minister, being the head of all civil and military officials, are you so free after having too much to eat that youāve got nothing better to do?" Old Mu wasnāt one to speak courteously. "Focusing on trivial matters all day? And canāt you at least focus on matters with solid evidence? Who told you that Ye Ziāan knelt just for himself? Who told you that?"
"You... how utterly vulgar!"
Lord Prime Ministerās face turned purple-red from Old Muās scolding, cursing the old man in his heart for being impossibly rude.
"Hmph, I may lack refinement, unlike you who are always sour." Old Mu shot back, then turned to the Emperor, speaking in detail, "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of Ye Ziāan, I have something to say."
"Speak!" The Emperor waved his hand with a cold expression. He had no problem with Ye Ziāan being alive, but had issues with these ministers, with their small-mindedness.
"Your Majesty, rumors say Ye Ziāan knelt publicly for medical treatment, but this isnāt true. The people of Shandong werenāt sick with a strange illness; they were poisoned by someone with malicious intent. The Mu Familyās divine doctor said this poison was a newly developed toxin from four poisons, and he only identified two. The remaining two toxins were unknown. Later, the poisoner sent a letter to Ms. Yang, Ye Ziāanās wife, stating that if she dared to kneel publicly for her husband, they would provide the other two toxins. Ms. Yang naturally went, believing that once they had the toxins, both Ye Ziāan and the people of Shandong could be cured. Ye Ziāan only accompanied her after learning this."
"In any case, it shows the Ye family couple is loyal and virtuous. This was clearly a matter that, once done, could bring them many benefits. Should they just turn a blind eye and do nothing? If they did, wouldnāt you gentlemen then impeach Ye Ziāan, accusing him of doing nothing while the people of Shandong died? Lord Prime Minister, donāt you agree?"
Lord Prime Minister, hearing this, flicked his sleeve, unwilling to engage him further. Still, he thought to himself, this old warriorās rhetoric is getting smoother.
"But..."
"Alright, alright, stop arguing." Seeing the officials below ready to speak again, the Emperor hurriedly waved them off, "Thereās no need to say more about Ye Ziāan. He did nothing wrong in this matter. Stop taking the courtās salaries without doing anything proper, just picking fights with colleagues. Think more about how to do something for the people, how much tax revenue we can collect this year, how to ensure the people have enough food to eat, those are the real issues, understand?"
"Court dismissed!"
The Emperor, after a fit of complaints, left.
Old Mu coldly laughed several times at the prime ministerās group before leaving.
He thought this incident at the court would be over, but it wasnāt the end.
That night, a letter sent from Shandong arrived in the Capital City, reaching the hands of three people: Old Mu, Baili Yan, and the Emperor. After reading it, Old Mu went to find Baili Yan immediately, and the two talked in the study for a long time before parting ways.
At the same time, in a dark house in the Capital City, a man in a blue robe and mask was also reading a letter.