Qilin Hall.
All the ministers knelt on the ground and shouted in unison: "See your majesty."
In the morning, Ying Zheng sat on the high platform and looked at the officials kneeling in the hall. Some of the empty seats were corrupt officials who were arrested yesterday.
Therefore, the expression on his face was not very friendly, and his whole aura was majestic, making people dare not look down upon him.
"Flat body."
Then everyone slowly stood up, everyone was trembling, fearing that they would accidentally fall into His Majesty's eyes.
After they all stood still, Meng Yi's voice rang out from the crowd.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report."
"Xuan."
Meng Yi stood respectfully in the middle of the hall, saluting Ying Zheng respectfully with both hands, and then said: "Your Majesty, the corrupt officials your Majesty asked you to arrest yesterday have all been put in prison."
"The evidence of their corruption has also been sent to Tingwei Mansion, and the matter has been handed over to Tingwei Mansion for investigation."
Ying Zheng nodded and frowned slightly. He already knew this.
Seeing that His Majesty did not speak, Meng Yi continued: "But there are some things that happened, and I want to leave it to Your Majesty to decide."
As he said that, Meng Yi looked at Zhao Gao.
Zhao Gao immediately understood what Meng Yi meant. He still felt that it was an unjust act for him to beat those "corrupt officials" yesterday.
It’s so haunting!
Zhao Gao walked forward a little, and then he thought that he was in the morning court at this moment. He was afraid that Ying Zheng would see what his intentions were, so he retracted his feet and could only threaten Meng Yi with his eyes.
It's a pity that Meng Yi didn't compromise, he just withdrew his gaze at a glance and looked at Ying Zheng again.
"Yesterday, Mr. Zhao Gaogong avenged his personal revenge, tortured and extorted confessions, and beat the family members of those officials horribly in front of the garrison!"
"I thought that this matter has not yet been decided, but Zhao Gao acted like this. He simply trampled the laws of Qin under his feet!"
"According to the laws of the Qin Dynasty, should we punish hundreds of sticks with a stick to serve as a warning to others?!"
After Meng Yi finished speaking, Zhao Gao immediately knelt at Ying Zheng's feet. Although the expression on his face was annoyed, there was no trace of worry at all.
He believed in His Majesty's trust in him. Based on Meng Yi's words, His Majesty would not blame him.
The ministers in the DPRK had all heard about what happened yesterday, and they all scorned Zhao Gao's actions, but no one dared to say anything because of Zhao Gao's identity.
Now that Meng Yi mentioned it, they all immediately spoke out and launched a crusade against Zhao Gao.
An official walked out of the team, stood respectfully in the middle of the hall, and said respectfully: "I second my opinion, what Mr. Meng said is true."
Then more people stood up and said to Ying Zheng: "I second the proposal."
Seeing this, Zhao Gao had a look of worry on his face. He didn't expect that so many people would dare to confront him.
Don't they know their own strength?
When he passes this level, he must send these people to prison and let them keep company with those corrupt officials!
However, at this moment, we should still ask for His Majesty’s forgiveness.
"Your Majesty, this is not my servant's original intention."
"They are all those people. They tried to resist and even insulted Your Majesty with rude words. That's why the servant... was more aggressive."
"This slave has absolutely no selfish motives. Your Majesty knows it for sure!"
Ying Zheng frowned slightly, looked at the kneeling ministers in the hall, and then looked down at Zhao Gao.
In this moment of silence, Zhao Gao felt more and more uneasy, and sweat dripped from his forehead to the ground.
He could feel the pressure coming from above him, as if he was trying to see through him. He hadn't felt this way for a long time.
Finally, when he could no longer bear it, the pressure suddenly left him.
"Li Si, what do you think?"
Li Si, who was standing in the main hall, strolled up to the kneeling ministers, glanced at them, and then turned to look at the high platform.
He saluted respectfully and said: "Your Majesty, I think that although Zhao Gao's actions are somewhat inappropriate, after all, it is to safeguard the laws of our country, Da Qin. It is understandable."
"However, he did act a little recklessly, so a small punishment will suffice."
"Fifty rods are enough."
After hearing the previous words, Zhao Gao thought Li Si was facing him, but he didn't expect that he was the same as those ministers.
It seemed that Li Si still had a grudge against him for sending his people to prison.
However, he could accept this result. After all, the executioners were all his people, and they all knew whether it was light or serious.
"Your Majesty, this servant is willing to accept the punishment."
"I hope your majesty can see my servant's sincere heart, all for the sake of the country of Great Qin."
Ying Zheng lowered his head and glanced at Zhao Gao, with a slight smile on his lips, but returned to normal after a moment.
"In that case, let's carry out the execution now."
"Fifty punishments with the rod! Use as a warning to others!"
Hearing Ying Zheng's words, Zhao Gao didn't show the slightest panic on his face. He felt that this was just His Majesty pretending to be in front of the ministers.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After saying that, a guard immediately came forward and pulled Zhao Gao outside the hall.
"Snapped!"
"ah--"
"Snapped!"
"ah--"
"..."
The sound of the rod being scolded came from outside. Some people in the hall were happy, some were worried, and some were speculating on His Majesty's intentions.
After all, no one thought that His Majesty would really punish Zhao Gao personally in front of all the adults.
Moreover, after so many corrupt officials had been arrested, everyone, including Zhao Gao, thought this was a signal that His Majesty wanted to re-employ Zhao Gao. Unexpectedly, Zhao Gao would be reprimanded just one night after he came here.
There is more meaning in this.
However, no one dared to say anything, they all just waited for the execution to end.
Half an hour later, two guards pulled Zhao Gao back. Looking at the sweat on Zhao Gao's face and the faint blood on his back, everyone knew that His Majesty had no mercy just now.
Zhao Gao, whose whole body was already limp, could no longer think about it. He was kneeling there looking particularly miserable.
"Thank you... Your Majesty."
Ying Zheng waved his hand and motioned for the guards to take him down.
After Zhao Gao left, the peace in the court returned to its previous state.
Before the ministers could say anything else, the little eunuch beside Ying Zheng took a few steps forward and said loudly: "Retreat from the court——"
After saying that, all the ministers knelt on the ground and respectfully saw Ying Zheng off.
After Ying Zheng walked away, everyone stood up and discussed what happened in the morning, especially why did His Majesty agree to punish Zhao Gao?
Li Si did not participate in their discussion. He left the Qilin Palace and walked toward the Zhangtai Palace.
As soon as he reached the gate of Zhangtai Palace, he was stopped by a eunuch.
"See Prime Minister."
Li Si was a little confused, "I want to see His Majesty, please get out of the way!"
Unexpectedly, the young eunuch refused to give in and even said, "Your Majesty has said that no one will be seen today."
"Prime Minister, please come back."
This was somewhat beyond Li Si's expectation. Logically speaking, if such a big thing happened, as the Prime Minister, he would always be invited by His Majesty to discuss it.
Now His Majesty has turned him away, which is really unreasonable.
However, since His Majesty said so, he did not want to be too tough and turned around and left Zhangtai Palace.
