Those gossiping officials who were walking on the road had already disappeared from view, but Pei Tan was still standing in his original position.

  As the sun had just risen, his body felt a bit chilly, and for a moment, he couldn't help but clench his fists. The Pei family, renowned for their love of books, had been directly denounced by the Pei family's patriarch as one of the greatest scourges of the Tang Dynasty. This was because over the past decade, the imperial court had been plagued by turmoil, and the practice of forming cliques and engaging in private dealings to exploit others had become rampant, making it impossible to turn back now.

  It should be said that even now, even if it is a high-ranking official above the third rank who holds power and has an imperial edict in hand, they cannot suppress this evil trend.

  In such a situation, Emperor Zhongzong was already well aware of it in his heart. Even if he was the supreme ruler of the world, Zhongzong could only choose to turn a blind eye.

  Nowadays, however, Long's inverted scales have been deliberately provoked by someone who intentionally pushed this rusty sword onto the stage of scientific examination.

  Pei Tan wiped away the cold sweat as he attended the early court session, his damp hands remaining clenched until he stood in the grand hall. The dragon throne was empty for a while before Emperor Zhongzong finally appeared, raising his hand slightly to the officials in the hall, "At ease."

  Soon someone came up with a flattering remark: "Your Majesty has been working hard on the exam questions for days, you must take care of your dragon body."

  Someone immediately chimed in: "Your Majesty worries about the people and personally takes care of everything, which is indeed a blessing for the Tang Dynasty and its people."

  Zhong Zong frowned and said: "Alright, whoever has a plan, present it immediately."

  If all the courtiers have no business to report, they can naturally retire immediately after the audience.

  The originally flattering voices suddenly fell silent. After a moment, there was only the sound of the ministers' breathing.

  A faint sense of disappointment flashed across his face.

  Pei Tan gazed slowly at Zhong Zong, a monarch with ambitions, whose burden was far more arduous than that of an indulgent ruler. Moreover, among the civil and military officials present, those who were truly loyal to Zhong Zong might be scarce.

  Zhong Zong's gaze swept across the crowd of officials, suddenly stopping and fixing on that faint figure.

  "Pei Qing."

  Pei Tan slowly walked out of the line: "Your Majesty." A warm and gentle voice, also made the surrounding ministers who had not noticed Pei Tan immediately discover him.

  Zhong Zong narrowed his eyes: "Why is Lord Pei here?"

  Pei Tan's Da Li Temple is now handling the secret order of Zhong Zong, Pei Tan should be low-key at this time, why did he come to the early court in such a public place.

  Gazing into Pei Tan's eyes, it was unclear how many secrets were hidden within.

  Pei Tan fell silent for a long time before saying, "I have a memorial to present."

  Zhong Zong's eyes flashed with a dark light: "What is your memorial, Lord Pei?"

  At that moment, Pei Tan had already made up his mind. He slowly raised his hands and knelt down on the grand hall in his official robes: "I report to Your Majesty, my Ministry of Justice received a corpse ten days ago, this corpse is the remains of the imperial banished criminal Jing Shi, I ordered people to keep watch over the corpse in the autopsy room of the Ministry of Justice, but just recently..."

  Zhong Zong's face had already fallen when he heard about the exile of Qin Fan, and now he asked: "What happened not long ago?"

  Pei Tan knelt on the ground, and with his head lowered, no one could see his expression.

  In the grand hall, everyone was putting on airs, with hidden schemes lurking in the depths of their eyes.

  "Several days ago, a fire broke out in the morgue of the Dalisi Temple, burning the corpses of the imperial convicts beyond recognition."

  The grand hall became even quieter, with the sound of a falling needle audible, because of Pei Tan's words. These ministers naturally did not dare to flatter and fawn at this time, and when something happened, each one looked at the other, not wanting to be implicated themselves.

  Zhong Zong's hand clenched into a fist on the armrest of the dragon chair, and he suppressed his anger to ask: "You said that such a thing had already happened several days ago?"

  "Replying to Your Majesty, yes."

  Zhong Zong could no longer contain his great anger and said: "Why did you come to report to me only now?"

  He promoted Da Li Temple, thinking that he could trust the Pei family, but unexpectedly it was also a hypocritical person.

  Bai Tan remained silent, enduring the wrath of Zhong Zong without making any excuses or explanations. The dull ache in his right arm reminded him to kneel even straighter. Among the officials, there were a few who cast envious and mocking glances at him.

  Seeing this, Zhong Zong only felt even more furious, and when his anger was about to reach his head, he suddenly became calm as if he had been doused with water.

  He stared at the thin figure with its head bowed in silence on the ground.

  This is not like Pei's usual behavior.

  At first, Zhong Zong chose Pei Tan to succeed him as the Chief Minister of the Grand Chancellery because the Pei family had been a clean and honest clan for generations, never forming cliques or seeking personal gain. Among many sons and younger brothers of the Pei family, he alone selected Pei Tan.

  It is still remembered that Pei Tan's meticulous mind and cautious personality are the most suitable for this quiet place of Dali Temple.

  Such a loyal and obedient subject, how could he have made such an unseemly display in the grand hall today.

  Zhong Zong's eyes suddenly sparkled.

  But on the surface, he was still that angry monarch.

  "Today's morning court is adjourned." Zhong Zong said slowly and clearly to the group of officials.

  Many officials had their mouths curled up at the corners when they bowed their heads.

  "Pei Tan, you stay here with me." Zhong Zong said with a sinking face.

  The ministers and sons passed by Pei Tan one after another, and Pei Tan remained kneeling without moving.

  Before long, only one figure remained kneeling in the great hall. Zhong Zong sat on the dragon throne, his eyes deep and mysterious as he gazed at Pei Tan.

  Next to him was a eunuch who attended Zhong Zong personally, and if even the eunuch were sent away, it seemed too deliberate.

  Zhong Zong calmly asked: "Why did the morgue catch fire?"

  Being in the Da Li Temple, the Da Li Temple is a place of importance for the imperial court, with strict guards, how can it be said that there was a fire just because someone mentioned it.

  "Someone set fire in the temple and the suspect is still missing. I am still investigating thoroughly."

  After hearing this, Zhong Zong only felt that the flames of anger had increased. Had even the imperial guards gone missing? He coldly looked at Pei Tan: "How did I instruct you, yet in just a short period of time, such an astonishing event has occurred? Pei Tan, I trusted the reputation of your family and placed great importance on you, but how have you carried out my orders?"

  Listening to Zhong Zong's raised voice, Pei Tan knelt straight on the ground: "I have failed Your Majesty's trust, and I am willing to accept punishment."

  This was not the answer that Zhong Zong had expected to hear, and he said displeased: "The case of Jing's escaped slave involves matters from many years ago, this matter is important, I entrusted it to you, Da Li Temple. Now you let the corpse be destroyed in your temple, how can this case be solved?"

  This fellow, Pei Tancai slowly raised his head, his elegant face in the empty grand hall had a kind of jade-like elegance: "Please give me some time to consider this matter, Your Majesty."

  "I swear on my official hat that I will solve the case within the deadline."

  Upon hearing Pei Tan's words, Zhong Zong furrowed his brow. He said that the most important evidence in investigating a case was now gone, as even the crucial piece of evidence, the corpse, had been burned to ashes. It seemed unlikely that even Di Gong could have solved the case, yet Pei Tan still dared to guarantee it with his official hat?

  Zhong Zong's face sank even further, "What if we can't crack the case?"

  Pei Tan slowly bowed down and said after a moment: "If we can't crack the case, I and the entire Pei family are willing to take responsibility."

  Emperor Zhongzong had originally wanted to give Pei Tan some leeway, but unexpectedly, Pei Tan dragged the entire Pei clan into this. Seeing that he was so reckless and disregarded consequences, Emperor Zhongzong instead became more cautious and thoughtful in his heart. If he hadn't understood Pei Tan's personality, Emperor Zhongzong would have thought that he had gone completely mad.

  But how could such a crazy thing have anything to do with Pei?

  The eyes of the monarch and his subject met in mid-air, Pei Tan's profound serenity merged with Zhong Zong's inquiry.

  About a moment later, both the monarch and his minister withdrew their gaze.

  Zhong Zong said, "Since you have confidence in using Pei Shi as a guarantee, I will trust the Dali Temple once again. I will extend the original deadline by five more days to avoid making you feel that I am heartless."

  Pei Tan knocked his head on the ground again, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty."

  Zhong Zong wearily closed his eyes: "You may withdraw." For the sake of the imperial examination, this monarch had truly not slept for two days.

  Pei Tan quietly exited the grand hall.

  As they walked out of the grand hall, the early sun had just risen into the sky, and those courtiers who had finished their morning audience were also walking in twos and threes ahead.

  At this time, a figure once again loomed over Pei Tan's side.

  Bai Tan had already walked slowly enough, but this person obviously fell behind on purpose in order to be with Bai Tan.

  "I heard that there have been a series of unexpected events at the Temple of Dali recently, and it's said that Lord Pei even encountered an assassin. I wonder if you were injured, are you alright?" A concerned and smiling voice seemed to be asking, coming from beside Pei Tan.

  Pei Tan turned around and took a look at this person, recognizing him as one of the people he had deliberately greeted when walking through the Zhuque Gate that morning.

  This man is wearing a fourth-rank official uniform, Yellow Door Servant Lang.

  His surname is Liu, and Pei Tan recalled from memory that someone had addressed this person as Lord Liu.

  "He slowly said: 'Thank you, Lord Liu, for your concern.'"

  That person smiled softly and said, "Lord Pei is being polite."

  The things that happened in front of Dali Temple the other day, it's better to say that these nobles can't be fooled anywhere in Chang'an. This person is clearly concerned and also probing into the truth.

  Pei Tan slightly tilted his head and slowly walked forward. That Mr. Liu was walking side by side with a carefree expression.

  Slowly walked to the entrance of the Imperial Palace.

  Mr. Liu spoke again, "At this time, it is the most turbulent day in Chang'an. Those outsiders coming and going in Chang'an are indeed a headache. When does Mr. Pei have time? I'll drink another cup with Mr. Pei."

  The outsiders in this crowd are the scholars who have gathered in Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, and yet they speak with such frivolity and disrespect, even with a hint of haughty mockery.

  He glanced at him, the aristocratic families had always looked down on officials from humble backgrounds, even if they were third-grade officials. The hardships of ten years of studying for the imperial examination were not worth mentioning in front of these people's noble birth.

  "Pei seems unable to drink well, it's probably not possible for him to accompany Lord Liu." As the palace gate was approaching, Pei talked and cupped his hands, "I'll take my leave first."

  As Pei walked past the palace gate, he might have understood the loneliness of the person sitting alone on the dragon chair. The imperial examination, which even the emperor strongly advocated for, was rejected and despised by the aristocratic families. How could such an imperial examination become the hope of scholars all over the world?