He then spoke voluminously, listing fifteen of Old Master Jun's heaven-defying crimes as he went along! It was as if failing to execute the Old Master would be a violation of natural law, and sparing him a misfortune upon all living beings! One of the points was particularly amusing: illegally training troops around the residences of Kyoto officials, which carried the insinuation of intimidation, forcing many officials to move hastily; Jun Zhantian then immediately leveled the original mansion to the ground and claimed it for himself...

And among those fifteen major crimes, seven were dedicated to accusations such as: Jun Zhantian abusing his young nephew Jun Moxie, who was still full of vigor and blood, bullying his widowed sister-in-law—a behavior worse than that of a brute; Guan Qinghan, as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Jun family, seducing her younger brother-in-law, an act of shamelessness that disgraced the family reputation and was utterly depraved**, creating a massive negative influence! His Majesty the Emperor frowned, looking at the old man with considerable impatience. Kong Lingyang grew more and more agitated as he spoke, suddenly raising his voice: "This subject believes that a treasonous scoundrel as wicked as Jun Zhantian should be immediately dragged out of the Meridian Gate and beheaded for public display!

Jun Wuyi's utter incompetence and shamelessness demand immediate removal from office for investigation, imprisonment in the Celestial Prison, and a tripartite trial to deliver righteous punishment! As for Jun Moxie, having been tainted by his uncle, he is unspeakably filthy and vile, and should be subjected to death by a thousand cuts as a warning to all! Guan Qinghan, for her lack of marital virtue and shamelessness, should be granted a cup of poison wine or a length of white silk, to proclaim to the world the proper decorum of our Tianxiang society!" This old man was truly venomous; he sought nothing less than the extermination of the entire Jun family!

On the side, Dugu Zongheng and his son grimaced. Though he uttered no specific words about confiscating property or exterminating the clan, the punishments he suggested were even harsher than total annihilation! All three members of the Jun family, young and old, had been nominated by him, all destined for the executioner's block!

Jun Zhantian sat with his head drooping, ignoring everything, appearing on the verge of sleep. "This subject seconds the motion!" "This subject also seconds the motion!" In an instant, the great hall was covered with kneeling figures, all demanding that the Emperor severely punish the Jun family. Among the great noble families, many remained hesitant, watching which way the wind blew.

His Majesty the Emperor’s frown grew tighter and tighter. "Your Majesty, this subject believes that Jun Zhantian, through his lifelong habit of shielding his kin, has long lost the stature and grace befitting a pillar of the state. If we could use this opportunity to eliminate the Jun family and rectify the court's discipline, it would be a tremendous boon to the eternal foundation of Tianxiang!" Hearing this, even Old Master Jun couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

He had known someone would seize the chance to kick them while they were down, but he never expected the first one to step forward to be him! Song Dehai, Patriarch of the Song family, Imperial General, and First-Rank Marquis! "Marquis Song speaks wisely; this subject seconds the motion!" Meng Youwei, Patriarch of the Meng family, stepped forward with an expression of grief and indignation.

"Jun Zhantian has now become a malignant tumor of the Empire; without removing him, the world cannot know peace, the court cannot be rectified, and the endless gossip of the populace cannot be silenced! We implore Your Majesty to make a firm decision swiftly!" "We implore Your Majesty to make a firm decision swiftly!" the crowd shouted in unison, prostrating themselves on the ground. The seven great noble families of the capital were all gathered here today.

Except for the Murong family, which always maintained neutrality, and the Tang family, which had been closely aligned with the Jun family in recent years and remained silent, the others had all sided against the Jun family. But what surprised everyone most was that the Li family, the Jun family's greatest political rival, did not even show up for this onslaught. "This matter is of grave importance!

We shall discuss it again tomorrow!" His Majesty the Emperor roared, "Disperse, all you ministers, rise!" Just as the Emperor was about to use the adjournment to escape, he heard Old Master Kong speak again: "Your Majesty, please stay! Please stay! We implore Your Majesty to reach a decision soon!

This matter absolutely cannot be delayed. As the saying goes, 'Hesitation in decision invites disaster.' Your Majesty, with your illustrious wisdom and might, must surely understand this principle!" Kong Lingyang did not rise, taking the lead in shouting slogans. The meaning was clear: If you do not deal with the Jun family today, we will not rise.

The Emperor’s brow furrowed tightly, and a sentence ground out between his teeth: "I suddenly feel unwell. Court is adjourned!" Then he rose with a rustle of his robes and fled in a flurry. Kneel if you like; it’s none of my business.

They actually think they can threaten me with this? Have they lost their minds! To be fair, His Majesty the Emperor now strongly wished to use this pretext to deal with the Jun family, but he dared not!

As the sovereign of a nation, his considerations were definitely longer-term than most. Perhaps these pedantic scholars hadn't thought this through, or perhaps they had considered it but deemed it inconsequential. But the Emperor knew the military influence wielded by the four marshals of the Jun family!

He could almost calculate on his knees that if they dared to move against the Jun family today—setting aside whether they could even touch the Old Master—it was highly likely news of a military coup would arrive before dawn, with at least five or six such uprisings erupting within three days! Then, what would become of the Tianxiang Kingdom? Moreover, "Is the Jun family something that can be dealt with casually now?

What a joke! If I could handle them, I would have done so long ago; I wouldn't need you all to present memorials!" The Emperor stormed out in a rage, and the ministers followed suit in their retreat. Jun Zhantian sat in the great hall, his old eyes hazy, but the moment he stepped out, he was robust and energetic, taking the lead.

The Old Master paid absolutely no mind to these Confucian scholars who impeached him; not in the slightest! If the Murong and Li families had also been involved in this smear campaign, that would have constituted a truly dire situation. But this small skirmish before him was not enough to stir the Old Master's fighting spirit.

"Jun Zhantian, you failed to teach your sons, condoned their evil deeds, and still have the face to live between Heaven and Earth? You wait, retribution will surely find you!" Kong Lingyang called out hoarsely, his body trembling. Almost all the civil officials in the court were his disciples or those of Mei Gaojie; stirring up a frenzy of public opinion was something they were quite confident in.

Furthermore, this time they held irrefutable evidence in their hands, and Elder Scholar believed he was completely capable of taking down the Jun family in one swift move! Jun Zhantian paused his steps, turned back to look at him, scoffed through his nose, and said plainly: "Hey, you old bookworm, can't you just shut that old bird mouth of yours? This old man is very annoyed right now!

I have no time to deal with you. If you have the guts, we'll settle it tomorrow, one way or another!" Kong Lingyang's beard trembled with rage: "You... you...

you..." Jun Zhantian rolled his eyes and turned away. Behind him, a civil official whispered close to Old Master Kong's ear: "Esteemed Teacher, this entire Jun family consists of masters. Jun Zhantian is the legendary peak of Tianxuan; he is virtually the foremost expert in our dynasty.

Teacher, please be more cautious." "Peak of Tianxuan? Foremost expert? So what?" Old Master Kong glared fiercely at this disciple with his withered eyes, dismissing it with disdain: "He is merely a martial brute, a mere lackey!

Why should I fear him? Have you not heard the saying: 'The scholar pacifies the world, the warrior secures the region'? What determines the fate of the Empire is talent!

Do you understand? How can a mere martial brute grace the grand hall? Faced with such a situation, he hasn't even thought of submitting a memorial of apology and defense.

The overall situation is decided; such a boorish fellow doesn't even enter this old man's sight!" In the Old Master's mind, so what if Jun Zhantian was at the peak of Tianxuan? Even if he were Shenxuan, he was still just a martial brute. Since he was a martial brute, it meant he was brainless and utterly useless!

It must be said that the Old Master, having immersed himself in Confucian studies since childhood, emerged from his ivory tower with a significant lack of awareness regarding the terror posed by those at the Tianxuan and Shenxuan levels. "Tomorrow, have everyone who was absent today summoned. We will strike a decisive blow against the Jun family tomorrow!" Kong Lingyang decreed coldly.

"Gentlemen regional governors, you must also urge your subordinates. In the capital, we must create the greatest public outcry. This sort of morally offensive filth, I, this scholar, will never allow to exist!

What face does such a shameless family have to remain in Tianxiang? What qualification do they have to stand tall in the court?" Although the momentum today seemed considerable, for the Jun family, this level of pressure was still insufficient! Patriarch Meng, we still need you to make a personal visit to Grand Tutor Li." Kong Lingyang turned to him.

"Teacher, rest assured. Meng is duty-bound." Meng Youwei patted his chest in assurance. "The Grand Tutor has also long been displeased with the Jun family.

This visit should go smoothly." "Hahahaha," the group exchanged knowing smiles. In the distance. "What do you make of this affair?" Murong Fengyun, Patriarch of the Murong family, asked Dugu Zongheng.

General Dugu Wudi followed the two old masters silently, his rugged face twitching incessantly. "What do I make of it? Haven't you seen that Old Man Jun hasn't cared in the slightest?

Those pedantic scholars are all just bored out of their minds! A bunch of useless fools!" Dugu Zongheng raised his head disdainfully. "If we let Old Man Jun Zhantian pin a couple of them to the floor, I guarantee those scholars won't dare show their rear ends in court tomorrow!" Murong Fengyun was choked with frustration: "You are the patriarch of a family, can't you speak with a bit more elegance?" "Elegance?

Nonsense! The word 'elegance' is less valuable than the bird on my crotch!" Dugu Zongheng spat disdainfully. "I am a military man!

When have you ever seen a military man fight with elegance? You’re blowing smoke!" "It is my fault! I was wrong to even talk about elegance with you!" Old Master Murong Fengyun expressed deep regret.

"But I am asking, what is the certainty of this attack succeeding? Old Man Jun is stable as Mount Tai, but the momentum generated by Old Master Kong is also overwhelmingly vast. Can Old Man Jun really withstand it?" "Withstand it?

Why wouldn't he? I'll tell you honestly, those moldy scholars have absolutely no certainty of success! If relying on these fellows alone could topple the old devil Jun, that would be the biggest joke in history!

If this impeachment succeeds, I will immediately castrate myself and marry a woman!" Dugu Zongheng snorted twice, glancing contemptuously at the cluster of civil officials on the other side. "A woman! I won't marry one!" Murong Fengyun swore colorfully.

"Get lost, you old bastard! Old Murong, I ask you, whose side are you truly on this time? Are you trying to straddle the fence again?" Dugu Zongheng glared with wide, bovine eyes.

"What if I straddle the fence? Safety first is always the right choice! Since you ask me, what is your plan?" Murong Fengyun squinted his eyes, resembling an old fox.

"Can I be as shameless as you and stand in the middle? Naturally, I am bound to Jun Zhantian. Who cares to associate with those sour dog droppings?" Dugu Zongheng grinned broadly.

"Besides, our two families are now in-laws." "What? In-laws?" Murong Fengyun was shocked. "When did that happen?" "Damn it, don't even mention it!

It’s all because of the incompetence of the younger generation!" Mentioning this made Dugu Zongheng furious, and he turned to find fault with his son. But Dugu Wudi was behaving exceptionally well; hearing this topic mentioned, he had already slipped away. When the old man turned around, the space behind him was empty.

He couldn't help but curse with mounting fury: "You little brat! You little bastard, just you wait! If you don't let your old father vent his anger now, when we get back, I’ll teach you twice over!" Murong Fengyun, standing nearby, frowned, sinking into deep contemplation.

The fact that the Dugu family and the Jun family had become in-laws over this matter might actually be big news. It seemed their Murong family needed to reconsider their position; if they could find a safer side to align with, making an early choice might not be a bad idea. [Ti: Dear reader, the current chapter has reached the final page of this book]